The Christians Compass, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I.
The Introduction to the Diſcourſe, ſetting forth the state of a Chriſtian in this world, to be as of a Ship at Sea.
THE Allegory of a Ship, (as the emblem of our life) as its ancient for its invention, ſo 'tis approved for its aptneſſe, and generally apprehended for its plainneſs: There are but few that are ſo ſlow of conceit, but can eaſily ſee, that like as it is with a Ship (laden with ſome rich treaſure) at Sea, in a dark night, without Card or Compaſs, not knowing where the Haven lieth unto which it would go, nor how to ſhape or ſteer a courſe unto it; ſo is it with Mankind ſince the fall: Our Body is our Ship, our Soul is our rich lading, (a Pearl indeed of great price, worth more then all the merchandiſe of this world) this world is the Sea, and as we come into it, naturally, we want both the knowledge of our Haven unto which we ought to bend our courſe; and alſo the knowledge of that by which we might be directed in it. Indeed Heaven is our proper Haven, there where Chriſt now is, (even the preſence of God) called Heaven it ſelf, Heb. 9.24. thither we ought to ſteer our courſe. And the Word and Spirit … the onelyonly Rule by which we can … to that ſpiritual knowledge where … wee may be able to ſhape our courſe ſtraitly and ſafely thither. But alas! naturally we are blind as to both, and our being here is as in a darke place, 2 Pet. 1.19. All the time of our life being rather a night of darkneſs than a day of light. As much therefore as it concerns the Merchant to endeavor the ſafty of his Ship, ſo much doth it concern us to endeavor the ſafety of our ſoul; and the way of the one is a fit Embleme of the way of the other, you know that Parable Mat. 13.35. where a Chriſtian under the ſtate, or in the diſpenſation of the Goſpel, is called or likened unto a Merchant-man; ſeeking goodly (or precious) Pearl; and well he may; for in many particulars a Chriſtian and a Merchant are parallel; or, a man at ſea, and a ſoul in the world. As to illuſtrate this in a word.
Firſt, Let this world be eyed as a ſea, or a place of waters, indeed well it may be, the waters being no more unſtable then the world is: there are not more changes in the Sea then are in the World, the affairs thereof rouling up and down in as great a toſſing as the waves of the ſea do. Ebbe and Flood are not more certain in the Waters then they are in the World, by the flux and reflux of all our worldly affairs; and the ſame briniſh taſte, the ſame ſalt guſt is in the things of the world, which is in the waters of the Sea. And indeed, perſons not uſed to the Sea are not more Sea-ſick upon the water then Saints are while in the world: Now are we mounted on high, (as to Heaven) anon we are tumbled down (as to Hell.) Sometimes our way is ſmooth; at other times rough; by which (as the paſſenger at Sea) we are continually diſtempered & have conſtant cauſe to long to flee this Sea out of this world.
Secondly, our body may well paſs for a ſhip, which is (in its paſſage upon the waters of this world) paſſing away as a Ship, (ſo Job's phraſe is:) A great maſſie Hull. As liable to leaks and bruiſes as a ſhip is. And were it not for traffique-ſake for a time, a wiſe Chriſtian would as little care for it, as a Landman doth for a Ship or bark.
Thirdly, therefore it's not it, viz our body, but our ſoul, which is our treaſure. Epietet us, and many of the more refined Heathens then ſaw this, (and ſo ſpake, when they ſaid the Body was the Organ (or veſſel) the Soul was the man and Merchandiſe. The empty hull of the Ship without Merchandiſe, is of more value then the body without the ſoul.
It's our ſoul and its concernments that are our precious lading; & of theſe it is alone that we are to fear ſhipwrack.
Fourthly, Souls have their Rocks, their Sands, their Scylla, their Carybdis, their Syrenes, &c. endangering them in this world, as much as ſhips at ſea; ſins, corruptions, temptations, prophane companions, carnal pleaſures, earthly-mindedneſſe, &c. theſe cauſe many to drown themſelves in perdition, as it is 1 Tim. 6.9. Indeed it's the miſery of the moſt, that they either are ignorant of, or wholly negligent in the minding of theſe dangers: They let their Ship run at an adventure, neither conſidering Sands, or Rocks, &c. But 'tis their madneſs ſo to do; it ought to be our wiſdom to mind our danger: And all have reaſon to cry out of…en in this reſpect as David did, Save me O God out of the waters; or as it is Iſal. 69.1. For the waters come into my ſoul. You ſee the ſimilitude will run well upon theſe four feet, (and indeed many more.) But let this ſuffice to hint it in the general, That all ſouls are ſea-men; and that our way in the world is as the way of a Ship in the mighty waters.
CHAP. II.
Spiritual Navigation pointed at, and divided according to the diviſion of the Body of Divinity.
SUrely ſith we are Sea-men, it's our duty and wiſdom to be skilled in the Art of Navigation. How elſe ſhall we be able to …eer our courſe aright, to ſhape our way ſo as to have a happy voyage.
Q. But, How ſhall we learn it? who ſhall teach it us?
A. Certainly fleſh and blood cannot reveal this myſtery unto us. Art may make a Sea-man, but it cannot make a Saint. One may be able to carry a Ship round the world ſafely as a man, and yet not know how to ſteer a few Leagues in his ſoul-voyage without miſcarrying. Men may teach us artificial, but they cannot as meer men acquaint us with the myſtery of ſpiritual Navigation. Humane wiſdom may teach us to carry a Ship to the Indies, but it cannot teach us to ſteer our courſe to the Haven of happineſs. In this matter (as the wiſe Verulam ſaid) Tranſeundum eſt è navicula rationis, &c. i. e. we muſt leave, come out of, yea, deny and depart from the Bark of Reaſon; we muſt lay aſide (at leaſt not truſt to) the compaſs of humane wiſdom; And we muſt to the Sanctuary if ever we will learn this myſtsterie. He that would ſteer aright to happineſs, muſt have Jacobs ſtaffe, Pauls compaſs, the ſpirits teaching, and that annointing which is from above, otherwiſe hee'l ſink into the deep of the bottomleſs pit, and never arrive the fair haven in Emmanuels land. In a word; he muſt be an artiſt in the myſteries of the Kingdom. He muſt be a Divine (for ſo all Saints are) that can be Pilot to carry a ſhip, a ſoul to God. Divinity is the Art of Soul-Navigation. That alone tells us which, and where our Haven is; that acquaints us how to ſteer aright courſe thereunto. Now Divinity hath been cut out by the Pen-knife of the Schools into three parts, viz. Speculative, Practical, … Affectionate. Thomas was for the firſt, Scotus for the ſecond Hales for the third. But a ſound ſerious believer muſt joyn all together. We muſt know, and do, and love. We muſt not divide unleſs we intend to be deſtroyed. I ſhall therefore reduce my thoughts to theſe three heads, viz. Knowledge, Practice, Affection, and give you ſhort Rules (for ſo the Rules of Art ought to be) in theſe things to make up the myſtery of ſpiritual ſoul-navigation.