A Plat for Mariners, Sermon 1

A Plat for Mariners · Sermon 1

p. 1JONAH 1. 5, 6.

Then the Marriners were afraid, and every one cryed unto his God, and caſt forth the Wares that were in the Ship, into the Sea, to lighten it of them; but Jonah was gon down into the ſides of the Ship, and was faſt aſleep.

So the Ship-Maſter came to him, and ſaid unto him, what meaneſt thou O ſleeper? Ariſe, call upon thy God: If ſo be that God will think upon us, that we periſh not.

THe Prophet Jonah, the 1 Kings 14. 25. of Gath-Hepher, a City in the T…ibe of Zebulun which was the Tribe of Mariners.1 Kgs 14:25Penman of this Book, Prophecied in an evil day; they to whom he Prophecyed, we find were the people of Iſrael. He was a Prophet in Iſrael:—The time he Prophecyed in, was the Reign of Jeroboam, the Son of Joaſh: now having little ſucceſs in his work in Iſrael, among the Jews, p. 2his own Countrey men, he is ſent to Nineveh, a City of the Gentiles; Jonah refuſes to Act according to his new Commiſſion, and God follows him to humble him for it, which is the whole ſcope of this Chapter, and alſo the ſcope of a great part of the Prophecy.

In this chapter we have, 1. Jonahs diſobedience to Gods Call, (from the firſt Verſe to the fourth:) 2ly. The Lords puniſhing Jonahs diſobedience, (from the fourth verſe to the 17th.) 3ly. Jonahs marvellous preſervation in his puniſhment, being ſwallowed up by a Whale in the laſt verſe of the Chapter. The Text falls in the ſecond part of the Chapter (viz.) the Lords diſpleaſure againſt Jonah for his diſobedience.

Firſt, we have his Commiſſion in the firſt Verſe, To go and cry againſt the great City; Ariſe, go to Nineveh, that great City, and cry againſt it, for their wickedneſs is come up before me. This City was the Metropolis of Aſsyria, and had its name from Ninus, ſome think Gen. 10. 11.Gen 10:11built at firſt by Nimrod; from that place, and out of that land went forth Aſſur, and builded Nineveh, (which ſome expoſitors read) out of this land he, namely Nimrod, went forth to Aſſyria, and p. 3built Nineveh, which was the Metropolis Some Authors tell us, that Nineveh was in circuit 48 miles, and that it had about its Walls fifteen hundred Towers.of Aſſyria.

Obſerve, The greatneſs of Cities, cannot priviledg them from the blows of Divine Wrath. What though it be a great City? God is a great God, and the great God ſends Summons to the great City, and ſends by Jonah as his Herauld at Armes, to prepare to meet the Lord.

Secondly obſerve, Great Cities have their great Sins. For their wickedneſs is come up before me: What the ſin of Nineveh was, is not yet expreſt; ſome think Sodomy, ſome Sorcery, an ordinary ſin in thoſe parts. But Nahum more clearly tells us what it was, it is called the bloody City, full of Lies and Roberies, and the prey departed not. Nahum Prophecied of their deſtruction. After they were ſpared, they Returning to their Vomit again, then came forth great wrath from Nahum 3.Nah 3God, and by his Prophecy, their ſin was Oppreſſion.

Thirdly obſerve, Great ſins bring great Judgments, great was the diſpleaſure of God againſt Nineveh, that he ſends the Prophet Jonah, to denounce his Wrath againſt them. God in it, is thought, had a deſign to forewarn the Jews of their Rejection, by this ſending of Jonah to the p. 4Gentiles, but this Providence was not regarded. Thus much for his Commiſſion.

2ly. We have in the third verſe his diſobedience, He aroſe to fly to Tarſhiſh: here a queſtion doth ariſe, What ſhould be the reaſon of Jonahs diſobedience to the Lord?

Various thoughts Expoſitors have about it: 1. Some think fear of cruel uſage, the Ninevites being a ſavage barbarous people. 2ly. He might deſpair that Nineveh ſhould obey his Meſſage, when Iſrael had not, amongſt whom he had Prophecyed with little ſucceſs; he might ſay to God, as Moſes did: Lord, if Iſrael Exod. 6. 12.Exod 6:12will not hear me, how ſhould Pharaoh hear me? So if Iſrael will not hear me, how ſhould Nineveh? 3ly. Others put it upon his love to his own Countrey, for in the ſending to Nineveh, he might probably foreſee the Converſion of the Gentiles, might be the Rejection of the Jews; and upon this might fall under a Temptation. Fourthly, Others put it upon that diſguſt, his own Countreymen would take at it, who had ſuch an emulation againſt the Gentiles. 5ly. Others (and I humbly conceive with very good reaſons) put it upon his pride of ſpirit, fearing leſt he ſhould not p. 5have his embaſſy anſwered, by God, and chap 4. 2.ſo he fall under the blot of a falſe Prophet; this ſeems to be intimated by himſelf; Was not this my ſaying in my own Country? therefore I fled before unto Tarſhiſh, for I knew thou art a gracious God, and merciful, ſlow to Anger, and of great Kindneſs, and repenteſt of the evil. O ſuch proud Spirits have we, that we canno… …ea… the want of ſucceſs, in propheſying, or preaching the wrath of God againſt poor Sinners!

But in this temptation whither will Jonah Ezek. 38. 18.Ezek 38:18go▪ To Tarſhiſh, ſome think it is in Aſia, ſome in Africa, ſome a City, ſome a 2 Chro. 20 36.2 Chr 20:36Countrey; it ſeems to be ſpoken of, as a Pſal 48. 7.Ps 48:7place of great Merchandiſe, and a place of a mighty Sea Trade; ſome think the Acts 21. 39.Acts 21:39different apprehenſions about it, hath tiſen upon this occaſion: the Hebrews call the main Sea, Tharſis, becauſe they uſually traffiqued, but by the Tharſan Sea: but moſt probably Tarſus, that gave birth to Gen. 10. 4.Gen 10:4Paul, was this City, …nd hath its name of Mr, Ainſwo…th in lo…um.Tarſhiſh, the Son of Javan (as is obſerved by a learned Expoſitor) a City of Cilicia, that had a convenient Haven, and in order to his ſlight, he goes to Joppa: This was the Port of Jeruſalem, diſtant from thence, ſome Thirty Miles in the p. 6Tribe of Dan. Sometimes ſucceſs is laid 2 Chron. 2. 16.2 Chr 2:16in the way of a temptation, to ſee how far a poor ſinner will go: thus was it with Jonah.

