The Christians Compass, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
The ſecond ſort of duties, being the ſecond quarter of the practical Compaſſe.
WE have paſſed through the firſt quarter of our Compaſs, and all the Rules in it are negative. When therefore you come upon the breaking of thoſe rules or cautions, or neer to tranſgreſs any of them, think you heard Chriſt ſaying, Beware, come not near. I ſhall now proceed unto our next quarter, our Eaſtern, and therein alſo give forth eight points, beginning each with the cardinal Letters.
1. Eſtabliſh thy heart with grace, E.Heb. 13.9. It's grace which is our beſt ballaſt. Opinions, Notions. Expreſſions, Gifts, &c. all theſe, none of theſe can eſtabliſh us. This makes many to be as boats toſſed up and down with every wind of Doctrine, becauſe they are not eſtabliſhed with grace. The heart which is ſerious and eſtabliſhed with Grace, is like a ſhip well ballanced at Sea, it makes fair weather (as we ſay) with any wind. How many toſſing, tumbling, rowling, unſteady ſouls do we ſee in this tempeſtuous age, moved with every wind, and almoſt over-ſet with every wave, for want of being ſolidly and groundedly eſtabliſhed with Grace? Mind this therefore as a principal point of your Compaſs, viz. Establiſhment, and that of the heart (not of the head) with grace. The moſt gracious ſouls are the beſt Sailors
2. Eye Sanctity in every action. E. & by S.Let this be thy great ſtudy, to be holy in all manner of converſation, 1 Pet. 1.15: While others talk of a ſaving Voyage, talk thou of a ſacred: Let every piece and part of the tackling which is about thy Ship be ſacred. Why ſhould not our Ropes and Sails have on them as well holineſſe to the Lord, as the Bridles or Bells of the Horſes ſpoke of in Zach. 14 20 If you know whither you are ſailing, (viz. for happineſs) you cannot forget holineſs. You are ſailing for the Holy Land; and what ſhould you eye but holineſs? The white clifts of Sanctity and holineſſe, lye along the Coaſt of the Country where unto you are ſailing. Eye therefore that wh…te, and when you ſee the dark clifts of ſin, ſay, This is not the ſhore that I ſail unto.
3. Ever Strive Earneſtly to live under, E.S E.and to improve the means of Grace. Where Paul doth plant, and Apollo water; where the word of God is preached in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon; where the Scriptures of truth are clearly opened, and rightly divided, there love to live and be. If thou canst not be on ſhore where preaching is, labor to procure preaching with thee at Sea. Verily in our Chriſtian Ship, and for our spiritual Sea-affairs, godly ſpiritual preachers are the beſt and moſt needful Pilots.
4. Suffer Every Evil of puniſhment or ſorrow, S. E. & by E.rather then leave the wayes of Christ and Grace. As you ſhould rather chooſe ſufferings then not to enter upon Chriſts wayes; ſo you muſt reſolve to endure, that is, to continue under any evil of puniſhment from men for owning, rather then to finne againſt CHRIST in forſaking of him and his wayes. Account no ſtorm or tempeſt too ſore or troubleſom to undergo, that thou mayeſt paſſe on in thy Voyage to Chriſt. Sea-men mu… not fear ſtorms, nor ſhrink back for foul weather. Nor muſt Chriſtians fear perſecutions. Sometimes troubles are like ſtrong gales of wind, which drive the ſhip of the ſoul the faſter to its port, and keep it ſteadier it its way and paſſage.
5. Sigh Earneſtly for more enjoyments of Chriſt. S. E.Reſt not in a little, but pant after a great deal of Jeſus Chriſt. Though a little of Chriſt be very ſweet, yet we ſhould not count it ſufficient. Out of his fulneſs ſtill ſtrive for a ſupply, even till thou haſt grace for grace, i.e. Every grace of Chriſt in thee, anſwerable to what it is in him. As little of the creature, and as much of Chriſt as may be.
6. Seek Evermore for ſome evidences of Chriſt in you, S.E. & by S.the hope of glory. Let it not content thee to make out after Chriſt; but ſtrive to be ſure thou haſt attained unto him. Many never come to good and grounded hope; few come to ſure earneſts of Chriſts ir-being in them. But look thou to ſee Chriſt dwelling in thy heart by faith; Chriſt evidencing his abode in thy ſoul by the evidence of his ſpirit. Be not if it be p…ible, alwaies at a venture, or peradve… for Chriſt, but go to the aſſuring-…, to make ſure that Chriſt is in thee of a truth. Though to go to the Aſſurance-Office for a Venture at Sea, is accounted by ſome an underly way of Merchandize, yet it's a good way, and very noble in Chriſtianity. Indeed they are the nobleſt ſpiritual Merchants that are moſt and deepeſt in aſſurance. The clearer our aſſurance is the more comfortable out voyage will be.
7. Still Set Eternity before you in regard of enjoying of Jeſus Chriſt. S.S. E.To be ever with the Lord, let that ſtill ſound in thy ears, and be in thy eyes. Entreat Chriſt not to tarry with thee a few dayes, but covet to have him with thee alwayes, even all thy voyage on earth, and at thy Port at death. Let Chriſt be in thy eye both in life and death; Or if thou canſt not be ſo happy as to have his ſenſible preſence all the voyage in the time of life; Be ſure thou make it thy deſire and deſign to have him for ever after death. If Chriſt will have you put out to Sea, (as his diſciples) and tell you hee'l come after; Intreat him not to fail in that; thou … you have not his viſible preſence no…, yet deſire of him to vouchſafe to you hereafter, to be alwayes with him where he is, as John 17.24.
8. Settle it Ever in your ſoul as a principle which you will never depart from, S. & by E.that holineſſe is in Chriſt. South is by Eaſt, and holineſs is by Chriſt. Chriſt was holy when a child; and holineſſe is as near to him as himſelf is to himſelf; it's his eſſence; and therefore abominate all looſe and lewd principles which would ſet up Chriſt without holineſſe, and poſſeſs or perſwade thee that thou mayeſt have Chriſt though thou mind not holineſſe; or which would exalt holyneſſe without Chriſt; and perſwade, that even Nature, Reaſon, Education, Morality, can make thee holy enough to enjoy God, though thou never hear of, nor know Jeſus Chriſt. Let Ranters and Socinians keep thoſe poyſons to themſelves. Be thou for Chriſt and Holyneſſe, for Holyneſſe and Chriſt, ſtill together, never aſunder in points or practice.