The Christians Compass, Chapter 3 – Illustration
CHAP. III.
Things neceſſary to be known by a spiritual Sea-man, according to the points of his compaſs.
THE firſt thing which God made was light. And the firſt piece of the new Creation is knowledge. That therefore we may begin aright, weel begin with this, and ſhew what are the principal things neceſſary to be known by a ſpiritual Sea-man.
Now ere I proceed, I will premiſe this, That I ſhall make the Se… compaſs as it were the rule and pattern of my diſcourſe (which indeed was the occaſional ground of theſe contemplations.) And anſwerable to the general points of the compaſs, I ſhall hint ſuch things as I conceive neceſſary to be known and done by a Chriſtian, in order to the ſteering rightly and ſafely to the bleſſed Port or Haven of happineſs.
Upon this account I ſhall lay down four heads of truth to be known, according unto the principal points of the compaſs; and in alluſion unto them, I ſhall make God my North, Chriſt my Eaſt, Holineſs my South, and Death my Weſt points. Now the reaſon of this my alluſion is this; Jeruſalem hath been generally conceived to be in the midſt of the Earth, and therefore ſome have called it the Navel of the World; for as the Navel is in the midſt of the body, ſo ſay they, is Jeruſalem in the midſt of the earth. And hence it was that (eſpecially in Scripture-notion and language) places have their denomination of ſcituation according as they lay about, or ſtood with reference unto Jeruſalem. Eying therefore Jeruſalem as our center. I remember that on the North-ſide of it was the City of the Great King; on the Eaſt the Mount of Olives, on which Chriſt ſtood when he came at firſt to that City (and on which he ſhall ſtand when he comes again, Zach. 14.4.) On the South-ſide was Mount Sion, called the Mountain of holineſſe, Pſal. 87.1. And on the Weſt-ſide was Mount Calvery, and the valley of dead mens bones. Upon this account it is I ſhall make my alluſion to the North for God; to the Eaſt for Chriſt; to the South for holineſs; and to the Weſt for death. Now there can be no exception againſt this Allegorical ſpeculation, as to the handling of the things alluded unto, ſave onelyonly the firſt is not ſo clear, viz. that the North ſhould be for God. It's clear enough to any eye, that as to the other three particulars there can be no ground to queſtion their parallelling. But why the North ſhould be put (by way of parallel) for God, may ſeem not ſo evident.
To clear that therefore, conſider that of Pſal. 48 2. Beautiful for ſcituation; the joy of the whole Earth is Mount Sion; on the ſides of the North, the city of the great King. The meaning of which I cannot conceive as ſome do, viz. that its ſpake of Mount Sion, as if that were on the North-ſide of Jeruſalem. Our Maps and Geographers ſhew the contrary, (Mount Sion being on the South) but I take it thus, that on the North-ſide of Sion was the city of the great King, i. e. Jeruſalem, or that part which was called the City, lay North-ward of Sion, as Joſephus and others atteſt; and ſo when it is ſaid, The joy of the whole earth is Mount Sion; on the ſides of the North the city of the great King, the meaning is clear, that the North ſide of Sion was the city of the great King. Hence I conceive was that ſpeech of the pride of Lucifer, who when he would exalt his throne above the stars of God, adds, he would ſit alſo in the ſides of the North (Iſa. 14.13.) i. e. on the ſide which was accounted Gods; which if it ſhould be underſtood of the Mount Moriah, as ſome do, it ſtill holds with our notion of the Norths being eyed as the place of God; for Moriah was on the North-ſide of Sion, and why may not I harmleſly (at leaſt) collect that God ſtands for the North, from that in Pſal. 75.6. where promotion is denyed to come from the Eaſt, or South, or Weſt; and without mention of the North, it's ſaid to come from God, as if it were a known motion. God put for the North; I will therefore preſume, that if I erre in the exactneſs of my alluſion, that yet 'tis pardonable; and therefore I'le proceed hereupon as I ſaid, to put North for God, Eaſt for Chriſt, South for Holineſſe, and Weſt for Death.
A Jove principium. Let's begin therefore as Mariners do, with our North-point, i.e. with God, ſurely we ſhall not make a proſperous voyage without him, ſith he is the firſt to be known And being wel skilled in this point, we ſhall preſume, and may expect fair weather will come out of this North (as the phraſe is, Job. 37.22.) to make us happy in our ſpiritual failing. Concerning God therefore, I ſhall lay down theſe particulars as neceſſary to be known, which I ſhall not expatiate upon, only clearly and diſtinctly mention.
1. We muſt know that God is, Heb. 11.6. we muſt beware of ſaying with the fool, there is no God Creation, Providence, even rain and fruitful ſeaſons are his witneſſes A…. 14.17. not to mention thoſe grand and undeniable teſtimonies of ſcriptures and conſcience. But this is the firſt; ſet it in your hearts that there is a God; and however Heathens ſpeak of many, yet to us Chriſtians there is but one God 1 Cor 8.5, 6
2. We muſt know that this God is the chiefeſt good. It's onelyonly himſelf and the light of his countenance which can make us happy, Pſal: 4.6, 7. Bleſſed are they that ſee, i. e that enjoy him, Mat. 5.8. Mat. 18.10. Now this is a principle neceſſary to be known, viz. That God is that ſupreme good in the enjoyment of whom all true happineſſe lyes. All our love and labour to, and for God, depends upon this principle; and the knowledge and belief hereof is of abſolute neceſſity to make us happy.
