A Plat for Mariners, Sermon 4

A Plat for Mariners · Sermon 4

p. 106Jonah 1. 7.

And they ſaid every one to his Fellow, Come let us caſt Lots, that we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us. So they caſt Lotts, and the Lot fell upon Jonah.

WEe have already had an account, how ſerious theſe poor diſtreſſed Mariners were in their danger; as to their uſe of means: 1. Rational means, They lighted the Ship. 2. Religious means, They every one cry to their God. And here, in the Text, they are upon the uſe of the moſt extraordinary, and p. 107beſt and laſt means, (viz) To find out the guilty Malefactour, who raiſed the ſtorm, that now threatned them with Ship-wrack. For whoſe cauſe this evil was come upon them. Now, was their grand Inquiry.

1. In the Text, we have a ſerious conſultation of a poor diſtreſſed Ship-company, in eminent danger. Dangers will make men ſerious in their Conſultations. And they ſaid every one to his Fellow, Come let us caſt Lots. The ſtorm growing upon them, though they had uſed rational and religious means. (Jonah having not confeſſed his ſin); they begin to think that the ſtorm came upon ſome extraordinary errand, and might be ſome extraordinary Meſſenger or Purſevant, to Arreſt ſome great Malefactor. And therefore, they fall upon a Conſultation to uſe extraordinary means, in order to a diſcovery of the guilty Perſon. And this is the caſting of Lots. The uſe of the Lot being in difficult caſes, to leave it to the judgment of God to decide the Controverſie. The Lot was uſed in Scripture in theſe caſes. 1. To decide inheritances. They were divided by Lot. The Inheritance was alſo from hence called a Lot. And Simeon ſaid unto his Brother, come up with me into my Lot, that Numb. 26. 53.Num 26:53we may fight againſt the Canaanites. 2. The uſe of Lots, was in order to the executing of Sacred and Holy matters, Aaron was to caſt p. 108Judg. 1. 3.Judg 1:3Lotts upon the Goats; One for the Lord, another Lev. 15. 8.Lev 15:8for the Scape-Goats. So Matthias was choſen to his Office by Lot. 4. The uſe of Acts 1. 26.Acts 1:26the Lot was for deciding of Controverſies: The Lot cauſeth contention to ceaſe, and parteth Pro. 18. 18.Prov 18:18between the mighty. It unites them, and reconciles them. The diſpoſing of the Lot is 1 Sam 14. 41.1 Sam 14:41called God's Judgment. The Lot is caſt into the lap, but the diſpoſing thereof is of the Prov. 16. 33.Prov 16:33Lord. [But the word ſignifies Judgment]? the Judgment is of the Lord, He decides the controverſie. (And ſome read it) The whole, Judgment of it, is of the Lord. Thus Achan was diſcovered by Lot; He was taken Joſh. 7. 14, 15.Josh 7:14Josh 7:15(but ſome read it) he was hit, the Lot fell upon him, as here, upon Jonah. A Lot (ſaith Dr. Ames) is a requeſting a divine teſtimony to decide Mat. 27. 35: They caſt Lotts upon his Veſture,Matt 27:35ſome controverſie, by the determining of an event to be manifeſted, in a meer Contingency. Now the caſe of theſe poor Heathen Mariners, was this: They attributed ſome thing of this Nature to Lotts, that they were, in their uſe, and eye, of a deciding diſcovering Nature. So they conſult to caſt Lotts.

2. We have their agreement in their conſultation. So they caſt Lotts: they were not divided in this caſe, as many Ships-companies are, in ſtorms. Some will ſtay by the Veſſel, and ſome will take them to their Boat: and both the divided Parties many times loſt. Dividing, in time of common danger p. 109and diſtreſs, is frequently of ſad Conſequence. But we ſee here they all reſolve upon one courſe, which ſhould teach Chriſtian Sea-men to be united in their courſe and Reſolution, in time of diſtreſs.

3. We have the main ſcope, and end of this ſerious Conſultation. That we may know for whoſe cauſe this Evil is come upon us. They had ſtrong apprehenſions, that the Caſe was extraordinary; and gladly would they find it out. They do not every one reflect upon one, and ſay, Is it I? Is it I? O no, but they put it off from one another; and yet all are in good earneſt for a diſcovery of the cauſe. But Jonah is ſilent, all this while, ſays nothing, They had this Notion, that ſome extraordinary guilt raiſed this Storm. There was ſome Malefactor aboard, and, as they ſaid, when Paul came a ſhoar, and the Viper came upon his Acts 28. 4.Acts 28:4hand, No doubt this man is a Murderer, whom though he eſcaped the Sea, yet vengeance ſuffereth not to live. So theſe poor Pagans conclude, Some great Malefactor was aboard, this ſtorm purſued to take Vengeance of. 2. Here is this in it alſo, that they gave up the diſcovery to the determination of the Lot; That we may know for whoſe cauſe this Evil is come upon us: We will be decided by the Lot; whom the Lot will fall upon. They attributed ſuch a Divinity to Lots, that they were willing the Controverſie ſhould be ended by them.

p. 1104. We have the controverſie devided, and the Malefactor diſcovered. And the Lot fell upon Jonah. Before he was reproved, and might have been vehemently ſuſpected, being aſleep, in ſuch a ſtorm. But here he is plainly and openly diſcovered, and diſcovered in an extraordinary way too. His Conſcience is not ſtartled, at the Mariners reproof; though he be awake, his Conſcience is aſleep ſtill; he doth not cry out, I am the man, for whoſe cauſe this Evil is come upon You. I am the Malefactor ſent after, by this ſtorm. O no, ſo hard it is to acknowledg our guilt, and take ſhame to our ſelves. We go on, and let God go onuntil we be diſcovered, that there is no denyal of it.

1. Obſervation is this.

Extraordinary Storms and Tempeſts are not ſent out without a Cauſe. This Doctrine theſe poor Pagans owned.

