Navigation Spiritualized, Chapter 32 – Title page
CHAP. XXXII.
How glad are Seamen, when they make the Shore
And Saints no less, when all their Danger's o're,
OBSERVATION.
WHat Joy is there among Sea-men, when at last, after a tedious and dangerous Voyage, they descry Land, and see the desied Haven before them? Then they turn out of their loath'd Cabbins, and come upon open Deck with much joy, Psal. 107. 30. Then they are glad, because they be quiet: So he bringeth them to their desired Haven. Now they can reflect with comfort upon the many dangers they have past, Olim haec meminisse juvabit; It is sweet to recount them.
APPLICATION.
But O, what transcendent Joy, yea, ravishing, will ove-run the hearts of Saints, when after so many Conflicts, Temptations, and Afflictions, they arrive in glory, and are harbour'd in Heaven, where they shall rest for ever! 2. Thes. 1. 7. The Scripture saith, They shall sing the Song of Moses, and of the Lamb, Rev. 15. 3. The Song of Moses was a triumphant Song, composed for the celebration of that glorious Deliverance at the Red Sea. The Saints are now fluctuating upon a troublesome and tempestuous Sea; their hearts sometime ready to sink and die within them, at the apprehension of so many and great dangers and difficulties. Many an hard storm they ride out, and many streights and troubles they here encounter with: But at last they arrive at their desired and long expected Haven, and then Heaven rings and resounds with their joyful acclamations. And how can it be otherwise, when as soon as ever they set foot upon that glorious Shoar, Christ himself meets and receives them with a Come ye blessed of my Father? Matth. 25. 34. O joyful voice! O much desired Word? (saith Par…us) What tribulation would not a man undergo for his Words sake!
Besides, then they are perfectly freed from all evils, whether of sin or suffering, and perfectly filled with all desired good. Now they shall joyn with that great Assembly, in the high praises of God. O what a day will this be! if (saith a worthy Divine) Diagoras died away with an excess of Joy,Morning-Exercise, p. 651. whilst he enbraced his three Sons that were crowned as Victors in the Olympic Games in one day: And good old Simeon, when he saw Christ but in a body subject to the insirmities of our natures cryed out, Now let thy Servant depart in peace; what unspeakable joy will it be to the Saints, to behold Christ in his glory, and see their godly relations also, (to whose conversion, perhaps, they have been instrumental) all crown'd in one day with everlasting Diadems of bliss! And if the stars did (as Ignatius saith) make a Quire, as it were, about that star that appear'd at Christ's incarnation, and there be such joy in Heaven at the conversion of a sinner: no wonder then, the Morning-stars sing together, and the Sons of God shout for Joy, when the general Assembly meet in Heaven; O how will the Arches of Heaven ring and eccho, when the high praises of God shall be in the mouth of such a Congregation! then shall the Saints be joyfbl in glory, and sing aloud upon their Beds of everlasting Rest.
REFLECTION.
And is there such a day approaching for the Sons of God indeed! and have I [authority] to call my selfe one of the number! Iohn 1. 12. O then let me not droop at present difficulties, nor hang down my hands when I meet with hardships in the way. O my Soul, what a joyful day will this be! for at present we are tost upon an Ocean of troubles, fears, temptations; but these will make Heaven the sweeter.
Chear up then, O my Soul, thy Salvation is now nearer, than when thou first believedsts Rom. 13. 11. And it will not now be long ere I receive the end of my Faith, 1 Pet. 1. 9. And then it will be sweet to reflect even upon these hardships in the way. Yet a few days more, and then comes that blessed day thou hast so long waited and panted for. Oppose the glory of that day (O my Soul) to thy present abasures and sufferings, as blessed Paul did, Ram. 1. 18. And thou shalt see how it will shrink them all up to nothing. Oppose the Inheritance thou shalt receive in that day, to thy losses for Christ now; and see how joyfully it will make thee bear them, Heb. 10. 34. Oppose the honour that will be put upon thee in that day, to thy present reproaches; and see how easiei… will make them to thee, 1 Cor 4. 5. What condition can I be in, wherein the believing thoughts of this blessed day cannot relieve me?
Am I poor, Here is that which answers Poverty, Jam. 3. 5. Hearken, my beloved Brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in Faith, and heirs of the Kingdom?
