God commend The Holy Scripture to us to the end That man might search them and in searching find What 's there revealed of the fathers mind And do the same that so they may obtain Eternal peace when they shall rise again â— erre not here in faith and that thou may Scape Shipwrack here observe what I say Search but the word of God and thou wilt find The Apostles did foresee vain man inclin'd â—o much to Atheism there would arise â—ain men that would Gods sacred Word despise â—aving of Scripture man might live without them â—ea venture to deny the Lord that bought them Which mock at Heaven and without regard Of God or Christ do scoff at Saints reward Who of the Resurrection say in vain Do men that die hope to rise again These be the men of which th' Apostle saith Th' are turned aside and as concerning Faith Have err'd here let thy Faith be sound For want of care here thou mayst run aground And split thy Ship and sink into that Lake Of everlasting Fire and partake With damned Spirits in eternal woe Where fearful and where unbelievers go Thirdly remember this aâ—d understand That thou art to obey to â—â—rists command It is not Moses nor Elias neither Nor Holy Angels take them altogether That God hath made thy Leader to be brief Christ is thy Leader and Commander in chief If I or Angels saith St. Paul do bring Another Gospel teach another thing Believe it not whatever men shall say See how 't agrees with Christ ere you obey Inquire if Christ command it first of all In Person or by Apostolical Decree If neither of them do command God never will require it at thy hand Wherefore be sound in Faith in all these three Forenamed particulars as thou shall be Directed by Gods Word to which I 'll leave thee As to a guid that never will deceive thee And this be sure if thou dost not steer Drectly on this Point bur errest here In matters of thy faith thou makes a poor And slender Voyage though thou comes safe to shore But that I may these errors yet explain In this short breviate read them once again A man may erre in faith in three respects All which produce most dangerous effects In not believing universal love It is a dangerous error and may prove The ruin of thy soul but secondly He errs in faith that doth presumptuously Deny the use of holy Scripture and Presumes to say that men may understand Gods mind without them from a light within This is an error and a dangerous sin Denying use of Scripture is the ground Of all the erors that do now abound Men erre in Faith that do not understand That they are wholly under Christs command But run to Moses Law to be directed In Gods true worship as if Christ neglected To leave his Gospel Churches a supply Of Laws to rule and Rules to worship by East by North. The next Point unto this thou art to learn Is North by East a Point of high concern As Christ for man by Gods degree was slain So Christ by God is rais'd to life again And as Chist by his Death did reconcile Man who by sinning did himself defile Unto his maker and hath now appeas'd Gods wrath who justly might have been displeas'd With man for ever but now reconcil'd He doth in Christ adopt man as his Child And make him heir with Christ in that possession Whose endless glory is without expression So Christ doth by his glorious Resurrection Raise man from death to life his imperfection Is Chang'd into a pure perfect state Which once begun will never terminate Mortal shall put on immortality And man thus rais'd to life shall never die Christ by the Word of God he overcame Satan that was the cause of sin and shame And that a Saint may do 't God doth afford Every Child of his the self same sword He that thus Conquered Satan by his breath Hath by his Resurection conquered Death Mans fatal enemy that first anoy'd The Sons of Adam is at last destroy'd The Son of God is Captain King and Head And is the first that riseth from the dead Whence we a certain testimony have That we should be redeemed from the grave The grave yields up her dead so must the deep The Trump must sound and all must wake from sleep Some unto dismal Darkness woe and sorrow Some to eternal light and joyful moâ—â—ow Sin causes Death both temporal and eternal Then fly from sin as from a foe infernal The Second Death is a perpetual dying Attended with Sorrow and continual Crying Whoever then would wisely undertake A prosperous Voiage for his soul to make And scape the second Death sin doth procure And all the