A Plat for Mariners, Sermon 3
Jonah 1. 6th.
So the Ship-Maſter came unto him, and ſaid unto him, what meaneſt thou O ſleeper! Ariſe and call upon thy God, if ſo be, that God will think upon us, that we periſh not.
In the verſe before, you had a diſcovery of the deportment of a Ship-Company that were in diſtreſs: In this verſe, we have a diſcovery of further means, they uſe for their preſervation: ſome means you have had an Accompt of. Did they ſwear in their diſtreſs? did they prophane the Name of their Gods? did theſe Heathen Mariners do, as many who profeſs themſelvs Chriſtians, do? (viz.) Take the Name of God in vain? and ſo as that wicked King, who ſinned more and more, in the time of his diſtreſs: O no, They cryed to their Gods.
In this Verſe, here you have further means uſed, for preſervation of their whole Ships-Company, in this great ſtorm.
1. Reprehenſion of guilt. So the Ship-Maſter came unto him, and ſaid unto him, What meaneſt thou, O ſleeper?
2. Here is exhortation to a duty. The duty is, To ariſe and call upon God.
3. Here is the Motive, or Encouragement, the means are to be uſed upon. If ſo be that God will think upon us, that we periſh not, Here is no certainty; alas Idolaters can ſpeak at no Certainty. O, ſay they, though there be not a Certainty, yet there is a Probability of it; That our Prayer will be heard, and our Perſons preſerved.
1. Thing in the Text is the Reprehenſion. 1. We have the Perſon Reproving, The Ship-Maſter. Is not this a wonder, that a Heathen ſhould have more Senſe of the diſpleaſure of his falſe Gods, than a Chriſtian of the diſpleaſure of the true GOD? nay, a Ship-Maſter. Had it been ſome Chriſtian Paſſenger, fear might have put him upon it: But the Ship-Maſter, who had been uſed to ſtorms, he is afraid; and reproves a run-away Prophet. Here (ſayes one upon the place) ſee Order in a Heathens Veſlel: not any of the Mariners come to reprove him, but the Ship-maſter. The charge being his, he is careful to preſerve it; and, Rule being his, he is careful to maintain it.
2. Here is the Perſon Reproved, (viz.) Jonah; The fugitive Prophet, from the preſence of the Lord. The beſt of men, may fall under a deſert to be reproved from the worſt of men. It had been far more proper for Jonah, to have been playing the Chaplain, and to have been praying, with the periſhing Ships-company, than ſleeping in the ſides of the Ship. Here is a ſtrange ſight, a Prophet ſleeping, and a Heathen preaching; and he preaches very awakening Doctrine. Hriſe ſleeper, and call upon thy God.
3. Here is the manner of the Reproof, [What meaneſt thou O ſleeper!] what aileth thee, thou profound ſleeper? (ſo ſome read it) How art thou taken with a profound ſleep thus 1. He ſpeaks by way of Admiration, that ever he ſhould be of ſuch a profound ſleep, in ſuch eminent danger, and ſo faſt aſleep. 2. By way of Excitation, what meaneſt thou? provoking him to ariſe, to ſtir up himſelf, to uſe what means he could for the preſervation of the whole. 3. By way of Recrimination, what, aſleep? and we all in this danger? what a ſhame is this? that thou ſhouldeſt be ſleeping, and we all ſinking? It is a verk ſharp Sarcaſm. What aſleep, and we all going down into the bottom. 4. By way of vehement affection: Here was very much earneſtneſs of Spirit; what meaneſt thou, O ſleeper? he hath great affection for the preſervation of the whole.
4. Here is the ſin reproved, (viz.) for ſleeping in a ſtorm of danger, neglect of the uſe of lawful means for ſelf-preſervation: A ſin againſt the whole community, and Ships-company!
2. Part of the Text is, The Exhortation. [Ariſe and call upon thy God.] We muſt ſhake our ſelves from our ſloath, before we can call upon God in an acceptable manner; ſleepy prayers are not acceptable prayers. Inward and out-ward man ought to be engaged in calling upon God: and call upon thy God: not knowing what Jonah was, until afterwards, yet he had ſome expectation, that prayer might be heard; An excellent duty, at all times, but eſpecially in times of great diſtreſs, and danger; which was their Caſe at preſent; Calling upon their Gods in all Nations, being practiſed in times of common Calamity and Danger.
3. Part of the Text is, The ground, or encouragement, to the duty. If ſo be God will Remember us, (ſo ſome read it.) If he will be ſo friendly and kind to us, (others read it). An [it may be] will put men upon ſerious endeavours for preſervation both for Soul and Body: an it may be of prevailing, will put Men upon Prayer.
Here are Two Obſervations.
1. That ſuch as have Charges under their hands, ought faithfully to manage them.
2. Calling upon God is an excellent means to preſerve from Sea-ſtorms and dangers.
1. Obſervation, Such as have Charges, under their hands, muſt faithfully manage them. Is not here an admirable Leſſon for Sea-Commanders, from this Ship-Maſter? ſee here! he concerned himſelf, not with one more immediately his charge; not a Mariner, but a Paſſenger; And all for the preſervation of the whole. You little think, what charges you carry to Sea. I need not tell you what Ventures you ſtand charged with, what Goods, what Bills; your Ships, your Lives, your Goods, other men's Eſtates; your Credits. All this, you are ſenſible enough of, and concerned in: and it is your duty to be ſo. Honeſty is Honourable, both with God, and man: yet you muſt give me leave to mind you of other Ventures and Charges, that you carry to Sea with you; and muſt be accountable for.
1. You ſtand charged with your own Souls; and is not this a great charge? Is not this Venture infinitely above all your other Ventures? all you carry, is but Lumber to your lives, and your very lives are but Lumber to your Souls. If you that go to Sea, were but ſenſible of the worth of your Souls, it would ſurely awaken you? You ſend up many bills in this Congregation, to pray for ſuch a Relation gone a dangerous Voyage, but do you obſerve what dangerous Voyages ſuch Relations go, for their Souls? What ſhall a man give in exchange for his Soul? Souls are the moſt precious Commodities in the world. Now the more precious your lading, and Cargo is; the more care you have of your Charge. The Souls you have aboard, are of far more worth, than all your Bills of Lading.
1. Is not thy Soul a great charge? If thou miſcarry of thy Ship, thou maiſt get another; if thou miſcarry as to thy Soul, it is for Eternity. If thou ſuffer Shipwrack, thou may'ſt recruit again; Friends and Acquaintances may ſupply thee again: But, if thou make Shipwrack of a Soul, thou never can'ſt Recruit nor Recover that loſs. If thou be taken Captive by the Turk, thou may'ſt be Redeemed, but the Redemption of the Soul ceaſeth for ever.Pſal. 49. 9.
