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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	life_n	see_v	3,300	5	3.3210	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58039	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.	Janeway, James, 1636?-1674.; Ryther, John, 1634?-1681, attributed name.	1698 (1698)	Wing R2445; ESTC R222746	69,767	178

of Affliction into the Wine of Consolation The Commander of the Vessel knows the Major and replys readily and chearfully Major Gibbons not one hair of your head shall perish nor any of your Ships Company if it lye in my power either to supply you or preserve you O the Wisdom of God that hath ways we know not of to Relieve in the greatest straits and cause himself to be seen in the Mount The Commander of this French Pyrat was one that some years before Major Gibbons had shown signal Kindness to when his life was in danger at Boston in New England Thus the Lord appeared a God hearing Prayers in Extremitys which appearances are not to be forgotten in succeeding Generations O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of men Secondly About the year 1636. there arising a storm and tempest of troubles in the Church of Scotland five Ministers eminent for Piety Learning and their Honourable success in the Ministry were so hard born under by a prevailing Party imposing upon their Consciences that they were forced to Embarque themselves for America three of their names were Mr. Levinston Mr. Mackleland and Mr. Blaire with two more whom my Author could not call to mind These good men Say●●d half the Channel over about 500. Leagues where they met with great distress of weather which broke off the Rudder of their Ship and occasioned a desperate leak to spring in her which exposed them to eminent danger but they in this distress endeavour to hang on their Rudder again but often were they frustrated in their attempt to a total despair of effecting it They also laboured with the like unsuccessfulness to find out and stop the leak this poor Ships Crew had laboured also by pumping to keep the Ship above water until all their few hands were feeble and all their hearts faint so that as so many dispairing persons of life they cease all endeavours and yield themselves to death expecting every moment to be Entombed in the belly of the devouring deeps during the time of this their great distress the Ministers kept on their course as at other times of Worship viz the reading of a Chapter in course and taking observations from it with Prayers and Preaching which they did by turns at the crisis of this deplorable case it fell to be the Lott of Mr. Mackleland to perform this Exercise a man Austeer in his life reserved in his speech and of great Piety who was often observed to let fall many remarkable Prophetical Expressions of future events the Chapter that at that time came to be read in course by him was the 3● of Exodus which he had read all along until he came to the 12th verse where he made a full stop the verses run thus And Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord why doth thy Wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hast brought out of the Land of Egypt with great Power and a mighty hand Wherefore should the Egyptians say for mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the Mountains and to consume them from the face of the Earth Turn from thy severe Wrath and repent of this Evil against thy People upon the reading of these verses over again he declared to them the Case which Moses was here interceeding for compared with his Expostulation in the 12 verse did parallel their case and considering the happy event of that Argument which Moses used mentioned in the 14 verse which runs thus and the Lord Repented of the Evil which he thought to doe unto his People he could not but comfortably hope that they might have the same Effect Nay he goes further and his Spirit raised into a peremptory prediction that he durst assure them from his great Lord and Master that not one hair of their heads should fall to the ground after this he went to Prayer urging God with the same Argument and then rose up comfortably assuring his stedfastness in believing the same he advises the Sea-men and the Company in the Ship to refresh themselves by taking some meat the long fasting and hard labour having much infeebled them Then he encouraged them to make another Attempt to fasten the Rudder without which they could not possible make towards any point for shore He after advised them to clear the ship as well as they could from water by pumping which they did happily Effect the Leak being stopt providentially of it self whether it was some noak of a plank started by the destress of weather which occasioned the Leak and by the surges of the Sea clapt into the place again or what it was else could not be known But however this lookes like life from the dead to these poor men who had received but a little before a sentence of Death in themselves that they might trust in him who raiseth the Dead Soon after this God who had heard in Heaven great Tears and Prayers Commands the Wind Tack about to the West and to blow so strong a gale that they were forced to bear up before it and it continued so long that it brought them back to the North of Ireland where they continued some time although but short they were very instrumental in the Converting of many souls which seed-plot remains to this day and soon after they passed into Scotland This Relation was given by several Ministers of the North of Ireland also the Reader may take notice the Author of that Book called the Fullfilling of the Scriptures pag. 487. mentions this remarkable Providence though not so largely with these two additional but very considerable circumstances first That a poor Sea-man was made the instrument to preserve the same Vessel by fastening the Rudder whose company they had all shun'd others having given it over Secondly Several Passengers being Aboard who shipt themselves for America upon only external accounts expecting a fat soyle and outward advantage in that place and not as the others upon the account of Conscience to enjoy the purity of Ordinances they did all dye upon the Sea save one being five in number And who is so blind as cannot see here the out stretched Arm of an Omnipotent God commanding deliverance for his poor distressed persecuted praying believing Servants and also for all them that Sayled with them O who would not Pray at Sea and trust in him who raises the dead in the saddest of their Extremities and distress and speaks forth much of the power and goodness of God calling upon all to trust in him let the dangers and straits be never so great 3. A Vessel of ours about the year 1636. being at New-found Land a Fishing being somewhat of the latest in the year until the Ice came in great flakes and being ready to hoise Sayle for the return home they sent out in the Boat six of the men to weigh their Anchor but while they were about it a sad Providence

