some other persons in her Company especially three Children one of them upon her Breast But alas these poor trembling Travellers had not gone long before they were striped Naked by the Irish who to admiration spared their lives but passing on to the foot of a River others met them and would have cast them into the River but this Godly Woman not being dismayed asked a little liberty to Pray and as she lay on frozen ground Naked she got a little resolution not to go on her own feet to so unjust a death upon which having called her upon her resolution they drag'd her by the heels along the ground with the rest of the Company she turns upon them and on her knees says You should I am sure be Christians and men I see you are in taking away our miserable lives you do us a pleasure but know as we never wronged you nor yours you must dye also your selves and one day give an account of this Cruelty to the Iudge of Heauen and Earth Suddenly upon which an Irish Priest says Let us not take their lives but we will put them in this Island of the Lake a Boat being at the River all the eight Naked and without Meat are turned into that Island where after four days staying some of the Company dyed with Hunger and Cold but not this Woman nor any of her Children a day after the two Boys found the Hyde of a Beast which had been kill'd at the root of a Tree which they and the Mother endeavoured to cast over them then lying upon the Snow the next day a little Boat goes by to whom she calls for God's sake to take her out but they refused being Irish she desired a little Bread but they said they had none she begs a Coal of Fire which she obtained for she had some fewel in the Boat and thus with some fallen Chips made a fire and the Boys taking a piece of the Hyde layd it upon the Coals and began to gnaw the Leather but alas without an extraordinary Divine support what could this do Thus they lived ten days without any visible supplies and that good Woman profest it was by Faith and Joy in God she lived nor had she any Bread but Ice and Snow nor any Drink but Water but she thought God put more substance in it and found it as it were clammy The next day a Boat carryed her out to the side of the Band-water where yet she had been lost but that she could not suffer to see her Children dye in her sight and therefore though the two Boys were young and so Starved that they had no strength she pressed them to go out of her sight under pretence of seeking som fire the poor Children had not gone far until they saw two or three great Doggs eating a man who had been killed the Children were afraid the Doggs who needed not fear any thing but to live in such a Condition and one of them came running and leaped upon one of the Children without doing him the least hurt and would run a little before and then tarry until the Children come up and so led them on where an House whence Smoke appeared which was an Irish mans Protected by the English in Antrum by which means they were marvellously pleased and the Mother sent for and succoured by a party from Antrum Although this Providence be not a Sea-deliverance yet it is a remarkable preservation from danger by Water and Hunger at Land 7. In the first setling of the Bohemia Islands off the Cape of Florida about the year 1642. there were at that present great troubles in the Burmoudas one Captaine Sale who had been Governour the year before comes for London and here informing some of his Acquaintance and Persons of Worth and Estate how things then stood they undertake for him and got him a Ship and all things necessary for the discovery of these Islands which he had informed them of so they proceeded to Burmoudas where they took in several Passengers Captain Sale being Cheif and Captain Lane and his Family which came from London with him as his Assistant in the management of the Designe so they in pursute of the Voyage came to an Island called Cicatra he lay down in the Platts where they could not at present find an Harbour So they sent out their Shallop upon a discovery which upon Return informed them of a better place to Ride in But sending out the Shallop again upon a discovery before she Returned there arose a dreadful Storm that carried her immediately upon the Rocks and staved her with very much difficulty most of the People were saved and some Provisions Then were they Reduced to very great straits formidable to flesh and blood a Barren Island no inhabitants no likelyhood of Releif little Provisions left in this great strait most of them resolved to travel up to the wester end of the Island and there to abide Captaine Lane and his Family and his Son who was his Leiutenant theye Rsolved to seek for some kind of Provisions and so stayed on the Island But Captaine Sale and one Mr. Bounly who had been Master of the Ship and some other Sea-men and one Mr. Shadwel in all eight Resolved