A39673:653
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 17 › APPLICATION.
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.
APPLICATION.
Thus mutable and inconstant are all outward things, there is no depending on them: Nothing of any substance, or any solid consistence in them, 1 Cor. 7. 31. The fashion of this world passeth away. It is an high point of folly to depend upon such vanities, Prov. 23. 5. Why wilt thou set, (or, as it is in the Hebrew) cause thine eyes to fly upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, and fly away, as an Eagle towards Heaven. In flying to us (saith Augustine) they have Alas vix quidem passerinas, scarce a Sparrow's wings; but in flying from us, wings as an Eagle. And those Wings they are said to make to themselves, (i. e.) The cause of its transitoriness is in itself; the Creature is subjected ⟨p. 64⟩to Vanity by sin: they are sweet flowers, but withered presently, Jam. 1. 10. As the flower of the grass, so shall the rich man fade away. The man is like the stalk or grass, his riches are the flower of the grass; his glory and outward beauty, the stalk is soon withered, but the flower much sooner. This is either withered upon, or blown off from it, while the stalk abides. Many a man out-lives his estate and honour, and stands in the world as a bare dry stalk in the field, whose flower, beauty, and bravery is gone: One puff of wind blows it away, one churlish easterly blast shrivels it up, 1 Pet. 4. 24.
Thus mutable and inconstant are all outward things, there is no depending on them: Nothing of any substance, or any solid consistence in them, 1 Cor. 7. 31