A39673:20
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.
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.
To every Sea-man Sailing Heavenward.
Ingenious Sea-man,
THE Art of Navigation, by which Islands especially are enriched, and preserved in safety from Forensical Invasions; and the wonderful Works of God in the great Deep, and Foreign Nations are most delightfully and fully beheld, &c. is an Art of exquisite excellency, ingenuity, rarity, and mirability: But the Art of Spiritual Navigation is the Art of Arts. It is a gallant thing to be able to carry a Ship richly laden round the World: but it is much more gallant to carry a Soul (that rich loading, a Pearl of more worth than all the Merchandise of the world) in a body (that is liable to leaks and bruises as any Ship is) through the Sea of this World (which is as unstable as water, and hath the same brinish taste and salt gust which the waters of the Sea have) safe to Heaven (the best Haven) so as to avoid splitting upon any Soul sinking Rocks, or striking upon any Soul-drowning Sands. The Art of Natural Navigation is a very great mystery; but the Art of Spiritual Navigation is by much a greater mystery. Humane wisdom may teach us to carry a Ship to the Indies; but the Wisdom only that is from above can teach us to steer our course aright to the Haven of Happiness. This Art is purely of Divine Revelation. The truth is, Divinity (the Doctrine of living to God) is nothing else, but the Art of Soul-Navigation, revealed from Heaven. A mere man can carry a Ship to any ⟨image 7⟩desired Port in all the World, but no mere man can carry a Soul to Heaven. He must be a Saint, he must be a Divine (so all Saints are) that can be a Pilot to carry a Soul to the fair Haven in Emanuel's land. The Art of Natural Navigation is wonderfully improved since the coming of Christ, before which time (if there be truth in History) the use of the Lodestone was never known in the world; and before the virtue of that was revealed unto the Mariner, it is unspeakable with what uncertain wanderings Sea-men floated here and there, rather than sailed the right and direct way. Sure I am, the Art of Spiritual Navigation is wonderfully improved since the coming of Christ: it oweth its clearest and fullest discovery to the coming of Christ. This Art of Arts is now perfectly revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; but the Rulers thereof are dispersed up and down therein. The collecting and methodizing of the same, cannot but be a work very useful unto Souls: