Let not thy Lusts bear rule nor have command Within thy heart suffer not sin to sway Take heed thou never do'st thy lusts obey Yield not thy members instuments unto Unrighteousness but unto God and know To whom thou givest ear with diligence And dost submit and yield obedience Thou art a servant there whether it be Of sin to Death unto eternity Or of obedience unto righteousness Which with eternal life the Lord will bless If to Gods Holy Spirit thou subject art And suffer it to reign and rule thy heart Thou art a Servant unto Righteousness And God Almighty will in mercy bless â—hy true indeavours and thy sins will die And grace will live so shalt thou mortifie All thy corruptions there shall none remain â—o harm thy soul much less to rule and reign â—et there is one thing I would have thee mind Know that the very best of men will find That Satan that Degraded Seraphin Will use all diligence to tempt to sin â—f Christ the Son of God was not exempted â—ut by the subtil Serpent must be tempted â—hen poor imperfect man may well be sure â—hat from his malice he is not secure â—ut God Almighty hath prepar'd a Sword â—hich Christ made use of 't is Gods Holy Word â—ith that resist him and he 'll fly away â—or where Gods Word is us'd he dares not stay â—e can but tempt thee he can do no more â—e cannot force thee God hath shut that dore â—ill sin in its conception let it never â—ome to the birth a very small indeavour â—hen stops sins progress when it first appears â—nly t' intice the eyes or reach the ears â—re it convey its poyson or impart â—s secret counsel to thy yielding heart â—ake Davids Counsel in my heart saith he â—l hide thy word let this thy practice be â—en will thy sword be quickly at command â—r thy defence Good Joseph did withstand Sins early motion when it first appears With soul-inticing words t'inchant his ears Fair beauty that might captivate his eye Good Joseph yields not but makes this reply How shall I sin if thus I shall transgress Against the Lord and do this wickedness He nips sin in its bud before it spring Behold sin here a subject grace a King Triumphant in his heart but furthermore Let me advise thee daily to implore The Lord for help give diligent attention To hear Gods word 't will help thy apprehensioâ— When rightly 't is divided God will bless And thus thou 'lt steer thy course to happiness South East You that will trafique for the Holy Land Must learn this Point also to understand It lies directly 'twixt the South and East And of as high concern as all the rest This must be understood thy righteousness Will stand thee in no stead at all unless Christ to the Father do present thee holy Thy best performance will be but folly For he that doth the very best he can Hath cause enough to say Lord what is man A poor imperfect Creature whose endeavour Comes short of what 's required Man can nevâ— Be capable the Kingdome to inherit By all that his performances can merit â—is Christ whose righteousness must stand instead â—is he that hath the kingdom purchased â—et must thou strive with all thy might main â—nd then this benefit thou shalt obtain â—hrist is thy advocate at Gods right hand â—o plead thy Cause in Heaven he doth stand â—nd God beholds thee in a Holy dress â—nd beautifully cloath'd in Christs righteousness â—nd neither spot nor wrinkle doth appear â—r Christ presents thee as a virgin clear â—otless and sinless but least thou from hence â—ould think the good Apostle doth dispence â—ith sin in Christians at the highest rate â—ecause they have in heaven an Advocate â—o Answer this objection first of all â—e doth prohibit sin in general â—hildren saith he for unto such I write â—n not with approbation and delight â—n not saith he or do not let the fact â—f any sin be properly your act â—t if against your will at unawares â—ou be intangled in Satans snares â—hose watchful eye observes when he may â—ith best advantage silly souls betray â—inding in thee some want of watchfulness â—ere takes advantage tempts thee to transgress â— this despair not but with heart contrition â—umble thy self to God thy heart submission â—od will accept in Christ who intercedes â—nd with the Father for forgiveness pleads Those be the souls Christ presenteth holy Who are afraid to be defil'd with folly South East and by South This Point i' th' Christian Compass also thou With care and diligence must learn to know The more of Christ thou knowst dost possess The nearer art thou unto happiness Sailing upon this Point thou must beware And with all diligence thy heart prepare For Holiness for now thou drawest nigh Thy Southern Point the Sun grows very high Esteem nothing for holiness that stands Directly opposite to Christs Commands Let Christs directions ever be thy guide And from his Precepts do not turn aside Let no vain shows of holiness allure What man counts holy Christ accounts impure All Holiness is meer imagination That is not built upon the true foundation When Saul the first of Israels Kings was sent By God to execute due punishment Upon the cursed Amalike his eye Must pity none all are condemn'd to die Both man and Beast Gods great command was sâ— He must not bate one jot or add thereto But here observe how he did miscarry Pretending holiness he acts contrary Unto that dread Command that God did give He spares King Agag suffers him to live 2. Let Christian boldness strengthen resolution Not to comply for fear of Persecution With Forms of Holiness that Men invents Nor fear the Evil of Man's Punishments But patiently endure for Christ's Sake Your Persecutor's Rage Heaven will make Amends for All. Good Moses had regard Unto the Recompence The Saint's Reward Was more to him than Egypt's painted Glory Whose Pleasures fades whose Joys are transitory The Sorrows of few Years will soon expire But who can dwell with Everlasting Fire â—ndure all things rather than decline â—he sacred Cause of Christ The Golden Mine â—ies deep He that would find the smallest Measure He must not pass for losing Earthly Treasure The Sea-man fears no Storms shrinks not for Weather â—hat trades to th' Indies if he gets but thither â—hough Mast and Yards be broke and Sales be rent â—nd Vessel leaks he 's very well content â—he Riches of the Country makes amends â—uch less must Spiritual Sea-men that intends â—'arrive with safety at that happy Shore â—hose Treasures far exceeds the Golden Ore â—rink back for fear of persecuting Hands â—r to please Man neglect the Lord's Commands Or mix God's holy ways with Men's inventions To save thy Life or scape Man's Reprehension If Sea-man venter Life for Indian Dust That Thieves may steal or may consume with Rust The Spiritual Sea-man then may well lay down Both Life and
sin in our esteem An idle thought to us not to the Lord Doth seem a lesser Sin than idle words Unprofitable thoughts and words they both Seem lesser Sins than doth a dreadful Oath But in God's sight the very least offence If with our Wills is Disobedience And Disobedience is a sin as great As is the Sin of VVitchcraft God doth threat All Disobedience with Death Eternal The smallest sin deserves the Lake infernal If to the same we freely give consent And live and dye therein and not Repent So as to Duties some may seem but small Compar'd with others of no weight at all Obedience to a Minister appointed To feed the Flock of Christ the Lord 's Anointed Seems but a little duty when compar'd With that Submission Reverence and Regard VVe owe to God yet as we understand This doth proceed from God as his Command Our being found in wilful negligence God will account it as a great offence A bare profession though indeed it be A Christian duty 't is the least degree It seems indeed as nothing if we bring It to be ballanced with suffering Compar'd with Charity a bare profession â—s but like promis'd Gold without possession And to be brief Christians must not neglect The smallest duty shews the least respect Unto the smallest sin a little leak VVill find a passage for the Seas to break â—nto thy Vessel and without endeavour To stop this Leak thy Ship may sink for ever A little negligence at Sea when Storms Threaten the Sea-men with approaching harms Neglecting to look out the Ship is tost Upon the raging Seas broken and lost VVherefore that thou may scape eternal death Endeavour while on Earth thou drawest breathâ— By searching of God's Word to understand VVhat is thy duty neglect no command Hate every Sin and quite forsake them all Whether the Sin thou loves be great or small So shall not Death affright thee thou shalt be From Death as 't hath a dreadful sting set free North-West by North. Our next's North-West by North Wish not tâ— dyâ— Nor covet after Death immoderately Some under torturing Pains to ease their grieâ— Have wisht for Death thinking to find Relief Within the Grave and in a Pet would cry Let Death now strike his Stroke that I may dye Others again finding themselves distasted Perhaps because some great Design was blasteâ— Will presently puff out their angry breath And in a suddain Passion wish for Death Just like to Jonah when the Lord design'd The Ninevite's Destruction yet inclin'd To Mercy if the Ninevite's Repented Jonah crost in his Mind was discontented And wish'd to dye for which he was reprove Altho a holy Prophet and beloved Alas poor Souls you that cry out so fast For Death as if indeed you were in hast Should God but grant your unadvis'd Petition You quickly would bewail your sad Condition And cry as fast Oh that the Lord would spare My Life a little longer Oh beware Lest God provoked take away thy breath Against thy mind Poor Soul prepare for Death but dye Before thou wish so unadvisedly That when Death comes thou 'st nought to do If God be pleased to lengthen out thy dayes Be then well pleas'd to spend them to his Praise And if he 's pleas'd thy Dayes shall be but few Be thou content and labour to eschew All kind of Sin whereby thou may'st offend Him that alone can Crown thy latter End With Happiness unto Eternity Thus learn to live that thou may learn to dye North North-West Our next Point's North North-West Th' art now lanch't forth Into the Deeps and drawest nigh thy North Thy Dayes is spent and now thy Spirit must Return to God thy Body to the Dust God is thy Northern Star from thence thou came Who was and is unchangeably the same 'T was He who at the first did give thee Breath 'T is He for Sin doth summons thee by Death 'T is God who in his Image first did make thee And never since was willing to forsake thee 'T was He that did appoint a Second Life To put a Period to that deadly Strife That Sin has made 'twixt Man and his Creator 'T was God that did appoint a Mediator Even Jesus Christ to whom God doth direct thee Because he is not willing to reject thee From North to East thou wast at first conducted From God to Christ his Son to be instructed And brought into the way of Life where thou The things belonging to thy Peace might know Thy time on Earth that short uncertain Space Has been the Day of Patience and of Grace Which if thou hast neglected till thy Sun Be wholly set the Day of Grace is done T' expect another Day of Grace is vain From North to East thou must be brought again From God to Christ thou once again must pass Who is appointed not as first he was To be the Saviour of thy Soul but He By God's Appointment now thy Judge must be Your Consciences whose Checks you now refuse Will testifie against you and accuse Thee to thy Judge and none will intercede Thou 'st not a Friend in thy behalf to plead Christ was thy Friend whose Counsel thou refus'd And all his gracious Promises abus'd Thou that rejected Counsel heretofore Shall never have a Word of Counsel more The Prince of Peace that sacred Lamb of Sion Is now become a fierce devouring Lyon He that being fill'd with Mercy and Compassion Laid down his Life to purchase thy Salvation Is cloath'd with Fury now and burning Ire And is become a Soul-consuming Fire This sacred Truth is left upon Record Within the Volumes of God's holy Word 'T will be a Soul-cousening Day of trouble Wherein the Wicked shall become as Stubble Which in an Oven is consum'd away So dreadful is that Soul-amazing Day To all the Wicked such as do Rebell Depart depart you Cursed into Hell Will be the Sentence that the Judge will give Unto all such as in Rebellion live Depart to Hell where you Eternally Shall be a dying but shall never dye Go down to Hell depart out of my sight To utter Darkness to eternal Night Depart to Hell for as your Works are evil So shall you now be Sharers with the Devil Depart to Hell to everlasting Pain From whence expect not to return again You that can scoff at Resurrection now Would then avoyd it if you knew but how Your dismal Night will never find a Morrow Your Merriments will all be turn'd to Sorrow Who can express the dolorous Grief and Pain That damned Souls shut up in Hell sustain Where Fire goes not out where Worm ne'r dies Where cursed Oaths is turn'd to hidecous Cryes Sad is the Case with Hell-confined Souls Who now in stead of drinking Wine in Bowles Gnashing their Teeth with anguish they must spend Their doleful Hours in pain World without end You that have spent some time in sinful Pleasure To satisfie your Lusts shall find no leasure To fix your Eye
to thy desired rest Is his desire who doth here recommend Tâ—â—s Poem to thy use who is thy Friend Benjamin Keach TO THE READER By a Gentlewoman who was an intimate Friend of the Authors in Commendation of this Poem IT is not common for the Female-kind In Printed papers to expose their mind To publick view yet if I here transgress I hope my fault will seem so much the less Because I never did so much before And Peradventure never may do more These lines kind Reader that I hear commend I had th' advantage first to see them Pend And hear them read the matter so delighted My ravish'd Senses that it has invited Me to commend these Poems which I know To be of Soul-concern to High and Low There 's not a Man upon the Earth so high But may upon this Subject cast an eye He that doth think himself too high to know His Maker while on Earth will be too low For God to know when he would be regarded While such as knows God here will be rewarded He that doth think himself to know so much That he need know no more 't is unto such That Paul that good Apostle is so bold To tell them they know nothing as they should Who think themselves too high to be concern'd VVith any thing that here is to be learn'd VVill be too low to offer his Repentance Or stand in Judgment or reverse the Sentence Of Go you Curs'd VVherefore let none disdain To look upon this Piece because 't is plain So much the rather may you be contented To look upon this Piece that 's here presented Because the matter that it doth contain Is no new Doctrin no Fanaticks strain 'T is Catholick Apostolick likewise That which no sober Christian-man denyes It is the knowledge of the Lord most high One God in Essence three in Trinity To know that God made Man upright and good To know likewise that Man no long time stood In this so just so perfect good Estate Before he did from thence degenerate To know that Man was tempted by the Devil To break God's Law till when he knew no Evilâ— To know that Man was sentenced to Dye And Christ was promised immediatly To wound the Serpent by whom Man was slain And to restore fal'n Man to Life again To know that Christ was very God indeed And very Man made of the VVomans Seed To know that Christ by God's appointment dy'd And was by Pontious Pilate Crucifi'd And in the Grave did for a time remain And on the Third Day He did Rise again That unto Christ all Soveraign Power was given Both in the Earth and also in the Heaven To know I say and rightly understand That all the VVorld is now at Christ's command To know the Father and the Son likewise To know the Holy-Ghost that Sanctifies And fits the Soul for Death and future Glory These are the things the Author spreads before ye My hearts desire is the Author he May be rewarded in Eternity In everlasting Joy where Saints shall sing Continual Anthems to their Heavenly King VVhere God himself will wipe away all tears VVhere he no more shall be perplext with fears Of stearing right unto that Holy Land VVhere Saints and Angels in God's presence stands Yet while he on these restless Seas remains That he might be assisted