The vial poured out upon the sea. A remarkable relation of certain pirates brought…

Certainly, It will be the Wisdom of us all, but especially of our Sea-faring Tribe, to learn from these Dying Men, some things which the living that see the End of these Men must lay to Heart, — if they would not with an Hard Heart lay up for themselves Treasures of Wrath, to be poured out upon them, in the Righteous Judgment of GOD.

Learn from these poor Men, the Mischief of those Two Vices, wherein so many of the Sea-faring Tribe suffer the doleful Shipwreck of their Souls, and are drowned in Perdition. The first, that of Drunkenness; And then, that of profane Swearing and Cursing. These poor Men do, with unutterable Anguish cry out, under the heavy Load of Guilt, which these Two Vices have laid and left upon them. The former Vice, resigns the Sinner up to the Possession of the Devil; and by Consequence, to all manner of Wickedness. The latter Vice, declares that the Devil has taken an horrible Possession of the Sinner, and the Wretch cannot now so truly say, what he use to do, My Tongue is my own; as he may say, 'Tis the Devils: And being Set on Fire of Hell, 'tis plain, what and where a Torment is intended for it. Being thus Warned of them, Oh! Steer clear of the Rocks, where you see the Breakers before you!

At the same time, when, Oh! when, will the Sea no longer have cause to say of Wisdom, It is not in me! And complain that they who follow the Sea, will so Madly as they do, abandon themselves, ⟨p. 44⟩and let their Souls drive to the Courses of Self-destruction! Poor Sailors, Will you never hearken to the Voice of Wisdom? Always be Madmen, and with Madness in your Hearts go to the Dead? Never become a Pious, a Sober, a Serious, and a Prudent Generation? Let the Condition of these Poor Men help you to receive Instruction and acquaint your Hearts with Wisdom. In their Condition you see, that if you go on still in your Trespasses a Provoked GOD can by the Hands of Sea-Monsters, which through' His Curse upon you do Increase and Multiply, & become the Terror of them that haunt the Sea, bring sore plagues upon you: And even one of these Leviathans have a permission to pillage no less than Four Hundred Vessels of you. Yea, and what is infinitely worse; In their Condition you see what you may be left unto: And how far, if you remain Incorrigible in your evil ways, the Justice of GOD may give you up to the Lusts of your own Hearts, and leave you to do those things, which may bring a fearful End upon you, that once you little imagined. Oh! What may you come to!