to go to Virginia and took what Provisions they could get which was one Shark but before they made to the Land they were in very great wants For from this Island from whence they departed to Virginia was three hundred Leagues in their now great Extreamity Providence cared for them so that they got another Shark and were glad to eat him Raw. They were a 11 dayes going to Virginia and the Boat a very little one that they could scarcely Steer in her for fear of danger Yet the Lord in this deep Distress made his Arm bare for their Salvation and brought them safe to a place called Nuse-mum to one Mr. Richard Brunkets House where they were curtiously Entertained and after the Relation upon what account they were put to these Hardships and Necessities Captain Sale had a Vessel provided laden with necessaries to go for Cicatra to Relieve those they had left there in such Distress and they arrived there And O now what Comfort must this be after such long wishing and gradual Dying to see that there was now Hopes of Life brought to them but several of them were starved to Death before their Arrival Captain Lane is now sent to fetch some Provisions who had been in unspeakable Extremity He came down in a little Boat his Son also the Lieutenant and two Servants but when they had gotten in their Provision and going home with hopes of a new Life Behold the stupendious providence of God all of a sudden Death creeps in and Arrests them For in a narrow place where the Tyde runs swiftly the Boat is sunk all are drowned but one man who carried the desolate Widdow the sad Tydings what an unwelcome Messenger this was you may
backs such Deliverances Oh! the freer any favour is the more it should be remembred doth God see any thing in us or in our families more then others to bestow such deliverances for One man goes to Sea and he is taken another goes to Sea and he is sunk another goes to Sea and he dies the Term of the Voyage and why doth the Lord preserve you is not this free grace not because you are more Righteous but because he is more gracious and should not this be Remembred 3. Our Dangers and Deliverances should be remembred because God hath gracious ends and designs both in the one and the other What ends hath God to bring us into dangers 1. He by this hath an end and design to quicken up to duty it may be there may be some omitted duty neglected duties often bring men into great and eminent dangers it may be a Person is convinced of the duty of Prayer but it may be neglected oh then God will bring into danger to quicken to duty oh says God In their Afflictions they will seek me early The very Heathen Marriners called out for Prayer in time of danger Observe it that Persons convinced of duties either Personal or Domestical and yet neglected God usually whips them to their duties by one danger affliction or another The Proverb is good if you would teach a man to pray send him to Sea 2. God by bringing us into dangers hath a design upon us to convince of sin many Convictions hath come in to the Soul at this door Dangers have often proved inlets to Convictions Oh! what Convictions have many poor Souls lyen under while in Danger when it may be the Dangers hath given them a view of Eternity when Dangers hath presented Death to the man and Conscience hath cried Now thou art sinking now there is but a step betwixt thee and Eternity betwixt thee and another World Oh then what Convictions hath the Soul lyen under and yet it may be when the Danger is over the Conviction is over too Well though we may forget all yet God remembers all 3. God hath a design upon us in our Dangers to prepare us for our latter end The danger thou art in hath escaped calls for to prepare for thy Death which must certainly come to pass shortly God by Dangers would have you prepare for Death and oh what a cutting Consideration will this be when thou com'st to die that thou who hast been in so many dangers by Sea and Land should have no more learned to die nor ready to die Alas you escaped the last that you might prepare for the next 4. God hath a design upon our Graces by bringing us into danger Danger is to exert and draw forth Grace Thus the Disciples Dangers at Sea were to draw forth their Faith Faith and Patience comes most visibly upon the stage in times of most eminent danger 5. God by bringing us into Dangers hath a design upon our Souls he sometimes by danger of drowning the Body hath saved the Soul and hath caused it to say Periissem nisi periissem I had perished if I had not perished Some have escaped shipwrack of Soul by shipwrack of Body and shall we forget such Dangers when God hath such gracious designs in them upon us 2. He drives on gracious ends and designs in our Deliverances and shall we then forget them c. 1. He spares us that we may account his long-suffering Salvation he gives by sparing of us space to repent and