in his pains My hearts desire is he may Inherit The gifts and graces of God's holy Spirit That may descend into him like a flood That he thereby may do his Country good Thus with my hearty prayers to God I rest Desiring his endeavours may be blest Vnto that use for which they were intended Then shall I think my Friend is well be-friended SHe that doth this Unpolish'd piece commend Was willing that it should obtain its end No pains she spar'd to give these Poems Birth But with desire sought to bring it forth And to that end that nothing might prevent Gave her assistance for encouragement May these my labours to thy use be blest For which her Love her Zeal her Heart exprest Courteous Reader I Have for thy ease and pleasantness in Reading drawn up this brief Table containing in it the chief Heads that is Treated on in the First Part of this Book because the first part is not divided as it ought to have been nor as the Second aâ—d Third Part is I have therefore used this Method to every particular matter that is Treated on in this First Part I have given thee Directions in what Page to find them that so thou may readily turn to that matter thou art most desirous to inspect The First Part of this Book is an Introduction to the Art of Soul-Navigation and ought to have been so Intituled The TABLE THat there is a true resemblance between a Ship at Sea and a Christian in this World and between the Sea and the World pag. 1 2 3 The like true resemblance between the Word of God and the Sea-mans Compass the Seas resemble this world in three particulars 1. In the unconstancy of its motion 2ly In the Salt gusâ— the waters of the Sea hath 3dly In the Violence of the Waves p. 4 5 A Ship at Sea resembles a Christian in this world in three particulars First In being liable to Leaks p. 6 7 8. In being liable to run upon Sands and so broken p. 9 10. In being liable to be split upon Rocks p. 11. â—e Rocks explained p. 12 13. â— the Second Part call'd Speculation begins with an Introduction to Speculation p. 14 15 16. â—e four Cardinal Points Treated of The North compared to God the West to Christ the South to Holiness West to Death p. 17. â—ripture grounds for this Allusion p. 18 19. â—eculation explained the first part of it being the true knowledge of God p. 21 22 23. â—ow Christ must be known p. 24 25 26. â—f Holiness p. 27 28. â—f Death p. 29. â—he certainty of the Resurrection from Death to Life again as the Sun moves from West to North and from North to East again so Man rising from the Grave goes to God from God to Christ his Judge p. 30. The Blessed Estate of the Righteous p. 31 32 33. The sad State of Sinners after Resurrection they must return back again from Christ their Judge to their Western Point which is the Second Death p. 34 35 36. A general Application p. 37 38. ERRATA Reader THere is some but not many Faults escaped the Press which because somâ— wrongs the Sense I have noted omitting sucâ— Literal Mistakes as do not wrong the Sense PAge 2 line 12 for worth read World p 9 l. â—9 f hiâ— r. God p. 10 l 2 f. sould r Sâ—uls Ibid â— Sâ—â—â— Some 's p 11 l. 7 r. It is a signe of Death p. 57 l. 22. â— â—â—ssuated p. 68 l. 27 r. External THE â—eaman's Spiritual Companion OR Navigation Spiritualized A Ship at Sea that on the Waves is tost In danger every moment to be lost
Titus the Roman when he did behold The Sanctum Sanctorum beautified with Gold â—e stood amaz'd lifts up his hands to Heaven Desires of the Lord to be forgiven His great offence to God protesting still That glorious Temple fell against his will Wherefore he crys aloud calls out amain â—o spare that Holy Temple crys again â— spare saith he that glorious place 't is pity â— should be ruin'd with this wicked City â—et was this Temples glory not so great â—o answer to the height of mans conceit â—or may the height of mans conceit compare â—ith what this Vision did to John declare â—welve thousand furlongs was its measured height â—he glory of the Lamb did give it light â—he Suns resplendent rays when shining clear â—ould give no light it had no luster there â—o night was there no cloud nor sables shade â—his is the glorious day the Lord hath made â—hat tongue or pen can give a true relation â—f new Jerusalem the habitation â—f glorified Saints whose full perfection â—all be compleated at the resurrection But last to the West â—â—ve this to say â—ere is eternal night as well as day Thugh God in Christ do bless the Sts. with light God out of Christ prepares perpetual night For wicked men and Devils no exemption In life there is in death there 's no redemption All men must die we know it to be true Daily experience doth this matter shew There 's none exempt from death the very best Choicest of Christians pass from South to West The good man dies the wicked dies also Both good and bad from West to North must go The good man shall be rais'd so will the evil The Angel must be judg'd so will the Devil The difference lies here the Saints perfection Is at the highest after resurection 'T is then their everlasting day begins 'T is then they turn their backs of all their sins But with the wicked it is nothing so From their North Point to West again they go Depart they must from Gods eternal light VVith go you cursed to perpetual night But Oh! what heart can think or tongue express Their endless wo their grief remediless Consider Christians joy you need not borrow A better Pensil to paint forth their sorrow Consider but the comfort of the light From thence behold the terror of the night If naught but darkness should their souls oppress It would be sorrowful and comfortless 'T is utter darkness not the smallest beam Of light which makes their sorrows so extream Those very eyes while on the earth was blest VVith natural light shall now be dispossest Of all the incomfort what they undergo Being in darkness aggravates their woe The lustful eyes which in the earth delighted In naught but filthiness is now be nighted Shall never see a pleasant object more But weep and wail and never shall give o'r Be warn'd you swearers for these tongues of yours That in blaspâ—eming spends your precious hourâ— Uncessently shall then blaspheme Gods name For very anguish in tormenting flame And yet in darkness you that can hear God cry Repent you sinners wherefore will you die That scorns his bounty and refuse his grace While God with patience waiting gives you space You that can hear the God of Heaven complain At your destruction yet rebel again You that have grievâ—d the Lord you now must bear Your endless grief your cryes he will not hear Your ears which while on earth could give consent To hear Gods name blasphemed and be content Shall now hear sighs and lamentable cryes While you are sharers in these miseries Your hearts with which you hated every word Spoke to you by the Servants of the Lord With horror and amazement shall be smitten While all your former wickedness â—s written â—n your tormented conscience which will smite you â—nd with its aggravation shall affright you And in a dreadful manner shall present Before your face that hellish regiment Of all your former sins you have committed From which you might have been acquitted You then have time too much to see your folly But none at all to labour to be holy Your day is past your dreadful night is come Your Sun is set and darkness is your doom This is the last considerable thing Relating to the West that I shall bring But yet before we pass to th' Second part Of this soul-saving Navigable Art These four things that we have lastly read Shall once again before your eyes be spread But very brief and for no other end But that I may more seriously commend Them to your thoughts as highly your concern Rightly to weigh to understand and learn North stands for God and that you first must know From God to Christ your Eastern Star you go God out of Christ is cloathed all in ire Behold God so he 's a consuming fire To God by Christ your souls must have access And Christ conducts thee unto holiness Thy Southern Point from whence cast but thine eye Unto thy Western Point and learn to die Four things is in thy Western Point laid down All very necessary to be known