2. In all Diſtreſſes and Afflictions it is our duty to be inquiring into the Cauſe. This Doctrine the poor Heathen Sea-men own. For whoſe Cauſe this Evil is come upon us.

3. God will find out the Jonah, that hath raiſed the ſtorm [And the Lot fell upon Jonah.] The hand of an eſpecial determining p. 111Providence, diſpoſing, and ſo ordering it, that it fell upon Jonah.

1. Obſervation; Extraordinary ſtorms and tempeſts, are not ſent out without a Cauſe, [That we may know for whoſe cauſe this Evil is come upon us, is the conſent of the whole Ships-company.]

1. We are to underſtand that, theſe poor Heathens had, in their dangers, apprehenſions above Chance and Fortune. They thought that there was ſome cauſe given to their Gods, by provoking them, why theſe things ſhould come upon them: As they had, why the Viper ſhould come upon Paul's hand, They thought, there was ſome great cauſe; that he was a Murderer, and vengeance was purſuing him. They thought their Gods were angry, and ſo, They cryed unto 1 Sam. 6▪ 9.1 Sam 6:9their Gods. We read of the Philiſtines, when they had taken the Ark Priſoner, and had been Plagued for it, with one Judgment after another: to decide the Controverſie, whether theſe Judgments were from God, or a chance that hapned to them; they would put it upon this iſſue. They would ſend it home, and if it went by the way of the Coaſt of Bethſhemeſh, then they concluded, It was God's hand that ſmote them. So here, If the Lot fall upon Jonah, then the Controverſie p. 112is decided, that he is the guilty Malefactor, that hath cauſed this great ſtorm.

2. We are to underſtand that thoſe poor Heathens had apprehenſions of the Juſtice of their Gods, while they ſay, For whoſe cauſe is this come upon us? They looked upon it as a puniſhment, and that it was come, as ſome righteous Sentence upon ſome great Malefactor. So they (in the Acts) when they ſaw the Viper come upon Paul's hand, preſently conclude him a Malefactor, of the higheſt ranck, and that Vengeance would follow him, at land, if he eſcaped it at Sea. They could not but believe, there was ſome Cauſe given by ſome in the Veſſel: O that this may teach poor Sea-men, every ſtorm to ſay! For whoſe cauſe is this ſtorm come upon us? ſhall Heathens out-ſtrip Chriſtians, when they are in ſtorms and dangers?

3. We are to underſtand, that theſe poor Heathen Sea-men, did think that there was a Supream Power ordering, and guiding this ſtorm or tempeſt. What needed they elſe cry to their Gods? what needed they have caſt Lotts? But that they attributed a kind of Divinity to them, to decide the Controverſie, and that the Winds had a Commiſſion from their Gods to blow; or elſe, why ſhould they ſay, What ſhould we doe unto thee, that the Sea may be calm, &c. They thought, If a righteous ſentence was executed upon the p. 113now diſcover'd Malefactor, that the ſtorm would ceaſe.

4. We are to underſtand, That theſe poor Heathen Sea-men thought, that the Malefactor would be diſcovered: Therefore they ſaid every one to his Fellows, Let us caſt Lotts that we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us: Lots were not uſed but in doubtful and difficult Caſes. Therefore they by joint conſent, put it upon this iſſue, that he whom the Lot fell upon, was the Perſon.

5. It is further obſervable, They were all willing to find out the guilty Perſon; And every one ſaid to his fellows, Come, let us caſt Lots. This ſeems to argue their innocency, all this while; they were ſo willing, to come to tryal. Guilty Perſons uſe to fear the ſentence of the Judg. Their willingneſs to caſt Lots was, to come und…r the judgment, and ſentence of the Lord. Though they might not think abſolutely of the ſentence of God in the Lots, but, it may be, uſed them ſuperſtitiouſly, and unwarrantably.

Before we come to the Reaſons of it, let us a little enquire into this ſtorm, What kind of ſtorm it was, that they thought there muſt be ſome eſpecial Cauſe or Provocation to procure it.

1. It is ſaid to be ſent out, It is a Meſſenger or Purſevant, after a Mallefactor. The Ver. 4.Lord ſent out a great Wind into the Sea. p. 114Winds are the Servants of God: He ſayes, Go, and they go; blow and they blow. 2. It was a wind of The Lords ſending out. [The Lord ſent out a great Wind.] They blow as God gives them a Commiſſion. God's Soveraignty over the Winds is an uſeful doctrine to Sea-men to take notice of. It is ſaid, God Pſal. 78. 26.Ps 78:26cauſed an Eaſt-wind to blow in the Heaven, and by his Power he brought in the South wind: He is ſaid to bring them out of his Pſ. 135. 7.Ps 135:7Treaſuries. They are ſhut up, and let out, at his command. The way of the Lord was in this Tempeſt. 3. It ſeems to be a ſudden ſtorm, The Lord ſent out a Wind into the Sea. [Caſt out a wind upon the Sea, ſome read it] noting the ſuddeneſs of it. And this made the Mariners conclude, there was ſomething extraordinary in it, beyond the courſe of Nature. 4. It was ſu… a ſtorm as threatned the breaking of the Veſſel. 5. It was ſuch a ſtorm as was not calmed, though the Malefactor was diſcoverd, until he was executed, They rowed hard to ſave his life, but the Sea wrought and was Tempeſtuous againſt them, …er 15.juſtice muſt be done upon the Offender, and then it calmed: [So they took up Jonah, and caſt him into the Sea, and it ceaſed from Raging.]