2. Is not thy Soul a great Charge? It is of more value than all the Ships and Lading too. You ſay of a Ship, ſhe is richly Laden; but truly, the richeſt Commodities you can have Aboard, are your Precious Souls; theſe Immortal Souls are the Plate-Fleet that Satan, that arch-Pirate lays wait for; What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and loſe his own Soul? We may gueſs at the worth of Souls, by the price was 1 Pet. 1. 19.paid for them; They are Redeemed not with Silver nor Gold, but with the precious blood of Chriſt.
3. Is not that a great Charge that you came into the world on purpoſe to provide for? You had not rational immortal Souls, given, for ſenſual employments; your errand into the world, was not to look after earthly comforts; but to provide for your future, and eternal Eſtates. Seamen are not created, as is ſaid of the Leviathan, To play in the mighty waters; There goes the Ships, there is the mighty Leviathan Pſ. 104. 26.that thou haſt made to play therein. As a good Miniſter ſaid once at Sea with his Family, Lord, what an Advantage haſt thou of me now: So may I ſay in this caſe, Will you neglect your Souls? To provide for them now, when you are every day in ſuch dangers, when God hath ſuch advantages of you? What though you go your Voyages, and compaſs Sea and Land, and come richly and proſperouſly home? yet if you forget your Souls, alas all this while you mind not your main buſineſs; Other buſineſſes are but by-buſineſſes to your Souls.
4. Is not that a great Charge? that a man muſt give an account of, in every punctilio? What men muſt give an account of, they ſtand charged with: but things of little moment, men are indifferent about them. O but, men muſt give an exact account to every punctilio in reference to their Souls! You muſt give an account what purpoſes of ſoul you once had, when in ſtorms, and ready to Shipwrack. O then have you reſolved, If God brought you off with your lives, to return to the Lord! you muſt give an account what Vows you made. If God would deliver you from ſuch a tempeſt, what new men you would become, what lives you would lead: O, all theſe will be charged upon you another day.
5. Is not that a great charge, which is an immortal Being? And ſuch a thing is the Soul of man. It muſt live after this life, either in eternal felicity, or in eternal miſery: O, do you think you carry immortal Souls to Sea with you! When you are to go a long Voyage, you lay in for it. And what? will you lay in nothing for Eternity? What, nothing for your immortal Souls? When news came to the Philoſopher that his Children were dead, I knew, ſaith he, when I begot them, I begot Mortals. So ſhould you ſay, You know when you go to Sea, you carry immortal Souls with you every Voyage; And, Go provided for them, becauſe you muſt give an account for them.
2. You have another Charge: You carry the Souls of others with you, which is a great charge. The Maſter here concerned himſelf with all in the Veſſel. While he Reproved Jonah, and ſtirr'd him up to pray, he looked at the common good and ſafety of the whole Ships-Company. You have not only the charge of your mens bodies, but the charge of your mens Souls: When you are to give an Account to Owners, you will prepare all before hand, that you have no flawes in them. There is an Owner I am affraid you Sea-Commanders little think on, and you muſt give an account to Him; and this Owner is the LORD, the Owner of all the Souls in the Ship: and God expects you ſhould be faithful to the Souls you have under your Charge.
1. You have the charge of Inſtructing them. You are to acquaint them with thoſe things that nearly Concern their precious Souls. Many Parents truſt their dear Children with you, and expect you ſhould both be faithful to their bodys and Souls: We read of Abraham, who had a noble Family; and it is ſaid he armed his trained Servants in the buſineſs of Lot's Reſcue; his Inſtructed Servants (ſo the word ſignifies) not inſtructed only in Martial Diſcipline, but in the Concernments of their Souls; (ſome read it) his Catechiſed Gen. 14. 14Servants; the word properly notes As the Dutch Anno a t…ns obſerve.Trained-up in Religion, as well as in Military Concernments; others read it, his Apprentices. See how he concerns himſelf with their Souls! It was not below him, though a Prince; and though he had a numerous Family. O what a door hath the neglect of this duty in Families, opened to Prophaneſs and Atheiſm in this age?
2. You have the charge of praying with Mat. 8. 5.them, and for them. We read of the Centurion that went to Chriſt for the body of his Servant, My ſervant, Lord, lyes ſick, yea grievous ſick of the Palſie, and what think you is this Inſtance for, but to teach Maſters to go to Chriſt, in the behalf of their Servants? O when do you go, and ſay, Lord, my Servant is ſick of ſuch a ſin, and ſuch a ſin, Lord Heal him. We read of Joſhua, how reſolute he was for Family-worſhip, I and my Houſe will ſerve the Lord. You Commanders, your Ship-Companies are your Families, are your Houſholds, therefore you have a charge of praying with them.
APPLICATION.
1. Uſe is of Information. If ſuch as have Charges, ought to be faithful in the management of them, then it Informs us; 1. It lets us ſee what God requires of all men, according to their Degrees of places of Truſt, whatſoever it be, that they diſcharge them faithfully.
2. It informs us what need we have to get the knowledg of thoſe duties, that our places call for. We ſhould know what God calls for, from our hands, in every condition, and Relation, as we are men, as we are Chriſtians, as we are Relations; Chriſtians are no more Really, than they are Relatively. Every Relation is matter of Truſt, which can never be managed faithfully, without knowledg of the duty, of ſuch a Relation.
3. It informs us of the Cauſe of mens miſcarriages, in their ſeveral Relations, (viz.) becauſe they do not look upon themſelves under Conſcientious obligations, to their Truſt; they live not in the Conſideration of their accountableneſs to God; This, ſet upon their Spirits, would excite them to duty; and to ſay as he did, If I ſhould do thus, how ſhould I look my Brother Jacob in the face? So, If I ſhould neglect my duty towards any under my Charge, how then ſhould I look my Lord Jeſus in the Face? What will make poor Miniſters ſtudy, and pray, and preach faithfully, but the conſideration of their accountableneſs to God, As they that muſt give an account for your Souls, H…b. 13. 17.as the Apoſtle ſays. And thus it is in other Caſes.
2. Uſe is, a Reproof to Sea-Commanders, that are unfaithful to their Charge, and Truſts, unfaithful to their own Souls, unfaithful to the Souls of the Ships Companies, Is this thy kindneſs to thy Friend? Is this thy faithfulneſs to thy own Soul? to neglect the worſhip of God, to neglect Calling upon the name of God? O how ſad and ſinful is this, that inſtead of Prayers aboard, you abound in Oaths; and inſtead of calling upon the name of God, you do Blaſpheme it!
1. This is very ſinful in you, becauſe you neglect Duty in the face of Danger. Danger doth aggravate, both Omiſſion and Commiſſion, the ſins of both; That dangers, which ſhould always put upon duties, ſhould lie attended with ſin. Theſe Heathens cry'd to their Gods, in their dangers: and what! you ſin in times of danger, that have lived under the light of the Goſpel? It was ſaid of Paul, he was in Perils often, ſo it may be ſaid of you poor Mariners, both by Sea, and Land, ye are in dangers often, nay in deaths often, and what? in prayer, never? in ſeeking God, never?
