But though they look out of the Ship, as Noah did out of his Ark, upon the waters, ⟨p. 3⟩and send forth the Dove of Prayer, that winged Messenger, to Heaven, yet she brings no Olive branch, no Answer; the waters assuage not; the winds calm not, they are like the Prophets Servant, when he bid him go up now; and look towards the Sea, 1and he went up and looked and said, there is nothing; and this strikes them into doleful and dismal Lamentations; out of which Lamentations, at last Springs up a tragical and sorrowful Motion. The Motion is, that which the Mariners, in Jonahs Vessel, put in execution,2 Come let us cast Lots, &c. only with this difference, they cast Lots to find out the delinquent; and these, which of them, should dye first, to be a Sacrifice for ravenous Hunger to feed upon: Concluding, as he in that case, It is expedient for us that one man should dye for the People, 3and that the whole Ships Company perish not. Life being sweet, Skin for Skin, and all a man hath will he give for his life, they at last bring it through many a sad debate, to a result they cast the Lott, the disposing of which is of the Lord, one of the Company is arrested by the Lott; here, here, is the Condemned Prisoner: O but where is the Executioner to be found to act his office upon a poor Innocent? is it not ⟨p. 4⟩death to them now, to think who shall act this bloody part in the Tragedy? But before they fall upon their involuntary Execution, Major Gibbons calls them to Prayer, considering, that in the Mount, the Lord is often seen, and that many times our extremity proves Gods opportunity; he also asks the poor man if he was willing to dye; but O what a hard Question is that to Answer! He replies, if it might preserve the rest of the lives, he could be the more willing; to which he hath this Answer: All events are in the hands of God, we must not dispute them, to Prayer they go: and, O sure these Prayers must melt hearts of Adamant! and Behold, while they are at it, God doth send a visible commentary upon that Scripture: Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall Answer; 4thou shalt Cry, and he shall say here I am: For while they were calling, God was Answering; there leaps a mighty Fish into the Boat; and as it is of the Whale: swallowed up Jonah, God prepared a Fish, for the Lord here prepared, or provided a Fish, that a poor creature might not be swallowed up:
But though they look out of the Ship, as Noah did out of his Ark, upon the waters, ⟨p. 3⟩and send forth the Dove of Prayer, that winged Messenger, to Heaven, yet she brings no Olive branch, no Answer; the waters asswage not; the winds calm not, they are like the Prophets Servant, when he bid him go up now; and look towards the Sea, 1and he went up and looked and said, there is nothing; and this strikes them into dolefull and dismall Lamentations; out of which Lamentations, at last Springs up a tragical and sorrowfull Motion. The Motion is, that which the Marriners, in Ionahs Vessel, put in execution,2 Come let us cast Lots, &c. onely with this difference, they cast Lots to find out the delinquent; and these, which of them, should dye first, to be a Sacrifice for ravenous Hunger to feed upon: Concluding, as he in that case, It is expedient for us that one man should dye for the People, 3and that the whole Ships Company perrish not. Life being sweet, Skin for Skin, and all a man hath will he give for his life, they at last bring it through many a sad debate, to a result they cast the Lott, th disposing of which is of the Lord, one of the Company is arrested by the Lott; here, here, is the Condemned Prisoner: O but where is the Executioner to be found to act his office upon a poor Innocent? is it not ⟨p. 4⟩death to them now, to think who shall act this bloody part in the Tragedy? But before they fall upon their involuntary Execution, Major Gibbons calls them to Prayer, considering, that in the Mount, the Lord is often seen, and that many times our extremity proves Gods opportunity; he also askes the poor man if he was willing to dye; but O what a hard Question is that to Answer! He replys, if it might preserve the rest of the lives, he could be the more willing; to which he hath this Answer: All events are in the hands of God, we must not dispute them, to Prayer they go: and, O sure these Prayers must melt hearts of Adamant! and Behold, while they are at it, God doth send a visible commentary upon that Scripture: Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall Answer; 4thou shalt Cry, and he shall say here I am: For while they were calling, God was Answering; there leaps a mighty Fish into the Boat; and as it is of the Whale: swallowed up Ionah, God prepared a Fish, for the Lord here prepared, or provided a Fish, that a poor creature might not be swallowed up:
- 11 Kings 8. 43.
- 2Jonah 1. 7.Ionah 1. 7.
- 3John. 11. 50.Iohn. 11. 50.
- 4Isaiah 58. 9.Esay 58. 9.