therefore had he cause enough of inward Joy the Ship came immediately in and he highs away presently to Ja-ga to know if it were an English Ship who resolved him that it was it happened to be the St. Maloes Merchant Captain Royden Commander who hasten'd to dispatch his Business took in his Negroes and was ready to sail and our English-man heard never a word what should become of him the King never offering to sell him this put him on a resolution to endeavour to make an escape and to that end had prepared a piece of Timber which he had drawn near the water-side on which he intended to paddle to the Ship which then lay about a League from the Shore Just by the Sea-side as he was about to launch his little floating Stick he espied a Great Aligator which will devour a Man at a Mouthful this made him alter his Resolution and resolve rather to live with Inhumane Infidels than to throw himself into so imminent a danger which would have been little less than self-murther But the next day which I may call a day of Jubilee Almighty God opened the heart of the King to let the poor English Man go he sent him in a Canoe placed between a Negroe's Legs with some others to Guide this small Vessel for fear he should leap over board and swim to the Ship At a distance from the Ship he hail'd her in the English Tongue which was no small cause of admi●ation to those on Board to hear an English Tongue out of their Canoes The Negroes gave him leave to stand up and shew himself to the Captain to whom he gave an Account how four were left there and only he preserv'd It was a pretty while before they could strike a B●rgain though the Captain was resolv'd not to leave him behind Several times the Negroes padled away with their Canoe resolving not to part with him but what with his entreaties and promises he perswaded them to the Ship again and they deliver'd him on board for Forty five Copper Bars and Iron Bars each Copper bar being about the bigness of a Youths little finger the Iron bars a little bigger Now were his joys compleated he thought himself as it were caught up into the Third Heavens he could hardly perswade himself but it was a Dream or Vision and that he did not really see English faces or embrace English bodies It was some time before he could throw himself at the Captains feet and acknwledge his infinite cause of joy in himself and thankfulness to him for his deliverance from such a severe Captivity that he that lately was a slave to Infidels that worship they know not what should now see the Faces of Christians and joyn with them in Worshiping the true God and to him first he offer'd up the Sacrifice of hearty thanksgiving that had sent his Angel to redeem him from so cruel a bondage When he came on board his hair was very long and his skin tawny Malatto-like having gone naked all the time he was there and frequently anointing himself with Palm-Oyl he looked like a Tawny Moore but immediately the Seamen aboard with Christian-like hearts apparelled him The Master commanded to hoist sail and having a fair wind they sailed to Barbadoes where Captain Royden was to tarry some time but the Relator earnestly desiring to go to his Native Country and his Relations got passage to the Downs in the Katherine of London Captain South Commander which through Gods goodness in a few weeks arrived in the Downs where the Relator was put on shore to his Unkle Mr. Richard Watts of Deal his great joy and satisfaction who took this relation from his own mouth The Relation of Dr. William Johnson concerning a most Remarkable Sea-Deliverance in his own words 27. We went aboard from Harwich on Michaelmas day Sept. 29. 1648. in the William and John of Ipswich Daniel Morgan Master and having a fair wind we set Sail I being Sea-sick went to bed but about four a Clock in the Afternoon the Master of the Ship came into our Cabin with more hast than he was wont which made me ask him whither all was well who like a tender-hearted man who is loth to tell his dying Friend that he is so nigh his end replyed all is well yet when I saw him shift himself with such hast I rose from my Bed and crawled upon the Deck where I saw a sad spectacle the Ship having sprung a leak or rather a plank was ready to sink upon which every man was affrighted one was at his Prayers another wringing his Hands a third his eyes shedding of tears when he had no need of more salt water but after this they fell to work but were busie in doing nothing The Masters Mate who went to search the Leak told us with a sad countenance trembling hands gnashing of Teeth a quivering Tongue and words half spoken That the Leak could not be stopt and the water came in so fast upon us that we must perish in this moment Upon which we presently cast out our Long-boat and shot off eight or nine Guns to another Ship who came out with us to come to our relief then with some difficulty we all got into the Boat and God be thanked came clear of the Ship whose sails now lay flat upon the Water and now we were rowing we know not whither for the other Ship came not to our relief which made us have hard thoughts of them without cause for we understood that both the Ship and all the men perished in the same hour Now were we without all hope for it blew half a storm and we were in a small Vessel many Leagues from the Shore without Compass or provision to sustain us being starved likewise with Cold as well as for want of Victuals having nothing in our Boat but a small Kettle which served to cast out the water and three bags of pieces of eight of three hundred pound Sterling which would neither feed us nor keep us warm in this distress we went to Prayers and it pleased God to hear us and send a Ship to us even in the moment of Death which we endeavoured to come to and he likewise to us but the storm was so great we could not reach one another though when it was dark he hung out a light and we to let him know we were alive ordered that when a wave took us up we should give a great shout which we did so loud that I believe our cry was heard to Heaven for by Gods miraculous assistance we got near the Ship and soon after all safe into it the next day it blew fair for Norway whither we were bound and about twelve at noon we saw the Coast which being ragged and full of Rocks we resolved to stay till next morning before we went in and then sate down to meat and eat very heartily being kindly entertain'd by the honest Norwegian about ten a clock at