First thou must die thy rising sun must set I' th' West 't is certain do not that forget From West to North from death to God you go By God through Christ th' art rais'd again also After which time thy sun will set no more Nor yet decline as it has done before But if thou do'st not die a holy man Thou wilt be far more miserable than Thou wast before thou must go back again From North to West for ever to remain In that black night which never sees a morrow Where thou wilt find no period of thy sorrow One word of use and then I shall have done Walk not in darkness while you have the Sun To be your guid He that walks in light May see to take and chuse his steps aright But he that walks in paths of darkness neither Knows how to guid his steps aright nor whether He is a going God hath provided well Why should your precious souls go down to hell What pity 't is that man that noble creature Whose well composed form and comely feature The Son of God did not disdain I say What pity 't is he should be cast away And that you may not want a full direction To bring you unto Heaven Saints perfection The next unto this Art of Speculation Must be the practick of Souls Navigation In which discourse I shall my self confine To th' Seamans Compass only more divine And shall accordingly present to view Our Practick Points in number thirty two Thus having given you a full relation Of the First Part of Sacred Navigation Which is speculation I now proceed Unto the Second Part which is indeed The Practice of a Christian after he Hath been instructed to a good degree In the true Knowledge of the Deity One God in Essence three in Divinity Distinguish't thus the Father and the Son And Holy Ghost three
real ground to exercise their faith That all the world as holy Scripture saith Might look up unto him and saved be By faith in Christ whose blood was shed for the If thou be careless here and do'st not learn To know this Point thou hardly wilt discern The pleasant Banks of blessed Canaans shore Which if thou miss th' art lost for ever more North East Now learn thy fourth Point 'twixt N. and Eaâ— For in thy Compass so thou'lt find them plac't Man 's saved by the Word of God indeed Which Word of God is that same promis'd seâ— In Gods appointed time this Word became Flesh in our form St. John affirms the same He took not on him Blessed Angels nature But Abraham's seed the shape of humane Creâ—tuâ— A sinless man into the world did come Not by the will of man but from the Womb Of a chaste Virgin came he to fulfil What was decreed in the Fathers will That he might purchase mans eternal good By no less price than his most precious blood This is that Lamb of God to whom is given All soveraign power both in earth and heaven â—gels in heaven are at his Command â—d earthly Potentates shall not withstand â—s mighty power to him all knees shall bow â—gels above and Mortals here below â—om this Point therefore thou may'st understand â—at God the Father doth by Christ command â—ee to submit unto his easie yoke â— else thou must submit unto the stroke â— God 's offended Justice which be sure â—hether thou wilt or no thou must endure â—ey Christ as thy Leader O neglect â—ot this Command if e'r thou do'st expect â—at heavenly consolation from above â—t Christ and not thy Lust command thy love â—rve not thy lusts which leaves thee at thy grave â—t serve the Lord thy Saviour that can save â—y precious soul and if thou dost rebel â—n cast both soul and body into Hell stretch not forth thy hand be not so bold â— take a Comfort touch not take not hold â—on a Gospel Promise in no case â—til a Gospel Precept thou embrace â—bserve the word that holy David spake â—e'll not adventure nor presume to take â—ld of a Promise till he stretch his hand â—rth to take up a Precept and Command â—y hand saith David while his heart consents â—e lifted up to thy Commandements vain men cry for mercy and expect â—r help in storms that do in calms neglect To yield obedience to that Sacred Word Of him whom God hath made our Sovereigâ— Lorâ— God by his holy Prophets spake his mind Once to the Fathers but hath now confin'd The world to hear his Son no other voice Is man to make the object of his choice Therefore observe this Fourth Point with heeâ— And to the Fifth Point we will next proceed North East and by East North East and by East this doth next ensue All you that sail for Heaven take a view Of God and Christ see how they both agree In ones eye how unanimous they be In seeking after mans eternal good God freely sends his Son that by his blood Poor man might be redeem'd from Death likewisâ— Christ freely did become a Sacrifice How wilingly did Christ lay down his life That he might put a period to the strife That sin had made 'twixt God and his Creation That freely brought about poor mans Salvation If God and Christ with such a joynt consent Sought thus to free man from the punishment Of Death eternal and that man might live For ever happy Christ did freely give His Life a ransom was 't the Fathers pleasure At such a rate to purchase endless treasure For mortal man Then suffer not thy lust To hanker after Egipts Golden dust â—ich flies away like chaffe before the wind â—hose place in seeking for thou canst not find 〈◊〉 longest date is but a mortal day â—st Threescore years and ten it will not stay â—d often times it threatens to bereave thee â— heavenly treasure and at last doth leave thee â—member Moses that holy man how he â—spised Egipts wealth thought the degree â— Son in Phraohs Court was much below â—e meanest servant in Gods house to know Crucified Christ's a glorious thing â—mpared with any earthly crowned King â—ath puts an end to Kings and kingly glory â—cause their honours is but transitory â— longer King the body being dead â—ath sets the Crown upon the Christians head Death a Christians Crown begins its date â—ich once begun will never terminate â—is Life is short uncertain and impure â— at Life is certain holy doth endure â—ell let not this Fifth Point neglected be â— not forget that God and Christ agree â— bringing Man unto this life again â—o had himself by his trangression slain â—ristians that sail for heaven do not fear â—e raging Seas for Christ your Pilot's there â— not afraid because thy Vessel 's poor â—ou'rt safer there than if thou wer 't on shore â— stately Palaces with sumptuous Feasts â—ongst thy sins those soul devouring beasts 'T is better go to heaven in foul weather Through many dangers if thou get'st but thitheâ— Than in a pleasant gale to swim to hell Where gentle winds do make th' canvass swell East North East The next Point East North East learn carfully This Seventh Point doth bring thee very nigh To Christ thy East mark what his servant saith Erre not be not mistaken in thy faith Concerninâ— Christ that soul that here mistakes Doth run himself upon a rock and makes The worst of Ship-wracks like to Alexander Who erring from the Christian faith did wander In paths of Darkness let Philotas be A mark of information unto thee That by this Seamark thou mayst understand How nigh thou art the rocks and scape the sand Remember well the greatness of Gods grace Do not forget his love in any case Not to some few but all without exemption God did propound his Son formans redemption No man shall die because God did not give His Son to suffer Death that he might live But for this cause God would have cleansed mans spot In Christs dear blood but man believ'd it not 'T is unbelief that causes man to die That Christ himself doth plainly testifie God loves the World but all will not believe it Christ died for all but some will not receive it This truth shines clearly but some will refuse To walk therein and many rather chuse To walk in Darkness this is condemnation Saith Christ our Lord that purchast mans Salvation That God is real in what he doth say Shines like the Sun it is as clear as day But that the Lord with words makes men believe Christ is there Saviour only to deceive Their understandings Oh that men would see How dreadful dark such apprehensions be He errs in faith that thus forsakes the light He needs must fall that wanders in the night But Secondly a man may erre in faith That make what men not what the Scripture saith Their rule to worship by though