3. In the 4 Verſe we have Gods diſpleaſure in Jonah's Puniſhment, but the Lord ſent a great wind into the Sea. Obſerve, the Lord is ſole Commander at Sea, the winds do not riſe accidentally, but they have their Commiſſion from God; though Jonah would not obey Gods Commiſſion, yet the winds do. Here the Lord ſends a Purſevant in a ſtorme, after a rebellious Prophet, the Winds and the Sea are God's ſervants. O let Sea-men tremble at this! God can cauſe theſe his ſervants to execute his will upon them when he pleaſeth; it is greatly the ſin of ſuch Perſons, that they look not higher then natural cauſes; but alas, every ſtorm ſhould read a Lecture to you of God, when you are at Sea.

We may further obſerve, guilt cannot flee from God; God ſends after guilt; guilt carried to Sea, will have a ſtorm ſent after it: O tremble poor Sea-men, when you go out to carry unpardoned guilt abroad with you.

Again obſerve, Perſons employed, and eſpecially commiſſioned by God, may in their Temptations go croſs to their Commiſſions: p. 7thus did Jonah here, thus did 1 Kings 13.1 Kgs 13the young Prophet, who bare that brave Teſtimony againſt the Altar at Bethel, yet he failed afterwards, and went croſs to his Commiſſion.

Now the Text it ſelf contains in it a diſcovery of the effects, and conſequences, of this ſtorm God ſends after Jonah.

1. Here is a deſcription of the Perſons under theſe Effects.

2. The Effects themſelves.

1. The Perſons. Then the Marriners were afraid. They are the moſt undaunted of Men, the hardieſt of Men, being ſo frequently in theſe deaths and dangers: they little regard them, and yet theſe perſons are afraid; not the Paſſengers were affraid, but the Marriners, that uſed to encourage the poor trembling Paſſengers.

2. We have the Effects themſelves, In fear. They were afraid, though they had been probably in many ſtormes before, yet here being ſome things extraordinary in the Caſe to be diſcovered, this fear fell upon them. Now their courage and magnanimity were daunted, this ſtorm made them lower their Top-ſails of courage and confidence. 2. Effect of this ſtorm was, every one cryed to his God; which argues the greatneſs of their p. 8fears; it puts them upon ſeriouſneſs; ſtormes will change Mariners notes, turn their Swearing into Praying; it may be Swearing by their Gods was their practice before, but now Praying is their practice. They cryed, which notes the earneſtneſs Acts 27. 38.Acts 27:38of their Spirits; as Perſons in diſtreſs cry to the true God, ſo they cryed to their falſe God. 3. Effect, and caſt out the Wares to lighten it, which ſtill ſpoke their fears; this is one of the laſt things you doe at Sea, to ſave your lives; Paul did ſo with the Ship he was in, caſt the Wheat over-board: here are all endeavours uſed to prevent Ship-wrack.

3. Thing in the Text, is a deſcription of the guilty Perſon. 1. Jonah was in the ſides of the Ship: Jonah, whom the Mariners leaſt ſuſpected, for they caſt lotts, we ſee, to know who it was; the unſuſpected Perſon is often the guilty Perſon.

2. We have an account of his poſture, he was gone into the ſides of the Ship, and was faſt aſleep. Was he praying? no, though that would have been more proper, more comely work a great deal for a guilty Perſon. What a ſtrange ſight is here in the Ship? Pagans and Gentiles praying? And a Prophet, yea a guilty p. 9Prophet, ſleeping? nay, obſerve the word, faſt aſleep. O what a Potion had he taken, that he could be ſleeping, and the Veſſel ſinking; neither the Windes roaring, nor the Ships beating, nor the Mariners praying, nor the Ships lightning; none of theſe awakens Jonah. O what a ſound ſleep was he in!

The firſt Obſervation is this, that ſtormes of danger, cauſes ſtormes of fear; the Marriners were afraid.

I will begin to handle this, as being that part of my work, intended for the awakening of the Souls of poor Seamen.

Theſe Marriners, were poor blind Heathens, as you ſee by praying to their Gods; and they were afraid: now if the glimmering of the light of Nature did make them afraid, O then well may poor ſinners be afraid, that have the light of the Goſpel ſhineing into their hearts, by conviction, when they come into ſtormes; if Heathens who had no light, nor ſight of a future ſtate, of their immortal Souls, only as Death was terrible to them, (as it doth untie the Marriage knot between the Soul and Body) were afraid, then how may Sinners, that know, if they ſuffer Ship-wrack in a ſtorm, uninterreſted p. 10in Chriſt, they periſh Body and Soul to all Eternity; (well I ſay may ſuch Souls be afraid in ſtormes.) You ſee what thoſe Marriners ſay, if peradventure that we periſh not. They only meant of the periſhing of the out-ward man, what then may ſuch Souls ſay, that know they are not intereſted in Chriſt, and yet muſt inevitably periſh in their ſtormes? To be ſinking at Sea, and have no bottom, for thy poor Soul to build its hopes upon, when thou ſhalt lanch out into that vaſt Ocean of Eternity, it will daunt and amaze the ſtouteſt Marriner, and ſinner in the world; the Diſciples, we read of them ſometimes in their ſtormes, and in their fears, they ſometimes cry out, why careſt thou not that we periſh? well then may Prophane Sinners cry out in their ſtormes and dangers.

1. Becauſe Death is before men in ſtormes, therefore they are in fears; thus it was with thoſe in my Text, they ſee nothing but death before them. O when poor Sea-men get a ſight of the King of terrours in ſtormes, O how doth their countenances fall! how are their notes changed? If many poor Souls be afraid of death, are kept in bondage through the fear of death, all their life long, and yet p. 11Chriſt came to deliver them from death; well may poor Sinners then be afraid of death; O what ſad cryes have many Souls uttered under the Fears and Horror of Death; one cryes, O that I might live Heb. …. …5.a little longer, though but as a Toad; another cryes out, Ten Pounds for an hour, Ten Pounds for an hour. Another, (I think it was one of the Kings of France) I charge you, name not Death in my hearing, upon pain of Death. Another, I cannot dye, yet I muſt dye: then I ſay to thee O poor Chriſt-leſs Soul, how can thou think of facing this grim Serjeant Death, when he comes to break up a Writ of Eternal wrath upon thee, whether by Sea or Land?

