to thy desired rest Is his desire who doth here recommend Tâ—â—s Poem to thy use who is thy Friend Benjamin Keach TO THE READER By a Gentlewoman who was an intimate Friend of the Authors in Commendation of this Poem IT is not common for the Female-kind In Printed papers to expose their mind To publick view yet if I here transgress I hope my fault will seem so much the less Because I never did so much before And Peradventure never may do more These lines kind Reader that I hear commend I had th' advantage first to see them Pend And hear them read the matter so delighted My ravish'd Senses that it has invited Me to commend these Poems which I know To be of Soul-concern to High and Low There 's not a Man upon the Earth so high But may upon this Subject cast an eye He that doth think himself too high to know His Maker while on Earth will be too low For God to know when he would be regarded While such as knows God here will be rewarded He that doth think himself to know so much That he need know no more 't is unto such That Paul that good Apostle is so bold To tell them they know nothing as they should Who think themselves too high to be concern'd VVith any thing that here is to be learn'd VVill be too low to offer his Repentance Or stand in Judgment or reverse the Sentence Of Go you Curs'd VVherefore let none disdain To look upon this Piece because 't is plain So much the rather may you be contented To look upon this Piece that 's here presented Because the matter that it doth contain Is no new Doctrin no Fanaticks strain 'T is Catholick Apostolick likewise That which no sober Christian-man denyes It is the knowledge of the Lord most high One God in Essence three in Trinity To know that God made Man upright and good To know likewise that Man no long time stood In this so just so perfect good Estate Before he did from thence degenerate To know that Man was tempted by the Devil To break God's Law till when he knew no Evilâ— To know that Man was sentenced to Dye And Christ was promised immediatly To wound the Serpent by whom Man was slain And to restore fal'n Man to Life again To know that Christ was very God indeed And very Man made of the VVomans Seed To know that Christ by God's appointment dy'd And was by Pontious Pilate Crucifi'd And in the Grave did for a time remain And on the Third Day He did Rise again That unto Christ all Soveraign Power was given Both in the Earth and also in the Heaven To know I say and rightly understand That all the VVorld is now at Christ's command To know the Father and the Son likewise To know the Holy-Ghost that Sanctifies And fits the Soul for Death and future Glory These are the things the Author spreads before ye My hearts desire is the Author he May be rewarded in Eternity In everlasting Joy where Saints shall sing Continual Anthems to their Heavenly King VVhere God himself will wipe away all tears VVhere he no more shall be perplext with fears Of stearing right unto that Holy Land VVhere Saints and Angels in God's presence stands Yet while he on these restless Seas remains That he might be assisted in his pains My hearts desire is he may Inherit The gifts and graces of God's holy Spirit That may descend into him like a flood That he thereby may do his Country good Thus with my hearty prayers to God I rest Desiring his endeavours may be blest Vnto that use for which they were intended Then shall I think my Friend is well be-friended SHe that doth this Unpolish'd piece commend Was willing that it should obtain its end No pains she spar'd to give these Poems Birth But with desire sought to bring it forth And to that end that nothing might prevent Gave her assistance for encouragement May these my labours to thy use be blest For which her Love her Zeal her Heart exprest Courteous Reader I Have for thy ease and pleasantness in Reading drawn up this brief Table containing in it the chief Heads that is Treated on in the First Part of this Book because the first part is not divided as it ought to have been nor as the Second aâ—d Third Part is I have therefore used this Method to every particular matter that is Treated on in this First Part I have given thee Directions in what Page to find them that so thou may readily turn to that matter thou art most desirous to inspect The First Part of this Book is an Introduction to the Art of Soul-Navigation and ought to have been so Intituled The TABLE THat there is a true resemblance between a Ship at Sea and a Christian in this World and between the Sea and the World pag. 1 2 3 The like true resemblance between the Word of God and the Sea-mans Compass the Seas resemble this world in three particulars 1. In the unconstancy of its motion 2ly In the Salt gusâ— the waters of the Sea hath 3dly In the Violence of the Waves p. 4 5 A Ship at Sea resembles a Christian in this world in three particulars First In being liable