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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 New Compass for Sea-Men: OR, Navigation Spiritualiz'd. › Chapter 9 › REFLECTION.
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.
REFLECTION.
What golden Seasons for Salvation hast thou enjoyed, O my Soul? What Halcyon-days of Gospel-light and Grace hast thou had? How have the precious Gales of Grace blown to no purpose upon thee! and the Spirit waited and striven with thee in vain? The Kingdom of Heaven (being opened in the Gospel-dispensations) hath suffered violence. Multitudes have been pressing into it in my days, and I my self have sometimes been almost persuaded, and not far from the Kingdom of God: I have gone as far as conviction of sin and misery; yea, I have been carried by the power of the Gospel, to resolve and purpose to turn to God, and become a new Creature; but sin hath been too subtle and deceitful for me: I see, my resolutions were but as an early Cloud, or Morning-Dew; and now my heart is cold and dead again, settled upon its Lees. Ah! I have cause to fear and tremble, lest God hath left me under that Curse, Rev. 20. 11. Let him that is filthy, be filthy still. I fear I am become as ⟨p. 36⟩that miry place, Ezek. 47. 11▪ that shall not be healed by the streams of the Gospel, but given to salt, and cursed into perpetual barrenness. Ah Lord, wilt thou leave me so! and shall thy Spirit strive no more with me? Then it had been good for me that I had never been born. Ah, if I have trifled out this Season, and irrecoverably lost it, then I may take up that lamentation, Jer. 8. 20. and say, My Harvest is past, my Summer is ended, and I am not saved.
What golden Seasons for Salvation hast thou enjoyed, O my Soul? What Halcyon-days of Gospel-light and Grace hast thou had? How have the precious Gales of Grace blown to no purpose upon thee! and the Spirit waited and striven with thee in vain? The Kingdom of Heaven (being opened in the Gospel-dispensations) hath suffered violence. Multitudes have been pressing into it in my days, and I my self have sometimes been almost perswaded, and not far from the Kingdom of God: I have gone as far as conviction of sin and misery; yea, I have been carried by the power of the Gospel, to resolve and purpose to turn to God, and become a new Creature; but sin hath been too subtil and deceitful for me: I see, my resolutions were but as an early Cloud, or Morning-Dew; and now my heart is cold and dead again, setled upon its Lees. Ah! I have cause to fear and tremble, lest God hath left me under that Curse,