shadows of the night Doth put the Suns fair pleasant beams to flight â—o where true holiness doth take possession â—here's no allowance for the least transgression Nor is there any place for holiness Where sins usurping power doth possess Sometimes we see the Sun appears so bright As if no darkness now could stain its light But presently we see a Cloud arise And then the Sun is hidden from our eyes Just thus it 's with a Saint a little folly O how it stains him that 's reputed holy If once a Christian do contract a blot His former holiness is quite forgot A Saint whose conversation is upright 'T will put whole legions of his sins to flight Let Christ our blessed Eastern Star shine clear Within thy soul and sin will disappear Thus have we given thee a brief relation Of three first Points of Sacred Speculation Of North of South of East the next must be Our Western Point which take with brevetie God is our North and Christ our Morning Sun Holiness our South at West our day is done As Moses councell'd Israel so do I First learn to live and yet prepare to die That faithful servant of the Lord whose breath Propounds to Israel both life and death I have saith Moses set before your eyes This day both life and death may I advise Or give you council how to make your choice Could I perswade you to obey my voice You should not die saith he for I would givâ— You counsel to obey Gods Word and live â—th life is but a momentary space â—f times most fwift yet most uncertain race â—nd that as certain as you draw your breath â—th open air so certain is your death â—nd yet your death no other but a sleep â—our Grave no other than a place to keep â—he broken pieces of your brittle clay â—hich are reserved till the judgment day â—hen your dead corps shall live again and never â—hall be dissolved but remain for ever â—hen do the thing saith Moses that may be â—f soul concernment to eternity Death is our Western Point by death we pass â—ut of this world return to what we was â—o dust again Sentence of death was given â—hen men transgress'd the sacred will of Heaven The certain wages disobedience brings â—â— death our night of silence whence four things â—â— to be noted needful to be known â—y spiritual Seamen which I thus lay down First Death is certain every soul must taste â—f death or else be changed first or last â—he stroke of death can never be avoided â—owever some may vainly be perswaded â—ur lives our days our Suns resplendant light â—ill set in death will terminate in night â—herefore in vain some foolishly assay â—o flatter death and send it far away â—rom youth to manhood and from thence to age â—or death must act its part upon this Stage Though man would flatter death it never stays Death strikes the child the aged man betrayâ— The hopeful young man even in his prime And gives him not sometimes a minutes time Uncertain when but certain death will strike Respecting Kings and Beggers all alike But in the sccond place it is as plain Our Sun that sets i' th West will rise again From God we pass to Christ and Christ doth bless That serious soul brings it to holiness Which fits man for his Western Point from whence By death he 's brought to God his N. from thence He 's brought unto his Eastern Point again He 's rais'd by God through Christ and doth remain Now in a state of perfect holiness Which he shall then eternally possess His Southern Sun is always now at height 'T is always noon and never will be night No Clouds shall now his perfect glory stain His day is perfect and shall so remain No Western Point no dying any more No setting of our Sun as heretofore No shadows nor eclipses shall obscure This glorious day it always shall endure Sin and temptations which now interpose Between the glorious Face of God and those Which from some present glimpses of his Grace Like Moses longs to see his glorious Face Shall now like Clouds disperse and flie away By reason of the glory of the day Those sighs sorrows and those clouds of fears Which sin now raises those soul-melting tears Which sin now causes for which Saints complain They shall be all disper'd and none remain No Satan then the tempter now remains â—n darkness and in everlasting chains O happy he thrice happy he I say That doth arrive at this so glorious day He now is freed from sorrow and distress From thirst and hunger cold and nakedness From all his persecutors he 's set free He 's with the Lord and evermore shall be The glory that his eyes shall then behold One thousand part thereof cannot be told 'T is not in man that lives upon the earth To find out words to set his glory forth But that some glimpses Christians may behold Scriptures compares it with refined gold To precious Pearls whose excellence and worth Exceeds all other treasures in the earth When John that Evangelical Divine By Heavens high appointment did design To leave the Saints a copy of their joy The Lord presents it to his Servants eye Who in a Vision did behold such glory That faith must help a man to read the story The glory of this vision was so great As that the highest pitch of mans conceit Can hardly reach the strength of mans desire Can scarcely reach so high but never higher He sees a City that to ' th Saints is given Made by the wisdom of