The Christians Compass, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
The third head of Divine Navigation opened, and ſpoke unto, viz. Affectionate Meditation.
I Called Divinity the Art of ſoul ſpiritual-Navigation, and branched it out (Chap. 2.) into three heads, viz. Speculative, Practical, and Affectionate. I have diſpatched the two firſt, and ſhal now treat upon the laſt. Affectionate divinity doth principally lie in the ſecret motions or movings of the ſoul towards God in the Affections. Theſe affections are raiſed and warmed, and eſpecially appear active in meditation. As affections are the motions of the ſoul (therfore by ſome ancient Philoſophers calld the feet of the ſoul) ſo mediation is the motion of the affections. The things therefore which I ſhal hint at, about the affections, I will put into ſome practicall rules of Meditation. Meditation being as it were a Lymbeck, or Still in which the affections heat and melt, and as it were drop ſweet ſpirituall waters. In this laſt part I ſhall therefore hint at ſome affectionate mediations which our ſpirituall Seaman is to be acquainted with. Now my meditations ſhall be of two ſorts, viz. ſome meditations of a more ſingle ſimple nature; and others of a mixed, ſuch as wee call miſcellaneous. Fixed and ſimple meditations, are ſuch as may ariſe from ſome particular ſpecial texts of Scripture which concern Seamen; of this ſort I ſhall onelyonly inſtance in two.
Firſt that of Pſalm. 77.19. Thy way is in the Sea, and thy paths in the mighty waters. This Scripture in deed is uſed in a Spirituall ſenſe, with reference to the ſecret unknown wayes of God, in his actings in the world, and in his dealings with his Saints. But yet it relates unto, and is ſpoke of God in alluſion to the literall Sea and waters, where God maketh his way; for he walketh, and is in the deeps, as on the dry. Hence meditate thus.
1. Why ſhould I fear dangers more, or ſin leſſe at Sea, then on the land! The Lord is here even in theſe mighty waters: Amidſt all thoſe rowling waves he walks and rules. Then though I ſteer in the mighty ocean, yet J'le fear no evil, for God is with me: And yet J'le fear to ſin, for God is here, as well as at land. Though I am not on ſhore neer Magiſtrate, or puniſhing place; yet here, at Sea is the great God, who is chief Judge of all the world; therefore even here I'le ſtand in aw and ſin not.
2. See (oh my ſoul) is not here a place for worſhip as well as on land? Is not God here on the waters? and ought he not here to have his worſhip? This great ocean is no other then his open temple. Even here he walks; thoſe Seas and windes do ſerve him at his pleaſure. O my ſoul! worſhip thy God even here: Say not, ſhal I live on land, to go up to the Temple? Loe the Lord is nigh thee, even before thee. Worſhip thy God in the mighty waters; kneel before his footſtool, and adore his preſence even in the ſeas.
3. What though thou be alone on theſe deeps (O my ſoul) as to relations, ſociety? Though wife, children, friends &c. be on ſhore; and thou (as to them) upon Sea alone, yet art not thou alone (altogether O my ſoul) for the Father is with thee. He walketh in the deep, while thou walkeſt on thy Deck. His path is in the waters, and thou haſt alwayes his preſence. Rejoyce (O my ſoul) thy God is at Sea, though all thy friends be at land.
4. Oh that mine eyes were enlightened to obſerve the inviſible paths which God makes in theſe waters. God is here, and I am not aware of it! The way of a ſhip in the Sea is not ſeen; how much leſs are the print of his feet, who is paſt finding out? Come, Oh thou Spirit of Annoynting! And as God moves upon the face of the mighty waters, move thou on my ſoul, that I may ſee and apprehend the Divinity which ſwims in the deep.
Thus meditate on this Scripture, till thy ſoul melt in thoughts of God. And if at any time thy ſoul thinks of God, and is troubled, (as was Aſaphs, when hee ſpake or penn'd the words of this Pſalm, as appears in the beginning, ver. 2.) then in that very trouble remember, Gods way is in the waters: even in the midſt of thoſe waters of affliction (which came into thy very ſoul) the Lord is; and in them he is walking with thee. In that Sea of ſorrow and deſertion, wherein thou art as an afflicted Soul (ſhip-like) toſſed with tempeſt (as it is Iſai. 54.11.) and xot comforted: Minde this, that the Lords path is in the Sea, and his footſteps are not known. Therefore hee may be, and is with thee, though thou ſee him not; and he may be preparing choyce calm refreſhings for thee though thou perceive it not. Indeed that is the ſcope of this Scripture.
The ſecond is that, Pſal. 107.23, 24, 25, to the 31. They that go down to the Sea in ſhips, that do buſineſs in great waters. 24. Theſe ſee the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25. For he commandeth, and raiſeth the ſtormy winde, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble. 27. They reel to and fro, and ſtagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. 28. Then they cry unto the Lord in their troubles, and he bringeth them out of their distreſs. 29. He maketh the ſtorm a calme, ſo that the waves thereof are ſtill. 30. Then are they glad becauſe they are quiet: ſo he bringeth them to their deſired Haven. 31. O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men!
On this Scripture meditate much; and to help thy Meditations, note in it theſe particulars.