1. God doth not ſend ſuch ſtorms without a cauſe, becauſe he is righteous in all his proceedings, judicial proceedings. Though p. 115ſomtimes he be ſevere, yet he is alwayes righteous. The righteous Judg doth not paſs ſentence without notorious evidence of the fact. This was the Caſe of Jonah: he had fled from the preſence of the Lord, his flight evidences his guilt. And ſo God ſends this Terrible Hue and Cry after him. The ſtorm Pſa. 148. 8.Ps 148:8and hail, fire and vapour, and ſnow, are all ſaid to fulfil his word viz, his word of Command, and his word of Threatning, which is a righteous Sentence upon guilty Sinners! Here conſider poor Sea-men, Is it not a righteous thing with God, that you who have ſinned in many ſtorms, by raging impatience of your Spirits, by being in as great a ſtorm of diſcontent, and murmuring, as the Sea it ſelf; You that have been delivered ſo many a time in ſtorms, and ſinned after ſuch deliverances; you that have made ſo many vows to God in your ſtorms, and diſtreſſes at Sea, and have broken and forgotten them all at Land, (is it not, I ſay, a righteous thing with God, that you ſhould at one time or other periſh by ſuch ſtorms)? Is it not a righteous thing, that when the guilty Malefactor hath fled, and the Hue and Cry ſent out after him, takes him; that he ſhould be tryed, condemned, and executed? Alas, poor Sea-men, you are the Malefactors, God is the Judg, and your extraordinary Storms, are the Hue and Cry ſent out to Sea after you. May not you p. 116ſay in this caſe, as David in that? Whither ſhall I go from thy preſence? If I take the Pſal. 139. 8. 10.Ps 139:8Ps 139:10wings of the morning, and dwell in the utmoſt parts of the Sea, even there ſhall thy hand lead me, thy right hand ſhall hold me (viz.) lay hold on me, apprehend me; as a Malefactor is apprehended by Hue and Cry? Have not you given God cauſe thus to ſend after you, when you carry guilt to Sea with you, every Voyage? old guilt, new guilt; old Vows undiſcharged, new debts unpaid: You have cauſe to ſay, and your Relations have cauſe to ſay, God is Righteous in all that is come upon you. He is the Judge of all the earth, and he will do right; he is Judg at Land, and he will do right there; and he is Judg of the Court of Admiralty, and he will do right there.

2 Extraordinary ſtorms are not ſent out, without Cauſe. Becauſe God will ſtop the mouth of every poor guilty ſinner, in the day that he deals with them. Jonah here pleads guilty; for I know, that for my ſake is this v…. 12.great Tempeſt upon you. Now he Confeſſes all. The Law of God is ſo Righteous, that it ſtops every mouth. Now, we know, Rom. 3. … 19.Rom 3:19what things ſoever the Law ſaith, it ſaith to them who are under the Law, that every mouth may be ſtopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. As when guilty perſons have the fact proved plainly before them, p. 117that they have nothing to ſay for themſelves, as the Judg ſaies when he paſſes Judgment, What haſt thou to ſay for thy ſelf, that the Sentence ſhould not now be pronounced upon thee? The poor wretch hath now nothing to ſay for himſelf, ſtands as the man that had not on the Wedding Garment, Speechleſs! Now in theſe extraordinary ſtorms (poor Sea-men) God is dealing with you. It may be, at home Miniſters were dealing with you, and God's Ordinances dealing with you, and Relations dealing with you, that you would look about you, for your immortal Souls. But all was rejected; But now God is dealing with you, and Conſcience is dealing with you, and now your mouths will be ſtopt. All your objections then will be ſilent. If you ſay any thing in this day; It will be, Lord thou art Righteous! If thou paſs Sentence upon me now, if thou ſink me, if thou damn me, if I never ſee Relations more, Wife and Children more; O, poor Seamen, how will you be then condemned in your own Conſciences, when God is paſſing Sentence upon you, then Iniquity will ſtop its mouth.

Third Reaſon: Extraordinary ſtorms, are not ſent out, without a Cauſe: Becauſe they bring Souls into great diſtreſſes. Now, God doth not Afflict or diſtreſs the Children of men, willingly. Alas, it is with great regret he doth it. As a Father Corrects his Child. p. 118He fears he will be ſpoyled elſe, not that he hath any delight in whipping-work. It is ſaid of poor Sea-men in their ſtorms, Their Pſal. 107. 25 26, 27 28.Ps 107:25Souls are melted becauſe of Trouble, they are at their wits end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their diſtreſſes: Their Soul is melted: their courage faileth becauſe of Anxiety (ſo ſome read it). Now God doth not without a cauſe bring poor creatures into diſtreſſes. 1. Now poor Sea-men in their ſtorms, are diſtreſſed with their ſins, compaſſing them about. Now Pſal. 40. 12.Ps 40:12their iniquities takes hold upon them, that they cannot look up, therefore their Heart faileth them: (as David ſaies), Take hold upon them, as the Hue and Cry takes hold on the guilty Malefactor, as hath been hinted already. O, is not this a great diſtreſs, when death and unpardoned guilt looks a poor Sinner in the face, at the ſame time? To have all your ſins before you, now when Death, that King of Terrors comes forth againſt you; this is to be in great diſtreſs. 2. In ſtorms, fears make diſtreſs. And God would not bring Sinners into fears without Cauſe. The Mariners now were affraid, as hath been noted before. Fear is ſuch a diſtreſs, that we read a promiſe to be delivered from the fear of Evil; not only from the Evil, but the Fear of it. Fears of death, are as terrible to ſome, as Death it ſelf. 3. In ſtorms, p. 119Job. 9. 13.Job 9:13they are diſtreſſed under the ſenſe of Gods diſpleaſure. O, this is a ſtorm in his Anger! and, if God withdraw not his Anger, all the proud helpers ſtoop under him; all the helpers of pride (as the Dutch Annotators obſerve), They that arrogantly preſume, they can help themſelves out of the diſtreſs. Alas, the Stout-hearted Mariners, the moſt couragious Sea-men in the world will ſtoop under Him. God is not Angry without a Cauſe. Is not this diſtreſs, To be under the ſenſe of divine diſpleaſure? Ask David, and he will tell you; he had no reſt in his bones becauſe of Gods Anger.