the God of Heaven Nay furthermore our Author adds beside The City was adorn'd and beautifi'd Like to a Bride in splendant rich aray Deckt for her Husband on her wedding day Strong is that place glorious that habitation Where God Almighty lays the first foundation Great must the splendor of that glory be Where Gods most soveraign blessed Majestie Improves his sacred wisdom in adorning Bright is that day that hath so clear a morning Blessed is he that feels this warm reflection In the clear morning of his resurrection Eye hath not seen nor can mans heart conceiveâ— This sacred glory yet we may receive Some glimpses of this glory if with care Spiritual with temporal things we do compare Suppose that all the worlds united power Should as one man attempt to build a Tower Whose Heaven aspiring top should reach so high As men might make their dwelling in the Sky Should all the wisdom that the Lord hath given To all the world residing under Heaven Be now improved with united power To beautifie as well as build this Tower With sparkling Diamonds and burnisht Gold Rich for their value glorious to behold With precious Jewels beautifi'd all over While pure Gold the Streets thereof did cover How fair and beautiful with splendor clear Would such a glorious place as this appear That famous Temple Herod once erected â— fair Jerusalem how it affected
on pleasing Objects for What ever you behold you will abhor You will abhor and loath your selves because Your former slighting of God's sacred Laws Your stubborn Hearts refusing to Repent Has brought you to this place of Punishment From which most lamentable State thou never Shall be released altho thou should endeavour This is the Second Death and certainly It is a dreadful Death for Man to dye The first Death frees a Man from temporal Sorrow And frees him from his Labour till the Morrow The Second Death begins a Sinner's grief And leaves him helpless hopeless of Relief Now wouldst thou not be taken in the Snare Of Death the second time Oh then prepare For Death's first Summons let not sin dis-arm thee And then the Second Death will never harm thee There is no way to scape the Plagues of Hell But in thy Living and thy Dying well Two things concerning Death I 'de have thee mind Which if thou do thou wilt the Comfort find First Death is certain either first or last All living Creatours of Death's Cup must tast Aâ—d Secondly It is uncertain when Children and Infants dye as well as Men. Death is a Messenger that 's sent from Heaven Hath both his Power and his Commission given By God alone and when he 's sent to strike Respects all Ages and Degrees alike Death when it doth arrest will give no Day Death will have nothing under present Pay Nor Years nor Months nor Weeks will Death allow Death will admit of no intreaties now With ghastly Looks he stares thee in the Face And tells thee Thou hast here no longer space This Night by Death the Lord requires thy Soul Sad was the Message to that prosperous Fool That in his own Conceit had lately blest His Soul with Peace and many Years of Rest Deluded Man had not one Day to spend This Night thy many Years is at an end Thus unexpectedly are Souls ensnar'd But dreadful will it be if unprepar'd Well Death is come thy Barns all thy Store Thou must forsake and never see them more And true it is we see it with our Eyes That Death is certain in uncertainties There 's not a Man among the Sons of Men But knows that he must dy but knows not when Death on his Cloudy Errand sometimes comes And smites poor Children in their Mother 's Womb. And sometimes he will venter to Arrest The Infant Sucking at the Mothers brest And sometimes Death forbears to throw his Dart Till Childish practice joyes the Parents heart So in like manner Death is sometimes known When Childhoods past and Youthful Blossoms blown To strike his Fatal stroke and many a time Death strikes us not till we are in our prime When Strength Manhood is upon the Stage And sometimes Death stays till decripped Age. Death blasts young Buds fair Blossoms dainty Flowers At th'age of years of months weeks days and hours How darest thou in Sinning take delight And sin to day that is to dye at night Poor VVretch that at God's pleasure draws thy breath How dare thou sin that 's not secure from Death In one moments time poor Soul thou canst not tell But that this Night thou shalt go down to Hell North by West Our two and-thirtieth Point draws near the North To Steer aright upon this Point is worth Ten thousand worlds ten thousand times told over It s real worth no mortal can discover As North's by West so Death's by God He The First and Last of every Thing will be It is from God we do receive our Breath By God's appointment all must tast of Death We told you lately what a dreadful thing It was to dye the Second Death but bring You better Tydeings now and to be brief This Point well learnt will expiate all Grief It is the Tydings of a Second Life Beginning Peace and terminating trife And that I may in this one thing discharge My self bear with me Reader if I do inlarge Upon this sacred Point But what am I To undertake a Task so much too high For any Man Angels desire to 〈◊〉 it And holy Prophets never fully knew it When holy Men of old did stear