North. â— is by Christ our mercies is increast â—e's next the Father Christ stands for the East â—om East to South the Sun doth make its way â—riving at the South 't is perfect day â—e next to Christ that Christians must possess â—is the Spirit South point is Holiness â—oliness is our South and Christ is then â— height in Christians when most holy men â—ext to the South is West whither the Sun â—akes haste and sets and then our day is done â—eath is our Western Point doth terminate â—r day and put a period to its date â—ese be the Four Points all men must eye â—orth East South West then man prepare to die Now see our Scripture grounds for this allusion â—r upon that we 'll bottom each Conclusion â—s a Notion generally receiv'd â—d as unquestionably it believ'd That fair Jerusalem that famous Town Israels Metropolis the worlds renown Was plac't i' th midst o' th earth and hence it waâ— As most conclude it all was came to pass All places bear their true Denomination As they were plac't or stood for scituation Relating to that City whose great name Did fill the earth with its renowned fame Jerusalem thus for the Center ey'd I will remember that on its North side The City of the mighty King was plac't The mount of Olives also on the East Which mountains as it first did entertain Our blessed Lord so when he comes again Zachary the Prophet gives a full accompt His feet shall stand upon that Eastern Mounâ— And on the South-side did mount Sion stand The sacred mountain of that holy Land Mount Calvery the place of Death this mouâ— Was scituate on the VVest on this account I am incourag'd to make this allusion Scriptures not contradicting this Conclusion â—hat East should stand for Christ and Stouh â—leâ— â—ithout excepting stands for holiness And VVest for death will never be denied But why the North is unto God apply'd May at the first to some seem not so clear But that the truth thereof may still appear Mark what good David saith observe the worâ— Of that most faithful Servant of the Lord. When David sets Mount Sions Beauty forth She is saith he the joy of all the Earth She 's beautiful saith he for scituation Which he makes out by this clear deâ—â—nstration The mighty King saith David doth â—eside â—n fair Jerusalem on the North side Of sacred Sion to whose glorious King The Nations shall their wealth and glory bring Hence 't was that speech concerning Lucifer Who would exalt himself above the Stars Of God Almighty Esay adds besides â—s further Demonstration of his pride That Lucifer presum'd himself so great That he would make the side o' th North his seat â—ut he whose high aspiring thoughts did swell â— ' usurp Gods place is tumbled down to Hell â—he North which if as some suppose to be â—he Mount Moria it will well agree That Sacred Mount in Canaans Holy Land â—id also on the North of Sion stand â—hat still the North in Scriptures is appli'd â—o God alone as properly his side â—hese words of David next I 'd have you mind â—hich you in Psalm the 75 may find David excluding both West South and East â—rom giving honours making not the least Mention o' th North saith honours do proceed â—rom God alone as if it were agreed â—nd taken for a grant on every hand â—hat for Gods proper place the North doth stand Sith then the language of Gods holy word With this our notion doth so well accord I hope I may presume without offence With awful fear and holy reverence To make a serious and divine inspection Into the Sacred Art taking direction From Holy Writ which we will make our guid Not on the right or left to turn aside And now with seriousness we will conclude The North with God most fitly doth allude 'T is God alone we first must seek to know The Word and Spirit will direct us how When first therefore thy Vessel launcheth forth Into these troubled Seas upon the Earth Assure thy self thou art not like to make A happy Voyage if thou undertake To stear thy Ship to fair Emanuels Land Before thou know and rightly understand God thy North Star whom thou must alwayâ— eye When thou sets forth towards eternity Know God is first 't is he first gave thee breatâ— And he is last and hath appointed death That fatal messenger to call thee hence To give accompt to him for each offence Know God is merciful and just also He sees thy ways and did thy secrets know Let no such foolish thoughts possess thy mind To think there is no God be not so blind The Heavens are his witness day and night Do speak throughout the World their beams â— lighâ— â—ills every place By this the Nations know There is a God whether they will or no. The very Heathen do the same confess â—y light of nature they can do no less â—is acts of providence bespeaks the same They all set forth the glory of his name â—is mighty hand that framed every Creature â—oth in the Earth the Air and in the Water Gives food as well as being unto all Of every thing he 's the original He feeds the Ravens when to him they cry He is and was from all eternity â—his knowledge although true is not alone â—e is not onely God but he is one â—lthough there be Gods many saith St. Paul â—o us there is but one he 's all in all God must not onely thus be understood â—ut we must know him for our chiefest good That good thou dost or ever shalt enjoy Comes from himself alone he 'll not destroy His handy work Mans ruin doth proceed â—rom man himself 't is man that doth that deed T is in and by the Lord we must obtain â—ternal Life Life doth in him remain â—his thing is needful to be known by these That sail for Heaven on these troubled Seas To know God thus is of as great concern â—s for a Seaman his North Point to learn â—nd in the third place thou must learn to know â—od in his Holy Attributes also His Attributes of Power Mercy and Of Justice also thou must understand We read when God Almighty did proclaim His ever honoured and his Name In Exodus the thirty fourth we find His Name is gracious merciful and kind In him long suffering patience doth abound Sin pard'ning grace in him is to be found Reserved mercy is laid up in store For such as love him grace for ever more As thou must know he 's merciful thou must Know as he 's God Almighty he is just To those that hate him he will be severe A guilty Conscience he 'll by no means clear Though Heavens in his right hand is as rewarâ— To such as do his righteousness regard Yet in his left hand is a flaming fire Consumes the wicked in his burning ire His wrath once kindled he that reads his namâ— Must read him then