2. Reaſon, why in ſtormes, and dangers, men are full of fears, becauſe then Conſcience ſtings them; fear ariſeth out of guilt, a guilty Conſcience is a thouſand Witneſſes; and will not this, O you poor guilty Sea-men, dread you? can you deny that Evidence, that cryes out of your own Boſomes; and this when you are in dangers? Jonah's guilty Conſcience, when awakened, did fly in his face; I know for my ſake this great Tempeſt is upon us: it is ſaid of our firſt Parents, p. 12they were afraid, when they ſaw they were naked; guilt will cauſe fear to ſtir in the heart; you poor Sea-men, that carry unpardoned guilt upon the backs of your Conſciences, every Voyage, how ſhould you but be afraid of every ſtorm that doth ariſe? you carry the Jonah in the Veſſel every Voyage, it is a wonder you ever return, you go to Sea unpardoned, and you return home unpardoned; go to Sea Chriſtleſs, and return Chriſtleſs. Well! long goes the Pitcher to the Water, but at laſt it comes broken home. Remember Marriners, the ſinking ſtorm will come, the ſtroak of Death will come, and then what fears will haunt you? you will never be free from fears, until you get your Conſciences cleanſed by the blood of Chriſt; cleanſed Conſciences from guilt, are the beſt Commodities you can carry to Sea with you: you will clean your Ships, and will you not clean your Conſciences?

3. Becauſe in ſtormes of danger, Eternity is before them. Therefore they are afraid: if the poor Heathens in the Ship, had any notions of Eternity, how confuſed and dark were they? indeed, ſome of them have had ſome dark glimmerings from the light of Nature, of an Eternal p. 13ſtate, but could not tell where to place it. As the Philoſophers, which had ſo many various Notions about their Summum Bonum. O but now in times of danger, not only Death is before men, but Eternity. We read of one riding upon the pale Rev. 6. ….Rev 6Horſe, whoſe name was Death. O but ſinners, who followed him? what Train had he? and Hell followed with him. Are you not convinced, poor Sea-men, that after Death, comes Judgement? and what, can you play with the thoughts of Hell and Judgement? O what a meditation might this be to you, when upon the great deeps! what is this vaſt Ocean to Eternity? but as the drop to the Buckets, compared to Eternity. This Ocean is not the Main, Eternity is the Main: Eternity is the Main Sea. You that ſail upon the Seas ſhould have ſuch meditations as theſe: your Lives are your Voyages, your Soules are your Veſſels and Ventures; the World is your Sea, the Windes are your gales of Proſperity or Adverſity; but Eternity is your Port: If you get in well, you make a rich voyage of it, thy Soul is made for ever. O how will Marriners be afraid when they ſtrike in going in! but Men that are not ſenſible of Eternity, have none of theſe fears.

p. 144. Reaſon, becauſe ſtormes of danger occaſion poor ſinners to look into their ſtates and hearts, Conſcience makes quick reflections, and recoyles in times of danger, and affliction; when David was Pſal. 77. 6.Ps 77:6under much affliction, then he reflects upon The vulgar lattin reads it, Scopabam: I ſwept my heart.himſelf or Heman, whoever it was that writ that Pſalm, I communed with my own heart, and made diligent ſearch. O thus ſayes the Soul in time of danger and diſtreſs, O my Soul, how is it with thee? what hopes haſte thou if thou ſhould dye in this ſtorme at Sea, or of this ſickneſs at Land, what is thy ſtate for Eternity? art thou a pardoned Soul or no? art thou an intereſted Soul in Chriſt or no? well may many poor profane Sea-men be afraid, when they thus ſink down into the conſideration of their eternal ſtates.

5. Becauſe uſually ſtormes makes men ſerious, dangers uſually bring men into ſerious frames of ſpirit; when judgements are abroad, then ſinners grow ſerious: was it not thus with you in the time of the Plague; when every day you looked that the deſtroying Angel would fetch a blow at your Souls? you ſee here, dangers make the very Heathens ſerious, for they now fly to their devotions, ſuch as they are, every one cryed to his God. Will not p. 15a Priſoner be ſerious when he is to appear before a Judge? ſo a poor Soul in a ſtorm at Sea, when he thinks he is going to appear before the Judge of the quick and dead. O how ſhall I ſtand before that Tribunal? how ſhall I lift up my face to him? can ſuch a wicked Wretch as I ſtand before ſo holy a Throne? well may it be ſaid, when Gods Judgements are abroad, The Sinners in Zion are afraid, and fearfulneſs ſurprizeth the Hypocrite: becauſe dangers uſe to make men ſerious, we have that Land-Proverb, If you wil teach a man to pray, ſend him to Sea.

Application.

Is it ſo, that dangers at Sea, uſually bring fears with them; hence note our natural ſecurity and ſtupidity: that untill dangers come we are not afraid: they were ſecure till the ſtorme came, as the old World was until the flood came: many poor ſinners, and poor Seamen, are not afraid of Death, or Hell, untill they be at the door; they put the evil day farre from them, they ſay they have made an agreement with Hell and Death; The over-flowing ſcourge ſhall not come nigh them. Thus many never think what will become of their Souls, until they be ready to ſink at Sea, or until they lie upon a death-bed; p. 16and is not this dreadful ſtupidity, to neglect doing that which muſt be done, or their Souls are undone for ever?

2. If dangers uſually be attended with fear, then it informs us, what a happy condition the People of God are in, who are reconciled to God, to whom God hath ſaid, As for you, it ſhall go well with you: ſay Eſay 3. 10.Isa 3:10unto the righteous, it ſhall go well with them.