sorrows sinners shall indure And would arrive at heaven fear no weather Storms is no hindrance in your Voiage thither Fear naught but sin there 's nothing else can harm You may get good advantage by a Storm Eschew but sin and storms will drive you faster To your desired Port there 's no disaster That thou canst meet with in this restless ocean Fly but from sin resist it in its motion And do not fear for thou art safe enough Thou 'lt find thy crasie Vessel weather proof 'T is neither whisling Mast nor ratling Pum The noise of storms or tempests that may come T is neither leaking Vessel or Lee shore Nor sinking Ship all these and many more Like seeming dangers that will lose thy prize Or hurt or hazard thy souls merchandize There 's nought but sin I say that can deceive us Of our souls trafique sin will quite bereave us He that doth fear and fly from sin shall never Perish in sinking no nor sink for ever Although his body sink his precious store His soul I mean shall surely come to shore Then fly from sin as from a Serpent least Sin sink thy soul which brings us to the East To Christ I mean whose precious blood was spilt To save thy soul and free thee from the guilt Of all thy sins if thou wilt but obey His precious voice now while it is too day East Next is our Eastern point that equal space Twixt North and South stablish thy heart with grace Grace is the only balast thou canst have It is by grace that God will sinners save Not of our selves so saith his servant Paul Christ is the gift of God given for all Stablish thy heart with grace not with notion Which fills the head and not the heart with motion 'T is neither gifts nor high expressions can Upon right grounds establish any man Grace is that balast makes thy Ship go steady But high aspiring notions makes men heady How many floating and unwary Souls Wanting this balast is tost about and rouls Now here now there no place of rest they find Are tost and turn'd about with every wind And almost overset with every wave And can no solid satisfaction have Sometimes their curious
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
THE Seaman's Spiritual Companion OR Navigation Spirituallized BEING A NEW COMPASS FOR SEAMEN CONSISTING Of Thirty-two Points Directing every Christian how to Stear the Course of his Life through all Storms and Tempests Fit to be Read and seriously Perused by all such as desire their Eternal Welfare Published for a general Good but more especially for those that are exposed to the Danger of the Seas By William Balmford A Well-wisher to Seamen's Eternal Welfare And Recommended to the Christian Reader by J. F. To which is prefixt a Preface by Benj. Keach the Author of Wâ—r with the Devil They that go down in the Deep and occupy in the Waters â—eâ— Thy Wonders Psal 10â— 22. London Printed for Benj. Harris and are to be Sold at his Shop at the Stationers Arms in Sweetings-Rents in Cornhil near thâ— Râ—â—al-Exchange 1678. Licensed January 3d. 1678. ROGER L'ESTRANG TO THE Ingenious SOCIETY OF SEAMEN The Author wishes all Happiness in this World and Eternal Felicity in the World to-Come through Jesus Christ our LORD c. INgenious Seamen who for honest Gain Oft rides Tryumphant o're the Liquid Main Whence doth a far more plentious Harvest flow Than from the Husband-Man's industrious Plow To You who through the Winds and Waters pierce To you alone I Dedicate my Verse If this small Piece but so effectual prove As 't is from me the pure Effects of Love Then shall I think my Labour Cost and Pain Will be rewarded with a treble Gain And that my Love and Labour may be blest One thing kind Friend I humbly do request That once a day thou wilt devote thy Heart One Quarter of an Hour sâ—t apart To think of God from whom thou hast thy Breath And seriously to ponder of thy Death 1. Concerning God think 't was his mighty hand Which did Create both Heavens Sea and Land Think that it 's God to all Things Being gives Yea ends the World while he for ever lives Without Beginning yea or end of Dayes Both was and is and shall remain alwayes 2. Add to thy Thoughts of God's Eternity Some serious Thoughts of thy Mortality Think with thy self My Father 's gone to Dust With all mine Ancestours and thither must My self return I see there 's no Redemption Of High and Low all dye without Exemption The High and Mighty all expires and dyes The Wicked and the Godly Man likewise Concerning Death think in the second place