2. You are to be reproved becauſe you neglect duty, when it is in proper ſeaſon Call upon me in the day of trouble. Is it not a day of trouble with you in your ſtorms? It is ſaid of Sea-men in their ſtorms, their Souls are melted becauſe of Trouble, for all they are ſo Pſal. 107: 26.couragious at other times. Well now, calling Pſal. 130: 1.upon the Lord is in ſeaſon, is his Command: what ſaies David in this caſe, Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee. An Alluſion to Shipwrackt Mariners, that ſend their ſhreeks and crys to Heaven, when ſinking.
3. This is very ſinful in you, to neglect calling upon God; becauſe, you cannot expect a bleſſing upon your endeavours, without it: you may go out, and come in, but yet all this while little bleſt: theſe things may be common Providences to you, you may make good and proſperous Voyages, all things come alike to all. But what is this if you be not bleſt, with the favour of God? and the love of God in what you injoy? A little that the righteous man hath, is better than much riches of the Wicked: God may let you have ſucceſs in his wrath, and it may be deſigned for a Curſe, and a Snare unto you: though it may lye in your comforts inviſibly, (now the more inviſible and inſenſible a Curſe is, the ſadder it is.) We read of God's Curſing their Malac. 2 2.Bleſſings. Every one thinks it a Curſe to be poor, to be in want. But how few think of a Curſe to lye under their Comforts? under their Riches? Well, now can you expect a bleſſing without asking? It is worth little, if it be not worth ſeeking. Moſes when he Deut. 33. 18.comes to bleſs the Tribes, before his death, he bleſſes the Tribe of Zebulun, in their going Gen. 47. 13.out. Rejoyce Zebulun in thy going out. God ſo bleſs thee in thy goings out, as thou may rejoyce.This Zebulun, was the Tribe of Mariners, Zebulun ſhall dwell at the Haven of the Sea, and his Haven ſhall be for ſhips. Now Moſes bleſſes the Tribe of Mariners at their going out. O think of this, and go not out, without the Lords bleſſing. It is ſaid that our Engliſh-Sea-men, in times of Heatheniſm, and, ſince then, in times of Popery, offered their Oblations at their going to Sea, that they might have good ſucceſs, and will not you in theſe times of the Goſpel, look up to the Lord for it?
4. Your not calling upon the Lord, is the cauſe of all that Prophaneſs, and Atheiſm that abounds among you. There is a holy Majeſty in the worſhip of God, that if ſolemnly performed, would have an awe upon men's Spirits. Will men believe there is a God? when they never ſee you call upon him: do not your Ships-Company, ſay in their hearts, There is no God? if there be a God, why is not he called upon? why is he not worſhipped? why is he not prayed unto? may not many of you Commanders ſay; Lord, forgive me, my other-mens ſinnes? O when your Company's ſins ſhall be laid at your doors, how ſad will this be? What a ſad reckoning will there be to anſwer for their ſwearing, and drinking, and blaſpheming God? When God will ask you, What did you to prevent it? did you warne them of it? did you pray againſt it? endeavour againſt it? inſtruct againſt it?
5. You Maſters, What do you know, but your calling upon God, and being faithful to your charge, … this Senſe, may be a means for the Converſion of them that are under your charge, what do you know but you might win them to God? Many a childs Soul hath been given in as a return of Prayer, and many a Servants Soul. The Puritans loved the Souls of their Families, better than we do in theſe days; and ſo God honoured them with converting grace, breaking in upon them, O what pains did they take in inſtructing them? in Catechiſing them? in examining them after Ordinances? what they had Hoſ. 14. 8heard? O what a mercy would this be to carry it ſo under your charges, as they that live Jam. 5. ult.under the ſhaddow of your wing might Return! Will not this be to ſave Souls from death? He that converteth a Soul from the errour of his way, ſaves a Soul from Death. He ſpeaks of it, as a very great matter, as a worthy buſineſs. What! to keep a Soul, out of Hell? If you could keep your Ships-Company from ſinking, you would do it. O do what in you lyes, to keep them from ſinking into Hell! What? Were the Souls of poor Sinners worth Chriſts Prayers, Tears, nay Blood? and not worth your cryes? and your Prayers and your Tears? O what a low rate do you ſet upon your Souls, that do ſo little for either your own, or others.
6. Is not this ſinful in you, Not calling upon God? for he hath ſoveraign power over the Winds, and the Seas. The Wind and the Seas obey him. The Wind… blow by his Commiſſion. The Poets Neptune is but a Fiction; but this is a truth, that Jeſus Chriſt is great Lord Admiral at Sea. What a proud attempt was that in that Prince, to check the waves with his Scepter? Alas, this belongs to no Scepter but Chriſt's. O then why ſhould any go to the Divil for a Wind, if it belongs to the Soveraignty of God, to command them. I tell you Maſters, that when out of your own Countries, you buy winds, they will be dear commodities to you. You may buy a Wind with the loſs of your Souls.
7. Your not calling upon God, hath much ingratitude in it, your poor Wives they put up Bills, and your Relations they get you pray'd for; but O what ingratitude it is, Not to do it your ſelves! Should not you think, What? ſhall I be ſinning at Sea againſt God, and it may be at this very moment and inſtant prayed for at Land, by my dear Relations? I have heard of a godly Miniſter, being acquainted with a godly Woman, whoſe Husband was oppoſite to the wayes of God, and upon a time, the Husband diſcharged the Miniſter his houſe, being very angry againſt him, even that he entred into a temptation to kill the Miniſter, to which end one day, he goes to the Wood, where the Miniſter in his Retirements uſed to walk, and there reſolved to fall upon him, but hearing a voice, he ſtands (the Miniſter being at prayer); and preſently, he heard him praying particularly for him, which ſo melted him, that he threw down his Weapons, and caſt himſelf at his feet, and confeſs'd all, and ſo became an excellent Chriſtian afterwards. So, did but many Sea-Commanders, and other Mariners, hear what prayers are put up for them, by their Relations, by their Miniſters; O how would theſe melt their hearts? And what? for all this; never pray your ſelves?
3. Uſe, is of Caution, If it be duty in Maſters to manage their charge, and truſt faithfully; O then take heed of neglecting thoſe under your charge and cuſtody. None of you will neglect your Ships, your Goods, your Time, your Gales; and, Why ſhould any of you neglect your Souls, your pretious Souls?
1. Take heed you neglect not the Souls under your charge. You ſhall one day ſtand before the Lord, to be accountable for the Souls under your charge, as is ſaid of the Watchman, If he warn not the People, their blood was to be required at his hand: ſo, may I Ezek 34. 4.ſay; if Maſters of Families, and Parents of Children, do not warn thoſe under their truſt, to turn from ſin; and give them not holy examples; God will require their blood at their hands: And, What a dreadful thing will this be, to have the blood of ſo many miſcarrying Souls to all Eternity, to anſwer for!
