The Christians Compass, Title page – To the reader
CHRISTIAN'S COMPASS: OR, The Mariner's COMPANION.
BEING A Brief COMPENDIUM of the Principles of Religion, in the things which are neceſſary to be known and practiſed by all who profeſs the Name of CHRIST.
Long ſince prepared, and now publiſhed by John Durant Preacher of the Goſpel (ſomtimes in the Navy, and now) at Chriſts Church CANTERBVRY.
PSAL. 77.19.
Thy way is in the Sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footſteps are not known
London, Printed by T. L. for the Author. MDCLVIII.
To every Chriſtian (eſpecially every ſea-man) The Author wiſheth a good Voyage, and as an help therein humbly preſents them with this Card or Compaſs.
Dear ſouls,
THere are many years paſt ſince theſe meditations were firſt conceived; and albeit I have once and again had thoughts of publiſhing them, yet ſtill I have been diverted from theſe thoughts until now. And now they come abroad almoſt in the very ſame dreſs in which they were at firſt. The notions are the very ſame, and the matter throughout is not any thing altered, only I have expunged and blotted out ſome more pedantick phraſes which ſome of the heads were expreſſed in (according to my then juvenile fancie:) And I account the blo…ting out of them no blot to the book: Nor the confeſſion thereof any ſhame to my ſelfe. Indeed the enticing words of mans wiſdome would have been a great blemiſh to the truths of Christ, which are ever moſt powerful and glorious, when moſt plainly held forth.
The deſigne was to ſpiritualize the obſervations of a Sea-voyage unto ſome ſoul-advantage: and my thoughts were to have held forth the principal (if not the whole) reſult of my meditations to the Seamen in that ſhip I was (in the year 1642) as a farewell to them. But our ſuddame parting after wee came to an ancho… in the Thames, prevented it. Hereupon I veſolved ſome time or other to print it. For I confeſs I was loath to conceale the things which ſo well pleaſed mee then, and indeed do yet (if I may with humility ſay any thing of my own pleaſeth me) hoping they may pleaſe and profit ſome others as well as my ſelfe.
And (Reader) whoever thou art, I perſwade my ſelfe that thy pains in the peruſal of this will be profitable, in caſe thou obſerve thoſe directions.
1. Read with a ſober minde. Do not run from any head as ſoon as thou haſt read it. The things are delivered briefly, yet comprehenſively. A little meditation and ſerious conſideration, will make ever) page ſwell into, yea and exceed a-ſheet. All who know what belongs to handling Divinity-heads, know that this ſmall Manual might have made a large volume. But the truth is, I did induſtriouſly ſhorten and contract it, that I might put thee (Reader) upon an induſtrious and diligent inlargement by meditation and conſideration.
2. Commit the whole (if, and as much as it may be) unto memory. That thou mayoſt, if the matter be reduced in a Catechatical way to queſtions & anſwers; as readily anſwer unto, and tell any head in this ſpiritual Compaſs, as our Mariners can their Sea-compaſs. For inſtance, Suppoſe one asks you in your heads of knowledge, What is your firſt point? Anſwer, It is God who ſtands for North. And ſuppoſe it be asked in your heads of practiſe, What is the firſt point of the Compaſs there? Anſwer, Never ſtir, or ſteer in any courſe but by light from God. So of the reſt. That is my ſecond direction. Labour to be as ready in ſaying this, as our cabin-boys are brought to be ready in their compaſſe.
3. Indeavor to improve this by imitations; eſpecially in the laſt … of meditations. Men at Sea make many obſervations (and ſo may men at land likewiſe) which if they were but ſo wiſe and holy as to improve unto ſome divine meditations, might be very uſeful for practical and pious application in ſundry ſpiritual caſes.
Theſe directions I commend to every one, into whoſe hand providence ſhal put this book. But to ſuch as are Mariners I have two other words to add, and let me beſeech them to minde and conſider them.
1. The great God is aroſe from his place, and is now upon the waters, to do great things by thoſe whoſe cry is in the ſhips. Jehovah hath mighty works to be done upon the mighty waters; and ſeamen are to be his inſtruments for the accompliſhment of many glorious propheſies.
Therefore,
2. Now let every Mariner look out, and look about him. Happy are they whom God will chuſe, and uſe at all. But more happy are they, who (as the ſhips of Tarſhiſh) ſhal come firſt, (as Iſa. 60 9.) As there is glory in being in Chriſt firſt, (unto which Paul alludes, Rom. 16.7.) So there is a peculiar priviledge in being uſed by Chriſt firſt in any great ſervice. Seamen therefore, now if ever look after godlineſs. God hath choſen the godly man for himſelf and ſervice. Wicked men whom God doth uſe, may and ſhall have large rewards and good wages, but yet they ſhal loſe their Voyage. Even Nebuchadnezzar had his wages for his ſervice, (as it is Ezek. 29.18.) Yet alas! what became of him? O ye gallant Mariners (who are to ſwim and ſerve in gallant ſhips upon a gallant ſervice) ſtrive to be truly gracious, which will be your greateſt gallantry and glory now, and to eternity; without which you will either be fit for no ſervice (as to God) or for no reward from him (as to a ſpirituall account) what ever your works or worth may be from, and as to men upon a civill ſcore. O therefore minde your ſouls, and their ſpiritual concernments in all your ſervice! and remember that certainly NOW it's high time to flye from thoſe Sea-monſters of Swearing, Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, &c. NOW its high time to purge your hearts and hands, and to go from thoſe abominations, that yee may be Veſſels fitted for the Maſters uſe, & prepared unto every good work.
But I'le ſpeak no more unto you at preſent; yet I'le ſight out the reſt for you in ſecret. Verily (ye Mariners) you have a great place in my heart. My firſt publike ſervice in the Goſpel of Chriſt, was on the Sea; I cannot chooſe therefore but love and pray for Seamen. Let me beſeech you therefore to accept of this ſhort hint in love. Now the bleſsed God (who glorifyes his power in mans weakneſs) glorify himſelf by bleſſing this little book with the furtherance of ſouls in their ſpiritual Sea-Voyage.
Reader, I am thine (in the ſervice of thy ſoul) for Chriſts ſake and his Goſpels, John Durant.