4. In ſtorms, they are diſtreſſed under Terrors of Spirit about their Eternal Conditions. No ſuch diſtreſſes, as Soul-diſtreſſes. If it come to this once, O what will become of my immortal Soul? If I die and ſink in this ſtorm, do not I go to Hell? now, I think, the Soul is in diſtreſs enough! It is no wonder, if the Soul be in diſtreſs, when it is to die, and knows not whither it ſhall go, but beſpeaks it ſelf, as he did, O poor wandring Soul, whither art thou going? thou muſt never ſport it more. 5. In ſtorms they are diſtreſſed with thoughts of their dear Relations, and one-while they think of their precious Souls, and thoſe thoughts cut them to the Heart? Another-while, they think of their dear pieces of themſelves, their Wives and p. 120Children, and theſe thoughts, as daggers, go to their Souls▪ And thus are they hurried and diſtreſſed in their Spirits. Now God would not bring ſuch diſtreſſes upon Sinners without a Cauſe.

4. Becauſe extraordinary ſtorms are the ſad effects of Gods diſpleaſure againſt poor Sinners. Was the Lord diſpleaſed againſt the Rivers? Was thine Anger againſt the Hab. 3. 8.Hab 3:8Rivers? Was thy wrath againſt the Sea? So, may not we ſay of this like terrible Tempeſt, Was not the Lords Anger againſt the Sea-men, againſt their Relations, againſt the whole Land? God was Angry with Jonah, when he ſent this ſtorm after him. And had he not good cauſe? 1. Did not he contradict his Commiſſion? and, will a King bear it, To have his Royal Commands contradicted by his Subjects? nay, eſpecially Can he bear it by thoſe that he had preferr'd to places of Eminency? Jonah was a Prophet; a perſon, God had honoured to be ſent out; a Prophet in Iſrael. It is no wonder, if God was Angry. As God is moſt angry when his own people ſin againſt him; ſo he is moſt angry when his Prophets do ſin againſt him, which made God complain of old, He had ſeen folly in the Prophets of Samaria, Ver. …. 13, 14.and I have ſeen in the Prophets of Jeruſalem, an horrible thing. They commit Adul…ery and walk in Li…s; &c. O, this raiſed p. 121Gods anger againſt them. Now, for a Prophet to walk thus contradictory to God, This muſt needs cauſe God to be angry. 2. God had good cauſe to be angry with Jonah? he is ſecure under his guilt; and this is a great Provocation unto the Lord. If a poor Soul fall into ſin, and quickly be ſenſible of it; O then, God is ready to forgive. But, when a poor Soul ſleeps on, and ſins on, (which was Jonah's caſe,) this is a great Provocation unto the Lord. He was aſleep. 3. God had good cauſe to be angry, in continuing as well as ſending the ſtorm, for Jonah is exceeding diſingenuous with God and his Conſcience. What Calls had he, to awake? The Maſter Reproves him; one would have thought that might have ſet his Conſcience on work. The poor Heathen Mariner's cry, Every one calling upon his God (one would have thought) might have brought him to conſider, how he had offended his God. The very caſting out their wares, might have occaſioned him to think what guilt he was under to endanger all the poor innocent mens lives. But (you ſee) he puts all off to the laſt. Until he is diſcovered by Lot; nay when he is diſcovered, he is not yet ingenuous; but ſtands their Examination before he confeſs that it was for his ſake, that this ſtorm came upon them; Muſt not this needs be a g…eat Provocation to the p. 122Lord? 4. For Jonah, God had good cauſe to be angry with him, that he being ſent upon an Embaſſy for Souls, ſhould refuſe it. This was Jonah's Calling: O, how forward ſhould he have been, to prove an inſtrument of bringing ſo many thouſands of Souls to Repentance, that lived in ſuch a City! O, how he ſhould have rejoyced in ſuch an employment! to have ſaved Souls from death! What an occaſion was this for God, to be angry? to be a Preacher to Souls, and not a lover of Souls? 5. God had good Cauſe to be angry with Jonah, becauſe he mattered his own name more than God's. This was his Temptation as hath been hinted before. What? for an Ambaſſador to a King, to ſtand more upon his own name than his Maſter's, that gave him his Commiſſion? What a Provocation is this! What, a Preacher? and have ſo little Regard to the Glory of God, and the good of Souls? To regard our Reputation more, than the honour of him that ſent us, and the Salvation of precious Souls, muſt not this cauſe God to be angry? This is the caſe, poor Sea-men, in extraordinary ſtormes; You ſhould ſay, Now the Lord is Angry, and God is diſpleaſed with us, and is he ever angry without a cauſe? now in ſuch ſtorms, he is ſaying to you as the Lord to them, Thy way, and thy doings have procured theſe things unto thee, This is p. 123Jer. 4. 18Jer 4:18thy wickedneſs; becauſe it is bitter, it reaches to the He art. O, that you would look into your Hearts, and into your Lives, and into your Houſes, and into your Shops, and into the Trades you drive! and tell then your own Conſciences, whether God hath not good cauſe to be angry? Take a view of your Land-ſins at home, of your beyond-Seaſins abroad, of your Sea-ſins; and then ask your hearts the Queſtion, Hath not God cauſe to be Angry?

APPLICATION.

Is it ſo, that extraordinary Storms, are not ſent out without Cauſe? Then it informs us, that Puniſhments, follow Provocations, ſooner, or later. Though Sentence be not ſpeedily Executed, why ſhould the Hearts of Sinners and Sea-men be hardned, to conclude that it will never be Executed? No, Sinners? Long forbearance is no forgiveneſs. There will come a ſtorm, a ſtroak that will pay for all. God will not let ſin go unpuniſhed. If puniſhments eſcape you at Land, they ſhall meet you at Sea; and, if they eſcape you at Sea, they ſhall meet you at Land. Theſe poor Heathens had this Notion: Some notorious guilt was among them, that this ſtorm came to puniſh. And they had this Notion, When the Viper came p. 124upon Pauls hand, They ſaid Vengeance followed him and would not ſuffer him to live. Acts 28. 4.Acts 28:4The Avengers of blood follow perſons to Sea. If Jonah be there, the ſtorm will follow him. It was ſaid to thoſe that took up their Habitation beyond Jordan, that, if they worſhipped not the God of their Fathers, their Sins would find them out; An Alluſion to Blood-hounds, that find out the Thief, and faſten upon him.