And this made David ſay once, at what time I am afraid, I will truſt in God. And at another time, I will not be afraid of evil tydings, my heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord. The hearts of Believers are not like Nabal's, whoſe heart dyed in him like a ſtone, when the Deſtroyer was to come upon him. O what dangers was David in? and what ſayes he? the Lord is my Light Pſal. 27. 1, 2, 3.Ps 27:1Ps 27:2Ps 27:3and my Salvation, whom ſhall I fear? The Lord is the ſtrength of my life, of whom ſhall I be afraid.

3. It informes us of the miſery of poor Souls out of Chriſt, eſpecially in their times of danger: O how are the poor ſouls grinded with fears! all fear hath torment in it. How doth the fears of Death and Hell walk in their Conſciences, in their ſtormes; and torment, and enbondage them! If Beleivers may be kept in bondage, through the fears of Death, p. 17Heb. 2. 15.Heb 2:15what bondage then are poor Chriſt-leſs Souls in, when awakened by dangers? In dangers, ſuch Souls have no God to go to, in their ſtorms they have no refuge, in the over-flowing ſcourge, they have no hiding place, in a ſcattering day, they have no reſting place, to retire their poor Souls unto; they are in dangers without hope yea without heart; their hearts ſink in them, like Lead in the mighty waters: alas poor Sea-men, if your Souls be out of Chriſt, your Souls will be ſunk before your Veſſels, when ſtorms are upon you. Alexander uſed to ſay of any great danger, Here is a danger fit for the mind of an Alexander to grapple withall, but a poor Chriſt-leſs Soul is fit to grapple with no danger.

4. It inform's us then, It is not mens own ſpirits and courage that keeps their Soules above fear in times of danger. The Marriners in my Text were afraid; had it been the Paſſengers, it had not been ſo much to be wondered at; but the Marriners that Naturally have ſuch bold ſpirits, that they are even hardned, becauſe ſentence is not ſpeedily executed; who are ſo accuſtomed to ſtorms, that they regard them not: yet theſe are afraid. O now the ſtorm was gotten within them, and its the ſtorm gotten within the Man, that ſinks him, which made David cry Pſal 63. 1, 2.Ps 63:1Ps 63:2out, Save me, O God, the waters enter into p. 18my ſoul: I ſink in deep mire, where there is no ſtanding, I am come into deep waters where the floods over-flow me. O Sirs! Hell and Death, ſet before the Soul, will Terrour-ſtrike the ſtouteſt Sinner, the ſtouteſt Mariner in the World; it is not a Man's Roman Heroick Spirit will keep him up, if God make him a Magor-miſſabib, a Terrour to himſelf: Now … 2…. 3. … 22. 18.the Lord is contending with thee, thou ſtout-hearted Sinner, and can thine heart endure, or thy hands be made ſtrong in that day the Lord ſhall deal with thee? O poor Souls, what will ye do in the day of your vexation? whither will you flee for help? and where will you leave your glory? It is not your Glory, nor your Pomp, nor your States, nor your Spirits, can bear you up in the day of your diſtreſs, when the Lord ſhall come Eſay 10. 3.Isa 10:3to deal with you.

2. Uſe: Is it ſo, that dangers are attended with fears? then it is a word of exhortation to Mariners. O then labour to live ſo at Land, as you may be above fears, when in dangers at Sea! It was ſaid of Paul, he was in Perils by Sea; now, would you be above fears, when in dangers? Indeed, this is the great intereſt of your Souls, that you may ſay, From the ends of the Earth will I cry unto Pſal 61. 2.Ps 61:2thee. When you are in the remote ends of the Earth, O then to cry to the Lord is a great Priviledg. Thus David did, when my p. 19heart is over-whelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I: a Metaphor taken from Ship-wrack't Men, (ſay ſome Expoſiters) or thoſe that are ready to be ſunk: when they ſee ſome Creek or Rocks to put into, they get upon the Rock, and are ſet above the Storm. O poor Sea-men, you may be above both Dangers and Storms. If your ſeet bee upon this Rock, you may here reſt like the Ark when the Deluge was abroad. The Text tells, it reſted upon Mount Ararat, (which one obſerves, ſignifies) Take-away-fear. O! Jeſus Chriſt is the Mount Ararat, for poor Souls to reſt on in all Storms and Dangers. O it is ſad to be a Magor-miſſabib at Land! a Terrour to ones ſelf, and to all round about you; O what a ſad thing is it to be ſo at Sea!

Take a few Directions. If you would be above fears in times of danger at Sea; then carry Chriſt in the Veſſel, (I mean) be you intereſted in Chriſt; nothing will put a Soul above fear, ſo much as a ſight, and diſcovery of Intereſt. When David was in danger at Land, and the People ſpake of ſtoning him, what 1 Sam. 30. 6.1 Sam 30:6courſe took he to be above fears? he encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. We read of a ſtorm at Sea, and yet Chriſt was aboard, but the cryes of the periſhing Diſciples awakened him, and he ſaid to the ſtorm, Peace, and be ſtill. Caeſar when once going a Voyage by Sea in a ſtorm, the Marriners being afraid, p. 20he cryes out to them, fear not, you carry Caeſar: but it may be ſaid, A greater than Caeſar is here, fear not, you carry Chriſt; O for ſuch a ſight in Sea-dangers, as Paul had in his Voyage to Rome, when the Angel of the Lord cryed unto him, Fear not, Paul, God Acts 27. 24.Acts 27:24hath given thee all them that ſail with thee.