oh what a dreadful thing is it not to remember wherefore we are spared and delivered He gave her space to Repent but she repented not The Prisoner is Reprieved that he might sue out his Pardon and will he forget the end for which he is Reprieved 2. He delivers that we may live to him Why was David's feet delivered from falling it was that he might walk before the Lord in the light of the living He gives us our lives that we might give them back again to God Men are not delivered from dangers to live to themselves to live to their lusts to drink and swear and rant and roar as a great many poor wretches do That say as they did We are delivered to do all these abominations 3. God hath another end in Deliverance that we might glorifie him in paying our Vows to him I will deliver thee and what then when out of trouble never remember it more cast it behind thy back O no And thou shalt glorifie me He aims at a revenue of glory out of your deliverances 4. God hath another end in delivering of us that we might enter into new Engagements to be more the Lords as in times of great dangers there use to be great engagements betwixt God and the Soul so in times of great deliverances there are great engagements pass betwixt God and the Soul new dedications to God new deliverances call for new dedications of the Soul to God now the Soul should be set apart for God more than ever 5. God hath another end in delivering of us that we might break off our league with sin thus it was with them Shall we break his Commandments after such great deliverance as this APPLICATION Is it so that our Dangers and Deliverances should be remembred by us then it is a word of information 1. Learn we here how acceptable it is to God that we thankfully congratulate our Mercies No Musick like a sound of Trumpets off the waters so O what sweet Musick doth it make in Gods ears that you thankfully record Sea-Mercies and Sea-Deliverances this is Musick of the Waters this makes melody in Gods ears Sea-Prayers and Sea-Praises come up acceptably before the Lord he is so pleased with them that he hath called them Sacrifices O that men would offer the Sacrifice of Praise this is the sound of Trumpets you should carry to Sea with you outward bound and homeward bound 2. Learn we hence what a great evil it is to lose the remembrance of our Dangers and Deliverances What do many Families what do many Persons with the Sea-Dangers with the Sea-Deliverances do not they write them in the dust do not they bury them in the Grave of Oblivion do not they cast them behind their backs do not they trample them under foot O poor Souls they little know what they do 1. Such Deliverances will have a resurrection in their Consciences one day though they bury them now O they will rise again and oh how will they then dread and terrifie a poor Soul 2. Such Deliverances will another day be witnesses and evidences against you Oh! what a cutting testimony will they give in against the Soul Hast not thou been graciously and wonderfully delivered in such a Voyage in such a Storm at Sea in such a Sickness at Shore and yet walked unsuitably under all these To be cast out by Mercy O what a dreadful thing is this 3. Such deliverances
Mr. Iames Ianeway's LEGACY TO HIS FRIENDS Containing Twenty Seven Famous Instances of Gods Providences in and about Sea Dangers and Deliverances with the Names of Several that were Eye-witnesses to many of them Whereunto is Added a Sermon on the same Subject Go up now look towards the Sea and he went up and looked and said there is nothing and he said Go up seven times And at the seventh time he said behold there ariseth a little Cloud c. 1 King 18. 44. Come and Hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul Psal. 66. 16. London Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Armes in the Poultry 1674. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER THe Author of this Treatise now put into thine Hands needs none of my Praises he being lately gone to make one in Consort with that Heavenly Chore above his Works praise him in the Gate only I could not but lend my hand a little being desired to give it a lift into the World and tell thee the Author was a man of Designes for God and more of them he had in his Heart and Head then his Lord and Master whose he was and whom he served did give him time to Finish that his Master might be Honoured and souls Edified he tryed several Ways and that with several sorts of persons leaving no stone unturn'd no means unattempted that the Work of the Lord might Prosper in his hand One while he designes sinners might be helped in getting Acquaintance with God and that Saints might improve their Best Friend in the Worst of Times and to that end he appears in the world to drive on a good Acquaintance betwixt Christ and Souls And another while feeling warm Compassions and Affections bubbling