2. It informs us, that the Lord is Soveraign at Sea. He it is, that commands the winds, that ſends them forth of his Treaſury. He it is, can ſay to the ſtorm, Be calm; that can ſay to the Raging Sea, Peace, and be Pſal. 147. 18.Ps 147:18ſtill; That ſets a bound to the proud waves, and ſaies, So far, and no farther. He it is that ſaies to his Servants, the Winds, Go, and they go. He cauſeth His Winds to blow, and the Waters to flow. When waters drown Countries, & Inundations break in upon us, theſe are ordered by God: When poor Seamen lie wind-bound, it may be months together, how ſhould they conſider, they are God's Priſoners, and God only can ſet them at liberty; and, inſtead of murmuring againſt God, How ſhould they look up to God for a wind?

3. It informs us that God is Righteous in his Terrible diſpenſations at Sea. O, how Righteous was God in this grievous Tempeſt! p. 125O, may not Sea-men, and Land-men, and all ſorts ſay, as the poor Church did? Thou haſt Pſ. 65. 5:Ps 65:5puniſhed us leſs than our Iniquities deſerved. How righteous is God; and doth anſwer us with Terrible things in Rightcouſneſs? And obſerve what follows? O God of our Salvation, who art the confidence of all the ends of At old Lynn the 11 & 12 of September, 16…1.the Earth, and of them that are far off upon the Sea. When God ariſeth terribly to ſhake the Earth, or terribly to ſhake the Sea, it is always in Righteouſneſs. Was not the late great Tempeſt a ſhaking of both? when the Sea overflowed its banks, broke all before it. Alas ſin hath broke all bounds and banks, and it is a Righteous thing that the Sea ſhould do ſo. Great floods of ſin, righteouſly bring great Floods of wrath.

4. It informs us, That the Cauſe of Gods Judgments may be hid from us. Theſe poor Sea-men underſtood not the Cauſe; therefore they take this extraordinary courſe to find it out, They caſt Lots to this end, that they may know it. There was a guilty Malefactor gotten aboard, and they knew it not. There was an Achan in the Camp, and Joſhua knew it not, Who had gotten the accurſed thing, and hid it among the ſtuff, and upon this account, God refuſes to go up with Iſrael. O, it is good for us all to ſay in our diſtreſſes both at Sea, and at Land, Wherefore doſt thou contend with me? Lord, for whoſe p. 126ſakes are theſe terrible Diſpenſations come upon us?

5ly. It informs us, what a great evil Sin and Guilt is. Guilt is that which cauſeth the ſtorm. This, this is that which, will find you out whereſoever you go: This Num. 32. 23.Num 32:23will be the Avenger of blood, if at land, if at Sea, this will cauſe ſtorms againſt you. If you think to flee from the preſence of God, it will follow you: this is that will make you meditate Terror, whereever you are. O poor Sea-men, what a terrible thing is it to have ſtorms threaten you with Shipwrack every moment, and at that time all your unpardoned Guilt looking you in the face! The iniquities of your heels compaſſing you about, the ſorrows of Hell and Death to take hold of you, at the ſame time.

2. Uſe. If extraordinary ſtorms, be not ſent forth without cauſe, it is then a word of Counſel and Exhortation to Sea-men, in a more ſpecial manner. O then, give not the Lord cauſe, to enter into a controverſie with you! You, your Wives, and Relations! give not the Lord cauſe to bring forth his extraordinary ſtorms upon you, and then do not provoke him, do not ſtir up his wrath: If his wrath be kindled but a little, happy are they that put their truſt in him. You cannot ſay, when he brings Tempeſts upon you, that he p. 127breaketh you with tempeſt, and multiplieth Job. 9. 17. Ezek. 14. ult.Job 9:17Ezek 14your wounds, either in your Relations or Eſtates, without a cauſe: it was ſaid of Jeruſalem, They ſhould know what God had done, he had not done it without a cauſe.

1. O give God no cauſe to take up a controverſie with you! if he once come forth againſt you, there is no ſtanding before him. It is ſaid of God, He caſteth forth his Ice like Pſ. 147▪ 17.Ps 147:17morſels, and who can ſtand before his cold? But it may be ſaid in this caſe, Who can ſtand before his ſtorm? his Tempeſts of Fury, and Diſpleaſure? Who will provoke one that is his Superiour: that can cruſh him? Did ever any contend with the Lord, and proſper? Is not this, to kick againſt the Pricks? Can your hearts endure, or your hands be made ſtrong in that day, that God ſhall deal with you? O then, why ſhould you be ſo foolhardy, to put the Lord to it! Are not you, while ſinning againſt him, ſetting only Bryars and Thorns before him in Battel?

2. O, give not God cauſe to take up a controverſie againſt you, poor Sea-men, and your Relations! While you are under Gods controverſie, your own Conſciences will condemn you, and O how ſad will this be! God againſt you, and Conſcience againſt you! Jonah's own Conſcience at this time (you ſee) did fly in his face, for my ſake is this ſtorm come upon you. We ſay, Conſcience is a thouſand p. 128witneſſes. Now it will be a ſtorm within; and this is ſad, while a ſtrom is within, to have another without.