2. Take heed of neglecting your charge: This will lye heavy upon you in your diſtreſſes and dangers. When men ſhall Reckon with Conſciences, what charges will Conſcience bring in againſt then? what Inditement will it bring in againſt you upon this Account? what? did you pray with your Companies, when you had opportunities? Did you walk before them, as giving an example of the fear of the Lord to them? Did you what you could, for the good of their precious Souls? Will it not be terrible in your ſtorms, when you are Sinking to have not only your own guilt to lie heavy upon you, but other mens guilt too? have not many upon their death-beds complained ſadly of the neglect of Family-duties; of the neglecting Souls under their Charges?
3. Take heed of neglecting your Charge, for thoſe you have neglected, will one day witneſs againſt you; and O how ſad will this be, to have poor wronged Souls witneſs againſt you? crying out, If we had ſeen better examples given us, we ſhould have more dreaded ſin, we ſhould have ſtood in more awe of offending God? But O, how were we hardned by your means?
Laſtly. Take heed of neglecting your Charge. This will cauſe the Anger of the Lord to hang over your heads. What more diſpleaſing to God, than neglect of his Worſhip? than undervaluing precious Souls? will not this grieve the Lord? and will it not be ſad to ſayle under a black Cloud of Gods diſpleaſure? What courſe can you ſtear at Sea, and be ſafe while God is Angry with you? you at Sea obſerve Clouds, and ſay, There is wind in ſuch a Cloud, & rain in ſuch a Cloud: But is there not a Cloud over your heads, which you obſerve not? and out of this Cloud, one day, will come the ſinking ſtorme, even the Cloud of Gods wrath, if you look not to it. You would not leave your Relations when you go to Sea, Angry: and will you go to Sea with the Anger of God upon you? If the Anger of God ſend a ſtorm, who can ſtand before it?
The next Obſervation, and the laſt is this.
Calling upon God, is an excellent means for preſervation from Sea-Dangers.
We ſee theſe poor Heathens made it their practice now in danger, every one to call upon his God; they had their Temples, their Altars, their Aſylums to fly to, in time of diſtreſs; but alas theſe were poor ſhifts, Refuges of lies to them, lying Vanities, as all Idols are called. O but now, calling upon the true God, this is the only means of ſafety! God is our only Refuge from the Storm.
But let us inquire a little, what Prayers theſe are, that are ſuch excellent means for preſervation at Sea in times of danger. For it is not every calling upon God that God will hear.
1. Earneſt and fervent Prayers, theſe are the preſerving prayers uſually in times of danger. Dangers uſually put men upon earneſt Prayers. Out of the depths have I cry'd unto thee: an Alluſion to the cries of ſhipwrackt men (as hath been formerly hinted) going to be ſwallowed up of the deeps. O, what doleful and earneſt crys do they give! The Lord takes notice of Mariners crys, Pſ. 107: 28.Then they cry to him in their troubles, and he bringeth them out of their Diſtreſs: Their Crying ſpeaks the earneſtneſs of their Spirits in calling upon God. We read of effectual Jam…. 5. 17.fervent Prayers, working-prayers (ſo the Greek read it.) Are You, working for life and death? and the Seas working? and the Veſſel working? and ſhall not your Prayers be working? 1. Should not your prayers be fervent, now life lies at ſtake for it: men will pray hard for their lives; a poor Priſoner, O how will he plead for his life! Let me continue a Priſoner, my Lord; Let me be Baniſhed; any thing, if my life may be but ſpared. O what will not a man do, or give for his life; And this is the caſe: it is upon your lives, and will not you pray fervently now? 2. Your Souls lye at ſtake, though this is not ſo much taken notice of, yet this is the great danger. What if thou dye this ſtorm, and be found without an intereſt in Chriſt? O, if you would but think when you go out to Sea, O Lord, What will become of my Soul, if I never return this Voyage? would there not be ſome hopes of you? poor Sinner, hath not the Lord ſaid, Without Holineſs no man ſhall ſee him; hath not the Lord ſaid, What will it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and loſe his own Soul? hath he not ſaid, Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God! O now, what will become of your Souls, if you ſhould be caſt away before you could witneſs any thing of this nature wrought in you? then know, your Souls are concerned. 3. Your Wives, and Children, lye at ſtake, they are alſo concerned; will not this move you? think, How many of your Wives follows you with prayers both in private and publick? and would not this be both ingratitude and unfaithfulneſs for you not to pray when in danger? 4. What, not pray fervently in time of danger? Heathens do ſo. How did the worſhippers of Baal 1 King. 18. 28.call upon him? and do not you wear the name of Chriſtians upon you? and what? let poor Heathens outſtrip you? 5. What not pray earneſtly in times of danger! now, is a time for fears to get about the heart, and fear uſually ſends out prayer, the Marriners now were affraid. We do not read of the calling upon their Gods, until we read of their fears. O now, terrours and fears of death take hold on them! and the ſorrows of death, Pſa. 107. 26, 27.as David Phraſes it, compaſſeth them about. Now they are at their wits end, (or their wiſdom is ſwallowed up, as it is read,) and their Soul is melted becauſe of trouble. And ſhould not this be a time of fervent Prayer?
2. The Prayers that are ſuch excellent means for preſervation, are the Prayers of James 5. 16.the Righteous, The Prayer of the Righteous availeth much. O poor ſinners, look that you get out of your Natural eſtates. If you would have your Prayers heard with God: The Sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: What avails the Prayers of poor Drunkards, and Swearers? may not God ſay to ſuch in their dangers, when they cry unto him, as he did to them? Go to the Gods whom you have ſerved, and let them deliver you: O poor Souls, Do not you with the ſame mouth ſend forth bleſſing and curſing, and do you think the Prayers of ſuch will be heard? And do not many of you with the ſame breath, ſend forth Prayers and Oaths? alas, ſuch Prayers never reach Gods ears.
3. The Prayers that are ſuch excellent means for preſervation at Sea, are Prayers ſent up in Faith. As hearing without believing, James 1. 5.profits not: ſo praying without believing profits not. There are many Sea-mens Prayers that are like the waves of the Sea, it is a Scripture-Similitude, Let him ask in Faith without wavering, for he that wavereth, is like a wave of the Sea driven with the Wind and is toſſed; for let not that man think, he ſhall receive any thing of the Lord. The word wavering it ſignifies when a man is at no certainty with himſelf, but at variance; ſomtimes being of one mind, ſomtimes of another: we ſhould in our diſtreſs pray believingly: therefore our Lord Jeſus did chide his Diſciples for not acting faith in that ſtorm we read of: Why are you afraid, O 2. Pet. 2. 9.ye of little faith? 1. We at ſuch times are to act faith upon the power of God. He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation: when neither Angels nor Men know what way a mercy ſhall come in, a deliverance ſhall be ſent; yet the Lord knows, he is never at a loſs for ways and means, a piece of the Ship-wrack't Veſſel, a Maſt, a piece of a broken Plank, any thing ſhall do it; if God command it. Nothing ſets off ſo much the Power of God, in a preſervation, as the utter unlikelihood, and improbability that was in it, when all hope of being Saved was taken Acts 17away, then came the Angel to Paul. Here was the power of God! How much of the power of God did appear in ſaving the Veſſel where the Diſciples were, when it was filled with Waves? O how much of the power Ma…k. 4. 34.of God did appear in the preſervation of Jonah, that Salvation ſhould come to him out Jonah. 2. 2.of the belly of Hell.
