A39673:1285
Navigation spiritualizedNavigation spiritualiz'd
Navigation spiritualized: or, A new compass for seamen consisting of XXXII points of pleasant observations, profitable applications, and serious reflections: all concluded with so many spiritual poems. Whereunto is now added, I. A sober consideration of the sin of drunkenness. II. The harlots face in the Scripture-glass. III. The art of preserving the fruit of the lips. IV. The resurrection of buried mercies and promises. V. The sea-mans catechism. Being an essay toward their much desired reformation from the horrible and detestable [sic] sins of drunkenness, swearing, uncleanness, forgetfulness of mercies, violation of promises, and atheistical contempt of death. Fit to be seriously recommended to their profane relations, whether sea-men or others, by all such as unfeignedly desire their eternal welfare. By John Flavel, minister of the Gospel.Navigation spiritualiz'd: or, A new compass for seamen consisting of XXXII points of pleasant observations, profitable applications, and serious reflections: all concluded with so many spiritual poems. Whereunto is now added, I. A sober consideration of the sin of drunkenness. II. The harlots face in the Scripture-glass. III. The art of preserving the fruit of the lips. IV. The resurrection of buried mercies and promises. V. The sea-mans catechism. Being an essay toward their much desir'd reformation from the horrible and destable [sic] sins of drunkenness, swearing, uncleanness, forgetfulness of mercies, violation of promises, and atheistical contempt of death. Fit to be seriously recommmended to their profane relations, whether sea-men or others, by all such as unfeignedly desire their eternal welfare. By John Flavel, minister of the Gospel.
London: printed for M. Fabian, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A Sober Consideration Of the SIN of DRUNKENNESS. › Caution 3: III. CAUTION.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Arg. 10. Lastly, consider but one thing more, and I have done. By this sin thou dost not only damn thine own soul but, drawest another to hell with thee. This sin is not as a single bullet that kills but one, but as a chain-shot, it kills many, two at least, unless God give repentance. And if he should give thee repentance, yet the other party may never repent, and so perish for ever through thy wickedness; and oh, what a sad consideration will that be to thee, that such a poor soul is in Hell, or likely to go thither by thy means! Thou hast made fast a snare upon a Soul which now thou canst not untie; thou hast done that which may be matter of sorrow to thee as long as thou livest; but though thou canst grieve for it, thou canst not remedy it. In other sins it is not so; If thou hadst stolen another's Goods, restitution might be made to the injured party, but here can be none. If thou hadst murdered another, thy sin was thine own, not his that was murdered by thee; but this is a complicated sin, defiling both at once; and if neither repent, then oh what a sad greeting will these poor wretches have in hell•! h•w will they curse the day, that ever they saw each others face! Oh what an aggravation of their misery will this be! For look, as it will be matter of joy in Heaven, to behold such there as we have been instrumental to save; so must it needs be a stinging aggravation of the misery of the damned, to look upon those that have been the instruments and means of their damnation. Oh, methinks, if there be any tenderness at all in thy Conscience, if this sin have not totally brawned and stupefied thee, these Arguments should pierce like a sword, through thy Guilty ⟨p. 50⟩Soul. Reader, I beseech thee, by the mercies of God, if thou hast defiled thy Soul by this abominable sin, speedily to repent. Oh get the blood of sprinkling upon thee; there is yet mercy for such a wretch as thou art, if thou wilt accept the terms of it. Such were some of you, but you are washed, 1 Cor. 6. 11. Publicans and Harlots may enter into the Kingdom of God, Matth. 21. 31. Though but few such are recovered, yet how knowest thou but the hand of mercy may pull thee, as a brand out of the fire, if now thou wilt return and seek it with tears? Though it be a fire that consumeth unto destruction, as Job calls it,