Am I tempted? Here is relief against that, Revel. 12. 16. Now is come Salvation and strength; for the Accuser of our Brethren is cast down, &c.
Am I deserted? Here is a remedy for that too, Revel. 22. 5. And there shall be no night there, &c. Come then, my Soul, let us enter upon our Inheritance by degrees, and begin the Life of Heaven upon Earth.
THE POEM.
VVhen Solomon in Isreal first was King,
Heaven's Arches, Earth's Foundations seem'd to ring
VVith joyful Exclamations! How much more
VVill Heaven resound, when Saints are come ashore!
How will the ravish'd Souls transported be
At the first glimpse of Christ! VVhom they shall see
In all his glory; and shall live and move
Like Salamanders, in the fire of love,
A flood of tears convey'd them to the Gate,
VVhere endless Ioys receiv'd them. Now the date
Of all their Sorrow's out; henceforth they walk
In Robes of Glory. Now there's no more talk
Of fears, temptations, of that snare, or this:
No Serpent in that Paradise doth hiss.
No more desertions, troubled thoughts or tears;
Christ's full enjoyment supersedes those fears.
Delights of Princes Courts are all but toys
To these delights, these are transcendent joys,
The joys of Christ himself; and what they are,
An Angel's Tongue would stammer to declare.
Were our Conceptions clear, did their Tongues go
VntoUnto their Ela, yet the Note's too low.
What! Paint the Son too bright! it cannot be;
Sure Heaven suffers no Hyperbole.
My thoughts are swallowed up, my Muse doth doth tire
And hang her Wings, Conception soars no higher.
Give me a place among thy Children there,
Although I lie with them in Dungeons here.
A Concluding Speech.
I Have now done, and am looking to Heaven for a blessing upon these weak Labours: what use you will make of them, I know not; but this I know, that the day is coming, when God will reckon with you for this, and all other helps and means afforded to you. And if it be not improved by you, be sure it will be produced as a witness against you. Sirs, I beg you in the Name of Christ, before whom both you and I must shortly appear, that you receive not these things in vain. Did I know what other lawful means to use that might reach your hearts, they should not be in vain to you; but I cannot do God's part of the work, nor yours. OnelyOnly I request you all, both Masters, common Men, and all others, into whose hands this shall come, that you will lay to heart what you read; pray unto him that hath the Key of the House of David, that openeth and no man shutteth, to open your hearts to give entertainment to these truths. Alas! If you apply it not to your selves, I have Iaboured to no purpose, the Pen of the Scribe is in vain: But God may make such an application of them, in one Storm or another, as may make your hearts to tremble. O Sirs! when Death and Eternity look you in the face, Conscience may reflect upon these things to your horror and amazement, and make you cry out, as Prov. 5. 12, 13. How have I hated knowledge, and my heart despised reproof? And have not obeyed the voice of my Teacher, nor inclined my ears to them that instructed me? And O what a dreadful shriek will such Souls give, when the Lord opens their eyes, to see that misery that they are here warned of! But if the Lord shall bless these things to your Conversion, then we may say to you, as Moses did to Zebulun, the Mariner's Tribe Deut. 33. 12. Rejoyce Zebulun, in thy going out. The Lord will be with you which way soever you turn you selves; and being in the bosome of the Covenant, you are safe in the midst of all dangers. O! thou that art the Father of Spirits, that formedst, and canst easily reform the heart, open thou the blind eye, unstop the deaf ear, let the Word take hold upon the heart. If thou wilt but say the word, these weak Labours shall prosper, to bring home many lost Souls unto thee. Amen.
FINIS
A Pathetical and Serious DISSWASIVE From the Horrid and Detestable Sins OF Drunkenness, Swearing, Uncleanness, Forgetfulness of Mercies, Uiolation of Promises; and Atheistical Contempt of Death. APPLIED By way of CAUTION to Sea-men, and now added as an APPENDIX to their NEW COMPASS. Being an Essay toward their much desired Reformation: Fit to be seriously recommended to their Profane Relations, whether Sea-men or others, by all such as unfeignedly desire their Eternal Welfare. By IOHN FLAVEL, Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor. 5. 19. Knowing therefore the terrours of the LORD, we perswade men.
Ezek. 3. 19. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Parkust and M. Fabian. 1698.