up in his Soul to poor Young Converts he carries on a design of strengthning their weak hands by appearing once again upon the Stage in printing the Comfortable Death of a Young Convert And another while he had a design of preventing the ripening sinnes of youth witness his bowelly and tender-hearted Sermon upon the occasion of the Penitent Murderer in which he Cautions poor enticed Young men to take heed of the Baits that the great Angler for Souls layes before them But lest this man of Designes for God should miss his great aime he shoots lower that he might hit his Mark he stoops and sweetly condescends to send Tokens to Children to bespeak their Hearts betimes for Christ his Master he labours to Teach the Children to cry Hosanna to his Lord And now in the last place he casts about to meet with Sea-faring Men whose Souls he alwayes had bleeding and melting bowels for Oh how would he Weep Pray Mourn Sigh over them entreat them Affectionately beseech them importunately that they would not forget the God of their Mercies and Deliverances nor the Mercies and Deliverances of their God Upon this Occasion of Sea-mens receiving the greatest Deliverances of any men in the World from God and so soon playing the Old Israelites with Gods Wonders viz. soon forgetting his Works Some Friends speaking to him upon this subject and Acquainting him with a Taste of some Memorable Passages of Providences he readily upon desire sets his hand to this work of Collecting several Famous Deliverances from Friends and took pains to get their Papers into his hands but had not time to pollish and adorn them in his sweet and taking Style as he did other things These lay upon his hand above a Year and a half still waiting for more Observable Providences to come to his Cognizance But here thou hast them as they are if thou hast an Heart to improve them to thy further strengthening of thy Faith in future Straits Whether at Sea or Land here thou mayst see the Lord setting his Right Foot upon the Sea Here thou mayst see the Lords Royalty and Soveraignty extending it self to the great Deeps Here thou mayst see the Winds Seas obeying of him Here thou mayst see the Lord giving a literal Com̄ent on that Text When thou goest through the Waters I will be with thee Here thou mayst see Hopeless and Helpless men in their greatest Distress at their wits end sav'd and deliver'd by the great God which is enough one would think to make any Reader cry out with the Psalmist O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of Men. Here thou mayst see the prevailing Power of Prayer the Wonder-working Power of God the unspeakable Bowels and tender Mercies of God to poor Perishing Sinking Drowning Starving dying Men that thou mayst Pray to this God more Love this God better and dread to sinne against him who is the God of such Miraculous Salvations and Deliverances And that this Treatise may promote that work in thy Soul is the Desire of Thy Cordial Soul-Friend Iohn Ryther Wapping 14 Apr. 1674. There are these Books of Mr. Iames Ianeway'es printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Armes in the Poultry HEaven upon Earth or the best Friend in the worst of times The 3d Edition enlarged 2. Death Unstung A Sermon Preacht at the Funeral of Thomas Mousley an Apothecary With a brief Narrative of his Life and Death also the manner of God's dealings with him after his Conversion 3. A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Tho. Savage 4. Tokens for Children the first and second Part. 5. Mr. James Janeway 's Legacy c. REMARKABLE SEA DELIVERANCES ONe Major Gibbons a man well known in new England a Gentleman of good education good parts and of good Conversation as the Author hath been credibly informed by them that knew him was bound upon a voyage to Sea himself being Suprà Cargo with such commoditys as those parts of America doth afford after going out from Boston several days by hard weather and contrary winds the Ships company were much distressed and through the Continuance of the Contrary winds Provisions now begin to faile them and O how feeble doth Spirits grow when Bread the Staffe of life taileth now Hunger becomes more dreadfull to them then the every moment threatning Billows of the devouring Ocean and they that one while feared drowning now fears Starving they are brought to the last meal in the Barrel and the last oyl in the Cruse and say as she did We will Eat this litle that is left and dye and now when they thought they had eaten the last what conflicts must they needs have within themselves who knew not where to have another morsel to fortify the tyred and spent Spirits with the constant toyle and hard labour how they look one up one another as men already under a Sentence of death and by one anothers looks Strike terror to one anothers Hearts They look on every side as David says I looked on my right hand but there was no man that would know me Refuge failed me or perished from me They look downward they seeing nothing
