A39673:13
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.
Dedication: To All Masters, Mariners and Seamen:Dedication: To All Masters, Marriners and Seamen:
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.
he answered, They that swear come off as well as they that pray▪ Soon after a shot hit him and down he fell. Plato diligently admonished all Men to avoid the Sea; For (saith he) it is the School-master of all Vice and Dishonesty. Sirs! it is a very sad consideration to me, that you who float upon the great deeps, in whose bottom so many Thousand poor miserable Creatures lie, whose sins have sunk them down, not only into the bottom of the Sea, but of Hell also, whither divine vengeance hath pursued them: That you (I say) who daily float, and hover over them, and have the roaring waves and billows that swallowed them up, gaping for you as the next prey, should be no more affected with these things. Oh what a Terrible Voice doth God utter in the Storms! It breaks the Cedars, shakes the Wilderness, makes the Hinds to Calve, Psal. 29. 5. And can it not shake your hearts This Voice of the Lord is full of Majesty, but his Voice in the Word is more efficacious and powerful, Heb. 4. 12. to convince and rip up the heart. This Word is exalted ⟨image 5⟩above all his Name, Psal. 138. 3. and if it cannot awaken you, it is no wonder you remain secure and dead, when the Lord utters his Voice in the most dreadful storms and tempests. But if neither the Voice of God uttered in his dreadful Works, or in his glorious Gospel, can effectually awaken and rouse, there is an Euroclydon, a fearful storm coming, which will so awaken your souls, as that they shall never sleep any more, Psal. 11. 6. Upon the wicked he shall reign Snares, Fire and Brimstone, and an horrible Tempest: This is the portion of their Cup. You that have been at Sea in the most Violent storms, never felt such a storm as this, and the Lord grant you never may; no Calm shall follow this Storm. There are some among you, that, I am persuaded, do truly fear that God in whose hand their Life and Breath is; Men that fear an Oath, and are an honour to their Profession; who drive a Trade for Heaven, and are diligent to secure the happiness of their Immortal souls, in the Insurance-Office above: but for the generality, alas! they mind none of these things. How many of you are coasting to and fro, from one Country to another? but never think of that Heavenly Country above, nor how you may get the Merchandise thereof, which is better than the Gold of Ophir.