to Leaks p. 6 7 8. In being liable to run upon Sands and so broken p. 9 10. In being liable to be split upon Rocks p. 11. â—e Rocks explained p. 12 13. â— the Second Part call'd Speculation begins with an Introduction to Speculation p. 14 15 16. â—e four Cardinal Points Treated of The North compared to God the West to Christ the South to Holiness West to Death p. 17. â—ripture grounds for this Allusion p. 18 19. â—eculation explained the first part of it being the true knowledge of God p. 21 22 23. â—ow Christ must be known p. 24 25 26. â—f Holiness p. 27 28. â—f Death p. 29. â—he certainty of the Resurrection from Death to Life again as the Sun moves from West to North and from North to East again so Man rising from the Grave goes to God from God to Christ his Judge p. 30. The Blessed Estate of the Righteous p. 31 32 33. The sad State of Sinners after Resurrection they must return back again from Christ their Judge to their Western Point which is the Second Death p. 34 35 36. A general Application p. 37 38. ERRATA Reader THere is some but not many Faults escaped the Press which because somâ— wrongs the Sense I have noted omitting sucâ— Literal Mistakes as do not wrong the Sense PAge 2 line 12 for worth read World p 9 l. â—9 f hiâ— r. God p. 10 l 2 f. sould r Sâ—uls Ibid â— Sâ—â—â— Some 's p 11 l. 7 r. It is a signe of Death p. 57 l. 22. â— â—â—ssuated p. 68 l. 27 r. External THE â—eaman's Spiritual Companion OR Navigation Spiritualized A Ship at Sea that on the Waves is tost In danger every moment to be lost
We cannot think a happy Voyage to make Observe that good St. Paul and you shall find That Faithful Pilot in the self-same Mind His Compass he upon his Conscience layes In all things he makes Conscience of his Wayes Both towards God Man thou alwayes must Make Conscience of thy Wayes 'T is in vain to trust To any written Rule though ne'r so good And never so well known and understood If thou dost make no Conscience of the same Thy Compass serves for nothing but the Name Upon a painted Compass Men may look Or read the Rule that 's written in a Book A Compass fairly painted on a VVall Though pleasing to the Eye serves not at all To stear a Ship by That must be effected By such a Compass as must be erected And set upon a Needle where it moves By this erected Compass Seamen proves Their written Rule By this the Ship is guided And through the raging Seas her way 's divided Remember therefore if thou dost intend Thy former Compass shall obtain its End And thou at last may be secur'd from blame Be sure that thou make Conscience of the same That out of Conscience unto God thou never Neglect thy former Compass but endeavour To stear according to it Fix thine Eye On God who is thy North and come as nigh Unto thy Rule as possible thou may And out of Conscience unto God obey His VVill in every thing with true Affection As from thy Compass thou meets with Directionâ— So shalt thou be made Happy in thy Choyce And from true ground of Comfort may rejoyce Having within thee that which will indure The Testimony of a Conscience pure That from thy Dove-like Innocence thy Conversation Has been in truth without Dissimulation According to the Rule unfeignedly Serving the Lord in pure Simplicity And true Sincerity where I shall leave thee As with a Rule that never will deceive thee A Good Memory A Seaman that compleatly is supply'd Must with his Compass have a Box beside To place his Compass with security The Box is therefore a good Memory There let thy Rules be kept like sacred Treasure That thou may look them over at thy Pleasure These Rules are few these Few are very plain â—ot over numerous for thee to retain â— thou dost get these Rules into thy Head â— time of need they will thee stand in stead VVhen thy occasions have remov'd thee far â—nd Storms and Tempests at the Sea debar â—hee from the good Appointments of the Lord â—he sacred Preaching of God's holy Word â—his being kept in Memory lyes by thee â—hat in a time of want it may supply thee I will not say That thou wilt need no more â— in thy Head thou layest them up in store â—ut this I dare adventure to assert â—hy Head instructed well informs thy Heart â—nd if thou knows these Rules dost endeavor â—o do the same Happy art thou for ever â— such a State thou never canst miscarry â—ho Seas be rough Winds be quite contrary â—ut safely shalt obtain that happy Shore VVhere Pleasures do abound for ever more â—hen wilt thou find no Reason to repent thee â—hat for a time thou hadst this Compass lent thee CHAP. IX The Third Part now of sacred Navigation It is the Affections lively Meditation Affectionate Divinity we find Is principally seated in the Mind DIvine Affection is a lively Motion O'th'Soul to God-ward stirring up Devâ—tion And this Affection thus Divinely seated By Meditations is both warm and heated So that through Heat it now doth opperate