praying believing Servants and also for all them that Sayled with them O who would not Pray at Sea and trust in him who raises the dead in the saddest of their Extremities and distress and speaks forth much of the power and goodness of God calling upon all to trust in him let the dangers and straits be never so great 3. A Vessel of ours about the year 1636. being at New-found Land a Fishing being somewhat of the latest in the year until the Ice came in great flakes and being ready to hoise Sayle for the return home they sent out in the Boat six of the men to weigh their Anchor but while they were about it a sad Providence prevents them a great flake of Ice interposes between them and their ship and carryes them adrift so that by all means that they and the ship could use they could not recover their Vessel again whereby they were exposed to an inevitable ruine neither having Food nor any other Accomodation to keep them warm they having continued thus three days three nights they began to be Hunger-starv'd and accounting themselves all dead men they began to consult one with another what course to take they at last though with great regret and grief they resolve one of them must dye to become Food for the rest each person begg'd to have it his Lott to dye first to be freed from that torment that they languished under so that they were forced to determine it by Lott He upon whom the Lott fell desired to go to the end of the Boat there to recommend his soul to God by Prayer before he dyed the rest being in a deep Agony upon apprehension of shedding the blood of one of their Comerades But while they were sate together lamenting and imploring God's favour to prevent such a fact according to that they wished and desired The person separated by Lott for death dyed upon the place where he was praying which in their deplorable Condition occasioned great Joy to the rest that hereby they were not forced against their wills to take his life so looking upon this as a good Omen they proceeded to satisfie their Hungers upon the dead body the Boat was still A-drift not frozen up so that by that time their Food was spent they were brought ashore many Leagues to the Norward of New-England where the five landed alive where the poor Barbarians did commiserate them and help them as they could three of them dyed with the distress they had been in the other two made a shift to get to New-England and so at last by a good hand of God upon them came to their Habitations in the West of England having both lost their heels with the extremity of the cold in the Boat This Relation my Author had from one of these two Sea-men with whom he came afterwards a Passenger from Ireland to whom he shewed his heels so lost 4. A small Vessel about 45 Tun the Masters name Phillip Hangare coming upon the Coast of New-England they suddenly sprang a leak and so foundred There were in this poor miscarrying Vessel 18 Sea-men and Passengers 12 of the men got into the Long-boat and as that was suddenly brought to their minds in this surprise they threw into their Boat also some small matters of Provisions but they were wholly without fire These 12 men at that time of the year about Michaelmas and as Paul said in his Voyage Sayling was become dangerous Sayled five hundred Leagues and were to a Miracle preserved all that time in this small Boat five weeks but it pleased the Lord who appears in our straits most to send them great relief by causing some flying Fish to fall into the Boat which they eat raw and were unto them more acceptable than the greatest rarities and dainties at another time God's Providence now proving the Caterer they catch'd a Shark and that Ravenous Fish that uses to prey upon men now becomes a prey to these poor distressed Creatures but they were glad of food in the want of fire and have an heat in their Stomacks to eat that raw and digest at this time what would have made them sick at other times but alas another want they had was drink as well as fire but they were forced to open the belly of this Shark and suck his blood for drink at last that God who hath a desire to the work of his own hands gives them hopes to release them out of this insupportable misery by letting them come to a discovery of Land in the West-Indies but alas they were so weak that when they came ashore one or two of them dyed but most of them lived to declare the works of the Lord. This the Author had from one of the 12 that were thus miraculously preserved but since cast away at Sea 5. Captain Ionas Clark of New England going for Virginia the Vessel was Cast away in a strange amazing manner about two hours before day among the Indians where the Ship-wrackt men lay ashore in great fear but three days after they thought to