2. Our faith in times of danger muſt have reſpect to the promiſe of God. Faith will not venture to God without a promiſe. The great encouragement to prayer, is the Promiſe, Call upon me in the day of trouble. Here is the precept, but where is the promiſe? and I will deliver thee. 1. Faith eyes Pſ. …0. 15.the ſaithfulneſs of the promiſe in time of danger. The more Believers plead this in ther daingers, the better they are uſually fetched off. God loves to have his faithfulneſs leaned on, in diſtreſs. 2. Faith in Prayer He…. 6. 13.eyes the immutability of the promiſe. Hope in the promiſe as to its unchangeableneſs, in your ſtorms is your beſt Anchor. This is the Anchor that will never come home again. This made Luther ſay, he had rather be in the bottom of the Sea with a promiſe, than in Paradiſe without a promiſe.
4. Thoſe prayers, that are ſuch excellent means for preſervation from Sea-dangers, are to be preſented to God, by the hands of Chriſt: no prayers are prevailing prayers, either at Land, or Sea, but ſuch. Chriſt is the great Friend of poor Creatures in all their dangers. We read of Chriſt praying when the Diſciples were ſinking; Why were Ma…k. 6. 46.they not loſt and caſt away? O Chriſt was praying for them! The Angel that ſtood by Paul, when all the Ships-company were ſo nigh being caſt away, was Chriſt. Chriſt carries the prayers of poor Creatures unto his Father, when they are in dangers, and diſtreſs; and brings anſwers ſuddenly from Heaven, and ſo the ſtorm is quiet, and becomes a Calm. And you little, it may be, know how it comes. O Chriſt many times, prayes for it! no queſtion Paul had been praying for the preſervation of the Veſſel, when the Angel brought him that good news. All that ſayl with thee, are given thee. He had been begging their lives, and Jeſus Chriſt gives in the anſwer.
5. Thoſe Prayers, that are ſuch excellent means for preſervation, are unfeigned Prayers. Sea-men often do with their Prayers, and Conſciences, as they do with their goods in a ſtorm: they caſt them over-board, but in a Calm they wiſh for them again. So, many of them pray in their ſtorms, but theſe prayers are but forced prayers, God never hears from them but in danger. Alas, God looks upon ſuch praying to be only flattering, and lying, and ſo he calls Hypocritical praying. They flattered me with their lips, and lyed unto Pſal. …8. 34.me with their tongues. Why, they were praying. O but their hearts were all this while a deceitful Bow, they were Hypocritical in all this. And we read of ſome, though the Lord Hoſ. …. 13.redeemed them, yet they ſpake lyes againſt him. O, how often have you done ſo?
6. The prayers that are ſuch excellent means for preſervation, are prayers flowing from a broken and a contrite heart. He is Pſal. 34. 18.nigh them that are of a contrite heart. Nigh them? how? nigh them to ſave them; ſo ſayes the next word, (ſome read it) he preſerveth the diſmayed in Spirit, or bruiſed. Are you diſmayed in dangers, under the ſenſe of your ſins? fear not, God is nigh ſuch. But alas, what are the Prayers of a Company of poor wretches unbroken either for their ſins, or from their ſins? who it may be, before the ſtorm, were Swearing and Blaſpheming God: the Prayers of ſuch is no more then to cut off a Dog's neck.
1. Reaſon why Prayer is ſuch an excellent means for preſervation, becauſe, In this duty God's honour is highly concerned, this is Gods great Name, and Title, a God hearing prayer, in which he much glories. All his Attributes are much honoured, in calling upon him, eſpecially in times of dangers and diſtreſſes. 1. When you call upon God at Sea, you honour his Soveraignty, his Soveraignty over the Winds and Seas: is acknowledged by calling on him. God ſayes to theſe proud waves, So far and no further! So, the ſtorm and hail, they fulfil his will, and when he pleaſes he commands a Calm. 2. Prayer in time of danger honours God's Wiſdom, when we ſee no way open, for mercies and deliverance to come in at, then to look up to him; believing, he knows how to deliver out of Temptation. O, how much of the wiſdom of God appears in preſervations in time of danger? and is it not a good token of mercy coming in, when Perſons pray, though all viſible wayes are block't up? this honours God's Wiſdom, which we acknowledg is never at a loſs, as to wayes of bringing in mercy and deliverance. 3. The Faithfulneſs of God is much honoured in times of danger, when he is called upon, the faithfulneſs of a Friend doth moſt appear in a ſtrait: now, if you can rely upon his Promiſe, Gods faithfulneſs is the beſt line, men ſinking at Sea can lay hold on. So I might add, Calling upon God, honours all his other Attributes.
2. Reaſon, becauſe the promiſe of preſervation runs to Prayer. Call upon me in the day of trouble, here is the Precept; Is not a day of trouble, a time of danger? Is it Pſal. 50. 14.not a day of trouble, when, it may be, but a few ſteps are betwixt you and death; nay betwixt you, and Hell? Is not it a day of trouble when your ſins encompaſs you about? when the fears of death take bold on you? when you muſt never ſee Wives and Children, Friends, and Relations more? well, what ſhould you do then? O then, call upon God, and I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. Thou for any thing I know, may have thy mercy for a while, unasked; but, I tell thee from the Lord, Thy preſervations and deliverances may be Curſes to thee. When men are delivered from Sea, and fall into their Wickedneſſes again, they are a Curſe to them; when they ſay, They are delivered Jer. 7. 10.to do all theſe abominations. You have your deliverances, but you have not them in a way of promiſe, you have them not in a way of prayer; theſe unſought-for mercies, are uſually Curſes to the Receivers.
3. Becauſe, Prayers in times of danger uſually are accompanied with the Exerciſe of grace: now the greateſt deliverances come in away of the exerciſe of grace. Grace lyes dormant until it be awakened by danger: they are not ſleepy habits, that uſually deliverance comes in upon, but when grace is exſerted. When came that Preſervation to the Diſciples at Sea, in that dreadful ſtorm, but when the Ship was covered with waves? Marke 4. 37.Jeſus Chriſt was there then, though aſleep.
