A39673:30
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.
1. What rich Merchandise thy Soul is. Christ assures us, one Soul is more worth than all the world. The Lord Jesus doth as it were put the whole world in one scale, and one soul in the other, and the world is found too light, Mat. 16. 26. Shouldst thou by skill in Natural Navigation carry safe all the treasures of the Indies into thine own Port, yea, gain the whole world, and for want of skill in spiritual Navigation lose thy soul, thou wouldst be the greatest loser in the world. So far wilt thou be from profiting by any of thy Sea-voyages. There is a plain [Greek or Hebrew] in those words of Christ, What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? More is meant, than is spoken.
1. What rich Merchandize thy Soul is. Christ assures us, one Soul is more worth than all the world. The Lord Iesus doth as it were put the whole world in one scale, and one soul in the other, and the world is found too light, Mat. 16. 26. Shouldst thou by skill in Natural Navigation carry safe all the treasures of the Indies into thine own Port, yea, gain the whole world, and for want of skill in spiritual Navigation lose thy soul, thou wouldst be the greatest loser in the world. So far wilt thou be from profiting by any of thy Sea-voyages. There is a plain 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in those words of Christ, What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? More is meant, than is spoken.
2. What a leaking Vessel thy body is in which this unspeakable inconceivable rich Treasure,1 thy soul, is embarked! O the many diseases and distempers in the humours and passions,2 that thy body is subject to! It is above 2000 years ago, that there have been reckoned up 300 Names of Diseases; and there be many under one name, and many nameless, which pose the Physicians not only how to cure them, but how to call them. And for the affections and passions of the Mind, the distempers of them are no less deadly to some, than the diseases of the body. But besides these internal causes, there are many external causes of Leaks in this Vessel, as