The Seamans Direction in Time of Storm, Title page – Imprimatur
THE SEA-MANS DIRECTION IN TIME OF STORME.
Delivered in a Sermon upon occaſion of a ſtrong ſtormie Wind lately happening.
By IER. BURROUGHS.
MATTH. 8. 27. The Winds and the Sea obey him.
LONDON: Printed by T. Paine and M. Simmons. 1640.
To the Reader.
IT hath been the way of God in ſpeaking to men, and drawing their hearts to him, to apply himſelfe to them, in thoſe things they have skill of and are acquainted with. When Chriſt was revealed to the Wiſe men that came from the Eaſt, it was by a Star, they were Aſtronomers, and converſed much in the contemplation of the Starres, and God ſpeakes to them accordingly: When our Saviour called Fiſhermen to follow him, he tels them. Hee will make them Fiſhers of men; hee expreſſeth himſelfe unto them in their owne way: Wherefore it being my lot to live where multitudes of Mariners, eſpecially of mine owne Countrey-men daily come, and my Auditors being in great part of ſuch, I was willing to take the opportunity of that great worke of God, that ſore and grievous tempeſt that was lately ſo terrible as made the hearts of many to ſhake, to adde the word ſutable to Gods worke, to labour to conveigh ſome ſpirituall truth, by the advantage of that impreſsion that was then upon their hearts, little thinking then that ſuch preſent thoughts hinted by ſuch an occaſion, ſhould ever be more publike then in mine owne Congregation: but knowing what need Mariners have of Sermons, and conſidering how few they heare, becauſe I could not preach to them where their chiefe buſineſſe lies (upon the Seas) I was willing to ſend this Sermon to them, that they might have it by them: many Sabbaths they ſpend hearing none, ſeldome hearing any. It may be the ſutableneſſe of this ſubject may invite them to reade, eſpecially it being the deſires of many of them who heard it, and found ſome worke of God upon their hearts by it, to have it by them; at firſt I was unwilling to let ſuch ſudden things appeare ſo publike, but after conſidering, that ſome poore Saylors boy at leaſt might get ſome good by them, I yeelded. I publiſh not this Sermon becauſe I conceit any ſpeciall excellency in it, that cannot be expected (it is the ſame for the frame and ſubſtance of it that was preached the next day after the occaſion: Some things are added and enlarged, eſpecially concerning the nature of the Winds.)
But becauſe I know nothing of this ſubiect publiſhed, and ſome way it may be uſefull, and a little good is worth much of my time and labour, who knowes what a truth, what a hint fitted to the apprehenſions of people in their owne way may doe; therefore here you have it, and the Lord proſper it to you.
Yours in Chriſt, I. B.
Imprimatur,
Jo. Hanſley. Octob. 14. 1640.