get their ship off again to which end the Master with some others went into the boat they came threescore Fathom from the shore where there arose a great Sea and broke in upon them but the second Sea came and turned the boat up four men under water all were drowned but Captain Clark who was kept under water by one of the men until his breath was gone but then God appeared and set him at liberty from him in a most Miraculous way and inabled him to swim to the shore they that were alive now were in great straits and perplexities not knowing what to do but yet some of their eyes were up to God at last they Unanimously resolve to Travel and when they had Travelled one night and part of a day meeting with many Suamps and thick places so that all hope failed them of going along so they stood still as wayfaring men astonish'd not knowing what course to take and though before they were afraid of any Indians now they were glad to pray to to the Lord for the sight of an Indian which in this extremity and perplexity within half an hour the Lord was pleased to grant The Indian was all alone which was observable also when they got to him they asked the way to the English and they did perswade him by entreaty to go along with them but within one hours time he carryed them to a Town of the Indians which did sadly fright and amaze them but they still looked up to the Lord to help and save them but at last they got to the English and so were preserved This Relation the Author had from Captain Clarks own hand a person of known Godliness and Integrity 6. The last Providence called to mind a strange and stupendious passage of a Godly Gentlewoman who in the first breaking forth of the Rebellion in Ireland was forced to fly for her life with
aking heart the fourteenth day he went to the highest hill there-about but to no purpose for he could discover no Ship next morning he went again two or three times but saw none about two or three hours after came running into E-fn-man cha some of the Mores and told him there was a Canoe coming so they called our Ships at which our English-man heartily rejoyced hoping then to be releast forthwith yet durst not shew his joy for fear of punishment or of death for though he lived better now than with his first Master yet his service was far worse than the Slaves in Turkey and their Diet worse than Dogs meat therefore had he cause enough of inward joy the Ship came immediately in and he highs away presently to Ia-ga to know if it were an English Ship who resolved him that it was it happened to be the St. Maloes Merchant Captain Royden Commander who hastened to dispatch his business took in his Negroes and was ready to sail and our English-man heard never a word what should become of him the King never offering to sell him this put him on a resolution to endeavour to make an escape and to that end had prepared a piece of Timber which he had drawn near the water-side on which he intended to paddle to the Ship which then lay about a League from the Shore Just by the Sea-side as he was about to launch his little floating stick he espied a great Aligator which will devour a man at a mouthful this made him alter his resolution and resolve rather to live with inhumane Infidels than to throw himself into so imminent a danger which would have been little less than self-murther But the next day which I may call a day of Imbile Almighty God opened the heart of the King to let the poor English man go he sent him in a Canoe placed between a Negroe's legs with some others to guide this small vessel for fear he should leap over board swim to the ship At a distance from the ship he hailed her in the English Tongue which was no small cause of admiration to those on board to hear an English Tongue out of their Canoes the Negroes gave him leave to stand up and shew himself to the Captain to whom he gave an account how four were left there and only he perserved It was a pretty while before they could strike a bargain though the Captain was resolved not to leave him behind Several times the Negroes padled away with their Canoe resolving not to part with him but what with his entreaties and promises he perswaded them to the ship again and they delivered him on board for forty five Copper Bars and Iron bars each Copper bar being about the bigness of a Youths little finger the Iron bars a little bigger Now were his joys compleated he thought himself as it were caught up into the third Heavens he could hardly perswade himself but it was a Dream or Vision and that he did not really see English faces or embrace English bodies It was some time before he could throw himself at the Captains feet and acknowledge his infinite cause of joy in himself and thankfulness to him for his deliverance from such a severe Captivity that he that lately was a slave to Infidels that worship they know not what should