1. There is in Prayers, in time of danger, faith exerciſed. Now to go to God in faith, in time of trouble, O, what a great mercy is this? Of all men in the World, Who have more need of faith, then Sea-men! Can you go through your dangers and difficulties, without? Is it not this the Ariadne's clew (that the Poets feigned) would lead and extricate through all Labyrinths? You Say, ſuch a Veſſel is gone to the Straits; you will go to the Straits every Voyage you make, without faith: this is your Anchor, and the promiſe is your Cable, that in all ſtorms and dangers, you muſt make uſe of; 2. In Prayer in time of danger, there is Patience exerciſed. Then mens Patience is tryed; God loves to ſee us lye quietly ſubmitting to his will, and then comes deliverance: the cryes of impatience do but clip the Wings of Mercy that it cannot fly, ſo ſwiftly towards us, as it would. To how many thouſand Sea-men, may the Lord ſay, as once to thoſe Diſciples? Why are ye ſo fearful, O ye of little faith! O ye of little Patience! Is repining and murmuring the way to deliver, think you? 3ly. In Prayer in time of danger, there is exerciſed Repentance; and Confeſſion of ſin; Thus Jonah, when God and his Conſcience arreſts him; then the Malefactor, and grand Delinquent confeſſes. This is the going of the Pump, when Repentance is in exerciſe. Now Deliverances uſually comes in upon this exerciſe: Whoſoever knows the Plague of his 1 Kings 8. 38.own heart, and ſhall pray to me: then (ſaies God) I will hear. In time of danger, your hands muſt be upon the particular Plague-Sore, if God hear and help. 4th. In time of danger, thre is exerciſed Juſtifying of Nehe. 9. 33.God: Thou art Righteous, but we are Wicked; Thou haſt puniſhed us leſs than our Iniquities Ezra 9. 13.have deſerved (ſay they), Lord, this ſtorme, is juſtly come upon us, we were lately ſinning Ezra 9. 13.againſt thee, we have ſinned again after ſuch Deliverances, that now thou may'ſt be Righteous, if there ſhould be no eſcaping. And uſually when the Lord hath brought poor Souls, to this; then comes in the mercy of Jer. 29. 11.Deliverance. 5. Truth of Grace is exerciſed in ſuch a time; then we ſhall ſeek the Lord with our whole heart.
4. Prayer is an excellent means to preſerve in Sea-dangers; becauſe now Perſons anſwer God's expectations; The Lord is ſo great a lover of Prayer, from ſuch poor worms as we are, That he ſends dangers on purpoſe upon us to draw Prayer from us: What a ſweet word is that? My Dove! that art in Cant. 2. 14.the clefts of the Rock, and the ſecret places of the Stairs; let me ſee thy Countenance, let me hear thy Voyce, for it is ſweet, and thy Countenance is comely. When poor Souls are in dangers, [ſo the Church at this time, hunted by Enemies, and ſo in ſecret places of the ſtaires.] The words are a Metaphor taken from Doves in danger, purſued into the holes of the Rocks, by Birds of prey: yet then, Thy voyce is ſweet: The old Proverb is, If you will learn a man to pray, ſend him to Sea. If ſo, then it is a pitty they ſhould learn to ſwear there. Now Deliverances do not come in, until Perſons anſwer the Lord's expectations.Hoſ. 6. ult.
In their affliction (ſays God) they will ſeek me early: he expects this from you. They Eſay 26. 16.poured out a Prayer to thee, while thy chaſtiſement was upon them. In Trouble they viſited thee.
5. Prayer is an excellent means to preſervation, in Sea dangers; Becauſe God will now make praying Souls, know, Their Extremities are Gods opportunities, They ſhall now have a Teſtimony in their Souls from Heaven, that God is a preſent help, in time of trouble; and that then, when they go through the waters, he will be with them. We read of ſome calling upon God in the Eſay 43. 2.Fires. O but, what anſwers do they get? Eſay 24. 15.He ſhall ſay, I am your God. God loves to Zach. 13. 9.deliver in nicks of time: When all hope was taken away, then he ſent his Angel to Paul; Acts 27 20.when Peter began to ſink, then the Lord immediatly Math. 14. 30.put forth his hand and caught him. O, God loves to enchance the price of all his mercies and Deliverances, therefore he gives them out, when the caſe is deſperate.
APPLICATION.
Is it ſo, that prayer is an excellent means for preſervation at Sea, in time of Danger; Firſt it is a word of Counſel. 1. To Perſons whoſe prayers God hath anſwerd, and whoſe perſons God hath delivered, in great, and eminent dangers. Of all perſons, they ſhould look to it, that they ſin not againſt the Lord, who hath done ſuch great things for them.
Firſt word of Counſel is, Live anſwerably to your Preſervations. How uncomely! nay how ſinful is it, daily to live upon mercy, and daily to live below mercy? After ſuch Deliverances as this, ſhall we break again his Commandements? May not a None-Such be written upon the head of this Deliverance, and Preſervation? yea, and may not a None-Such be writ on the head of this ſin, and Provocation? Check your ſelves in your ſins, by the Remembrance of your mercies. Was I delivered to do all theſe abominations? Was I delivered from Sea, and ſaved from Hell, at ſuch a time, To live in ſuch a ſin? To be Drunk? To Swear? To abuſe my Relations? To Scoff and Mock at Godlineſs? O, May'ſt thou not hear God ſaying to thy Soul? Is this thy kindneſs to thy Friend? wilt thou thus requite the Lord, fooliſh and unwiſe man, with Evil for ſo much Good? David was delivered, and ſee what uſe he made of it, To walk before the Lord in the Land of the living, (viz.) To walk as under his eye, It was writ upon a City-Walls in England now demoliſhed, This City ſaved by the Lord, being eminently delivered; So may be writ on many of your backs, This man ſaved by the Lord, Delivered by the Lord: then what ſhould be written of ſuch mens Converſation, but Holineſs to the Lord? ſhould not the line of mercy, that draws them ſo often out of the water, make Moſes's of them? ſhould not that line bind them faſt to the Lord Jeſus? ſhould not the mercies of God prevail with poor Souls, I beſeech you, by the mercies of God, ſaies Paul.
Second word of Counſel; O, Labour to keep the ſenſe of them freſh upon your ſpirits! when we loſe the ſenſe of the mercy, then we are eaſily drawn into ſin, againſt the God of mercy; O, while mercies are new, they affect us! as every Condition at firſt, is taking, but afterwards it is not ſo. It is with mercies, as with the Children of Iſrael, they ſang and gave praiſe. But yet we find all off again, Pſal 106. 12. They made haſt to forget, they ridd poſt (as it is in the Heb.) to forget. 1. Keep the ſenſe of danger upon your hearts. When we loſe the ſenſe of our dangers, we loſe the ſenſe of our duties. O what a danger was I in, at ſuch a time? what diſtreſs, and ſaid with good Jehoſophat, I know not what to do? It is good to reflect on, paſt dangers; ſo David, there came a Lyon, and a Bear, &c. 2. Keep the ſenſe of the Deliverance on you; if it wear off, the beauty of the mercy is blaſted; it will then look like an old withered mercy. God would have his mercies freſh to us, to look with a freſh Complexion. 3. Keep the ſenſe of your Vows, upon you, the Vows that your Souls uttered in the time of your diſtreſs. 4. Keep the ſenſe of your preſent frames of Heart, you had upon you, when you were in danger; whether your ſins compaſſed you about in that day or no; Conſider, whether you were under the ſmiles of his reconciled face, or no, in dangers, O what would you not then have given for the Pardon of your ſins! 5. Keep the ſenſe of your ſins upon you, that ſtared your Conſciences in the face, in your dangers. Is that ſin mortified, yet? Is that ſin forſaken? Theſe things we ſhould keep freſh upon our Souls, after our Deliverances.