their Course Upon this Point the depth thereof did force Them to cry out as Men astonisht and Confess it was too high to understand Into which Mystery when Paul inquires Instead of Satisfaction he admires At God's great Wisdom Which saith he no doubt Is over-high for Man to find it out Eye hath not seen that excellent Reward Which God Almighty hath of old prepar'd For such as Love him Heart cannot conceive Nor Tongue express the Glory they receive Some Hints the holy Prophets have laid down Which in the Scripture language is made known In such a Dialect as may impart The Mystery of this Glory to the Heart And also doth inform the Eye and Ear That to Man's Sense this Glory might appear These be the Terms it is discover'd by Riches and Honour Princely Dignity Silver Gold precious Pearl that Treasure In which the Princes of the Earth take Pleasure Fair Houses beautify'd with Gold And precious Pearl most lovely to behold Cities whose Pavements upon which we tread Is pure Gold whose Wall is garnished With precious Pearls in comely order set The Jasper Amathist and Crisolet With Saphir Tophas Emrald Chalcedon The Jasinct Sardius and Sardonix-Stone Thus in our Sailing upon West by North By these Similitudes the Lord sets forth The great Advantage of our Stearing right Upon this Point and yet this great Delight With which Man 's captivated Eye 's ensnar'd Is less than nothing if it be compar'd With Heavenly Glory which exceeds as far As Mid-day Phoebus doth the dullest Star The greatest Beauty Mortals can behold Is Gems and Jewels with refined Gold Which when th' Apostle Paul compares with thâ— In his Esteem behold how vile it is As if all Earthly Pomp had nothing been Speaking of Heavenly saith Eye hath not seâ— Nor never could Man's highest Conceit impart This Heavenly Glory unto any Heart 'Twixt Heaven and Earthly Joy the disproportion Is like one Drop of Water to the Ocean For though one drop be real Water yet It 's not sufficient for Man's Benefit There is no Substance in so small a Measure And small 's the Substance of all earthly Treasure 'T is not unlike the pearled Dew of May Whose Morning-Substance quickly â—ades away Like Jonah's Gourd that sprang up in a Night And in another vanisht out of sight Exactly like a Shadow in the Water Which seems a Substance but is no such matter Which if a Man puts forth his Hand to take it Finds it a Shaddow and doth streight forsake it Or like a Man that dreams he doth possess Great Substance but awakes finds nothing less Could Man with Alexander say My hand Hath made the Earth subject to my Command And to my Pleasure I the World confine And all the Treasures oâ— the Earth is mine He that
North. â— is by Christ our mercies is increast â—e's next the Father Christ stands for the East â—om East to South the Sun doth make its way â—riving at the South 't is perfect day â—e next to Christ that Christians must possess â—is the Spirit South point is Holiness â—oliness is our South and Christ is then â— height in Christians when most holy men â—ext to the South is West whither the Sun â—akes haste and sets and then our day is done â—eath is our Western Point doth terminate â—r day and put a period to its date â—ese be the Four Points all men must eye â—orth East South West then man prepare to die Now see our Scripture grounds for this allusion â—r upon that we 'll bottom each Conclusion â—s a Notion generally receiv'd â—d as unquestionably it believ'd That fair Jerusalem that famous Town Israels Metropolis the worlds renown Was plac't i' th midst o' th earth and hence it waâ— As most conclude it all was came to pass All places bear their true Denomination As they were plac't or stood for scituation Relating to that City whose great name Did fill the earth with its renowned fame Jerusalem thus for the Center ey'd I will remember that on its North side The City of the mighty King was plac't The mount of Olives also on the East Which mountains as it first did entertain Our blessed Lord so when he comes again Zachary the Prophet gives a full accompt His feet shall stand upon that Eastern Mounâ— And on the South-side did mount Sion stand The sacred mountain of that holy Land Mount Calvery the place of Death this mouâ— Was scituate on the VVest on this account I am incourag'd to make this allusion Scriptures not contradicting this Conclusion â—hat East should stand for Christ and Stouh â—leâ— â—ithout excepting stands for holiness And VVest for death will never be denied But why the North is unto God apply'd May at the first to some seem not so clear But that the truth thereof may still appear Mark what good David saith observe the worâ— Of that most faithful Servant of the Lord. When David sets Mount Sions Beauty forth She is saith he the joy of all the Earth She 's beautiful saith he for scituation Which he makes out by this clear deâ—â—nstration The mighty King saith David doth â—eside â—n fair Jerusalem on the North side Of sacred Sion to whose glorious King The Nations shall their wealth and glory bring Hence 't was that speech concerning Lucifer Who would exalt himself above the Stars Of God Almighty Esay adds besides â—s further Demonstration of his pride That Lucifer presum'd himself so great That he would make the side