And sets the Affections in a working-state Affections is the Soul 's quick Motion and Sweet Meditations also doth command The Soul's Affections and doth strongly move And melts th' Affections in a Flame of Love VVhere holy Meditations is but small Th' Affection 's cold and scarcely moves at all That therefore I shall further treat upon Relating to Divine Affection I shall endeavour to reduce them all Into some certain Rules that 's Practicall Practical Rules I mean of Meditation VVhereby the Soul can make sweet Applicatioâ— Of God's sweet Promises in Scripture found And that upon the best and safest Ground â—or Meditations when 't is sweetly felt â—s like a Limbeck that doth Heat and melt â—uch pleasant Flowers as are put into it â—aking sweet Drops of VVater issue fro it Those Meditations that I now intend â—o lay before my Sea-devoted Friend â—hey're of two sorts on which mine Eye is fixt â—ome purely Simple other some are Mixt. â—uch Meditations as most properly â—Ve here call Simple Meditations I â—raw from such Places of God's VVord as are â—especting Seamen in particular â—wo Scriptures for that purpose I have chose â—Vhich Holy David did before expose â—o publick veiw that such as fear the Lord â—ight be instructed from his Holy VVord In Psalm the Seventy-seven Nineteen Verse â—here David doth that sacred VVord rehearse â—hy Wayes O Lord are in the Seas saith he â—hy Paths upon the mighty Waters be â—â— from this VVord thou bend thy Meditation â—o make a Spiritual use and Application â—his VVord which here the Holy Prophet says â—ay well refer unto his sacred VVayes â—elating to the VVorld that restless Ocean â—r to the Saints But if thou take this Notion â—ccording to the literal Explication â— Seaman then may make this Application 1. If it be so that God-Almighty please â—o make his Foot-steps in the raging Seas If God do walk upon the Waves indeed And tread upon the Waters then what need Have I to fear at Sea more than at Land For God-Almighty doth them both command Or why should I at Sea be less in fear Of sinning than at Land for God is there No no God rules the raging Waves can stiâ— Their Fury and restrain it when he will Though Neptunes prouder Billows do out-braâ— And threaten still to make her Womb my Graâ— Tho every moment Death come prancing by â—â— I 'le fear no Evil for the Lord is nigh me And yet I 'le fear to sin though Mortal Eye Cannot discover for the Lord is nigh I 'le dread his holy Name that doth command The swelling Waves and bounds them with tâ— Sanâ— I 'le fear his Holy Name whose soveraign Powâ— Commands the Sea that it shall not devour Their Neighboring Earth again doth restraâ— Their Fury making them turn back again I 'le reverence his Name whose piercing Eye Sees all the World at once His Majesty I will adore and ever seek to please VVho rules the Earth and walks upon the Seâ— I 'le stand in awe at Sea as well as Land Of him whose power doth them both commanâ— 2. But Secondly Upon this same Relation Thou mayest rightly form this Meditation â—ay to thy Soul My Soul thus stands the Case â—hese mighty VVaters is God's dwelling Place Here is God's Temple O my Soul adore him â—all down worship God kneel before him â—ay not within thy self O I may live â—o come to Shore again and
And would perswade thee there 's no greater treâ—suâ— To be enjoy'd the senses now invites The flesh to taste which draws in these delighâ— Like as a leak draws water at the Seas And sink the Ship so do such leaks as these Draw in this worldly pleasure until they Be fill d so full the Vessel 's cast away And Lading lost which is the worst of all And by this means came our first Fathers fall Eve's eye beheld the Fruit and so admir'd Presents it to the flesh the flesh desir'd Man being made of earth by nature weak Not minding as he might to stop the leak He lost his Vessel as he well deserv'd Although it s hop'd his Lading was preserv'd This leak sunk Achan his eye-delighting pleasure As by a leak did let in such a measure Of Avarice that using no endeavour To stop that Leak his Ship was lost for ever And in a word the naked truth to speak Most mischiefs makes their entrance at this leak The sense of Seeing first doth act its part Presently brings the object to the heart The heart whose office 't is to stop the leak â—f it neglects its part these waters break â—nto the Ship runs in without controul And sinks the Ship and overthrows the Soul Then keep thy heart with diligence and care Let not thy eye nor ear thy heart ensnare â—fe'r thine eye invite thine heart to pleasure Think how uncertain is this earthly treasure What true content what solid joy can I Take in this world alass I am born to die â—uppose I find some pleasure for too day â—oo morrow death tells me I must away â—o earth from whence I came the grave must keep My mouldring body till I wake from sleep I leave my