and sorrowfull Motion The Motion is that which the Marriners in Jonahs Vessel put in execution Come let us cast Lots c. only with this difference they cast Lots to find out the dilinquent and these which of them should dye first to be a Sacrifice for ravenous Hunger to feed upon Concluding as he in that case John 11. 50. It is expedient for us that one man should dye for the People and 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 is the Condemned Prisoner O but where is the Executioner to be found to act his office upon a poor Innocent is it not 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 sends a visible commentary upon that Scripture Esay 58. 9. Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall Answer thou 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 said of the Whale that 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 O what joy was here at such a token for good not only it at present releiving and refreshing their huuger which no Queston made them quick Cooks but when they looked upon the Finger of God in it sending it as an answer to prayer they conclude it an happy Omen of their deliverance and a pledg of approaching mercy but alas it is not long before their hearts grow faint again their Countenances pale their Spirits sink now as low as they were lifted up high and now the poor Sea-men are like their Ship one while mounted up in the hopes to Heaven and another while they are sunk down again in despair as low as hell they know not now of another cake another Morsell they are reduced to their former exigency which brings them to a resolve to steer in this strait their old course to Lotts they go again the Second time only they have such an honour for the Providence of God they will not put him into condemnation that God hath acquited the Lott now falls upon another person and O now they receive the old trouble and intestine Combats how they shall find in their Hearts to punish one that never had offended any of them and while one thinks of it sayes he Alas poor man what hath he done to deserve this sentence another crys Will not this blood cleave to my Conscience another day though I went to this expedition a Prest Souldier another says for his part he sees no way but death therefore he cannot take away life when he sees not any life can be preserved by it but they are called again to look upward before they put the Knife to the Throat of this Sacrifice and they remember the last encouragement to put life into the almost dead-mens Prayers they pray now with a pledge in their hands and are ready to tell God the last time he gave them a Pawn an Earnest and O it is not vain to seek the Lord for lo● while they are seeking to him he is sending to them as the Prayers flye to Heaven Mercy is dispatched upon the wing from Heaven O turn aside and see this great sight while they are praying Behold a second Answer from above A great Bird lights and fixes her self upon the Mast which one in the Company espies and up he goes and there she stands until he took her with his hand by the wing brought her down to the Company and O what life from the dead is this to them a second time Sure they will hearken to the voyce of the second Sign if not to the voyce of the first and now that which they hoped by the first Providence viz that it was a fore-runner of the compleat deliverance Now they are by this second confirmed in the Faith and now they begin to think as I can easily imagin if God will save them out of this distress O what manner of persons they will become what manner of lives they will live what Sacrifices of Thanksgiving will they offer up to God! but while they are thus thinking they have no visible hopes but that it must be a third Miracle that brings them out of this their miserable condition they have the same disappointments upon them still only now they divert their Hunger all they can by telling of and remembring the Loaves as I may say their experiences in this extremity of theirs and comforting themselves that if they come to a third strait it would they hoped be an outlet from their present misery and calamity They are reduced the third time to the former course and strait to cast Lotts and when they were to go to the heart-aking work to put him to death upon whom the Lott fell they go to their Old Friend in a day of Adversity to God by hearty and humble Prayer And O now they do as the Prophets man at the Sea-side look again and again but alas Master they cry there is nothing Prayer is done concluded nothing appears O but as the Prophets Man looked seaven times so says this good man Major Gibbons look again as Jonah I will look again towards his Holy Temple says he to one of the Company Go up to the top and see what you can espy and at last he makes a Sayl viz. espys a Ship this puts new life into all their spirits they bear up with the Vessel they Man their Boat they desire in the manner of perishing humble Suppliants to Board them which they are Admitted the Vessel proves a French Vessel yea a French Pyrate Major Gibbons Petitions him for a little Bread to sustain their lives who had been several days wishing for death but could not find it in their Extremity and take the Ship and Cargo So sweet is life that all that a man hath will he give for his life and now behold God draws forth to these Poor Perishing men his best Wine to the last nay turns the Water