2. If you would be above fears in ſtorms, then commit the Helm to Chriſt as Pilot, viz. Commit all to him by prayer, every Man here in the Text, cryed unto the Lord his God: Let him in all dangers ſteer your Courſe for you, commit your way to the Lord. The ſtory is famous of a Duke of Saxony, and a good Biſhop in Germany, who were at enmity; and the Duke ſent to ſee what preparations the Biſhop made; the Meſſengers returned and gave the Duke this account: He made no preparations, but what ſayes he then? he replyes, ſay the Meſſengers, he would preach the Goſpel, he would viſit the Sick, and be found in his Duty. And as for the War, he would, (Totius Belli molem Deo committere) for the bulk of the War, he would commit it to God. O then ſayes the Duke, if he be of that mind, let the Devil wage War againſt him, if he will: for I will not. So, if you commit the Helm of all your affairs and buſineſſes to Jeſus Chriſt, by Faith and Prayer, this would help you to be above fears.

p. 213. Would ye be above ſtorms and fears at Sea? O then carry not Jonah in the Veſſel, (viz.) guilt with you, guilt will raiſe a ſtorm, ſooner or later: you ſee here that the Sea was never quiet, until Jonah was caſt over-board, then it calm'd. O let your guilt be thrown into the Sea of Chriſts blood, then all will be calm and quiet within; we ſee in the Text it was not lightning the Ship of the goods, that did ſtill the ſtorm, while Jonah was there, who was the guilty Perſon: unpardoned guilt is the black water, you muſt pump out by Repentance; one Achan ſpoils a whole Camp, and here one Jonah brought a ſtorm upon the whole Ships Company; it was a Notable ſaying of one of the Wiſe-men of Greece, being aboard in a Veſſel, who heard ſome wicked Marriners upon a time praying to their Gods, he called to them to be ſilent, for if their Gods knew they were there, they would drown them all for their ſakes. The Moral of it is eaſie, Guilt and guilty Perſons may endanger others.

4. Would you be above fears in Sea-dangers? look then that your Anchor be rightly caſt. Hope is the Anchor of the Soul, Heb. 6. 19, 20.Heb 6:19Heb 6:20(as the Apoſte ſaith,) both ſure and ſtedfaſt, caſt within the Vail: an Alluſion to the Temple, there was the outer Court, which was the Peoples Court, all might come into this p. 22Court; but there was the Sanctum Sanctorum, viz. The Holy of Holies, and here the High Prieſt was only to come, and this expreſſion, within the Vail, notes Heaven, where Chriſt is entered already, as our Forerunner. O then, poor Souls, get out of the outer Court, caſt not your Anchor there: For the outer Court is to be trodden down by the Rev. 11. 2.Rev 11:2Gentiles forty two Moneths. But caſt your Anchor upon the Rock Chriſt, it will elſe come home again: if you carry not Hope in God and Chriſt, through the Promiſe, to Sea with you; you go without your beſt Anchor, this is your Sheet-Anchor: you talk of the Cape of good Hope, you will neer touch here all the Voyage, until you get into Chriſt, it is Faith and Hope that muſt keep out fear, why are you afraid, O ye of little Hope.

5. Would you be above Fears in Sea-dangers? then carry no Leaks with you to Sea, (viz.) Known ſins; Theſe will prove Leaks at Sea, you know it is as much as your lives are worth at Sea to have a Leak break upon you in a ſtorm; and yet how many of you carry Spiritual Leaks in your Souls? Jonah had a leak ſprung … Sea, a known Sin, and it had like to have coſt them all their lives: you ſearch your Veſſels narrowly, to ſee if you can ſpy any Leaks; O that you would do ſo with your Souls! a little hole in a Ship endangers all, and a little hole in a Sea-bank, is p. 23of great danger. O then let no poor Sinner, no poor Sea-man, ſay, It is but a little one, and my Soul ſhall live; ſee to every hole in the heart.

6. Would you be above fears in Sea-dangers? O then go to Sea well Ballaſted; there is danger you know, if you be not well ballaſted in a ſtorm. The Spiritual Ballaſt, (I mean) is, the truth of Grace: Be not carried about with every Wind of ſtrange Heb. 13 ….Heb 13Doctrine, for it is a good thing that the Heart be eſtabliſhed with Grace. An Alluſion to a Ship unballaſted, that by the ſtorms is toſſed and in danger of ſinking. O it is good to carry Souls fraughted with grace: Is not this better then to have Ships fraughted with goods. When goods may be thrown out, as here, then Grace will be eſtabliſhing of your Hearts againſt all fears.

7. Would you be above fears in Sea-dangers? then keep the Pump going, (viz.) of godly ſorrow for ſin; keep in a melting frame of heart. Godly ſorrow is the Pump: now if any thing get into the Pump, it is you know dangerous; O then live in the daily exerciſe of Repentance. Here now, in this Caſe of Jonah's, there was a ſtoppage in the Pump, Repentance was laid aſide, and guilty Jonah was ſecure Jonah.

The ſecond Obſervation from the effects of this ſtorm, is this, Eminent dangers by the light of Nature, will put men upon Prayer; They p. 24were afraid, and what followed? and cryed to their Gods.

Their fear, was the firſt effect of this ſtorm, and their Devotion was the ſecond. Thoſe poor Mariners were Idolaters, yet they thought in this danger, their Gods could help them: therefore they cry to them. Here is ſomething for Chriſtians, to learn from Pagans: here is a Pagan preaching, a rowzing Sermon to the Prophet, Ariſe, Sleeper, and pray to thy God. And here is alſo a Company of poor diſtreſſed Seamen▪ praying in danger to their Heatheniſh Gods, to teach us to pray in time of diſtreſs to the true God; the very light of Nature is not ſo dim, but it can look through danger to duty, for ſelf-preſervation.

Let us inquire what is meant by the light of Nature?

For the underſtanding of which, we muſt conceive, Man at his Creation, was created in the Image of God, which conſiſted in Knowledg Eph. 4. 24Eph 4:24and true Holineſs; now the beams of light, that ſhone round about him, and upon his Tabernacle, (as Job's Phraſe is) theſe were eclipſed, and darkned, by his fall; but not ſo totally extinguiſhed, as to be clean put out; the eye of Natural light was not altogether put out, ſome glimmerings and remains are ſtill, in loſt man, though not ſo ſtrong as to lead him to Chriſt, (which ſome vainly p. 25contend for;) yet ſo ſtrong, as many times, it is at work upon Natural Conſcience, to accuſe or excuſe; So we read of the Gentiles, though they were without a Law promulged, as the Jews had, yet not without a Law Rom. 2. 14, 15,Rom 2:14Rom 2:15engrafted in their Conſciences: whereby they had common Dictates, about Good and Evil; which light was a Law to them in many things. So that the light of Nature, is the ſtrength and Law of Natural Conſcience; ſtirring in a poor Creature that's ignorant of God in Chriſt: It is called the Candle of the Prov. 20. 27.Prov 20:27Lord, Searching the dark places of the Belly, and Paul I conceive, meant of this, when he 1 Cor. 11. 14.1 Cor 11:14ſaid, Doth not even Nature teach thee? (viz.) the light of Nature.