now see the faces of Christians and join with them in worshiping the true God and to him first he offered up the sacrifice of hearty thanksgiving that had sent his Angel to redeem him from so cruel a bondage When he came on board his hair was very long and his skin tawny Malatto like having gone naked all the time he was there and frequently anointing himself with palm Oyl he looked like a Tawny-More but immediately the Sea-men aboard with Christian-like hearts apparelled him The Master commanded to hoise sail and having a fair wind they sailed to Barbadoes where Captain Royden was to tarry some time but the Relater earnestly desiring to go to his Native Country and his Relations got passage to the Downs in the Katherine of London Captain South Commander which through Gods goodness in a few weeks arrived in the Downs where the Relater was put on shore to his Unkle Mr. Richard Watts of Deal his great joy and satisfaction who took this relation from his own mouth FINIS Acts 27. 18 19 20. 18. And being exceedingly tossed with a Tempest the next day they lightned the Ship 19. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the Ship 20. And when neither Sun nor Stars appeared and no small Tempest lay on us all hope that we should be saved was then taken away IN this Chapter we have a full Narrative of Pauls Voyage to Rome in all the circumstances of it it seems Paul kept a Journal and so Recorded this memorable Voyage for the use of succeeding Generations 1. We have the occasion of his Voyage Viz. Paul being then a Sufferer and a Prisoner he appeals to Caesar and so is sent to Rome and there bears a faithful Testimony for Jesus Christ Vers. 1. 2. We have the Dangers that occurred in the Voyage and these are also carefully Commemorated vers 9. Now much time was spent and Sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already past This was the yearly Fast of the Iews on which the attonement for all the people was made by the high Priest in the holy of holies which day was the 10. of the 7th Month which partly agreed with our September and October in which time the Sea was not Sailed in by the Ancients until the beginning of March because of the shortness of the days and the violence of the Tempests they were prone to in those Parts this is the sense of Interpreters upon the place 1. Danger of the Voyage we read of is this the winds were contrary vers 4. this is spoken of the Voyage of the Disciples The winds were contrary 2. Danger there arose not only a contrary wind but a violent wind called an Euroclydon vers 14. some read it a Whirle-wind but it is meant of an East-wind which raises the Sea mightily 3. The Tempest was so great and violent upon them that they were glad to let the Ship drive vers 15. 3. We have not only the Danger in this Voyage but their marvelous Deliverance and Preservation for they came off all of them with their lives vers 44. the particulars whereof you may see In the Text we have three things observable 1. Their endeavors in this great distress to preserve themselves 1. They lightned the Ship and what was it she was laden with it was Wheat vers 38. They lightned the Ship and cast the Wheat into the Sea thus did Ionah's Mariners cast out the Wares Alas what are these things but lumber to lives if it were Gold it must go for Life Skin for skin and all that a man hath will be give for his life
forgotten by us harden us either they soften or harden These Providences are like Gods Ordinances in this respect they either harden or soften Oh! what a dreadful thing it is to be hardned by Deliverances and Preservation and yet many are Sentence not being speedily executed the hearts of men are fully set in them to do evil 4. Such Deliverances will be great aggravations both of mans sin and misery if forgotten by them The goodness of God was the aggravation of the sin of David says God When I had done so and so for thee nay and I would have done more wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight What for you that had such deliverances as these to break his Commandments as Ezra says O this is an high aggravation 5. Deliverances and Dangers forgotten will cause the Lord to pull in his hand in a way of Mercy will cause God to give up Persons and take his Protecting presence from them take them from the shaddow of his Wings Souls by forgetting past dangers and deliverances may put themselves from under Gods Protection for the future Vse 2. Is it so that we are to Remember our Sea-Dangers and Deliverances then it is a word of Exhortation be exhorted then to call to mind and keep in mind what God hath done for you and in this Exhortation I address my self to Sea-faring men whose lives are a course and series of Wonders in their frequent Salvations and Preservations witness this Treatise as you see the wonders of God in the Deeps viz. The wonders of his Creation so