3. O, give not God cauſe, to take up a controverſie againſt you! No means will prove ſignificant or available to the end they are uſed, if a ſtorm upon you, in God's controverſie be againſt you. You ſee, it was here ſo, they uſed all means, they lighten'd the Ship, as Pauls Veſſel was. For, ſaith the Text, they caſt the Tackling over-board, and the Acts 17. 19. 38.Acts 17:19Acts 17:38Wheat. All the means were uſed that could be here, with theſe poor Mariners in Jonah's Veſſel, [and they cry to their Gods] but all will not calm the ſtorm, becauſe it came for a controverſie againſt Jonah: nay when the guilty Perſon was diſcovered, they were ſo ingenuous to ſeek by all means to ſave his life, who had brought this ſtorm upon them, but all was to no purpoſe. For the Sea wrought ſtill, and was tempeſtuous: O it is no ver. 15.wonder now, if, in ſuch caſes, Sea-men be at their wits end, when they ſee all means they can uſe, inſignificant to their intended purpoſe! O, now their hearts fail them: O now, they begin to think, This is the Lords controverſie againſt us, and our families, and therefore no means uſed are bleſt. As it is with ſick Perſons, when no means, no Phyſick is bleſt to them; they are given over for dead: So, it is in this caſe.

p. 1294. O give God no cauſe to take up a controverſie againſt you! for if he have a controverſie with you, you cannot any where be ſafe from his preſence. Jonah here would flee to Tarſhiſh, but God (you ſee) ſends after him with a Witneſs. God hath his bloud-hounds to find out where-ever you go. This was that, Moſes told them that took up their Inheritance on the other ſide Jordan, that, Num. 32. 23.Num 32:23Surely their Sin ſhould find them out: Surely, the puniſhment of your ſins ſhall hitt you (ſo ſome read it) as Jonah was hitt by lot, being an expreſſion taken from finding out by lots, and as Achan was hitt by lot: whereever you go God will ſend after you. Some ſay, it is an alluſion to blood-hounds, that by Scent find out the Thief. David ſayes, Where ſhall I fly from thy preſence? &c. Pſal. 39. 7, 8.Ps 39:7Ps 39:8God hath Purſevants at command, to ſend after guilty Sinners where ever they are. That very Voyage, that you think, poor Seamen, ſhall be the ſafeſt; that very Voyage ſhall be the moſt dangerous, if God have a controverſy with you: Nay, when you come home in your own Channel, which is a great aggravation of your Affliction, there you ſhall miſcarry. Nay, Here in the River, as ſome have done of late, if God have a controverſy with you.

5ly. O, give not God cauſe to take up a Controverſy againſt you for then you will p. 130have nothing to plead for your ſelves, when God in his Providences is pleading againſt you. O then, poor Sea-men, you will be Speechleſs, you will have nothing to ſay for your ſelves. Thus it was with Jonah, He juſtifies God in his righteous Judgment, and condemns himſelf: For my ſake is this ſtorm come upon you. Then you will, in your Souls conclude; the Lord is righteous, but you are wicked, and this ſtorm is now the fruit of your wickedneſs. Haſt thou a word to ſay poor drunken Seaman, poor profane Seaman, why thou ſhouldſt not periſh this ſtorm, why thou ſhouldſt not ſink to the bottom, this ſtorm?

6ly. O, give not God cauſe to take up a Controverſy againſt you! The Controverſy will be againſt your Souls, if you do. Now, this is the ſadeſt Controverſy in the world, a Controverſy againſt a Ship is not ſo ſad; a Controverſy againſt Eſtates, nay, Lives, is not ſo ſad: But for a Controverſy to lie againſt precious Souls, this is ſadeſt of all. This night thy Soul ſhall be taken away. The Controverſy lay againſt his Soul. O, for God to ſay to a poor Sea-man in a ſtormy night, Thou fool, this night will thy Soul be taken away; this is a ſad ſtory, thy ſoul is now to be caſt away. Few pity caſt-away Souls.

Alas, the body is but the Cabbinet, the Soul is the Jewel. And though the p. 131Cabbinet ſhould be caſt away, if thou knew that thy Soul were ſafe, the breaking or drowning of the Cabbinet, would not be ſo Terrible to thee.

Second word of Counſel. If extraordinary ſtorms be not ſent from God without a cauſe, then be counſelled, poor Sea-men, and your Relations, to make your peace with God. O, venture not to Sea, untill this work be done. Doſt thou know what a venture thou runneſt every voyage that thou makeſt, and thy Soul unreconciled to God? O then, you of the Tribe of Zebulun, might Rejoyce in going out! then you might leave your dear Relations with comfort, if not to ſee them again in this world, yet to ſee them in a better, where you ſhall be ever with the Lord. O, the Advantages of Sea-men and their Relations, being at peace with God, if they were ſeriouſly conſidered, would ſtir you all up with might and main to this work.

1. If you were at peace with God, then you might lift up your face with confidence to God in all your dangers and diſtreſſes. What is it that daunts and ſtrikes Terror to the hearts of Seamen in their diſtreſſes, but this, They have not made their peace with God, when Conſcience asks the Queſtion, Is all Peace! do not P…a… 40. 12.they anſwer, as he did, What peace? ſeeing p. 132the Witchcrafts and Whoredoms of Jezabel are ſo many? now, your iniquities take hold upon you that you cannot look up, and what then? O then Davids heart fail'd him! But now, poor Souls that are reconciled to God, they know all things ſhall go well with the Righteous, and this makes them look comfortably up to God in their diſtreſſes.

2ly. If you were at peace with God, then you might expect all your diſappointments and loſſes, would be ſanctified to you. Many of you go to Sea, and meet with Shipwracks (though it is a great mercy to have your lives ſpared) yet many of you, have breaches made upon you, as the Breaches of the Sea, breaches upon your Eſtates; it may be, God gives an eſtate for one 7 years, and takes it away the next; and after that he hath lifted you up, he caſts you down: Now, O what a mercy would this be, if your Souls and your Relations might prove gainers by theſe loſſes! and peace made with God would bring on this mercy, All things ſhall work together for the good of ſuch, all his diſpenſations are meaſured out in love to ſuch. No ſtorm is in wrath to ſuch; O, ſayes God to ſuch, Fury is not in me.