Third word of Counſel; O, then let your Preſervations from paſt dangers, be obligations upon you to truſt God in future ſtraits, The Lord delivered me (ſaies David) out of the Paw of the Lyon, and the Paw of the Bear, and what then? and he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philiſtin. This was the great ſin of Iſrael, that they did not truſt God, when they came into preſent Straits. How long (ſaies God) will this people provoke Numb. 14. 11.me by their unbelief? for all my Signes and Wonders? Thus the Lord Jeſus reproved his Diſciples, for not conſidering the Loaves. So poor Souls ſhould by former Experiences be encouraged in preſent Exigences.
Fourth word of Counſel, O beg of God, your Deliverances, and Preſervations, may be all ſent ſanctified unto you! There are many Souls have unſanctified mercies, unſanctified enjoyments, Deliverances, and Salvations; alas theſe will harden poor Souls, becauſe Sentence is not ſpeedily Executed, therefore are the hearts of ſinners hardened: They eſcape this danger, and the other, and Eccleſ. 8. 11.ſo they think they ſhall alwaies eſcape.
It will here be demanded, When a Deliverance is ſanctified?
1. When it is joyned with Holineſs: We read of Deliverance and Holineſs upon Obad. 17.Mount Zion, when Deliverances ſhine in the Holineſs of mens Converſation. To be delivered, and follow your ſins more greedily, that is no ſigne, Deliverance is ſanctified.
2dly. When they abide upon the Heart, they are ſanctified; when they remain, with a Soul. Many, many, have Preſervations from danger, and as ſoon as they are delivered, all is paſt, and gone with them, as a tale that is told. It may be they never think of them, till they come into another danger, or another ſtrait.
3dly. When deliverances are ſanctified, they are admired. After ſuch Deliverance as this! O how their Hearts admired, the mercy! You loſe the beauty of a mercy, for want of admiring-frames of Heart; In this Deliverance, ſaies the Soul, here was the appearance, of the ſeveral attributes of God; here in this circumſtance, was the wiſdome of God, and the Power of God!
4thly. When Deliverances do kindly humble, and break the Soul, then they are ſanctified! what, ſave ſuch a worm? put forth his power to ſave, at ſuch a time, from Death, and Hell, ſuch a poor, vile wretch? that deſerved to have been lodged in that Pit, where there is no Redemption many years agoe.
5thly. When Deliverances are ſanctified, they endear the Soul exceedingly in love with God; Thus David, I will love thee, O Pſal. 18. …Lord my ſtrength, why? The Lord is my rock, my fortreſs & my Deliverer; ask your Hearts, now you that have been eminently delivered, at Sea, or Land, if your Preſervations be thus ſanctified.
Fifth word of Counſel: Regiſter your Preſervations, and Deliverances, you will find much, yea very much benefit in ſuch a Courſe; Thus all the Saints did. Did not Heman remember the years of the right hand Pſal. 77.of the Lord: There are theſe Remarkable Jer. 2. 2.days, you ſhould, in an eſpecial manner remember; 1. The day of the firſt love, in drawing you into Chriſt; this God remembers, I remember the love of thine Eſpouſals. 2. The day of your Deaths, that you Jer. 2. 2.ſhould remember, O that my people were wiſe Lam: 1. 9.to conſider their latter end; Jeruſalem came down wonderfully, becauſe they conſidered not their latter end. 3. The days and times of your Del…verances; Thus did the Lords Saints; or elſe we ſhould have been bereaved of many precious Scriptures; As that excellent place, when David changed his Behaviour before Abimelech, O what an admirable Pſalm, was penn'd upon that occaſion! Pſal. 34.and alſo the 40th. Pſalm, He brought me up alſo out of the miry-pits, &c.
1. O, do you remember them, they will be a ſtrengthning of your Faith for time to come; A man will not loſe a Receipt, or an Acquittance leſt it be call'd in Queſtion; and, Will you loſe your Experiences of Gods goodneſs, to you? Experiences, are poor Souls Receipts, (as I may ſay) now you may be called into Queſtion, as to your Eſtates: O theſe, then, will be Comfortable for you to read over. 2. They will be ſtrengthening to others: You will not believe, what Sermons, ſome of your Deliverances are to Relations, to Acquaintances. Another man's experience may ſtrengthen my Faith. And he hath (ſaid David) put a Pſal. 40. 3, 4.new ſong in my mouth, even praiſe unto our God. What then? many ſhall ſee it, and fear, and truſt in God? 3. God will loſe his glory by you. How can you glorifie him, if you do not remember the Lords mercies towards you? and thou ſhalt glorifie me; what? Shall you gain by them, and God be loſer by them? that gave you them? You would not have your Owners loſers, and will you have God a loſer? O how much of the glory of God hath been loſt by loſing the Remembrance of your Deliverances! 4. Remember them: for they are written down in Gods book of Remembrance; If you forget them, God will remember them, When the Lord brings forth this Book of Memento's, againſt your Souls, O how ſad will it be! Soul, doeſt thou not remember, thou was in ſuch a danger at Sea! ſuch a time? ſuch a dark Night! ſo nigh ſinking, ſo nigh ſplitting? and never thought'ſt to come off with thy life? and I appeared for thee, and was ſeen in that ſtrait; but thou was worſe, and worſe, after thy Deliverances. Alas the Soul hath quite forgot, theſe things. You will not, you poor Sea men, you will not be able, to ſtand before the Lords Memento's in that day; 5. O Remember them, or elſe you will have great guilt upon you: your forgetfulneſs, is the grave of Gods mercies. Will you deal thus with the mercies of God? Was it not ſad, think you, when they threw the dead by 20, and 40, and whole Cartloades, into a hole at once, in the time of the Plague? and is not this ſad for God to beſtow upon you whole Cart-loads of Deliverances, and mercies, and you bury all in forgetfulneſs? It was charged upon Iſrael, They ſoon forgot his works.
The ſecond Word, is a word of terrour, to ſuch perſons as God hath delivered, without their prayers from great, and eminent dangers, and yet have loſt the ſenſe of ſuch Preſervations, and mercies. This is a terrible Condition, to have Preſervations loſt upon you; to have all your deliverances, as water ſpilt, upon the ground.
