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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.
Consid. 1. Think seriously upon the greatness of that Majesty whom thou hast wronged, by lying to him, and falsifying thy engagements. Oh think sadly on this: It is not man whom thou hast abused, but God; even that God in whose hand thy life and breath is. For although (as one truly observes) there be not in every vow a formal invocation of God, (God being the proper Correlate, and as it were a party to every vow, and therefore not formally to be invoked for the contestatio• of it) yet there is in every vow an implicit calling God to witness; so that certainly the Obligation of a Vow is not one jot beneath that of an Oath. Now if God be as a party to whom thou hast past thy promise, and its obligation on that ground be so great, oh what hast thou done? for a poor worm to mock with the most glorious majesty of Heaven, and break Faith with God, what a dreadful thing is that? If it were but to thy fellow-creature, though the sin would be great yet not like unto this. Let me say to thee, as the Prophet Isai. 7. 13. It is a small thing for you to weary men, but you will weary my God also? If you dare to deceive and abuse men, dare you do so by God also? Oh if the exceeding villainies of the sin do not affect thee, yet methinks the danger of provoking so dreadful a Majesty against thee should. And therefore consider,
Consid. 1. Think seriously upon the greatness of that Majesty whom thou hast wronged, by lying to him, and falsifying thy engagements. Oh think sadly on this: It is not man whom thou hast abused, but God; even that God in whose hand thy life and breath is. For although (as one truly observes) there be not in every vow a formal invocation of God, (God being the proper Correlate, and as it were a party to every vow, and therefore not formally to be invoked for the contestatio• of it) yet there is in every vow an implicite calling God to witness; so that certainly the Obligation of a Vow is not one jot beneath that of an Oath. Now if God be as a party to whom thou hast past thy promise, and its obligation on that ground be so great, oh what hast thou done? for a poor worm to mock with the most glorious majesty of Heaven, and break Faith with God, what a dreadful thing is that? If it were but to thy fellow-creature, though the sin would be great yet not like unto this. Let me say to thee, as the Prophet