The Christians Compass, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Here are ſome occaſional Meditations to ſtir up, and to direct in this work.
I Have now almoſt done, only to theſe Maritine Meditations, which I call mixed, as being of ſundry ſorts; I ſhall add twelve more occaſional ones drawn from ſome particular occaſions; and then I'le conclude.
On the Boatſwains Whiſtle.
What a ſhril ſound doth this whiſtle make? How is it heard both fore and ought, above and beneath Deck? And how ready is every one at the ſound thereof? Surely there is no vertue in this Whiſtle, onelyonly the Sea-men know the ſound, and uſe thereof, and 'tis therefore that they are ſo ready at its call to come. Both John and Jeſus piped (O my ſoul) but the refractory Jews ſtirred not; ſurely they knew not what that ſound meant. But ſhew thy life and ſkill, (O my ſoul) and upon any ſound of the words whiſtle, ſtir: Upon every blaſt of ſacred breath which ſounds that ſacred ſilver pipe, up, and ſee what it means O let the ſound thereof be ſhrill and powerful on thy heart!
On a piece of Plank floating on the Sea.
Yonder ſwims the ſad ſigne of the wracke of ſome: I conclude the ſinking of the paſſenger, from the ſwimming of the Plank. Bleſſed Lord, Why, (ſuffer me to ask it) why didſt not ſave ſome one upon that piece of Timber? might not that board, or broken piece have been (as in Pauls caſe) a little Ark to ſave ſome from drowning by carrying them to ſhore? But pardon my preſumption in this queſtion. Yet it may be there wanted a Paul in the veſſel, to whom thou mighteſt have given all that did ſail therein. But why ſhould I ſo imagine, and uncharitably ſink them lower who are gone down into the bottom of the great deep. Turnin (O my ſoul) upon thy ſelf, reflect and ſee what might have befallen thee: That Plank might have been thy floating Tomb, or Monument, that ſome other paſſenger might have read on it thy departure by drowning. Be not high-minded then, but fear. Admire mercy in preſerving thee. The ſame hand that broke that Veſſel in pieces, (whereof that Plank or piece of Timber was) can ſplit thee at his pleaſure. And the next paſſengers may ſee the broken pieces of the ſhip in which thou wert, and read a better Lecture on them then thou doſt on this; making better uſe both of inſtruction and improvement by example.
On a Sea-man which fell aſleep in the ſhrouds, and fell down in the Sea while the Sermon was preaching, &c.
What another Eutychus is here! yet there's a difference. Eutychus in the Acts (chap. 20.) was aſleep in the window, and he ſunk down from the third loft, ſaith the holy Hiſtorian: but this yong man was aſleep in the ſhrowds of a ſhip, and ſunk down into the Sea. Eutychus was dead with the fall, this young man but almoſt drowned. Eutychus had a fairer excuſe for his drowſineſs (for it was in the night) then this young man, who fell aſleep at the noon of the day: Yet [O my ſoul] canſt not ſay this, to excuſe this young man, He had not ſo holy, ſo rowzing a Preacher as Eutychus had. Alas! how far art thou (O my ſoul) beneath Paul! Well, let the yong man learn to be leſs drowzy; and be thou more awaking & ſtirring in preaching. Yet tell others (O my ſoul) 'tis dangerous ſleeping in Sermon-time. Bid them to look about them, to attend to the word of life, leſt they ſleep the ſleep of death, and ſink down from a corporal to a ſpiritual ſleep, never to awake till they are rowzed up to give an account for that Sermon, at which they they ſlept and dyed.
On a great diſtraction in the Navy, ſuddenly and ſafely ended on a Sabbath day.
'Twas but this morning we received orders to prepare and be in readineſs to fight. It was indeed in an evil time, becauſe it was upon a good day. A fight is as well a miſery on the Sabbath day, as a fight, and both are equally to be prayed againſt. Yet neceſſity hath a no Law. And Joſhua's ſeven dayes compaſſing about Jericho, will be a preſident for us to lye about thoſe Ships in a war-like poſture, ſeeing we are put upon it. But (O my ſoul) what cannot God do? He that made Jericho fall at the ſound of Rams horns, hath made ſhips give up and yeeld at the ſound of fellow-Sea-men, exhorting to yeeld to ſubjection. We ſhall not need I ſee ſometimes to uſe our guns; words can conquer when God will. Now I know indeed that the Lord can make wars to ceaſe; or as the word is, Pſal. 46 9. Turns war into a Sabbath, when a Sabbath might have turned into a War. Verily I'le praiſe the Lord, and ſing; it's the Lord that ſtilleth the noyſe of the Seas, the voice of their waves, and the tumult of the people, Pſal. 65.7 He diſappoints the devices of crafty Captains, and makes the common Mariners to yeeld up them, that blood may not be ſhed, nor peace broken. God makes even men at Sea, as well as waves, to be calm and ſtill.