3ly. If you were at peace with God; then you might expect to carry the eſpecial bleſſing of Gods protection out with you. This p. 133was the bleſſing that Moſes bleſſed the Tribe of Zebulun with, Rejoyce, O Zebulun, in they going out: whether it was to war, or to trade, (as Interpreters hold, it may be both); it was a great bleſſing to go cut Rejoycing, under their hopes of the protection of God. O then his Banner over you would be love, every Voyage; and this the beſt Ancient or Enſigne that your Ship can carry forth with you. This is your beſt colours, to put forth in caſe you meet with an Enemy. This Banner can cover your heads in the day of Battel. This eſpecial Protection of God, is the Beſt Pilot to ſteer you. You may talk of a Protection from Man, but this is the only Protection, that will do you good.

4. If you were at peace with God, you might then expect his comfortable Soul-reviving preſence, in all your ſtorms and dangers: And, Is not his preſence brave Company in diſtreſs? O, what a cordial was that word to their fainting Spirits? when the Diſciples were in that terrible ſtorm at Sea! Be of Mark 6. 50.Mark 6:50good cheer, It is I, be not afraid; they cry, Lord ſave us, and then Chriſt appears to them and calls to them. O, what a comfortable night had Paul, though in that ſtorm, when the Angel ſtood by him and ſaid, Paul, be of good cheer; all that ſayl with thee are given to thee. For God to give you the comfort of that promiſe, When thou goeſt through the water, p. 134I will be with thee. This raiſes wonderfully the heart of a poor Believer.

If you were at Peace with God, then you would in ſome comfortable meaſure be lifted up above fears: and can there be fear, but there is torment in it? O what a mercy would it be, when in the Valley of the ſhaddow of Death, then, to fear no evil, but to have your heart fixed, truſting in the Lord. But this hath been hinted before.

6. If you were at Peace with God; then Death would not have that dread in it. This would unſting Death; Then your hearts would not ſo ſadly meditate Terror, when Death the King of Terrors ſhall look you in the Face. Might not you then ſay, O death where is thy ſting! O Grave or Sea, where is thy Victory? while others tremble at the thoughts of it, you might tryumph in your comfortable expectations of it, holding out your Hands, and Arms, ſaying, Now Lord let thy Servant depart in Peace; Then you may make ready to ſwim to the boſome of the Lord Jeſus; it is but thy Body, thy Cabinet that is loſt, that is caſt away. The Jewel and Treaſure is taken up by Chriſt; that comes ſafe to ſhoar, through all the ſtorms and tempeſts that can blow.

7. If you were at peace with God, then you are ready for whatſoever diſpenſations of God ſhall come upon you, you go out p. 135poor Sea-men, and you cannot tell what attends you: a thouſand dangers wait upon you: and O, how ſad is it to be ſurprized by any affliction at Sea! If a Ship be not loſt by water and wind, it may be by fire: or, thou mayeſt ſpring a leak in a calme, if not miſcarry in a ſtorm; or, thou mayeſt be taken by Pyrats; or, thou mayeſt dye of the Country Diſeaſes whither thou goeſt, &c. And, O now, what a mercy would it be, to be ready for any danger that may befall thee? O, what care is taken in getting all things ready, when you are to go to Sea; but what little care is taken to be thus ready, not knowing what you may meet with? It is a ſad thing to be ſurprized. Fearfulneſs ſhall ſurprize the Hypocrite.

Second Word of Comfort to Sea-men: Let them juſtify God, in extraordinary ſtorms. How impatient many times are your Spirits? are you not, as the Prophet ſaid of them, Full of the fury of the Lord? like a wild Bull in a Net. Are not you in a greater ſtorm, then the Sea, are not your Spirits like the troubled Sea, that caſts forth nothing but myre and dirt? ſhould not you ſay rather, Lord, thou art righteous, and we are wicked? ſhould not you accept the puniſhment of your Iniquity? as Jonah did, Caſt me into the Sea, and it will be calme unto you. For I know that for my ſake this great Evil is come upon you.

p. 136Third Word of Counſel, to Sea-men O then learn to fear God! when he ſends forth extraordinary ſtorms; then learn to fear God. He doth it not without a cauſe: You ſee, it is ſaid of theſe poor Heathens; Then they feared the Lord exceedingly, and ſacrificed and made Vowes. The terrible diſpenſation of God, either at Land or Sea, ſhould be improved to the begetting the fear of God in us. So it was, when the Lord ſent Thunder and Rain, in Samuels time, in Harveſt, and, ſayes the Text, The People feared the Lord: yea, 1 Sam. 1…. 18.1 Sam 1:18greatly feared the Lord, and Samuel. What not fear him who made both Sea, and Land, and can ſhake both with a word of his mouth, and vex them in his ſere displeaſure? 1. Of all men you ſhould fear the Lord, that ſee the wonders of the Lord. Should not the ſight of his wondrous works ſtrike you with the fear of God? as the Old Man that was asked by the Philoſopher, how he came to know ſo much of God, and could not read: ſaith he, I have only one book, and this book hath three leaves, and I get my Learning here. This book is the Creation, (ſayes the Old Man) the three leaves are the Earth, the Heavens, and the Sea; and all Creatures in theſe are as ſo many words, out of which I learn that of God I know. And are not you turning over two of theſe leaves conſtantly? The Heavens in your Obſervations, and the Sea in p. 137your Navigation, and can your Art of Navigation be learned without looking up to the Heavens? O then why do not you of all men, learn to fear the Lord? 2. Of all men, you ſhould learn to fear the Lord, becauſe you ſee ſo much of the wickedneſs and ignorance and darkneſs of the world in other places: the ſight of other men's wickedneſs, ſhould make you more holy. You go to the dark places of the Earth (as the Pſalmiſt ſays) where their habitations are full of Cruelty; where Turkes and Moors do exerciſe their Cruelty over poor Chriſtians, that are their ſlaves. Where Parents will ſell their own Children to be ſlaves, where Satan hath his ſeat, where he hath to this day, in ſome places of India, his ſacrifices. O, how ſhould theſe things promote the fear of the Lord in you; That God hath been ſo good to you, that you ſhould have your Birth in a Goſhen, while others had theirs under Egyptian darkneſs, look upon it as a mercy, to draw you on to fear the Lord: That you were born ENGLISH-MEN. 3. Of all men, you ſhould fear the Lord, becauſe you go through more viſible dangers then others. It is true, we are all at Land expoſed to dangers, but not ſo viſibly as you at Sea; ſo we are the leſs ſenſible of them. What? live amongſt and converſe with dangers daily, and not learn to fear God. You give Bills, and your p. 138Relations give up Bills for you, ſuch an one going a dangerous Voyage; and indeed, it is true. But, do you by theſe dangers learn to fear the Lord?