dyes And so doth Jacob and his Sons likewise Moses and Joshua and good Samuel Elisha David all which did excell In Holiness yet Death must act his part Impartially must throw his fatal Dart Pains are the Messengers that Death will send Sickness and Weakness brings thee to thy End Yet when we look on Death Coelestially In such a case a Christian cannot dye He only sleeps his Death is but a Night The Trump will wake him in the morning light The holy Fathers all are said to sleep Their Graves as in in a sacred Bed doth keep Their breathless Bodies which must there remain Till God restore both Breath and Life again Yet with respect to Man this is a Death Because all Men surrender up their Breath To God who unto Man at first did give A comely Form and Breath to make him live Yet wicked Men oft take away by force That sacred Breath contrary to the course That God appoints If here you do not mind To stear aright although against the Wind Your weather-beaten Vessels may be driven Upon the Rocks and split but God hath given Such true Directions that thou needs not fear For Holiness directs thee how to stear Upon this dangerous Point and not miscarry Though Waves be rough and Winds be quite contrary South South-West Seventeen Points already is exprest This Eighteen Point draws nigher to the West An useful Point and needful to be known By all that do the Christian Compass own Death is the King of Terrors doth arrest All sorts of Men spares not the very best â—t is not Holyness that will excuse When Death sends forth his Summons Men may use Means to prolong their days but yet they must Direct or indirectly come to Dust Directly all Men tast of Death we know â—ecause the Lord hath said it shall be so â—ut holy Men do often yield their Breath â—t Tyrant's Pleasures who conspire their Death Abel a holy Man and yet must dye â—y Cain's inraged causless Cruelty wicked Man cannot endure the sight â—f him that 's Just because he brings to light â—is wicked Deeds and secretly reproves â—hose sinful Lusts his Soul so dearly loves â—nd for this cause did Herod lay his hand â—pon John Baptist and at his Command â—e holy Prophet must be put to Death â—d to the Cruel Tyrant yields his Breath â—r my Names sake saith Christ you shall be hated â—en of those to whom you stand related As Natural Brethren in the Flesh or rather As Children dear unto a tender Father Yet these Relations being wicked brings Their Children dear before the Face of King And Governours who with their Rulers will Imprison some and other some they 'l kill Thus did the best of Men by wicked Force Ere God's appointed time of Nature's Course Be fully spent This Point well understood You may ride safely on the raging Flood Of earthly Troubles but without Endeavouâ— To learn this Point you may be lost for ever Both Ship and Lading Holyness will guide yâ— Upon this Point no danger shall betide you For Holyness prepares the Soul for Death When God directly takes away thy Breath And frees thee from the fear of Death likewisâ— Which wicked Men maliciously devise South-West and by South South-West and by South Behold how tâ— Point liâ— This Point you must be sure to learn likewise Death is a Terror it can be no less When 't is not usher'd-in with Holyness If thou would dye in perfect Peace be sure Thou persevere in Holyness Indure Faithful to Death and thou shalt surely have A Crown of Life on th' other side the Grave But if upon this Point thou stears not right Thy hope't-for Morning will be turn'd to Night Thou wilt by storm beset and fiercely driven On Rocks Sands and never come to Heaven South-West South-West's the 20th Point o' th Compass and Even between the South and West doth stand â—his is an useful Point and therefore thou Must labour to be skill'd therein And know Tho Death with his impartial Sythe cut down The best of Men that ever yet was known Yet to the Saints Death's but an Agent sent On an Embassage and to this intent To tell the Saint That now the Sun grows low And Night draws on and now 't is time to go To his desired Bed where he must rest From all his Labours Such a Saint is blest Who while he lives all Filthiness abhorr'd And when he dies Death finds him in the Lord. Store up therefore before you go from hence Some solid and well-grounded Evidence That thou art in the Lord and when you dye Then take this Cordial that thou hast laid by One dram thereof will stand thee in more stead Than all the World Then Blessed are the Dead Will be a sweet and comfortable Sound And make your Joys though dying to abound Oh what a Comfort is it now to dye VVhen Souls can rightly to themselves apply The precious Promises God doth afford VVithin the Volumes of his holy VVord Even this Promise that the Lord doth grant To Man as Terms of the New Covenant Their Sins and their Iniquities no more Shall be remembered as heretofore In the first Legal Covenant they were Still called to remembrance every Year That Soul that sees himself by Christ remitted And also knows he freely stands acquitted When others mourn he can rejoyce and sing The worst that Death can do is but to bring â—im Tydings that he 's going to lay down An Earthly to enjoy a Heavenly Crown He freely in his arms can Death embrace O happy he that dies in such a Case The happy Tydings that grim Death doth bring To such a one doth take away the Sting Death only is a Terror unto those That do themselves to Righteousness oppose When such a one doth look Death in the Face O then he cryes out for a longer space But all too late Death will not be deny'd The Day of Grace is past thou 'st mist thy Tyde Well to this Point I now shall say no more But only this Get Evidence in store That thou art in the Lord that Death may be A Messenger of Joy and Peace to thee South-West and by West South-West by West this Point must also be Well taught and also learn'd by every He That Launcheth forth upon each raging Wave â—n hope he shall a happy Issue have Oh let me lodge this Errand in thy Breast Now thou art drawing near unto thy West Know that as Righteousness will not excuse A holy Man from Death So they that use To spend their Hours in wickedness and strife Shall not thereby prevent another Life For live they must Man's Life is purchased By Christ's dear Blood that on the Earth was shed Yea tho their Lives have been so vilely evil That they have striven to exceed the Devil â—n Wickedness yet shall not that prevent That Life in order to their Punishment Could Wicked Men by Sin prevent that Day How would
they sin their very Lives away But that they cannot For God did create Man in a pure good and perfect State And God who of Man's Life was the first Giver Appointed means that Man might live for ever And gave to him the Tree of Life to eat A sacred Fruit a Life-preserving Meat Man did procure his Death at second-hand By wilful breaking of the Lords Command But God not willing to cast Man away Prepared for his Life another Day Christ by the Name o' th' Woman's Seed waâ— giveâ— That Man who dy'd on Earth might live in Heaven If after this Man stubbornly Rebell Though Man shall live yet it shall be in Hell A Place prepar'd for Satan's Punishment Yet must Rebellious Disobedient Be sharers with him live in endless Woe His Life being purchased it must be so Wherefore mind this Point well that so yoâ— may Steering by Compass rightly find your Way West South-West Beholding Death as it at first came in As the deserved Wages of our sin It hath a dreadfull Sting that none can bear The Approach of Death doth fill Men's Heart with feaâ— 'T is call'd The King of Terrors well it may And therefore Man from Death would fly away It is the Holy sanctified Man Yea such a One it is that only can Say unto Death Where is thy Sting O Grave Where is that Victory thou' rt wont to have True Sanctity is such a precious thing Makes Death all Honey takes away the Stingâ— 'T is not devouring Monsters of the Seas Nor Sword nor Fire by Land 't is none of these Nor Hell inraged Cruel tortures can Make Death be stinging to a Holy Man Death only stings with Poison such as give Way to their Lust