do you see the wonders of his Salvation How often may Wonderful be Written upon the Head of Salvations that you are every Voyage receiving from God you never go out and come home but God works Wonderfully and appears Wonderfully for you Is not he a Wonder-working-God for you every Voyage The Exhortation is to call to mind and keep in mind to Record and Register your Dangers and Deliverances and not to do as Israel is said to do who soon forgot his works How often doth God bring in this sin of theirs in one Psalm They forgot his works and the wonders he had shewed them 1. Keep them in mind for they are wonderful Dangers and Deliverances They are Wonders these are to be remembred Marvelous things did he for them in the sight of their Fathers c. He devided the Sea and caused them to pass through and he made the waters to stand as an heap and it is brought in again in that Psalm They remembred not his hand nor the day when God delivered them out of the hand of the Enemy c. And in another place They forgot God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt Wonderous works in the Land of Ham. This heightens the sin exceedingly to forget such great and wonderful Dangers and Deliverances 1. Your Dangers are Wonderful in this Respect they are often such as threaten a sentence of Death to be executed upon you May it not be said of poor Sea-men as was of them For we would not Brethren have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia that we were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired of life but we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in him that raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a Death and doth Deliver O how many Sea-faring men may say thus Our dangers have been such as we have often despaired of life there hath but been a little betwixt us and Death nay betwixt us and Eternity and shall we forget such Dangers when we have been so near Death in them As he said to David As the Lord lives there is but one step betwixt thee and death O how often have you been near sinking near drowning and yet God hath then appeared for you with an outstretched Arm and in the Mount hath been seen and will not you Remember this 2. Your Dangers are Wonderful in this Respect they are sudden and surprizing they are wonderful sudden how are you often all on a sudden threatned with nothing but present Death and Destruction It may be said of Sea-men as of those in Iob Snares compasses them about and sudden fear troubleth them It doth not only trouble them but all on a sudden trouble them before they know almost where they are as we say We read of some whose Calamity shall come suddenly Suddenly shall he be broken without Remedy O how terrible is such a case or such a danger and hath not God often threatned to make this your case and condition O then do not forget such dangers that have so suddenly lookt you in the Face 3. Your Dangers are Wonderful in this Respect they are not Dangers in which your Bodies are concerned only but they are dangers in which your Souls are concerned It is not only the danger of a Ship-wrack'd Vessel and a Shipwrack'd Estate and a Shipwrack'd Body but a Shipwrack'd Soul Here is the great danger lest thou make a lost Voyage for thy Soul If thou had died in such a Storm or died in the Terme of such a Voyage Oh! what would have become of thy Soul Thy precious thy immortal Soul Had not thou died in a carnal in a Christless state and condition Had not thy poor Soul perished to all Eternity if thou then had miscarried Was not thou then a stranger altogether to Christ and a work of saving Grace upon thy Heart Had not thou then the guilt of all thy sins upon the back of thy Soul unpardoned And ô what danger was this And wilt thou forget such dangers 4. Your Dangers are such at Sea as none but a God can deliver from all your skill cannot Oh then is the greatest Artist at his Wits end The Psalmist tells us the Marriners in their Storms are at their wits end or as some read it all their wisdom is swallowed up they know not what course to Steer the Dutch Annotators carry it Now their very Pilots are at a loss Now all their courage cannot contribute to their deliverance though men of the greatest natural courage and magnanimity in the world Yet now their hearts melt because of troubles as it is said of the Marriners in Ionahs Ship The Marriners were afraid O now when Death and Eternity the Grave and Judgment to come looks them in the face Then they are Magor-Missabibs terror to themselves and to all about them O now the danger is such it must be the only finger of God that can help I have heard of a Ship in Yarmouth Road that in a great Storm they feared the Anchor would come home and the Master discoursing with a Youth in the Ship that God had begun lately to work some Convictions upon O says his Master if God do but lay a Finger upon