This light of Nature in times of danger, Ezek. 6. 5.Ezek 6:5did teach the very Heathens to look up to their Gods: we read in the Prophet, that God threatned to caſt down their ſlain before their Idols, they uſed in times of danger, to ſtand before their Idols, to enquire of them; O now ſayes God, they who have ſtood before them, to worſhip them, ſhall be caſt down before them. I find one, upon this Text [They cryed unto their Gods, every one to his God.] He gives a Reaſon, the uncertainty that attends Idolatry, diſtruſting their Gods, to be the true God, and ſo called on Jonah to pray to his God; therefore they uſed to cloſe their ſuperſtitious Devotions with that General. p. 26(Dii, Deaeque omnes.) Going to enquire of Oracles, Heatheniſh Hiſtory is full of; they would not attempt any great deſign, but firſt inquired of their Idolatrous Oracles, which is very teaching to Chriſtians.

1. Natural Conſcience acknowledges a God in times of Danger. For though the Heathens knew not God; yet they acknowledged, by their falſe Gods, their many Deities, that there was a God, though ſome worſhipped 2 Kings …3. v. 13.2 Kgs 3:13more Noble Deities than others, as the Babylonians, who Worſhipped the Sun. I find one giving that, as the reaſon of the Sun-dial of Ahaz, going backward ten degrees; that the Babyloniſh Ambaſſadors that worſhip'd the Sun, might be convinced, that the God of Hezekiah was the true God; the God of Iſrael, that had power over the Sun, which they worſhiped as a Deity, was ver. 11.the true God. We read of the Horſes of the Sun, which ſome underſtand were Horſes, upon which men rode early in the morning to worſhip the Sun, upon its riſing: others think, they were only Pictures of Horſes of the Sun: Acts 17. 23.Acts 17:23but all is to this purpoſe, They worſhiped the Or to that purpoſe in their own language, calling upon that which they worſhip, for a G…d.Sun. Alſo we read of the Inſcription of the Men of Athens, To the unknown God. Therefore it is ſaid, when any Perſons in what Countryes ſoever, are ſurprized with danger; in their Native Dialect they uſe this Expreſſion, which we do in England, O God! Well, this is p. 27acknowleeged by theſe Heathens, in a ſtorm. They cried unto their Gods.

2. The Natural Conſcience doth acknowledg, that this God is able to deliver in time of danger, or elſe why do they cry to him? Therefore the Heathens offered Sacrifices, to appeaſe their Gods, when they conceived they were Angry; and had ſtately Temples built for this very end. That was a ſharp return of God's, Go to the gods which you have ſerved, and ſee if they can deliver you; Idolaters had in ſuch Caſes high apprehenſions, and high expectations from their gods: ſome think the Reaſon of that Inſcription at Athens, To the unknown God, was to conceal the Name of the Tutelary God, unto whoſe protection they had committed themſelves; for they conceived, if their god's Name was known, the Enemies of the City might Thus the Tyrians, and Lacedemonians.charm him away: therefore they ſettered their Gods, and chained them.

3. Natural Conſcience acknowledges, that, God in order to deliverance, is to be ſought unto; they cryed: in the Text, unto their Gods, they do not neglect the uſe of means, and hope for deliverance without endeavours; this is irrational; Natural light teaches another Leſſon, they do not only lighten the Ship, but they alſo cry to their Gods.

4. Natural Conſcience acknowledges this alſo, that this God muſt be under Profeſſion p. 28and Adoration, Every man cryed to his God, the God he worſhiped and ſerved; and ſo that word in the Prophet, Every one walking in Micah 4. 5.Mic 4:5the Name of his God. Is it not ſaid of the poor Indians, that they offer Sacrifice to the Devil; and ſay There is a good God; and he will not hurt them: therefore they need not ſerve him: but, there is a bad God, meaning the Devil, and he will torment them, if he be not ſacrificed unto; the very light of Nature, teaches a kind of worſhip in time of danger.

1. Reaſon, Why the light of Nature puts upon Prayer in times of danger; is, becauſe it looks at ſelf-preſervation, all Natural motions, are for ſelf-preſervation; therefore ſuggeſtions to ſelf-murder are unnatural, and more immediately from Satan, the deſtroyer of Man-kind; every Creature will avoid its own Death and Diſſolution: and, Shall we do this by the light of Nature for our Bodies? and do nothing for our Souls? ſhall Creatures that have not Reaſon avoid Death? and ſhall not poor Sinners that have the light of the Goſpel ſhining round about them, avoid Eternal Death and Damnation?

2. Becauſe, in times of danger the light of Nature carries convictions along with it, of a Deity, and a Deity uſed to be looked up unto in time of danger; therefore in judgements upon Nations, they uſed to ſacrifice to their Gods. Theſe Heathen Seamen p. 29in the Text, now have convictions of ſome Supream Being, that could quiet their ſtorms, whether they worſhiped the Sun, Moon or Stars, which is probable they did, being proper for their own calling. Theſe probably might be the Mariners Gods; having ſuch an influence upon the Sea. We read of the Moon called the Queen of Heaven, Jer. 44. 19.Jer 44:19and the Hoſts Moon and Starrs, theſe being conſiderable in Navigation; the poor Heathen might eaſily be drawn in to acknowledg them for Deities, and ſo in their dangers, might look up to them for relief. All holds out a conviction of a Deity in time of danger: it is not what men thinks in ſuch an Atheiſtical Age as this, when they ſwim in all manner of Earthly delights, when they drown their very Reaſon in the Sea of their ſinful pleaſures; but when they come into dangers, when death is ſet before them, when they came into affliction, what ſays Conſcience to them then? Is there not a God then? have they not immortal Souls then? is there not an Eternity then?