yet intirely one Having his understanding lightned â—o know therefore the Son of God must shed â—is precious blood be made a Sacrifice And that it is the Spirit that sanctifies And fits the soul for Death I say again After a soul this knowledge doth obtain He 's fit for notion these things being known Which must be first yet must not be alone These be the Four Chief Points we must divide Each Quarter into Seven Points besides North. Your First Point being North you must endeavour By Light from God to steer your Course if ever You do intend to steer your course for heaven Steer by this sacred light which God hath given The Holy Scripture let them be thy guide For want of which many hath turned aside Make Gods Commandements thy Compass and Thy light to steer to fair Emanuel's Land We need not wonder why some do miscarry Who lays aside their Compass and contrary Unto the sacred Rule Gods Word lays down Doth steer their Course by fancies of their own Good David steer'd by this thy Word saith he Is both a Light and Lanthorn unto me The Prophet Esay speaking in the name Of great Jehovah doth command the same That from Gods Law they should not turn aside But make his Testimonies all their guide Unto this sacred truth Paul testifies Who saith the Scripture makes men wise Unto Salvation and to this agree The sayings of our Lord O search saith he The holy Scriptures there thou 'lt be directed No safety where this Compass is neglected It is the mischief of our present day And the true Cause why many's cast away Satan that roaring Lyon goes about To shipwrack souls his work it is no doubt To make men question and at last deny The Holy Scriptures just Authority The Holy Scripture is more useful far Unto a Christian than the Northern Star Is to a Seaman who sometimes can steer Some Leagues although his Compass be not there But Christians cannot steer one course aright If not directed by this Sacred Light Which doth proceed from God the mighty Lord And shineth forth from his most Holy Word He that doth throw the Holy Scriptures by Under pretence to steer more certainly By Natures various and uncertain light Instead of steering of his Course aright Is like the man who throws his Compass by That he may steer by the uncertain tide Of his conjectures and when all is done He doth but light a Candle to the Sun The Scripture is that Light whose glorious rays Proceed from God by them direct thy ways North by East North by East the second Point must be Learn this Point well and thou shalt clearly see From that bright beam that from Gods Word doth shine Whose ever-blest Authority's divine When man by breaking Gods Command became The Author of his own rebuke and shame Justly provoking God who gave him breath To lay on him the punishment of Death Man though unworthy so much favour found From God Almighty that he did propound A way to save him who had thus undone Himself by sinning God propounds his Son To free poor man from Deaths eternal stroke And take from off his neck that heavy yoke And to restore lost man to life again That he for ever living might remain In steering to this point it doth behove Thee to remember Gods most precious love In all soul matters now direct thine eye To Gods free promise and on that rely The Sun whose glorious presence fills the earth With its desired light moves from the North So Christ our Rising Sun whose glorious face Makes glad the earth proceeds from Gods freed grace The Suns first differenc'd motion and the least From his full Nothern point is by the East The first appearance of Gods love to man Was in the promis'd seed there first began Gods love to show it self this promis'd seed â—s Christ the Son of God who is indeed Our Rising Sun to him direct thine eye To him do all the Prophets testifie Take Counsel of Gods Word let it advise Gods Word will teach thee to be truly wise When worldly men to get themselves possest Of earthly treasures run from East to West â—rom youth to age until grim Death betrays Them to their graves they pass away their days To search the Holy Scripture let thy mind Launch forth into these deeps and thou shalt find â—uch treasures as on earth thou canst not have â—hough earth set open to thee her golden cave Treasures that will indure after death That will not leave thee when thou leav'st thy breath That man which labours for Earths empty pleasure While he neglects the seeking of that treasure Is like a Merchant that to th' Indies trades Only for pibles while other Merchants lades With Golden Ore like him that trades for sand While others with rich treasures fills the land When thou hast learn'd this point thou mayst proceedâ— And learn the third point with like care and heed Mind this third point as highly thy concern North North East 'T is North North East that thou art next to learn This point is just i' th middle plac'd between The North and North East point as may be seen I' th' Seamans Compass it is five points at least Nearer the Nothern point than 't is the East God in propounding Christ for mans salvation That Act of Grace sprang from his meer Compassionâ— Unto his Creature Man that God I say In making Christ that promis'd seed the way Whereby poor man may be restored again To life eternal ever to remain He 's the Chief Author of mans happiness And Christ the way by which we have access Unto that glory Do not envy then At the prosperity of wicked men All their joy continues but a day â—Tis but a moment and they must away While vainly they imagine all is well They leave their pleasures and go down to hell North East by North. North East by N. this point is one point nigher Our Eastern Point and therefore doth require That care and diligence be daily shown To learn this Point as Scripture lays it down That God 's the Author of our further joy â—n saving him who did himself destroy He did not only thus propound his Son To be mans Saviour but when that was done That man the better might believe the same â—nd be supported while the promise came That this his promise might be kept alive â—n every Age he did the same revive â—els Noah from whence the promis'd seed should spring That unto man should this salvation bring Confirm'd the same to Abraham again â—n terms more full he did himself explain That all the earth should of his love partake â—nd be redeemed for his mercies sake â—ut yet more fully unto Israel â—ho did in Egipt under Pharoah dwell When by his powerful and mighty hand He 'd brought them forth from the Egyptian lanâ— He did present their Saviour to their Eye In Types and Figures that they might thereby Have
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