A39673:15
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.
O Sirs! I beg of you, if you have any regard to those precious immortal Souls of yours, which are also embarked for Eternity, whither all winds blow them, and will ⟨image 6⟩quickly he at their Port of Heaven or Hell, that you will seriously mind these things, and learn to steer your course to Heaven, and improve all Winds (I mean opportunities and means) to waft you thither.
O Sirs! I beg of you, if you have any regard to those precious immortal Souls of yours, which are also imbarqued for Eternity, whither all winds blow them, and will ⟨image 6⟩quickly he at their Port of Heaven or Hell, that you will seriously mind these things, and learn to steer your course to Heaven, and improve all Winds (I mean opportunities and means) to waft you thither.
Here you venture life and liberty, run through many Difficulties and Dangers, and all to compass a perishing Treasure; yet how often do you return disappointed in your Designs? or if not, yet it is but a fading short-lived Inheritance, which like the flowing Tide, for a little while, covers the shore, and then returns, and leaves it naked and dry again: And are not Everlasting Treasures worth venturing for? Good Souls, be wise for Eternity: I here present you with the Fruit of a few spare Hours, redeemed for your sakes, from my other Studies and Employments, which I have put into a new Dress and Mode. I have endeavoured to clothe Spiritual Matters in your own Dialect and Phrases, that they might be the more intelligible to you; and added some pious Poems, with which the several Chapters are concluded, trying by all means to assault your several Affections, and as the Apostle speaks, to catch you with guile. I can say nothing of it; I know it cannot be without its manifold imperfections, since I am conscious of so many in my self: Only this I will adventure to say of it, That how defective or empty soever it be in other respects, yet it is stuffed and filled with much true love to, and earnest desires after the salvation and prosperity of your Souls. And for the other defects that attend it, I have only two things to offer, in way of excuse: It is the first Essay that I ever made in this kind, wherein I had no President: And it was hastened, for your sakes, too soon out of my hands, that it might be ready to wait upon you, when you undertake your next Voyage; so that I could not revise and polish it. Nor indeed was I solicitous about the stile; I consider, I writ not for Critical and Learned Persons: my design is not to please your Fancies any