On a man that standing to ſound with the line, fell over-board, and was loſt.
This man ſounded to ſecure the ſhip, yet he lost himſelf. He ſtood with the line and lead to ſound what depth of water the Veſſel had, and he falls into the waters, and ſo himſelf ſunk to the bottom to feel the depth. Ah, O my ſoul! Is not this man an Embleme of thee, who ſoundeſt the depths of Satan to ſecure others? Art not thou in danger to looſe thy ſelf? Preachers look about you; fear, leſt while you ſound and diſcourſe of Satans deeps to warn others, fear (I ſay) leſt you loſe your ſelves. Mariners look to it, while you ſtand by the line and lead ſounding. Conſider, that you may be neerer the bottom then you are aware; 'twill be ſad if you fall and ſink even while you ſound: but ſadder, if as your body, like the lead, goes down the bottom of the deep, your ſoul ſink as a ſtone into the depth of hell. You had need be well skilled in the art and myſtery of spiritual ſwimming, that ſo your ſouls may be ſecure and ſafe by ſwimming to the banks of heavens ſhore, when your bodies ſink to the bottom of the Seas.
On the ſight of many great ſhot made from a Fort to ſome Veſſels, and none taking place.
Surely the gunner intended to hit and hurt, however he ſtill miſſed the mark: he traverſed and levelled to miſchief veſſel and men, but yet ſtill his bullet flew over & beſides both. Seest thou not (O my ſoul) how it's God who guides the Bullet, while man fires the Gun? Divine providence can at pleaſure diſappoint the gunners intents. Bullets obey God, not men: and he that is under the protection of the Almighty is (foreign) i.e. Shot-free. Why then ſhould they who are on the ſervice of God, and a good cauſe, fear men or guns? both whoſe breath is in their Noſtrils, and at Gods dispoſe; and who may ſhoot often, but hit or hurt never without divine permiſſion. Sail by, go on ſecurely (ye men of of war, who are upon divine deſigns) paſs by ſorts, by the ſides of ſhips. A thouſand ſhot ſhall flye a-head, and as many more a-ſtern; many fall over and beyond you, and none ſhall faſten to do you the leaſt hurt, while God is with you. All Bullets flye at Gods command, and not according to the gunners intent.
On the ſight of one corrected at the capſtock for an offence.
How do men obſerve and puniſh offences in all places! This Veſſel is the Sea-mans habitation, and houſe of correction; and the ſame inſtrument which holds the anchor of hope, ſometimes holds the offender to be chaſtiſed. Indeed [O my ſoul] chaſtiſement is at the capſtock of the anchor of hope. It's a hope we are children and not baſtards, if we are chaſtiſed. Who then would preſume to ſin, when in all places there are puniſhments? and yet who would faint under any affliction, when as he is ſo near the hold of the anchor of hope? I'le fear thee my God (and Lord put thy fear into my heart, that I may ſay and hold) never preſuming to offend at Land or Sea; for thou canſt puniſh me in all places at thy pleaſure; yet still I'le hope under every puniſhment. For verily, 'tis good that a man accept of the puniſhment of his iniquity with patience and with hope. Next to be free from offending; the next mercy to that, is to be chaſtiſed near and by hope.
On the fall of a bed (that was laſhed to the ſhip ſide) in a blowing night.
I did lye down in peace, and thought to have ſlept ſo; but how is my bed faln under me? and how am I awakened with a fall, when I expected to lye ſoft and ſecure? But ſee (O my ſoul) what poor things beds are to reſt in. Surely no Bed in this world is faſtned ſure enough to ſecure ſleep and ſafety. Though the feathers are ſoft, the faſtening is not ſure. How can that Bed ſtand, that alway rowles upon, on the waves of a tempeſtuous world? The next blaſt (O ſecure ſleepy man) may ſhake thy bed, and unlooſe or break thy cords, and then where is all thy ſecurity and expectation of reſt? Make ſure (O my ſoul) of a better bed, and in a better cabine then any in this world. Caſt thy ſelf into thy Saviours boſome: That bed is ſoft and ſure; let the windes blow, and the floods ariſe, let the ſhip rowle, and thy cords ſhake; yet ſtill that bed ſhall abide and not be ſhaken. When thou goeſt to bed in thy Cabbin (O Sea man) thou art not ſure of reſt; but thou who reſteſt in Chriſt, thy reſt is ſure; and in him thou maiſt lye thee down in peace and ſleep, for he onelyonly can make thee to dwell and rest in ſafety.
On a boy at the topmaſt head looking out to deſcry land.