3. Becauſe Conſcience-ſtorms are quieted by this means. A ſtorm of Conſcience, and a ſtorm at Sea when they meet, will make terrible work. So that ſome thing muſt be done to quiet Conſcience: ſo that duties at Sea and Land, are but made a ſleepy Sop to allay the rage of an awaken'd barking Concience.

p. 304. Becauſe the light of Nature is a reflecting light, it can look back to ſin and guilt, and Perſons are never ſo much upon prayer, as when they are upon reflex Acts; and Perſons are never ſo much upon reflex Acts, as when brought into dangers. This Reflexion, we read of it to be the diſtinguiſhing Character of men, to diſtinguiſh betwixt Them and Brutes, Bring it again to mind, and Eſay 46. 8.Isa 46:8know that you are men, O you Tranſgreſſors. Now Natural Conſcience reflecting upon its own actings, finding guilt upon ſearch; then it puts upon Prayer.

APPLICATION.

Firſt then, It is a word of Reproof. If the light of Nature in times of danger will put men upon Prayer; then it reproves Perſons Curſing and Swearing in times of danger, a ſin too ordinary among Sea-men. O poor Mariners, theſe Heathens will riſe up in judgment againſt you another day! that you that have known ſo much of the true God, heard ſo much of him, and yet you act ſo much below them: Are not you at ſuch times more like Heathens, and they more like Chriſtians.

1. You ſin againſt greater light, you ſin under Sun light, they ſin but under Star-light: it may be ſaid in this Caſe, as was ſaid by p. 31Chriſt, to the Phariſees, If I had not come, and ſpoken unto you, you had not had ſin, but now your ſin remains; and the more light you ſin againſt, the more is your ſin aggravated.

2. You are to be Reproved: you ſin in time of Danger, and this is to ſin daringly, in a preſumptuous way; to ſin when God is threatning to ſtrike; this is impudent ſinning, for the child to ſin while the Father hath the Rod in his hand; this highly aggravates the Offence.

3. Such are to be Reproved; for this is to ſin, by being deaf to a voice of the Lord; it is ſinning againſt a Call of God's. God now calls for Prayer, They cryed to him in their diſtreſs, is any man afflicted, let him pray, now is a time for Prayer. O how ſad is this, when you ſhould be calling on the Name of God, then to be blaſpheming of the Name of God!

4. Are not ſuch to be reproved, who ſin in the face of Death? it may be, Swearing and Sinking? is it not better to ſink Praying than Swearing? O ſad to dye with Oaths and Blaſphemy in your Mouths! ſin in your Lives, and ſin in your Deaths too; Can you look the King of Terrour in the face, with curſed Oaths againſt God in your mouthes? O let not that Proverb be turned! its uſed to be ſaid, If you will teach a man to p. 32pray, ſend him to Sea. O let it not be turned, if you would teach a man to Swear, ſend him to Sea; if you would teach a man to Curſe, to be Prophane, ſend him to Sea.

5. Are not ſuch to be reproved, who have had ſo many Salvations, and Deliverances, and ſin after all theſe? as Ezra ſaid, ſo ſhould Eſra 9. 13.Ezra 9:13poor Seamen ſay, What after ſuch deliverance as this, ſhall we break again thy Commandments? all your Deliverances will one day add to your Condemnation, your Salvations at Sea from ſinking, will but ſink you; ſo much the deeper in Hell, if the Lord be not merciful to you.

2. Uſe: Is it ſo, that the light of Nature puts upon Prayer in time of danger. Then it is an Uſe of Exhortation, to all Maſters of Ships eſpecially, to ſet up Prayer: the Maſter of the Ship, came unto the Prophet, and ſaid, ariſe ſleeper, and pray to thy God, &c. Why was Jonah a Servant? how was the Maſter concerned with Jonah? he was a Paſſenger; yet he now ſees in time of danger, that all aboard were upon their duty; you will have your times of Watch kept up, and why not times of Prayer? Here is a Pattern for yea Sea-Commanders, to call upon your ſleepy Companies to pray.

1. You are in deaths often, and ſhould not ſuch be in duty often? what not in prayers p. 33often. Men will never pray, if not in danger: may not you hear the Winds and the Seas, ſaying often to you, as Jonathan to David, As I live, there is but a ſtep betwixt thee, and death.

2. You are under more Temptations, than many others. What in the midſt of Temptations and not pray? Little does your Relations know (it may be) what Temptations you meet with, in the remote parts of the Earth; O but God and your Conſciences know, The Temptations of Countries, are ſad Temptations: eſpecially when they meet with ſuitable matter in conſtitutions, when a Country-temptation, and a mans Conſtitution meet together; O how ſad is this! It is ſaid of Iſrael, they mingled with the Heathen, Pſalm 106. 3….Ps 106:3and they ſoon learned their works. They learned to ſin with them; and, if the truth were known, ſo I doubt do many of you.

3. You are under more vows than other Pſal. 56. 13.Ps 56:13men. We ſee here, Theſe poor Heathens vowed a vow; Have not you don ſo, many a time? Of all men in the World, The vowes of God are upon Sea-men; and will not you pay the vowes, your Souls have uttered to the Lord in the dayes of your diſtreſs? Is it not better, Eccles. 5… 5.Eccl 5:5not to vow, than to vow and not pay? For God takes no pleaſure in the Sacrifice of Fools. Have not you vowed to be more holy? to be more cloſe walking? to ſet up p. 34the worſhip of God in your Veſſels? But, how have you come off with God? Have you not come off, as thoſe Heathen-Mariners did, who in a ſtorm promiſed, If their Gods would deliver them, they would offer up Candles in ſacrifice to them, as big as the Maſts of the Ships; but when they got to Land, they made one of Twelve in the pound ſerve.

4. You are under more Advantages, to exert and draw-out Prayer; They that go down into the Sea, they ſee the wonders of the Lord: and theſe ſhould both excite to Prayer and Praiſe.

5. You muſt give an account to your Families your Ship's Companies, are your Families, and you muſt give an account of them: you would not wrong them in their Wages, or in their Bodies, and why then will you wrong their Souls? you have a charge of Souls. But more of this herafter.

6. If you never pray out of danger, how can you expect to be heard in danger? will not God ſay as in that Caſe, You faſted not at Zach 7. 5.Zech 7:5all unto Me, was it not to your ſelves?

3. Uſe. Then it is a word of Information: 1. It informs us of the ſin of thoſe that never pray, neither Calm nor Storm; that are poſſeſt with a dumb Devil: O that God would caſt him out! O the light of Nature condemn this! Heathens and Pagans condemn this. What, never pray? and yet p. 35called Chriſtians? O how ſtrange is this! are not many of your Houſes, and many of your Veſſels, haunted with a dumb Devil?

