A58039:39
A token for mariners
A token for mariners containing many famous and wonderful instances of God's providence in sea dangers and deliverances, in mercifully preserving the lives of his poor creatures, when, in humane probability, at the point of perishing by shipwreck, famine, or other accidents. much enlarged, with the addition of many new relations, one whereof happening this present year, and never before printed. Mostly attested by the persons themselves. Also The seaman's preacher, being a sermon on the right improvement of such mercies. And prayers for seamen on all occasions.A token for mariners containing many famous and wonderful instances of God's providence in sea dangers and deliverances, in mercifully preserving the lives of his poor creatures, when, in humane probability, at the point of perishing by shipwrack, famine, or other accidents. much enlarg'd, with the addition of many new relations, one whereof happening this present year, and never before printed. Mostly attested by the persons themselves. Also The seaman's preacher, being a sermon on the right improvement of such mercies. And prayers for seamen on all occasions.
London: printed by Hugh Newman, 1698
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.
A Remarkable Providence of God in wonderfully preserving of Eleven or Thirteen poor distressed mens lives.
11. In the year 68. a Ketch Sailed from Salem in New-England for the Barbados; ⟨p. 35⟩and when they came into the Latitude of 35. it began to look like foul weather, so they took in their Top-sail, and because it was towards night, they struck down the Main sail, and Reefed it; and all this time there was but a little wind (which was remarkable, if the ensuing story be observed) but still it looked like bad weather; so they sent up one to Tallow tho Mast, and made no great hast to set Sail; the man at the Top thinks he sees some black thing float upon the Sea, and looking upon it very fixedly, he conceives it to be a Boat, and so calls to the men below, so they hastened to hoist Sail and make towards it; and when they came to them, there was a Long-boat with a 11 or 13 men, (my Author could not absolutely remember the just number) which poor distressed Creatures, had been bound for Virginia; and the ship in which they were, proved very Leaky, and so exceedingly increased, that in a very little time, she was ready to sink; so all hands hastened to get out the boat, but the Master stepped into the Cabin to fetch a Compass, and took some Canvas, a Sail-needle and twine which he thought might be useful to them in their Need and Extremity, but while •his poor industrious man was endeavouring ⟨p. 36⟩to be useful to some other mens lives, he was in danger to lose his own; for the boat was put off, and the ship sinking, so he cries to them in this distress, if they would leave him, and let him there Perish; so they came back, and took him in; they had in their boat a Capstone-bar, which they made use of for a Mast, and the piece of Canvas for a Sail, and so Sailed afore the wind, and had no kind of Food; and now comes dreadful and inexpressible distress upon them, making them wish for death it self to give them a deliverance, now all hopes of Relief failed them; thus they continued five days, some grew Lame, others Feeble, and all much disheartened by despair of Life; and now upon the 6th. day, they had concluded to cast Lots for their lives, who should dye to preserve others; and they put their Resolution into Execution, and that poor Creature, upon whom the Lott fell, begs for time; but alas, what will a Reprieve be in this case, where there is no hope of Relief; but O what difficult work is it to dye? what a strait was here? Live he could not, and Dye he could not;