A39673:1297
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 4: IV. 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.
Do you hear, Souls? Is not this sad news to some of you, who have received vast sums of mercy, and given God your bond for the repayment of him in praise and answerable fruit, and yet forfeited all, and lost your credit with God? Oh how can you look God in the face, with whom you have dealt so perfidiously? I am now come in the Name of God to demand his due of you; to call to remembrance the former receipts of mercy which you mind not, but God doth, and there is a witness in your bosom that doth, and will one day witness to your faces, that you have dealt perfidiously with your God; your souls have been the graves of mercy, which should have been as so many gardens where they should have lived and flourished. I am come now to open those graves, and view those mercies that your unthankfulness hath killed and buried, to lay them before your eyes, and see whether your ungrateful hearts will bleed upon them. Buried mercies are not lost for ever; they shall as certainly have a day of* Resurrection as thy self: It were better for thee they should have a Resurrection now in thy heart, than to rise as witnesses against thee, when thou shalt rise out of the dust that will be a terrible Resurrection indeed, when they shall come to plead against thy Soul: nothing pleads more dreadfully against a Soul▪ than ⟨p. 55⟩abused mercy doth. But I shall come to the particulars upon which I interrogate your Consciences, and I pray deal truly and ingenuously in answering these Queries.
Do you hear, Souls? Is not this sad news to some of you, who have received vast sums of mercy, and given God your bond for the repayment of him in praise and answerable fruit, and yet forfeited all, and lost your credit with God? Oh how can you look God in the face, with whom you have dealt so perfidiously? I am now come in the Name of God to demand his due of you; to call to remembrance the former receipts of mercy which you mind not, but God doth, and there is a witness in your bosome that doth, and will one day witness to your faces, that you have dealt perfidiously with your God; your souls have been the graves of mercy, which should have been as so many gardens where they should have lived and flourished. I am come now to open those graves, and view those mercies that your unthankfulness hath killed and buried, to lay them before your eyes, and see whether your ungreatful hearts will bleed upon them. Buried mercies are not lost for ever; they shall as certainly have a day of