and do corruptly live â—hat Man that lives and dyes in wickedness Death stings his Soul with Horror and Distress â—o live in hatred of thy sins is best Which brings us very near unto West West by South And that thou might the better be directed â—o learn this Point let nothing be neglected That may informe thee how to stear aright â—et Earthly things seem empty in thy sight â—'s the vain Pleasures of this World intices â—o frown on Vertue and to smile on Vices 'T was Acan's Golden wedges Beauty did â—tice him to do that he was forbid â— was his Babylonish Garment gay â—hat made both Eyes Heart Hand to stray â—et not the World delude thee with its pleasure And thereby rob thee of Eternal Treasure When Men's affections are so strongly plac't On Earthly things which is but for a blast â—nd Death comes suddainly to call him hence How bitter is it Man would not dispence With Death's sharp Summons but with might and main â—trive to make Death call back his stroke again How loath to bid those present things good Night Which are so sweet and pleasant in thy sight Gardens and Orchards with rich Treasure anâ— Fair sumptuous Houses joyning to the Land When Death the tydeings of departing brings O saith that Man that loves these present things Shall I now close mine Eyes and lose the sight Of these Enjoyments wherein I delight And sleep in Dust until I rise again And know not whether into Joy or Pain O Death forbear to strike me now and give Me time t' enjoy these Pleasures here and live Thus bitter's Death to those that are in Love With Earthly things and not with things above If therefore on this Point thou wouldst steaâ— righâ— Then let thy Heart by Earthly things set light Love not this World in which thou must noâ— stay But love that Treasure that abides alway So wilt thou be with holy Paul resolv'd 'T is better be with Christ and be dissolv'd Than live on Earth where Sorrows never cease So shalt thou go unto thy Grave with Peace West Three Quarters of our Christian Compass past It now remains that we unfold the Last We are past the North the East the South anâ— noâ— We 're come to West our Sun grows very low The Evening of our pleasant Day is come Our Sun is set and we are hasting Home â—nto the Grave the Earth from whence we came â—or Dust we are and must return to th' same â—arth is our Home our very Home indeed â—ecause from Earth at first we did proceed â—nd though we there a season do remain â—et from the Earth we must return again â—om West to North From Death we go to God â—nd there takes up our Everlasting Bode â—he Body being dead the Earth must have it â—he Spirit doth return to God that gave it â—arth is our Home but not our longest Home â—o Earth we be yet first from God we come â—d thither 't is we must return again â—nd from that time unchangeable remain â—ter the Judgment 's past and Sentence given â—ur constant Home must be in Hell or Heaven From North to East Again we now must pass â—om God to Christ who now appointed is â— be our Judge who will uprightly deal â—d from his Judgment there is no appeal â— Righteous Judgment he will have regard â— give to every one a just Reward â— those that in well-doing seek for Glory â—ernal Joy in Heaven 's prepared for ye â—t unto those that stubbornly Rebell â—ernal Wrath with damned Souls in Hell â—thing but anguish trouble grief and sorrow â—hose dismal Night will never find a Morrow But forasmuch as now we 're come to th' Weâ— We will divide this Quarter like the rest Into eight several Points which we 'll lay dowâ— All very necessary to be known And forasmuch as now we understand We sail by West unto the Holy Land From the first minute that we draw our Breath We 're sailing towards West draws on to Deaâ— Let 's mind each Point in this last Quarter wâ— That in our Knowledge we may there excell It is of absolute necessity For spiritual Seamen that they learn to dyâ— This needful Lesson Balam understood He knew it was both excellent and good To learn this Lesson O saith he that I Were like thâ— Righteous when I am to dye O that my later End like his might be Such Good in dying well did Balam see To learn this Lesson well this Rule I 'le giâ— If thou would learne to dye first learn to live Then take Directions from this sacred Truth Remember thy Creatour in thy Youth Begin betimes the Morning of thy Dayes Is the fit Season to reform thy Wayes Give God thy strength serve him whilst thoâ— youâ— Thy Senses quick thy Understanding strong Defer not thy Repentance untill Night Or Evening of thy Dayes but with Delighâ— Let Child-hood learn to live and Youth likewâ— So wilt thou find sweet Comfort when thou dâ— â—od calls betimes and if thou dost delay â—o hearken to his Voyce while it is day â—n unexpected Storm may suddainly â—end thee away unto Eternity â—ithout th' advantage of another Season â—onsult then with Flesh or fleshly Reason â—hy Flesh will tell thee that thou
may take Pleasure â— little Season and Repent at leisure â—nswer thy Flesh thou cannot surely say â—hou mayst continue yet another Day â—nd to confirm this Truth Experience sayes â—eath strikes the Child the aged Man betrays â—he hopeful young Man even in his Prime â—nd gives him not sometimes an howers time Death comes unheard her Arrow 's sharp and keen â—e strikes invisibly kills unseen â—ncertain when but certain Death will strike â—especting Kings and Beggars all alike â—eath's stroke is dreadful come it soon or late â—t being struck Repentance out of date Perhaps thou may take Pleasure for To-Day â—-Morrow Death doth take thy Life away â—e World poor Soul and all the Pleasures in it â—nnot secure thee now another Minute â—en hear To-day 't is all the time that 's given â—ject To-day and lose thy Way to Heaven West and by North. The next Point in this Quarter 's West by North â—learn this Point aright is of great worth Remember this That if thou dost not take Time by the Fore-lock when thou wast awaâ— Living on Earth I mean pale Death bereaâ— thâ— Of Life of all means of Grace leaves thâ— In no Capacity to mend thy Wayes Living thou may but dead thou cannot praisâ— The sacred Name of God within the Grave There 's no Remembrance that the Dead â— haâ— King Solomon whom God hath made more wâ— Than any Man before or since did prize A living Dog tho th' mean'st one could set 〈◊〉 Before a dead altho a Kingly Lyon And Solomon doth give this Reason why The Living knows saith he that he must dye The Dead knows nothing Therefore while tâ— liâ— Observe the Counsel that Christ Jesus gives Work while it is to-day the Night will hast In which the time of working will be past 'T is in the Day Men work not in the Night Wherefore improve thy Day with all thy miâ— The Heavenly Hosts of Angels are delighteâ— When Sinners turn before they are be-night Christ to Jerusalem was heard to say O that thou didst but know in this thy Day The things that do concern thy Peace But noâ— The Day is past and Darkness doth ensue â—ese things which in the day God doth reveal â—e Night being come thick darkness doth conceal Well then be careful thou that art to stear â—on this Point for if thou miss it here â—ou runs the hazard of th' approaching Night â—hen Heaven will refuse to give thee Light â— thou would have thy Soul-Endeavours blest â—en mind the next Point which is West North-VVest VVest North-VVest â—t not the greatness of the Numbers sway thee â—r let the Counsel of the most betray thee â—e most are careless how they spend their time â—ving their Lusts and Satan with their prime â—tear not by most Examples for thereby â—u'lt miss thy Point and sink Eternally â— Paths of Death is like the mighty Ocean â—en quiet calm'd deny their Waves of Motion â—en Seamen ride upon the smooth-fac'd Seas â—thout disturbance Many run with Ease â—aths of Darkness and are quite mis-led â— so have many thousands perished â— Way that leads to true Felicity â—ke the narrow Channel that doth lye â— at the Entrance of some Isle A Stranger â—nding out the Channel meets with danger â—ell thou art sailing to the Holy I le â— not the smooth-fac'd Seas thy Soul beguile The Pleasures of this World I mean which doâ— Bring many thousands to Eternal Woe And with this