pleasure and I leave my sorrow I sleep too day and shall awake too morrow And when I shall awake I shall be hurl'd Immediately into another world And then shall live again and stand before The judge of heaven and earth and die no more This state shall be a state of joy or pain From which I never shall be mov'd again If for this worlds uncertain pleasures I Should lose that joy that lasts eternally How costly would these pleasures be What ratâ— Should I pay for these toys whose longest datâ— Admits no longer measure then a Span Whose largest confines is the life of man Such serious thoughts as these they will no doubâ— Stop all these Leaks and keep vain pleasures out The third resemblance that there is between Mans Body and a Ship may thus be seen It s not the empty Ship that men so prize But for the sake of its rich Merchandize And as a Ship contains within his hould The Merchants treasure so mans precious Soul That is far richer than the Golden Ore The Merchant fetches from the Indian Shore Is in his Body wherefore man beware Of Soul Ship-wrack use Diligence and Care To keep thy Lading safe Slack not thy pain For that once lost thou'lt never find again Thy Lading being lost there 's no indeavoâ— Can save thy Vessel but it sinks for ever Into a burning Lake a Lake of fire Whose torments ceases not nor flames expire O man be careful whilst thou hast a day Thy want of care will cast thy Ship away The Carcass of a Ship when all its store Is buried in the sand is of far more Esteem and value than the Body when It s precious Soul is gone from thence for then The Body 's nothing but a lump of Clay Sleeping in Dust until the Judgment Day When all must wake to joy or else to sorrow Unto a dismal night or joyful morrow A Ship at Sea is liable to harms As well by Rocks and Sands as sudden Storms A Chrstian while upon these troubled Seas He hath his Rocks and Sands and upon these He sometimes runs aground and sometimes hits Upon these Churlish Rocks until he splits His slender Vessel which with great indeavour Is hardly sav'd from perishing for ever Sins and temptations is a Christians Sand On which sometimes he runs aground and stands And cannot move the sins of Christians heels Like red sea sands takes off their Chariot wheels Weakens a Christians Faith he scarce can know Whether he moves one step for Heaven or no. A Christian that is with his Sin defil'd He 's at a stand scarce thinks himself a Child It is but faintly that he calls him Father But like the prodigal he chuseth rather The name of Servant unto such a stand Doth sin put sold Sons lost on such a sand And other sands there be of no less danger To which a Christian must not be a stranger They are temptations of every kind That oftentimes do much afflict the mind As when a Christian sees Blasphemers flourish While Righteous ones is rather fit to perish It runs the soul on ground he scarce can say That he is in the right and perfect way This sometimes made the best of men mistrust And judge the generation of the Just That soul that runs himself on such a sand Is often times put to a perfect stand 'T was this made righteous David thus complain Surely saith he I 've wash'd my hands in vain O soul beware this is a dangerous sand This put good David unto such a stand That till the spring-tide of Gods love did flow Into his Soul his faith was grown so low He there stuck fast in danger to miscarry Until he went into Gods Sanctuary Whose holy streams Did give his soul such strength That he got off that dangerous sand at length Christians have rocks as well as sands and they Do seldom miss to cast the Ship away I 'll mention two but they shall be the Chief And yet but two because I will be brief Presumption and Despair on these two Rocks Whoever runs with violence and knocks If on the first of these his soul but hit 'T is very seldom but the soul is split When men presume to sin and yet will dare Presumptuously to promise equal share With best of Saints in everlasting joy How many thousands thus themselves destroy It is a sign saith the Physician Who when he minds his Patients disposition Finds him so stupifi'd he doth not know Whether he be distempered or no Though every one about him gives him over And leaves expecting that he will recover The dying man feels nothing hath no fears Whilst his relations dews his bed with tears And sees him dying though he sees no danger Sees death approaching while the man 's a stranger Unto the thoughts of death presumes all 's well And thus presumptuously some goes to Hell Laughing at sin while others under deep Sad apprehensions of their state can weep Beholds him dying that sees no such thing Sees death hath stung him though he feels nothing The choicest Christians floating on the Seas Of swelling pomp may run himself with ease Upon this Rock he is not fiercely driven By any storm or tempest sent from