o' th North his seat â—ut he whose high aspiring thoughts did swell â— ' usurp Gods place is tumbled down to Hell â—he North which if as some suppose to be â—he Mount Moria it will well agree That Sacred Mount in Canaans Holy Land â—id also on the North of Sion stand â—hat still the North in Scriptures is appli'd â—o God alone as properly his side â—hese words of David next I 'd have you mind â—hich you in Psalm the 75 may find David excluding both West South and East â—rom giving honours making not the least Mention o' th North saith honours do proceed â—rom God alone as if it were agreed â—nd taken for a grant on every hand â—hat for Gods proper place the North doth stand Sith then the language of Gods holy word With this our notion doth so well accord I hope I may presume without offence With awful fear and holy reverence To make a serious and divine inspection Into the Sacred Art taking direction From Holy Writ which we will make our guid Not on the right or left to turn aside And now with seriousness we will conclude The North with God most fitly doth allude 'T is God alone we first must seek to know The Word and Spirit will direct us how When first therefore thy Vessel launcheth forth Into these troubled Seas upon the Earth Assure thy self thou art not like to make A happy Voyage if thou undertake To stear thy Ship to fair Emanuels Land Before thou know and rightly understand God thy North Star whom thou must alwayâ— eye When thou sets forth towards eternity Know God is first 't is he first gave thee breatâ— And he is last and hath appointed death That fatal messenger to call thee hence To give accompt to him for each offence Know God is merciful and just also He sees thy ways and did thy secrets know Let no such foolish thoughts possess thy mind To think there is no God be not so blind The Heavens are his witness day and night Do speak throughout the World their beams â— lighâ— â—ills every place By this the Nations know There is a God whether they will or no. The very Heathen do the same confess â—y light of nature they can do no less â—is acts of providence bespeaks the same They all set forth the glory of his name â—is mighty hand that framed every Creature â—oth in the Earth the Air and in the Water Gives food as well as being unto all Of every thing he 's the original He feeds the Ravens when to him they cry He is and was from all eternity â—his knowledge although true is not alone â—e is not onely God but he is one â—lthough there be Gods many saith St. Paul â—o us there is but one he 's all in all God must not onely thus be understood â—ut we must know him for our chiefest good That good thou dost or ever shalt enjoy Comes from himself alone he 'll not destroy His handy work Mans ruin doth proceed â—rom man himself 't is man that doth that deed T is in and by the Lord we must obtain â—ternal Life Life doth in him remain â—his thing is needful to be known by these That sail for Heaven on these troubled Seas To know God thus is of as great concern â—s for a Seaman his North Point to learn â—nd in the third place thou must learn to know â—od in his Holy Attributes also His Attributes of Power Mercy and Of Justice also thou must understand We read when God Almighty did proclaim His ever honoured and his Name In Exodus the thirty fourth we find His Name is gracious merciful and kind In him long suffering patience doth abound Sin pard'ning grace in him is to be found Reserved mercy is laid up in store For such as love him grace for ever more As thou must know he 's merciful thou must Know as he 's God Almighty he is just To those that hate him he will be severe A guilty Conscience he 'll by no means clear Though Heavens in his right hand is as rewarâ— To such as do his righteousness regard Yet in his left hand is a flaming fire Consumes the wicked in his burning ire His wrath once kindled he that reads his namâ— Must read him then
yet intirely one Having his understanding lightned â—o know therefore the Son of God must shed â—is precious blood be made a Sacrifice And that it is the Spirit that sanctifies And fits the soul for Death I say again After a soul this knowledge doth obtain He 's fit for notion these things being known Which must be first yet must not be alone These be the Four Chief Points we must divide Each Quarter into Seven Points besides North. Your First Point being North you must endeavour By Light from God to steer your Course if ever You do intend to steer your course for heaven Steer by this sacred light which God hath given The Holy Scripture let them be thy guide For want of which many hath turned aside Make Gods Commandements thy Compass and Thy light to steer to fair Emanuel's Land We need not wonder why some do miscarry Who lays aside their Compass and contrary Unto the sacred Rule Gods Word lays down Doth steer their Course by fancies of their own Good David steer'd by this thy Word saith he Is both a Light and Lanthorn unto me The Prophet Esay speaking in the name Of great Jehovah doth command the same That from Gods Law they should not turn aside But make his Testimonies all their guide Unto this sacred truth Paul testifies Who saith the Scripture makes men wise Unto Salvation and to this agree The sayings of our