So must the Soul expect to meet with a dreadful Tempest or Hurricane. The Winds will rise, and a Storm will come upon the Ship where Christ is. David was aware of these Dangers,1 and saw how to prevent and escape sinking.
XV. 'Tis a rare thing to see a Ship sail along before a fresh and prosperous Gale. | XV. 'Tis a rare and lovely thing to see a Soul carried swiftly along in the Work and Service of God, being under the powerful Influences, a fresh and prosperous Gale or Wind of the Spirit.
XVI. A Ship is sometimes becalmed. | XVI. So (alas!) it is too often with the Soul of a poor Christian.
XVII. 'Tis a Wonder to see a Ship to live in a tempestuous and boisterous Sea. | XVII. 'Tis a Wonder of Mercy to see how the Soul of a Saint should live, be preserved, and abide with its Head above Water, in such a disquiet and tempestuous World as this is.
⟨p. 66⟩XVIII. Some Ships suffer Shipwreck, are lost, and sink down to the bottom. | XVIII. So doth the Soul of many a Professor, that sets out with much seeming Hopes of Heaven, suffer spiritual Shipwreck, and sink down to Hell.2
XIX. A Ship must be well looked to, and kept very clean within and without, or she will not sail with any speed. | XIX. So must the Soul be washed, and kept exceeding clean, within as well as without, or it will go but slowly or heavily towards the Haven, of future Happiness, the Mire and Clay, or Scum and Filth of this World, is so apt to obstruct its way, as it passes Heaven-ward.
XX. A Ship hath its Anchor, and if in the midst of a Storm it be rightly cast, and takes good hold, the Ship is safe. | XX. The Soul hath its Anchor, Hope. Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul, both sure and steadfast. 3This Anchor being rightly cast upwards, within the Veil, in the midst of the greatest Danger, the Soul is safe.
Metaphor. | Disparity.
A Ship is a lifeless thing built of Timber, &c. by Man. | The Soul of Man is a Spirit created by the Almighty:4 He hath formed the Spirit of Man within him.
II. A Ship is a thing visible to corporeal Eyes. | II. The Soul of Man is an invisible Substance, i. e. it cannot be seen with fleshly Eyes.
III. A Ship may utterly be destroyed, nay, and cannot continue long. | III. The Soul of Man cannot lose its Being; that will live when the Body is dead, either in Joy or Misery; it can never be destroyed, so as to die,5 and lose its being, or suffer annihilation.
IV.
So must the Soul expect to meet with a dreadful Tempest or Hurricane. The Winds will rise, and a Storm will come upon the Ship where Christ is. David was aware of these Dangers,1 and saw how to prevent and escape sinking.
XV. 'Tis a rare thing to see a Ship sail along before a fresh and prosperous Gale. | XV. 'Tis a rare and lovely thing to see a Soul carried swiftly along in the Work and Service of God, being under the powerful Influences, a fresh and prosperous Gale or Wind of the Spirit.
XVI. A Ship is sometimes becalmed. | XVI. So (alas!) it is too often with the Soul of a poor Christian.
XVII. 'Tis a Wonder to see a Ship to live in a tempestuous and boysterous Sea. | XVII. 'Tis a Wonder of Mercy to see how the Soul of a Saint should live, be preserved, and abide with its Head above Water, in such a disquiet and tempestuous World as this is.
⟨p. 66⟩XVIII. Some Ships suffer Shipwrack, are lost, and sink down to the bottom. | XVIII. So doth the Soul of many a Professor, that sets out with much seeming Hopes of Heaven, suffer spiritual Shipwrack, and sink down to Hell.2
XIX. A Ship must be well look'd to, and kept very clean within and without, or she will not sail with any speed. | XIX. So must the Soul be washed, and kept exceeding clean, within as well as without, or it will go but slowly or heavily towards the Haven, of future Happiness, the Mire and Clay, or Scum and Filth of this World, is so apt to obstruct its way, as it passes Heaven-ward.
XX. A Ship hath its Anchor, and if in the midst of a Storm it be rightly cast, and takes good hold, the Ship is safe. | XX. The Soul hath its Anchor, Hope. Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul, both sure and stedfast. 3This Anchor being rightly cast upwards, within the Vail, in the midst of the greatest Danger, the Soul is safe.
Metaphor. | Disparity.
A Ship is a lifeless thing built of Timber, &c. by Man. | THe Soul of Man is a Spirit created by the Almighty:4 He hath formed the Spirit of Man within him.
II. A Ship is a thing visible to corporeal Eyes. | II. The Soul of Man is an invisible Substance, i. e. it cannot be seen with fleshly Eyes.
III. A Ship may utterly be destroyed, nay, and cannot continue long. | III. The Soul of Man cannot lose its Being; that will live when the Body is dead, either in Joy or Misery; it can never be destroyed, so as to die,5
- 1Psal. 55.8.
- 21 Tim. 1.19.
- 3Heb. 6.19.
- 4Zech. 12.1
- 5Mat. 10.28.