Caution I 'le this Point concludâ— Go not to Hell because the multitude Will not seek after true Felicity But rather chuse the Paths of Death and dye 'T is better go to Heaven though alone Than go to Hell ' cause thousands more are gonâ— This leads us to North-West by West where weâ— Shall farther in our Christian Compass be North-West by West Instructed still that so we may not miss That sacred Shore where true Contentment iâ— We 're still exhorting of you to prepare To meet with Death to mind your Western Staâ— We having told you You must learn to dye If you would live in Joy eternally That you may learn to dye we also give You Notice that you first must learn to live But for as much as some impediments Do threaten much as if they would prevent All good Endeavours I shall now asay To take all such impediments away The two next Points that follow will I spend Alone for the promoting of that End Obj. The Flesh objects against our first Advicâ— Supposing it to be a Point too nice Should thou saith Flesh refuse to own that wâ— Which most walk in what is' t Men will not sayâ— Thou wilt expose thy self to all Men's scorn And be as one forsaken and forlorn And many troubles thou 'lt find beside Thy Sorrows will be daily multiply'd Ans To this I Answer 'T is no matter what Man say or think so God reject thee not Man may revile thy soul they cannot harm Undaunted Sea-men do not fear a Storm 'T is not whom Man but whom the Lord approves That finds acceptance wherefore it behoves Thee not to let the fear of Man betray Thy Soul and keep thee from the narrow way This Channel 's narrow and is hard to find But Christ's thy Pilot fear thou not the wind Believe God's Word and do thou not regard Mens threatnings or their promise of reward This is his Word Whoever doth not hate Father and Mother Life for my Name 's sake He is not worthy of the smallest measure Of Sion's Glory Christ the Eternal Treasure What shall the fear of mortal man whose breath Is in his Nostrils shall the fear of Death Cause thee to slight the way of God deny His sacred Truths and fall eternally Let not thy life be precious in thine eyes But freely give it for a Sacrifice If God require it as He often hath done To bear a Testimony for his Son What! did the Son of God freely lay down His Sacred Life to purchase thee a Crown And shall a Christian think his life too dear To lose for Christ Alas thy stay is here But for a moments time the life of Man At longest is compared to a Span. Suppose thou layest down thy life thou dost But lay thee down to sleep awhile at most And sleeping thou wilt pass away the Night To rise to Glory in the Morning-Light Then fear not dying but be mov'd thereby To learn to Live that thou may learn to Dye North-West Our next Point is North-West this Point doth give Some brief directions how to learn to live Wherefore give heed for thus thy Point begins Look not too lightly upon smaller Sins And let small duties be in thy esteem As much as these that greater duties seem 'T is true indeed there 's no command at all As it proceeds from God himself is small Nor any Sin against that Glory bright Though it may seem but little in our sight Can be accounted small though there may seem Some difference in
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
could make the World to bear his Yoke Must in a Moment â—eel the direful Stroke Of Death which will remove him from his Treasure And in a moment level mighty Caesar With Beggars that upon the Dung-hill lies So swiftly this conceited Substance flies Where 's now the Man that 〈◊〉 so lately seen Subdue the Earth He 's as he had not been The seeming-Substance in the which he boasted Is like a Shaddow fled and he has lost it Then happy 's he that on this Point doth stear His Course aright he has need to fear The Threats of Death his Sins are all forgiven And his enduring Substance is in Heaven Where he shall need no Sword to keep his Right Or Watch-man to secure him in the Night Where Tears shall never more offend his Eyes And where he never more shall hear the Cryes Of Souls opprest where Wickedness shall cease Where all his Sorrows shall be turn'd to Peace Where Sighing shall be turn'd to singing Praise Where Nights are chang'd into perpetual Days Where wicked Men shall never lay more Hands On such as do delight in God's Commands Where all their threatning their cruel words Where-with they â—ex Christ's little Flock like Swords Shall pierce their Souls with Sorrow and their Heart Shall never more be freed from the smart Whose haughty Looks the Lord will then abase And they with Horror shall behold God's Face They that to Mercy would not be inclin'd Shall beg for Mercy and no Mercy find But they who shall in Heaven receive a Place Happy are they that are in such a Case O happy are those Souls whose God 's the Lord Who 've squar'd their Lives according to his Word Blessed's that Man in Death who in his Life Hath loved Holyness hated Strife Then Stear thy Course aright on West by North Where Treasures lye whose excellence worth Cannot be measured by me nor can Its Height and Depth be valued by Man It is indeed Man's Duty to inquire Into its Worth believe and so admire THus in our Christian Compass we have past From North to East to South to West at last We 're come to North again Our longest Day On Earth is measured to us by the Stay Of Heaven's great Lamp of Light the glorious Sun When it stayes longest in oâ—â— Horizon But now our Sun will never lose its Light We never more shall see a Cloudy Night If while thou art on Earth thou makest sure This sacred Treasure thou lyes down secure And free from Fear no Darkness will arise To hide this sacred Glory from thine Eyes Who then would make this World 's uncertain Treasure The Object of their Comfort Joy Pleasure Lay Treasure up in Heaven that may be From Thieves and Rust from Death and Danger free The height of Earthly Glory 's like a Bubble Fill'd with the wind but tost about with Trouble It 's at no certain speaks thee fair To-day And of a suddain it makes hast away The Pâ—rsian Monarch once could make his boast His Branches spread themselves in every Coast Throughout the Universe and in one Story The World agreed to Crown him with their Glory All People is contented he shall have What e'r his Eye could see or Heart could crave The Enjoyment of all this the Reason why We cannot call it true Felicity â—â—its Uncertainty Man has no Power To keep himself in this Estate an Hour The momentary Dangers that attend him He cannot scape though all the World be friend him Sorrows as well as Pleasures do abound On every Hand Dâ—ngers besets him round His Enemies beholds him and admire His prosperous State and secretly conspire His suddain Death hoping a Change in State May make an Alteration in their Fate But if through Servant's watchfulness and care He be preserved and escape that snare â—here's other Dangers that be incident To Man as such Care never can prevent The Sorrows that this Monarch doth sustain As the true Product of some grievous Pain Sometime is in less somtime in greater measure Bereaves him tho a Prince of all his Pleasure Death so impartially doth throw his Dart Makes Prince Pesant from his Pleasures part The Kings of Egypt making of their Feasts Fit to accomodate their Princely Guests Did serve Death's-Head as the last Course whereby They were inform'd of their Mortality Thus at the end of all their Dainty Chear They by Death's head of Death admonisht were This is the Counsel therefore that I give To such as do in full Enjoyment live Of Princely Pleasures know for certainty You are but Men tho Princes you must dye You are but Clay Death will dis-robe you quite And bury all your Glory out of sight Naked you shall arise and stand before The Judge of Heaven Earth have no more Advantage than the Beggar All shall have One common Resurrection from the Grave And no Respect of Persons will be there No notice will be taken what you were In Men's Esteem whether you were the Head Or such as was constrain'd to beg their Bread But what your Works have been O happy He Tho Rich or Poor of high or low Degree Whose VVorks shall be accepted He or they Shall stand