1. Obſerve of whom it ſpeaks, viz. of Seamen; ſo all along the Verſes, They that go down to the Sea, &c.
2. To what end, viz. That they ſhould conſider their affairs, obſervations and experiences, in order to the raiſing of their hearts to ſee and praiſe God for his goodneſs, ſee ver. 3.
But more expreſs, to help exact meditation, remember that here is ſet forth;
1. The man at Sea upon civill accounts, verſe 23.
2. The spiritual work or duty of him in that his buſineſſe; and this is ſet forth in many branches.
1 He is to eye God in his works and wonders, v: 24.
2. He is to eye God in every ſtorm and tempeſt.
1 As the author of it, v. 25:
2 As the helper in it, v: 29: Therefore,
3 He is to conſider his danger in every ſtorm, how neer to death, and how full of dread or fear, v. 26, 27.
4 He is to know his duty in that danger, v. 28.
5 He is to conſider his joy at the end of danger, as ver. 30.
6. He is to remember to praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, upon the whole, verſe 31. Now upon theſe heads meditate thus.
1. O my ſoul! the way in which thou art is ſafe; for 'tis lawful to traffick by Sea as by Land. There is no wickedneſs in thy way, unleſs thou thy ſelf do make it. The Lord as well allowes, approves, and proſpers thoſe whoſe buſineſs is to do in the great waters, as whoſe callings are on the ſhore.
2. But what of God do I ſee and eye in my way? I am to walk with God Enoch-like, Gen. 5.24. and as a childe of Abraham, Gen. 17.1. So Noah did who was the firſt that ever ſwam in ſhip. Hee walked with God righteouſly on the dry, and God ſecured him in a ſhip of his own invention in the mighty waters. I am not to be as the ſhip at ſea, a ſenſleſs inſtrument, not kowing whether I ſail, or what I carry, or where I am; Neither am I only to eye Winde and Tide, but I am to ſee God, to contemplate him in all. Theſe waters are his work. He made them, and gathered them thus together, Gen. 1.10. He holds theſe windes that blow in the hollow of his fiſt, Prov. 30.4. he brings theſe windes out of his treaſure, Jer. 10.13. And he rides upon the wings thereof, Pſal. 60.4. Mount (my ſoul) above theſe windes and waters▪ and ſee thy God in them; for they are his works. And ſurely wonderfull is God in working! vvhat wiſdome in ordering! vvhat power in bounding and ruling theſe unruly things, Job 38.8, 9, 10, 11. ſee the place, and meditate thereon.
3. Doth a tempeſt ariſe? Sit down (O my ſoul) and ſee that it comes from God. He made the tempeſt to finde out a ſinful Jonah. He permits this, to try my ſaith; to ſtir up my prayer; to demonſtrate his own power. As afflictions ariſes not out of the duſt; ſo neither do Tempeſts come by chance. A God is in all; he raiſeth, and he can ſtill vvhen he pleaſeth the boyſterous windes and waters.
4. Yet conſider what is thy danger. How neer to death? What a ſtep, what an inch between thee and the grave? Bee not as the fool over-hardy; nor as the hardened prophane Athieſt, that ſcoffs at windes, and feareth no weathers. Tremble (O my ſoul) the next guſt may overſet thee; the next wave may ſwallow thee up. O be not unaffected with, nor inconſiderate of thy danger!
5. Vp then and call upon thy God, Jon. 1.6. That is thy duty in thy danger: Slumber not, but poure out prayers to him that made and can ſtill the Tempeſt at his pleaſure; hold thy ſails with fervent Sighs; hand thy cords and tackling with a Heart ſecretly praying. Let thy beſt anchor be within the vail; pray in faith, cry in hope. The Almighty can with a word make a calm, Pſa. 65.7. Chriſt can ſay, Be ſtill, and Windes and Sea muſt and will obey him, Mat. 8.27. Have thy hand at the helm, and thy eye at heaven; God it may be raiſed the ſtorm to awake thee from thy ſoul-ſleep. Riſe up therefore and call upon God; hee'l bring you out of your diſtreſſes.
6. Reflect (O man) then what was thy joy when the winde began to ſlack and the storm to ceaſe. It's good to eye what comforts God gave in at ſuch a time. Forget neither thy ſoul-meltings in a ſtorm, nor thy heart-cheering upon a calm. O how did God as it were build up thy broken heart? was not thy ſoul almoſt ſhattered as thy ſails? and were not all thy comforts broke as thy cords? But what reviving after death; and what a reſurrection as from the grave hadſt thou in ſuch a place at ſuch a time? &c. was not thy ſoul refreſhed as with wine? and thy ſpirit recovered as with a cordial, when after that, or the other Tempeſt, God gave a calm?
7. Then praiſe thy Lord [O my ſoule] and forget not ALL, nar not ANY of his benefits. Record & recal to mind the great goodneſs of thy God, and praiſe thou his miraculous mercy. Set forth to others thy experiences, and let the children of men know by thee, what are the wonderful works of Jehovah. Tremble at the thought of being (as too many are) altogether forgetful of deliverances. Be not as thoſe whoſe ſinning at land, evidences they forget every ſtorm and danger, every mercy and deliverance at Sea. But, Oh do thou (my ſoul) praiſe the Lord for his wonderfull works to thee (the pooreſt of the children of men.)
Inlarge theſe and the like Meditations upon this Scripture; and by them try the like way of meditaring upon other Scriptures.