1. You do not give the true God, ſo much Honour, as theſe Heathens gave to their falſe gods, They cryed to their gods.

2. The wrath of God hangs over the head of ſuch, as call not upon the Name of Jer. 10. 29.Jer 10:29the Lord: He threatens to pour his wratb upon the Families of ſuch.

3. This is the Character of wicked Men, Pſal. 14. 4.Ps 14:4They eat up my People like bread, and call not upon the Name of the Lord.

4. Such are under no Promiſe, They that Joel. 2 32.Joel 2:32call upon the Lord ſhall be ſaved.

5. Such as call not upon the Lord, are from under Gods protection: And is it not ſad to go to Sea, from under the protection of God?

4. Uſe. Have any of you prayed in your Dangers at Sea, and God hath anſwered? It is a word to ſuch.

1. Read often your Anſwers, to Sea-Prayers over, as a Perſon doth that receives a Letter from her Husband at Sea, or in ſome remote Country; ſhe reads it over and over, again and again; or, as a Man that hath an anſwer from a Friend, he cannot underſtand it at firſt, until he hath read it over and over. Hath the Lord ſent you Anſwers? read them p. 36often over, and you will ſee more of God in your mercies.

2. Hath the Lord anſwered your Prayers? O then, walk up to your Anſwers! After ſuch deliverance as this, ſhall we again break His Commandments? Walk as the Redeemed of the Lord, from Death and Pſal. 56. 13.Ps 56:13Danger; ſay with David, Thou haſt delivered my Soul from Death, and wilt thou not deliver my Feet from falling? that I may walk before the Lord, in the Land of the Living? This ſhould be the Language of Sea-men, after their Deliverances.

3. Hath the Lord anſwered any of your Prayers? O then pay your vows. May not you all ſay, Thy vows are upon me, O God! In Pſal. 56. 12.Ps 56:12times of danger, they uſed of old to make vowes: A Vow is a promiſe made with Prayer, Numb: 21. 2. 3.and paid with Thanksgiving. The law of vowes to the Lord was unalterable. What Lev. 27. 10.Lev 27:10was vowed, muſt be offered.

4. Hath the Lord anſwered your Prayers, in times of Danger at Sea? O then keep a Memorial of them: be not as Iſrael was of old, and they ſoon forgot his works, or poſted, made haſte to forget his works, (as the word teſtifies.) Regiſter them, remember the years of the Lords right hand. We ſee, how God would have the appearances of his mercy Gen. 32. latter end.Gen 32remembred; that Manifeſtation of God at Peniel, when the Angel wreſtled with Jacob, p. 37muſt have its Memorial kept up, and therefore many years after a City is built, that bears its Name, the City of Penuel: Judg. 8. 8.Judg 8:8and alſo that famous appearance of Gods, for Jacob at Mahanaim; a City bore its Name, to keep up the Memorial of it: which was a Jeſh 21. 38.City of Refuge.

5. You that have received mercyes, in anſwer to Prayer at Sea, That duty you were moſt convinced of, be ſure you take up; and that ſin you were moſt convinced of, be ſure you lay down; Theſe uſually are true Convictions, that ſmite us in times of diſtreſs, and danger: there is a more than ordinary voice in ſuch Convictions, and they are in an eſpecial manner to be hearkned unto.

The laſt Uſe is of Tryal. If the light of Nature put upon Prayer in time of Danger, O how ſhall I do to know, ſaith a poor Soul, whether I pray from a better Principle? from a higher Principle? If all my performances flow from only a Principle of Natural Conſcience; what a ſad caſe am I in? Take a few Tryals.

1. Are thy Duties forced and extorted from thee? O then, I doubt, it is not only Natural Conſcience that thou acts from. Thus Pharaoh's confeſſion of ſin. Thus Judas's confeſſion. Thus Saul's Theſe were all extorted from them, by the judgments of God upon them. This is like Sea-men, throwing p. 38goods over-board in a Storm, which they wiſh for again in a Calm. But now the Spirit of God brings a Soul freely off in dutyes; it Pſal. 51: 12.Ps 51:12is called a free Spirit. Alas, under an affliction, to have a Confeſſion forced from a poor Sinner, this is only to Pump, while in danger of drowning.

2. If only Natural Conſcience acts you in duties, then it doth not act you conſtantly; it acts by fits: but now, the Spirit of the Lord acts the Soul more conſtantly; Natural Conſcience may bend the Bow, but doth not keep it bent.

3. Natural Conſcience acts the Soul with no Complacency, or delight in God; now, Delight in God, is the Spring of duty. Now, Natural Conſcience cannot delight in converſing with Spiritual Objects; Examine your hearts, then, What delight have you in God? in communion with Chriſt? Can you ſay, with the Spouſe, I ſate down under Cant. 2. 3.Song 2:3his ſhaddow with great delight: O this is above the reach of Natural Conſcience.

4. Natural Conſcience hath Peace, if the duty be done, whether Chriſt or no be enjoyed; Divine preſence is not deſireable to Natural Conſcience: if it pay its vowes with the Harlot, and perform its task, then it is Prov. 7 14.Prov 7:14quieted, and wipes its Mouth.

5. Natural Conſcience looks not at the manner of duty, contends it ſelf in ſlubbering p. 39over the Lords work; but now, a Principle of Grace cannot thus content it ſelf, but looks to the manner of performances.

6. Natural Conſcience gets no power againſt corruption, attending its dutyes; but pray's and ſins, and ſins and pray's: whereas Duties, acted by the Spirit of Chriſt, have power attending them ſooner or later.

7. Natural Conſcience, in all its duties, is a ſtranger to the Actings of Faith: It cannot convince of Unbeleif; it can riſe no higher than the light of Nature: but, What actings of Faith, are mingled with your duties, &c?

8. Natural Conſcience, ſo it gets its Ends, it never mind's its Returns: like the Leapers that were cleanſed; but did not return to give thanks. Natural Conſcience is not good at Thanks-giving. When it hath gotten the Mercy, it doth not ſtudy to return Praiſes: By theſe things, you may come to know whether your dutyes are acted by a higher Principle, than the light of Natural Conſcience.