How short Ah how uncertain is my Race Both Health Strength to day a Man may have Yet â—n the Morrow followed to the Grave Man's Life 's uncertain shorter than a Span In one poor Hour the strongest stoutest Man Is by an unexpected stroke of Death Commanded to surrender up his Breath No Man that ever liv'd on Earth had Power To limit Death one Minute of an Hour But Seamen are Alas of all Men most Vncertain of their Lives for Death Rides Post Vpon the Wings of every churlish Wave Our Cabbins often-times becomes our Grave Death's Soul-amazing Aspect's in the Skies Seamen behold when Tempests do arise Then Death doth threaten loudly every Minit To sink our Ship with every thing that 's in it Rocks Seas and Sands and Tempests seem to strive Which shâ—â—ld be first to bury thee alive Vnto thy Thoughts of Death with Soul's Affection Add thou some serious Thoughts of Resurrection Think neither Earth nor Waters can detain One Soul for all that Dyes shall Rise again And come to Judgment all both High and Low For God hath said it and it must be so The serious Thoughts of this will profit more Tâ—an all the Treasures of the Indian-Shore The serious Thoughts of future Resurrection Leads thee to Faith and Faith unto Perfection When Vnbelief of Glory will bereave thee And all the Golden Mines of Indies leave thee How did our blessed Saviour confute The Sadduces who ventur'd to dispute With Him about the Resurrection They Could not bring forth another word to say You err saith Christ and do not understand The holy Scriptures nor God's mighty Hand But Seamen do behold his boundless Power And see his VVonders almost every Hour Oh! may the Power of God inflame your Hearts And make you credit what his VVord imparts Oh! spend each Day one quarter of an Hour In thoughts of Death and God's-Almighty Power To make you live again and Conquer Death As well as at the first to give you Breath So shall this Poem have its VVished-End And you 'll rejoyce his Heart who is your Friend William Balmford In Commendation of this ensuing Poem COme you brave Souls that love to cross the Main Who run sad hardships for a little gain Would you at last a Voyage undertake Which will you Crown and ever happy make Let me kind Sirs then like a Cordial Friend This little Poem to you Recommend 'T will teach you how to Sail to th' Land of Light Whose glory 's such it will amaze thy sight 'T will bring you to a City pav'd with Gold Whose sparkling beauty Mortals can't behold Sirs never any Souls did thither Stear But Crowned was as soon as they came there And I 'le assure thee can'st thou thither get A Crown of Glory on thee shall be set Ah who is it that would not look about When such a Voyage they may all find out Read thou this Book with Scales pull'd off thine eyes And thou may'st know which way thy Country lyes Oh then I 'le tell thee that thou may'st not fail That through the Sâ—â—aits thou must resolve to Sail With Grace thy Ship must bâ—llanc'd also be Or soon thou'lt sink to th' bottom of the Sea And Christ too for thy Pilate thou must take Or never else wilt thou this Voyage make And of two dangerous Rocks thou must beware The one's Presumption the other is Dispair Another thing expedient is to know Thou must set out whilst Winds of th' Spirit blow Faith is the Cable-Rope to which make fast The Ancher Hope which rightly thou must cast Into the Rock of Ages in the Vail And you 'l be safe in time of strongest Gale And never a loss by Shipwrack you 'l sustain Till you the Crystal-shore with Tryumph gain Hast thou a mind to Traffick for Salvation Then learn the Art of Sacred Navigation This Art well learnt and also understood Thou may'st ride safely o're the Mighty Flood Thy Weather beaten Vessel may be tost Upon the Waves but never shall be lost Yea though upon the churlish Rocks it hit Yet shall thy Vessel neither sink nor split Stear but by Heaven's appointed Compass and Fear neither Winds nor Waves nor Rocks nor Sand Here 's all things for thy Voyage necessary That thou may'st Sail though winds be quite contrary Here is a Prospect for thee to discry Thy Sacred Port and view thine Enemy Satan that Pirate that doth most annoy thee Yet shall he have no power to destroy thee And that thou may'st be in thy Voyage blest And come at last
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
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
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