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A39673 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. Flavel, John, 1630?-1691. 1698 (1698) Wing F1173; ESTC R216243 137,316 227

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be a glorious piece when brought to light CHAP. XXX Millions of Men are sunk into the Main But it shall not those Dead always retain OBSERVATION WHat multitudes of Men hath the Sea devoured Thousands have made their Graves in it What numbers of Men have been ingulfed together in Sea-fights or Storms or Inundations whereby whole Towns have been swallowed up Certainly the dead which are there are innumerable APPLICATION But though the Sea have received so many thousand Bodies of Men into its devouring Throat yet is it not the absolute Lord or Proprietor of them but rather a Steward intrusted with them till the Lord require an account of them and then it must deliver up all it hath received even to a person Revel 20. 11 12. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was open which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body is a Doctrine full of singular Consolations to Believers 1 Cor. 15. and most clearly asserted in Scripture Acts 26. 8. Iob 19. 25. 1 Cor. 15 c. And it is well for us this point is so plainly revealed because as it is a most comfortable Truth to the people of God so there is scarce any truth that lies under more prejudice as to Sense or Reason and is more difficult to receive than this is The Epicures and Stoicks laughed Paul to scorn when he preached it to them Acts 17. 32. The Familists and Quakers at this day reject it as a Fable The Socinians say the same Body shall not rise but an aerial Body And indeed if Men set up Reason as the onely Judge of supernatural things it is incredible to think that a Body should be restored that hath been burnt to ashes and those ashes scattered in the wind as History tells us was frequently done by the Bodies of the Saints in Dioclesian's Reign Or when drowned in the Sea and there devoured by several Fishes and those again devoured by others But yet this is not to be objected to the Almighty Power of God that gave them their first being Difficulties and Impossibilities are for Men but not for him Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead Acts 26. 8. REFLECTION And must I rise again where-ever my body fall at death Then Lord how am I concerned to get union with Christ while I live by vertue thereof only my Resurrection can be made comfortable and blessed to me Ah let my body lie where it will in Earth or Sea let my bones be scattered and flesh devoured by Worms or Fish I know thou canst and wilt reunite my scattered parts and in this body I must stand before thine awful Tribunal to receive according to what I have done therein 2 Cor. 5. 10. Thou that commandest me to stand forth amongst the noblest rank of Creatures when I had no being and sawest my Substance being yet imperfect canst as easily reduce me to that Being again What though Reason vote impossible and Sense incredible Though all these Difficulties and Encumbrances grow upon my Faith yet I know my body is not lost for ever the sound of thy last and dreadful Trumpet shall awaken me and thy mighty Power to which all things are possible shall bring me before thy Bar. O Lord I know that I shall stand in that great Assembly at the last day when multitudes multitudes even all the sons and daughters of Adam shall appear together O! if I die Christless it were good for me that there were no Resurrection for then those eyes that have been windows of Lust must behold Christ the Judge not as a Redeemer but as a Revenger That tongue that has vented so much of the filthiness of my heart will then be struck speechless before him and this flesh which I so pamper'd and provided for condemned to everlasting flames O my God let me make sure work for such a day If I now get real union with thy Son I shall awake with singing out of the dust And then as thou saidst to Iacob so to me when I go down into the Sea or Grave Gen. 46. 3 4. Fear not to go down into the deep for I will surely bring thee up again THE POEM It should not seem incredible to thee That God should raise the dead in Seas that be We see in VVinter Swallows VVorms and Flies Depriv'd of Life yet in the Spring they rise What though you Bodies several Fish devour Object not that to the Almighty power Some Chymists in their Art are so exact That from one Herb they usually extract Four different Elements what think ye then Can pose that God who gave this Skill to men The Gard'ner can distinguish thirty kinds Of seeds from one another though he finds Them mixt together in the self-same dish Much more can God distinguish Flesh from Fish They seem as lost but they again must live The Sea 's a Steward and Stewards account must give Look what you are when in the Ocean drown'd The very same at Iudgment you 'll be found I would not care where my vile body lies Were I assur'd it should with comfort rise CHAP. XXXI The Sea-man's greatest danger 's near the Coast VVhen we are nearest Heav'n the danger 's most OBTERVATION THough Sea-men meet with violent Storms yet if they have Sea-room enough they are not much dismaid but if they find themselves near the shoar they look upon their condition as very dangerous The sight of the Shore is to them as Soloman speaks of the Morning in another case like the shadow of death if not able to Weather it For one Ship swallowed up in the Ocean may perish upon the Coast. APPLICATION The greatest Streights and Difficulties that many Saints meet with in all their lives is when they come nearest to Heaven and have almost finished their Course Heaven indeed is a glorious Place the Spacious and Royal Mansion of the great King but difficilia quae pulchra It hath a streight and narrow entrance Luke 13. 24. O the difficulty of arriving there How many hard tugs in Duty What earnest contention and striving even to an Agony as that word imports Luke 13. 24. Multitudes put forth and by profession are bound for this fair Haven but of the multitudes that put out how few do arrive there A man may set out by a glorious profession with much resolution and continue long therein he may offer very fair for it and not be far from the Kingdom of God and yet not be able to enter at the last Matth. 7. 22. Yea and many of those who are sincere in their profession and do arrive at last yet come to Heaven as I may say by the gates of Hell and put in as a