How nimbly did that boy run up the ſhrowds, and clime that Topmaſt? and how ſharply doth he looke out for land? yea, how doth the Maſter attend his report? I ſee now that hee who deſires to ſee the land afar off, muſt clime high. A lowe ſtation cannot diſcover the remote banks of Emmanuels land. He that will ſpye the white clifts of heavens fair ſhoare, muſt mount the Topmaſt, and Habbakkuk-like ſet him upon his tower. And hearken (O ſoule) to the report of him on the Topmaſt. What chman what of the night, what of the day, what of land, what of the ſhore? Surely me-thinks I hear the report, the land is yet afar off; wee ſhall ſee it: but it may be ere we come to an anchor, our heart may meditate terror. Yet rejoyce in this, that we are within ken of the good land, A few Watches more we muſt run (and indeed we muſt watch as we ſail) and then we ſhall ſee eye to eye, and diſcern the fair haven, fairly open for us to enter, and land where we long to be.
On an Anchor that lost its hold, and came home and left the ſhip adrift.
This Anchor ſure had not good ground; For if it had, it would have kept its hold, and not have left the ſhip thus to drive. I ſee the anchor of hope will not ſerve the turne, to hold the ſoul in a tempeſt, except the ground of that hope be good. There is a hope which hath but an evill ground, and in the day of diſtreſs it will fail, and force the ſoul to drive. O my ſoule, look to thy Hope; ſee where thou caſteſt it. Be ſure thy Anchor be within the vaile. Hope is not good, nor grounded, except on Chriſt and free-grace. Now the Lord Jeſus Christ himſelfe, and God even the Father, who hath loved mee, and hath given me everlaſting conſolation, and good hope through grace; even that ſame God comfort my heart, and eſtabliſheth me in every good word and work; that though my hope be ſingly grounded on grace, yet it may bee accompanied with good words and works; that I deceive not my ſelf, leſt my anchor come home, and I run afloat ful of fear, without hopes, or hold, in the day of Tempeſt and tryals.
On a ſhip that was left by the Mariners upon the Goodwin-ſands in a ſtorm, and fetcht off by ſome Seamen ſent to relieve it by my Lord of VVarwick.
What fearful and unfaithful Mariners were theſe, that left the Veſſel to ſink, and ſhifted for themſelves, while their ſtay and pains might have ſecured themſelves and it well enough! Ah Lord, may the ſhip of the ſtate never meet with ſuch Mariners. But if that doth, ſtir up ſome noble Warwicks to ſend relief, to ſecure the ſhip which the perfidious Seamen cowardly and unconſcionably deſert. Truſt not in men (Oh my ſoul) who are unſtable as the waters. Rely only upon the living God, who never forſakes his in a ſtorm or tempeſt. If they prove fearfull and falſe that ought to tend thy ſecurity, God can raiſe up others, if he pleaſes, to fetch thee off at any time from any rocks or ſands. Yea, if men fail, Sands ſhall be ſo good, as to keep thee from wracking, till Jehovah ſend help from above to ſave thee from the waters on which thou ſaileſt, that thou ſink not and periſh.
On the parting of a ſhips company at the end of a voyage.
With what joy do theſe all part? and how glad are theſe men to leave each other, and yet without any malice or ill will? They love each other as companions, and yet are glad to part company; this is indeed a friendly farewell of friends. Why ſhould it not be thus between thy ſoul and body (O my heart) at the end of thy voyage, when death comes and calls upon thee to ſtrike ſail and part. Why art ſo loath to leave the carkaſe [thy companion] when thou art to go aſhore in thy ſpirit upon Emmannels land? Come, leap and skip O ſoul, part with the carkaſe with joy. Thy voyage is ended, thy months are out: Go take thy pay, receive thy wages; which yet is of grace, and not of works. Be as glad to go out of the body, and to leave it, as the Seaman is to leave his ſhip. Yet remember you ſhall return to your ſhip again: when Mortality ſhall have put on Immortality, your body ſhall be new rigged and trimmed up. And though at the end of time in the World to come, John tells us there ſhall be no Sea, yet the Pſalmiſt tells us there ſhall be a River of Pleaſures, on which thy ſoul and body ſhall ſail and ſwim in an eternall calm of unexpreſſable bliſs in the preſence of God, in the company of Chriſt, Angels and Saints, for evermore. Strike fail here, O my ſoul, and turmoyle thy ſelf on the Sea of this World no longer.
THeſe were ſome occaſional Meditations of my own in the yeer, 1642. when I was at ſea. And I make them thus publike as a pattern, that all ſpiritual Saylors (if they have no better) may by this imitate themſelves (upon the like occaſions) to raiſe up ſuch Meditations as theſe are.
REader, I have now ended my Voyage: I'le conclude my Navigation. If thou by the help of this Compaſs arrive the Port, [I mean Heaven] I have my ayme and end; therefore I'le add no more but this: This is my deſired Haven which I ſail unto. And while I ſail, I'le ſing, Oh that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſſe, and for his wonderfull works to the children of men! So it is in the Pſalm which I commend to every Saylor to ſtudie and to ſing, Pſ. 107.30, 31.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Durant, The Christians Compass (1658)