Lord O search saith he The holy Scriptures there thou 'lt be directed No safety where this Compass is neglected It is the mischief of our present day And the true Cause why many's cast away Satan that roaring Lyon goes about To shipwrack souls his work it is no doubt To make men question and at last deny The Holy Scriptures just Authority The Holy Scripture is more useful far Unto a Christian than the Northern Star Is to a Seaman who sometimes can steer Some Leagues although his Compass be not there But Christians cannot steer one course aright If not directed by this Sacred Light Which doth proceed from God the mighty Lord And shineth forth from his most Holy Word He that doth throw the Holy Scriptures by Under pretence to steer more certainly By Natures various and uncertain light Instead of steering of his Course aright Is like the man who throws his Compass by That he may steer by the uncertain tide Of his conjectures and when all is done He doth but light a Candle to the Sun The Scripture is that Light whose glorious rays Proceed from God by them direct thy ways North by East North by East the second Point must be Learn this Point well and thou shalt clearly see From that bright beam that from Gods Word doth shine Whose ever-blest Authority's divine When man by breaking Gods Command became The Author of his own rebuke and shame Justly provoking God who gave him breath To lay on him the punishment of Death Man though unworthy so much favour found From God Almighty that he did propound A way to save him who had thus undone Himself by sinning God propounds his Son To free poor man from Deaths eternal stroke And take from off his neck that heavy yoke And to restore lost man to life again That he for ever living might remain In steering to this point it doth behove Thee to remember Gods most precious love In all soul matters now direct thine eye To Gods free promise and on that rely The Sun whose glorious presence fills the earth With its desired light moves from the North So Christ our Rising Sun whose glorious face Makes glad the earth proceeds from Gods freed grace The Suns first differenc'd motion and the least From his full Nothern point is by the East The first appearance of Gods love to man Was in the promis'd seed there first began Gods love to show it self this promis'd seed â—s Christ the Son of God who is indeed Our Rising Sun to him direct thine eye To him do all the Prophets testifie Take Counsel of Gods Word let it advise Gods Word will teach thee to be truly wise When worldly men to get themselves possest Of earthly treasures run from East to West â—rom youth to age until grim Death betrays Them to their graves they pass away their days To search the Holy Scripture let thy mind Launch forth into these deeps and thou shalt find â—uch treasures as on earth thou canst not have â—hough earth set open to thee her golden cave Treasures that will indure after death That will not leave thee when thou leav'st thy breath That man which labours for Earths empty pleasure While he neglects the seeking of that treasure Is like a Merchant that to th' Indies trades Only for pibles while other Merchants lades With Golden Ore like him that trades for sand While others with rich treasures fills the land When thou hast learn'd this point thou mayst proceedâ— And learn the third point with like care and heed Mind this third point as highly thy concern North North East 'T is North North East that thou art next to learn This point is just i' th middle plac'd between The North and North East point as may be seen I' th' Seamans Compass it is five points at least Nearer the Nothern point than 't is the East God in propounding Christ for mans salvation That Act of Grace sprang from his meer Compassionâ— Unto his Creature Man that God I say In making Christ that promis'd seed the way Whereby poor man may be restored again To life eternal ever to remain He 's the Chief Author of mans happiness And Christ the way by which we have access Unto that glory Do not envy then At the prosperity of wicked men All their joy continues but a day â—Tis but a moment and they must away While vainly they imagine all is well They leave their pleasures and go down to hell North East by North. North East by N. this point is one point nigher Our Eastern Point and therefore doth require That care and diligence be daily shown To learn this Point as Scripture lays it down That God 's the Author of our further joy â—n saving him who did himself destroy He did not only thus propound his Son To be mans Saviour but when that was done That man the better might believe the same â—nd be supported while the promise came That this his promise might be kept alive â—n every Age he did the same revive â—els Noah from whence the promis'd seed should spring That unto man should this salvation bring Confirm'd the same to Abraham again â—n terms more full he did himself explain That all the earth should of his love partake â—nd be redeemed for his mercies sake â—ut yet more fully unto Israel â—ho did in Egipt under Pharoah dwell When by his powerful and mighty hand He 'd brought them forth from the Egyptian lanâ— He did present their Saviour to their Eye In Types and Figures that they might thereby Have