in Judgment at the Judgment-Day All those whom Death finds in the Lord are blest They cease from Labour enter into Rest Thus have we run our Christian Compass round And if our way Canaan we have found Thorow the raging Seas of VVorldly Trouble Our Labors then will be rewarded double If we have learn'd to scape the Rocks and Sand And every Point o' th' Compass understand And upon every Point can stear aright Whether in pleasant Day or stormy Night If we each Point do so exactly learn That whether we be at Mast or Pump or Stern We can behave our selves in every Place Like Men accomplisht Happy is our Case OUr Compass being finisht one thing more Is necessary to be known Before Our Christian Compass we begin to con We must erect the Point it turns upon An Enlivened Conscience THe PIN on which our Christian Compass turns which giv's quick Motio to our lifeless Urns It is a Conscience touched with God's Word That 's quick sharper than a Two-edg'd Sword Which entereth into the very Soul And doth direct thine Eye unto the Pole God's Word 's the sacred Load-stone therefore The Conscience toucht therewith will ever more Gently be moving upon thy Affection With fixed Eyes to God for true Direction VVhen as the Seaman's Compass is erected And on his Part no Labor is neglected But that he dayly cons his Compass over Tho neither Sun nor Moon he can discover Minding his Compass he knows how to stear And knows when either Rocks or Sands be there Christians that do erect their Compass right Though they be Storm beset or in the Night Can find their way their Compass being laid Upon the Conscience but when no use is made Of Conscience in the things we undertake
â—a true emblem of mans restless state â—ce he by sinning did degenerate Ship for aptness as it doth excell â— is it anciently approved well â—ot only for its rareness of invention â—t for its plainness to our apprehension â—ere be but few if any that 's so low â—d shallow of Conceit but see and know â—at as it 's with a Ship whose Costly prize â—he Rich Lading of some Merchandize â—ating at Sea when Dark and Silent Night â—s Stain'd the Heaven and obscur'd the Light â—thout its Card Compass and likewise â—t knowing where its Port or Haven lies Nor how to steer or bend his Course thereto Being be-wildred in the dark Just so It is with Man since his unhappy fall Without a guid can find no path at all Mans body is the Ship his Soul likewise Is that unvaluable Merchandize A Pearl whose worth exceedes both weight anâ— measureâ— Its price is far above all earthly treasure He that shall lose his Soul although he gain The world with all its wealth he will sustain A loss far greater than can be esteem'd By earthly man or by the worth redeem'd Of all the treasures that is under heaven Nought for the Soul can in exchange be give This World 's the Sea and as by Nature weâ— Come into it we neither know nor see Our Haven unto which we ought to bend And steer our Course nor can we apprehend The usual means by which we are directed In this our Voyage till it be perfected Heaven is our proper Haven 't is the end Of all our Labours thither we ought to bend And steer our Course that we the better mighâ— With hope of happy issue steer aright To be our perfect Rule God doth afford The blessed Counsel of his Holy Word And to his Holy Word he adds beside His Holy Spirit for our perfect Guid. Lo thus as with a Compass night and day We are directed to find out our way Sail by this Compass and we shall be sure Whatever Storms and Tempest we endure Our Voyage will be crown'd with good success We shall not miss our Port of Happiness 'T is an unerring Rule but yet alass By Nature we are blind the time we pass Upon this Earth as in a Sea of Trouble Till Death dissolve our Bodies and this bubble â—f we compare it with the splendid light Of everlasting day it s but a night A night of darkness rather than a day Of perfect light we cannot find our way Without our Compass whence this may be learn'd That as a Merchant thinks himself concern'd To use his best endeavours to secure â—is floating Vessel that he may insure â—is Merchandizes So he that bears the prize â—f his Immortal Soul 's concern'd likewise â—bove all things to use his best endeavour â—o save his Soul which lost is lost for ever A Christian in the Gospel is compar'd â—o Merchants that do seek no less reward â—han precious Pearls which that he may find out â—oth compass Sea and Land whirls round about â—he Massy Globe through many a stormy blast â—nd thinks himself well satisfied at last â— obtains the treasure that he craves â—hough he indures the fury of the Waves â—n he but bring his Vessel safe to Shore â— his desired Port he seeks no more Man is the Merchant and his Port doth lie Within the Confines of Eternity This World 's well term'd a Sea and if we eye It as a place of Waters we may spy The same unconstant and unstable motion As men behold within the restless Ocean The various changes that this World affords With Neptune's often changes well accords The tossing to and fro of its affairs Filling mens hearts with daily fears and cares Is like the raging waves resistless might Which often puts the Seaman to a fright Threatning to rend his crasie Vessel and Intomb his Câ—rcass in the restless Land The fear'd evil and the hop'd for good In worldly things is like the ebbe and flood They go and come their flux and reflux we To turn and return like the Tide we see Sometimes this world doth promise present goâ— And then it seems like to the Sea and flood And when we think we shall some good obtaiâ— Is like the Tide returneth back again Nothing so certain as uncertainty Earthly enjoyments make them wings and 〈◊〉 And as the waters of the Seas retains A brinish taste the same Salt just remains In earthly things in great or lesser measure Abates the sweetness of all earthly pleasure Sometimes the waves mounts up our Ship on As if its Top-mast-head would pierce the Skiâ— And presently its tumbl'd down again â—s if in Hell it now were to remain â— such a case a Saint that 's in this world â—ost to and fro in such a fury hurld â— made Sea sick and nothing now is more â— Saints desire than Heaven its happy Shore â— Saint sometimes may have a present gale â—he Waters smooth the Wind fills out his fail â—he Wind stands fair the Raging Seas likewise â—re all at peace and now the Seamen lies â—nd quickly comes to his desired shore â—hen others that perhaps set out before â—eeting with Tempest at the Sea was driven â—uite from their Port lost Some go to heaven â—s with a prosperous wind is quickly hurld â—ut of the trouble of this evil world â—nd of such sort young infants be whose stay â—on this Sea sometimes is not a day â—hildren also that leave this world before â—ey have committed sin comes to the shore â— a short time and meets with never a storm â—ey neither do nor think of any harm â—ay we believe record that is given â—ese are undoubtedly the heirs of heaven â—eed from all sorrows tempestuous weather â—rist as their Pilot doth conduct them thither â—hilâ—st men and women being more mature â— these tempestuous Seas great storms indure â—hich gives them cause sufficient to desire â— leave these troubled Seas for fear they tire In length of time and upon Rocks be driven And split themselves lose their way to heaven 2. And in the second place our bodies may Be fitly term'd a Ship because as they When floating on the Seas do spring a leak So 't fares with man so frail he is and weak As through a leak the Sea doth make its way Forcing the weary Seaman night and day To ply the Pump least if his strength should faiâ— The waters should so mightily prevail To sink his richly laden Vessel and Bury both Ship and Lading in the sand The Seaman therefore spareth not his pain Till he his long'd for Haven do obtain So 't is with Christians Nature being weak While in this world are liable to leak And if a Christian in his labour fail The waters of this world will so prevail That Ship and Lading will undoubtedly Indanger sinking to Eternity The leaks are these the Saints that shall inheriâ— Eternal life is flesh as well as spirit The world presents thee with its golden pleasuâ—