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.
John Flavel 1630?–1691London: printed for M. Fabian, 1698
[24], 118, [2], 80 p. : ill. · 69k words · Wing F1173 · ESTC R216243
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.
IN Storms at Sea, the wise Navigator will no• spread much Sail; that is the way to lose Masts and all; They use then to furl up the Sails, and lie a Hull, when not able to bear a Knot of Sail; or else to lie a Try, or Scud before the Wind and Seas▪⟨p. 91⟩It is no time then to hoist up the Top and Top-gallant, and show their bravery.
IN Storms at Sea, the wise Navigator will no• spread much Sail; that is the way to lose Masts and all; They use then to furl up the Sails, and lie a Hull, when not able to bear a Knot of Sail; or else to lie a Try, or Scud before the Wind and Seas▪⟨p. 91⟩It is no time then to hoist up the Top and Top-gallant, and shew their bravery.
. Should we [then] make mirth? It contemneth the rod of my son as every tree. (i. e.) As if it were a common Rod, and ordinary affliction; whereas the Rod of my Son is not such as may be had of every Tree, but it is an Iron Rod to such as despise it,
. Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, that are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, as ver. 4. It may be (as one observes upon the Text) they did not laugh at him, or break Jests upon him; but they did not condole with him. And what shall be their punishment? See vers. 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive: God will begin with them first. Solomon tells us,
. There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: Only (as Master Trap notes upon the Text) we must not invert the order, but weep with Men, that we may laugh with Angels. To be merry and frolic in a day of tribulation, is to disturb the order of seasons. That is a terrible Text,
. which should make the hearts of such as are guilty in this kind to tremble: In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, slaying Oxen, killing Sheep, drinking Wine, &c. Well, what is the issue of this? Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die. O dreadful word! Surely (my Brethren) Sympathy is a debt we owe to Christ Mystical. Whatever our Constitution, Condition,
⟨p. 92⟩
or Personal Immunities be, yet when God calls for Mourning, we must hear and obey that call. David was a King, an expert Musician, a Man of a sanguine and cheerful constitution; yet who more sensible of the evil of those times, than he? Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. Melanchthon was so affected with the Miseries of the Church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his Child, whom he entirely loved. At such a time we may say of laughter, Thou art mad, and of mirth, What doth it?
When the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth, it is no time then to make mirth, Ezek. 21. 10, 11. Should we [then] make mirth? It contemneth the rod of my son as every tree. (i. e.) As if it were a common Rod, and ordinary affliction; whereas the Rod of my Son is not such as may be had of every Tree, but it is an Iron Rod to such as dispise it, Psal. 2. 9. O it is a provoking evil, and commonly God severely punishes it. Of all persons, such speed worst in the common calamity, Amos 6. 1. VVo to them that are at ease in Sion, that are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph, as ver. 4. It may be (as one observes upon the Text) they did not laugh at him, or break Jests upon him; but they did not condole with him. And what shall be their punishment? See vers. 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive: God will begin with them first. Solomon tells us, Eccles. 3. 4. There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: Only (as Master Trap notes upon the Text) we must not invert the order, but weep with Men, that we may laugh with Angels. To be merry and frolick in a day of tribulation, is to disturb the order of seasons. That is a terrible Text, Isai. 22. 12. which should make the hearts of such as are guilty in this kind to tremble: In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloath; and behold, joy and gladness, slaying Oxen, killing Sheep, drinking VVine, &c. Well, what is the issue of this? Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till ye die. O dreadful word! Surely (my Brethren) Sympathy is a debt we owe to Christ Mystical. Whatever our Constitution, Condition, ⟨p. 92⟩or Personal Immunities be, yet when God calls for Mourning, we must hear and obey that call. David was a King, an expert Musician, a Man of a sanguine and chearful constitution; yet who more sensible of the evil of those times, than he? Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. Melancthon was so affected with the Miseries of the Church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his Child, whom he entirely loved. At such a time we may say of laughter, Thou art mad, and of mirth, What doth it?
Blush then, O my Soul! for thy levity and insensibility under God's angry Dispensations. How many of the precious Sons and Daughters of Zion, lie in Tears abroad, while I have been Nourishing my heart, as in a day of slaughter? The voice of God hath cried to the City, and Men of understanding have heard its voice, Mic. 6. 9. But I have been deaf to that cry. How loth (my God) have I been to urge my sensual Heart to acts of Sorrow and Mourning! Thou hast bid me weep with them that weep but my vain heart cannot comply with such commands. Ah Lord! if I mourn not with Zion, neither shall I rejoice with her.
Blush then, O my Soul! for thy levity and insensibility under God's angry Dispensations. How many of the precious Sons and Daughters of Sion, lie in Tears abroad, while I have been Nourishing my heart, as in a day of slaughter? The voice of God hath cried to the City, and Men of understanding have heard its voice, Mic. 6. 9. But I have been deaf to that cry. How loth (my God) have I been to urge my sensual Heart to acts of Sorrow and Mourning! Thou hast bid me weep with them that weep but my vain heart cannot comply with such commands. Ah Lord! if I mourn not with Sion, neither shall I rejoyce with her.
O, were mine eyes opened, and my heart sensible and tender, I might see cause enough to melt into Tears; and like that Christian Niobe, Luke 7. 38. to lie weeping at the feet of Christ. Lord, What stupidity is this? Shall I Laugh when thou art Angry, and thy Children weeping and trembling? Then I may justly fear, lest when they shall sing for joy […] heart, I shall howl for vexation of spirit, Isai. 65. 13▪ 14. Surely, O my Soul! such laughter will be turned into mourning, either here or hereafter.
O, were mine eyes opened, and my heart sensible and tender, I might see cause enough to melt into Tears; and like that Christian Niobe, Luke 7. 38. to lie weeping at the feet of Christ. Lord, What stupidity is this? Shall I Laugh when thou art Angry, and thy Children weeping and trembling? Then I may justly fear, lest when they shall sing for joy 〈…〉 heart, I shall howl for vexation of spirit, Isai. 65. 13▪ 14. Surely, O my Soul! such laughter will be turned into mourning, either here or hereafter.