1. Such Preſervations are but Reſervations, to greater wrath; do not you ſay, The bitterneſs of Death, is paſt, becauſe you are ſafe returned from your Voyage, another woe is to come, yea a greater woe; Though one is paſt, there is ſtill wrath to come. We read of ſome that ſhall flye, but yet ſhall not eſcape; and ſhall not be delivered: why what was the matter? though they dig into Hell, thither the Lord would follow them, mine hand ſhall take them; O whither can Sinners go out of the reach of Gods arme? It may be they will climbe up to Heaven; Thence (ſaith the Lord) I will bring them Amos 9. 4, 5, 6.down, yea, though they hide themſelves, in the Top of Carmel, I will ſearch, and take them out thence. O but it may be, they will take another Courſe, and go to Sea, to hide themſelves from God; Thence will I command the Serpent, and he ſhall bite them: Thus the diſpleaſure of the Lord followed them.
2ly. Such Preſervations, will be great Aggravations, 1. of your ſin, and guilt. 2. Of your Condemnation and puniſhment: 1. Of your ſin and guilt. Shall we break his Commandements again, after ſuch a deliverance as this? what, ſin againſt ſo gracious a God? Thus requite the Lord? O what unkindneſs is this? Suppoſe a perſon, in meer Compaſſion, had redeemed another from the ſlavery of the Turks, where elſe he might have lived, and died; and this perſon redeemed, ſhould, after this, not only forget all; but affront and abuſe the perſon that redeemed him; Would not this be monſtrous ingratitude among men? Yet the ſin runs higher, in this Caſe, What, will you thus requite the Lord? is this your Kindneſs to your Friend? to your God? that delivered you, when none could? that was your Arm, and your Salvation in a needful time of trouble? This will aggravate ſin. If I had not come, and ſpoken unto you, you had not had ſin (viz.) your ſin had not been ſo circumſtantiated; So, if the Lord had not delivered you, ſo often, ſo eminently; you would not had ſuch ſin: 1. This is to ſin againſt mercy, and is not this a great aggravation? What, to ſin againſt the beſt Friend, you ever had in the world? O, who can tell what mercy hath done for them! was not thy Creation from mercy? and were not all thy Preſervations from mercy? 2dly. This is to ſin againſt Reſolutions, and Vows. And will not this aggravate ſin? O, is not this terrible, To ſin againſt Reſolution, from time to time? how often hath thy poor Soul reſolved, after ſuch a deliverance, and ſuch a Preſervation, to leave this wickedneſs and prophaneneſs? and yet never waſt ſo good as thy word: How often have many of your Souls ſaid, as the Prodigal, did, I will ariſe, and go to my Father? but yet have ſitten ſtill in your ſins, to this day! and all the purpoſes of your Heart have fallen aſunder. 3dly. This is to ſin againſt Convictions and light. No Sins, are ſo aggravated, as they-againſt-light: Have not your Conſciences reproved you, and convinced you, many a time? 4thly. This is to ſin againſt Experience, as well as Conſcience, which was the great aggravation of the ſin of Iſrael; For all Gods ſigns and wonders, to diſtruſt God. O, what experience have you had of the faithfulneſs, power, wiſdome of God, in delivering of you? what? and you ſin? 5thly. There is high ingratitude in it. O, what unthankfulneſs, is it? after ſo many deliverances to ſin againſt the God of them?
2dly. Such Preſervations, are Aggravations of puniſhment, and Condemnation. How will you anſwer to have the book of Gods Remembrances opened unto you? and all your deliverances, read out of it▪ Such as you have forgotten, and buried many years ago. Did not I preſerve thee, in ſuch a ſtorme, at Sea? in ſuch a danger at Land? gave thee thy life at ſuch a time? when but a ſtep betwixt thee and Death? O, How will this ſting your Conſciences?
3dly. Such Preſervations are the greateſt Ec…l…ſ 8. 11.Hardners in Sin: If they do not Soften, they Harden: Theſe Providences are like Ordinances, either great ſoftners, or elſe great hardners; Becauſe ſentence is not ſpeedily executed, therefore the Hearts of Sinners are hardned. O, what a terrible thing it is to be hardened, and ſet in ſins? Such Perſons under their preſervations they put the evil day far from them, and ſo are hardned; they think, becauſe God forbears them, and ſpares them at preſent, he will never paſs ſentence upon them; becauſe they are Reproved, they think the Sentence will never be executed. We read of ſome that put the evil day far from them. What, though God hath leaden feet, he hath iron-hands (ſaith one); Though he be ſlow in his motions, yet he is ſure in his executions. 2. Poor Souls, that are preſerved, and make no ſpiritual uſe of their Preſervations, they are ready to think, God loves them, becauſe he preſerves them; and ſo they go on in their ſins, and provocations. We muſt not argue from common Providences, to ſpecial affection. There are no evidences in theſe things, no no more than in ſparing the wicked in the Plague-time, while many truly-godly were carried into Heaven, and glory by it. 3. Poor Souls that are under ſuch Perfecutions, are hardened.
4. Preſervations that are not anſwered in Converſation, nothing ſpeaks more ſadly a Souls-Rejection, by God, than this: O, what a ſad argument it is of Rejection, for a poor Soul never to be brought nearer God, by all its preſervations? but worſe, after deliverances. This ſaith, as much as, God hath let it alone.
Third Uſe, is a word of Examination to Godly Sea-men. If it be ſo, that Prayer is ſuch an excellent meanes for preſervation, O then examine, whether your Preſervations have been fruits of prayer, anſwers unto prayer: O, it is a ſweet thing to read anſwers of prayer in preſervation! to ſay, Lord, thou, haſt heard my Cry, and delivered me.
1. A Preſervation that is a fruit of prayer, is a Perſervation that alwaies endears the Soul unto God. I will love thee, O Lord my ſtrength. O what a warm frame of Heart was Pſ. 18. 1, 2.he in at that time? O, the Lord had delivered and preſerved him! Hath your Preſervations indeared God to you? or no? What, not love him, that appeared for you, when none elſe could come into your Relief?
2dly. A Preſervation that is a fruit of Prayer, alwaies raiſes the Souls of the Receivers in praiſe. That which we win by Prayer, we wear by praiſe: What is the reaſon, men are ſo ingrateful, and unthankful for theſe Preſervations? They are not anſwers of prayer.
3dly. A Preſervation, that is a fruit of Prayer, will cauſe the Soul to believe in the next ſtrait, it is brought into. It binds the Soul over to believe for the future: Anſwers of prayer always bind over the Soul to believe, He hath delivered me, and he will deliver, &c.
4thly. Preſervations that are anſwers to prayer, they fill the Soul with admiration. ſuch Souls go round about their preſervations, and look ſtedfaſtly upon every circumſtance, and ſo ſee the beauty of its preſervations. The mercy came in when I had given over all hope; when near ſinking, then the ſtorm ceaſed. Here did the power of God appear, there the wiſdom of God, there the love of God.
5. Preſervations that are Anſwers to Prayer, they are always lived up to. Converſations, are ſuited to their Preſervations. 1. Such walk Humbly under their Preſervations; they do not puff them up. 2. They walk Holily after Preſervations. 3. They walk Thankfully.