3. (Life eternal lying in God, and he being incomprehenſible and unconceivable in eſſence, as being a ſpirit) We muſt know our beſt way to eye him is in his attributes (Exod. 34.5, 6, 7.) and works (as Rom. 1.20.) Eſpecially in his Son, (as 2 Cor. 4.6.) Read theſe Scriptures, & rememember them. Gods Names declare his Nature; his works intimate his being; but his Son is the brightneſs of his glory, and the expreſs image of his perſon.
4. We muſt know that as God is a ſpirit, ſo our onelyonly and chiefeſt way of knowing, enjoying, ſerving and walking with him, is in the ſpirit likewiſe, Joh. 4.24. As God is, ſo he ought to be known and ſerved. And he being a ſpirit, he is only in a ſaving way known by the light of his own ſpirit, and ſerved in the ſimplicity and ſtrength of our ſpirits. Theſe four things are the leaſt that we can know in order to happineſs concerning God.
Concerning our next Cardinal point, viz. Chriſt (who is our ſtar in the eaſt) I will name no more points in number concerning him neither, but four.
1. Chriſt is the firſt and clearest light, the true Sun which ariſeth upon the world, by which all are enlightned, Joh. 1.9. He is our Sun of Righteouſneſs, and till he ariſe, there is no healing for us, Mal. 3.2. He is that light which alone makes day, as the Sun in the Eaſt doth, Luke 1.78, 79. The whole world lyes in a Night of diſmal, damnable darkneſs, until Chriſt as the Day-ſpring from on high viſite it, to give light to them that fit in darkneſs.
2. God alone is in him reconciling himſelf to the world, 2 Cor. 5.19. We can never be reconciled, justified, adopted, &c. but in and by Jeſus Chriſt; and he is made all to us in theſe grand ſoul-ſaving matters, 1 Cor. 1:30. Chriſt is the Way as well as the Truth; the way of God to us, as well as the light of God upon us; no man cometh to the Father but by him, as it is Joh. 14.6.
3. Jeſus Chriſt is onelyonly made ours by the union and in-dwelling of himſelf in us through the ſpirit. It's the ſpirit alone who can annoint our eyes to ſee and behold this Sun, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, &c. It's the ſpirit who uniteth us to Chriſt, 1 Cor. 6.17. It's the ſpirit who doth fit us for, and bring us to Jeſus Chriſt, Ioh. 16.8, 9, &c. Where God intends to bring any to himſelf in his ſon, he there giveth the Holy Ghost; none can call Jeſus Lord but by the ſpirit, 1 Cor. 12.3. How then can any come by him and be one in Chriſts body, but by the ſame ſpirit, 1 Cor. 12.13.
4. The way of the ſpirit uniting us to Chriſt, is by an act of power on his part; and by an act of faith on our part. The ſpirit uſes no other grace either to faſten Chriſt on us, or us to Chriſt, but Faith. Believing is the all, and the onelyonly means of having Chriſt. Other things may prediſpoſe, but faith alone takes hold of, and intitles us to Chriſt. Other graces will follow, but not as things joyning us to Chriſt, but as fruits of our being united unto Jeſus Chriſt, Ioh. 3 16. laſt. & 5.29. Eph. 3.17. Ioh. 1.12, 13. with others.
As Chriſt is the onelyonly foundation, ſo theſe things are fundamentally neceſſary to be known of him.
Now concerning our next point, viz. holineſs, which is our South, I would fain poſſeſs my ſelf and others with theſe four principles about it.
1. That whoever is in Chriſt, is a new creature, 2 Cor. 5.17. which new creature is renewed in holineſs, Eph 4.24: Although Chriſt in free-grace takes ſinners when ſinners, yet he leaves them not ſo, but makes them Saints or ſanct…fied ones, 1 Cor. 6.11. This know, Though the unholieſt ſoul may have Chriſt, yet none but the holy ſoul can onelyonly ſay, I have Christ, though Chriſt did not condemn or caſt off that great ſinner, Ioh. 8.3. yet hee cautions her againſt ſinne, ver. 11.
2: Holineſs is the ſouls higheſt luſtre, its the Sun in the South, at the higheſt: The holy ſoul is in the right and full aſpect of God, as South is towards the North: God is and ſurely we are when we are holy) glorious to holineſs, Exod. 15:11: When we come to perfection in holineſs, then is our Sun at the height in us; and in order unto this we are to improve the promiſes, 2 Cor: 7:1:
3: Holineſs is Christ filling the ſoul: As the Sun which paſſeth from Eaſt to South is higheſt in the South; ſo Jeſus Chriſt is at his higheſt in the heart when the heart is moſt holy: A ſoul in the height of holineſs, hath Chriſt in the height in him:
4. This holineſſe is that which is directly oppoſite to ſin: as the cleareſt light is to the greateſt darkneſs, ſo is holineſs to ſin. Sin eclipſes holineſs, and holineſs ſcatters ſin. Holy and undefiled are all one in Scripture; they are all parallel expreſſions of one and the ſame thing, Heb. 7: 26: Phil. 2.15. 2 Pet. 3.11, 14 Our laſt principal point is the Weſt; that is, our night-point, our death-principle. And certainly it's neceſſary for us to know ſomething of death: Moſes propounded the thought and ſight of death to Iſrael, as well as life: Now with reference to death take four principles.
1: Death is certain: There is none that liveth and ſhall not ſee death: It's the certain wages of ſin: men do but deceive themſelves when they put off the thoughts of death from themſelves, for all muſt dye: The Sun of our life will ſet in death: When our dayes come about to this Weſtern-point, it will be night, Heb 9: 27: Pſal. 49.7, 9:
2. If we dye in our ſins out of Chriſt, we are undone for ever, Joh. 8: 24: Miſerable are the wiſeſt, the richeſt, the greateſt of men, who cannot dye with Chriſt in their arms: As to dye in Chriſt is gain; ſo out of Chriſt it's loſs, yea the greateſt loſs, Phil. 1: 21:
3: Death is but the ſouls, or rather the bodyes night: The ſetting-Sun will riſe again. It's our benighting to dye; but it's not our annihilating: All, even the worſt ſhall riſe again, and be brought to appeare before Jeſus Chriſt: As the Sun which ſets in the Weſt, ſhall riſe in the Eaſt, So they that go hence by death, ſhall riſe by Chriſt, 1 Cor: 15: Apoc. 20: 12:
4. After death comes judgement: Men that dye ſhall ariſe to be judged either for life or death the ſecond time. Good men ſhall ariſe to life, wicked men to death. Heb: 9: 27: Matth. 25: Do not ſlight this truth; for it's a principle in Religion, Heb. 6: 2:
Theſe are things all of them very neceſſary to be known: As neceſſary as the four prints in the compaſs, ſo neceſſary are theſe four heads, and the particulars under them to be known.
I ſhall not paſſe from this without an addition of ſome other things from the connexion of theſe points in our Chriſtian Compaſs.
1: From the North-point we paſs to the Eaſt. God paſſeth forth to the world by Chriſt. He comes only down to us by his Son. No man cometh to God but by him; Joh. 14: 6: And as ſoon as we have thought of God, it becomes us to paſſe on in our thoughts to Chriſt: For God out of Chriſt is no lightſome nor chearing thought: God out of Chriſt is a conſuming fire.
2. From Eaſt we proceed to South: And indeed, as Chriſt cometh into, and advances upon the ſoul, ſo holineſſe appears, even as the Sun doth as it riſeth Southward: Chriſts paſſage in the ſoul is in the Southern line of holineſſe.
3. From South we come to Weſt: Even the moſt Southern ſanctified Saints that are, muſt paſs on to death: Holineſs fits for, but frees not from death. The warmth of Southern heat (i e holineſſe) will enable us to bear the cold of death the better; but yet dye we muſt, our holineſs will not keep us from it: To the Weſt we muſt; there the Grave and night of death waits for us all; there our Sun muſt ſet, and our dayes end.
4. From the Weſt we come to the North again; and indeed ſo it is: When we dye we return to God; the ſpirit or every one returns to God, Eccleſ: 12.7. onelyonly ſome go to him as a Judge, others as to a Father.
Having looked upon the points of our Compaſs in their ordinary connexion, conſider it again in its oppoſition; and remembring ſtill our North point is God; our Eaſt Chriſt; our South holineſs, and our VVeſt death then conſider and remember theſe things as worthy our noting and knowing.
1. God and holineſs are things not to be ſevered. God looks not on any thing in a direct line of approbation, but upon holineſs. Holineſs brings the ſoul into a right light of aſpect and communion with God.
2. Even Chriſt himſelf, as coming into the world for us, muſt dye: As the Sun which riſes in the Eaſt, muſt ſet in the Weſt. And indeed, that Christ whoſe riſing ſtar was firſt ſeen in the East of Jeruſalem, Did ſet upon the Weſt, when he dyed upon the croſs on Calvary, which was on the Weſt of the holy City.
The 'firſt of theſe things noted and known, will teach us to labour and to preſs after holineſs; to perfect it in the fear and love of God; for without it none ſhall ſee God.
The ſecond of theſe remembred will ſweeten death unto us; for why ſhould we fear to follow Chriſt? Sith he hath taſted of death before us, and for us, why ſhould we be ſo loath to dye?
To help your eye, and thereby to fix theſe things the better, look upon the following Compaſs as an Epitome of this part of our diſcourſe.
NORTH God He is The ſupreme good Muſt be knowne This by the ſpirit
EAST Chriſt The light of God The reconciler to God Inioyed by the ſpirit and by faith.
SOUTH Holineſs Its the new creature The ſoules luſtre Chriſt at height in us Is at enmity with ſin
WEST Death In is ſelf certain Out of Chriſt ſad ſhall have a reſurrection & brings to iudgment