4. Of all men you ſhould fear the Lord: you ſee ſo many periſh by the Judgments of the Lord, and ſhould not you be affraid of his righteous Judgments? (as David ſaies:) how many ſhips do you ſee Caſt away? how many lives do you ſee loſt? and all theſe ſhould be Sermons, to teach you the fear of the Lord. O, How many wracks did Since the great Storm, 11, 12, of Sep 1671.you ſee lately at Sea, to preach the fear of the Lord to you? when you ſee ſo many guilty Jonahs miſcarry, how ſhould you fear, leſt the Lord deal ſo with you? God's Judgment upon Tyre, which was a City of a vaſt Sea-Trade; it is ſaid, God ſmote her power in the Sea. [He will ſmite her Power in the Sea, and devour her with Fire.] Here is Judgment by Land and Sea: and what then? Aſhkelon ſhall ſee it, and fear. Some Interpreters Zach 9. 5.Zech 9:5underſtands by their Forts and ſtrong holds, their Navies; but God's Judgments As Hiſtorians telis us. Ca… …ius, and others.came upon their Navies abroad, and Fire conſumed them at home. For, Alexander burnt their Citties, and accompliſhed this threatning of God upon them. O now, ſuch as ſee God's Judgments ſo often before them ſhould fear the Lord. They ſhould fear, and do no more preſumptiouſly. 5. Of p. 139all men, Sea-men ſhould fear the Lord, and their Relations; Becauſe they are perſons of ſo many temptations. Need I tell you the Temptations you lie open to abroad? your Temptations, they are expoſed to, that ſtay at home? hath not every Country its Temptations? have not hot Countries their temptations to one ſin, and cold Countrys their temptations to another? may not you ſoon fall into uncleanneſs in the one? and into Drunkenneſs in the other? Hath not long abſence from Relations its temptation in it? have not the ſight of ſo much ſin, as you ſee committed Aboard, and abroad, a temptation in it? Hath not your Trading and Commerce with men of ſecret ſorts and ranks, Heathens, Papiſts? and others, Turks, Jews? are there no temptations here I ſay? your Relations and Wives are exerciſed with great temptations by their fears, by your long ſtays, by ſomtimes Reports. And they had need be armed with the fear of God againſt theſe things at home, as well as you abroad. 6. Of all men, and women, Seamen, and their Relations, ſhould fear the Lord, for you know not how ſhort your time may be together. A poor Sea-man knows not, but the next Voyage he may be cut off; and his Wife knows not, but ſhe may the next Voyage be a Widdow. How many are ſo? O then, what cauſe have you p. 140to fear the Lord? when you part, no body can tell you of a certainty, whether you will ever meet again, or no. Nay ſure, the Lord would have Sea-men think, Their time is ſhort. Therefore the word, the Spirit of 1 Cor 7. 29. foreign †1 Cor 7:29God uſes, is in the Sea-mens dialect, that it may be, he might take the more notice of it. † The time is ſhort; A Metaphor taken from Ship-Sayles, that when they are furl'd-up, lie in a little room. 7. Of all men, Sea-men, and their Relations had need fear the Lord: They have ſo many mercies, and deliverances, and all theſe (poor Sea-men) will be put upon account. What? ſo many Salvations from ſtorms? ſo many preſervations from Rocks and Sands? ſo many deliverances from Pirats? will not this be ſad, when they ſhall come in Witneſs againſt you, and aggravate your Condemnation? What? neither fear God for his greatneſs, nor for his goodneſs; neither for his Judgments, nor mercies; how ſad is this? O, that this Scripture might be fulfilled upon poor Seamen and their Wives, They ſhall fear the H…ſ. 3. laſt.Lord and his goodneſs in the latter days; O what abundance of the goodneſs of God do you ſee at Sea, to raiſe your Hearts to fear him? doth not his goodneſs paſs before you every day, every Voyage? for every Port? You at home, O, how much of Gods goodneſs do you ſee to Relations abroad; to you, p. 141and yours at home? 8. Of all men, Seamen ſhould fear the Lord, becauſe the Lord is at the charge of a Decree, for their ſakes. This is the Prophet's argument. Fear you not me Jer. 5. 22.Jer 5:22(ſaies God); Will you not tremble at my preſence? who have placed the Sands for the Pro. 8. 29.Prov 8:29bound of the Sea, by a perpetual Decree that they cannot paſs it; and though the Waves thereof toſs them over, yet they prevail not; though they roar, yet they cannot paſs over it.

4. If God do not ſend forth extraordinary ſtorms without Cauſe, then let poor Seamen be humbled, for all the cauſes both they and their Relations give the Lord to contend with them. God doth not contend without a cauſe. God contends here with Jonah, but Jonah had given him cauſe. O, what cauſe have you to ſay as he did, Shew me Job 10. 2.Job 10:2wherefore thou contends with me? Be humbled, that you provoke the Lord to ſend ſuch terrible Meſſengers and Purſevants after you. 1. O be humbled; for, you begin the Controverſie! It begins not on God's ſide firſt. You give the Provocation; which ſhould be a great motive to Humiliation. There is ſomthing in the Houſe, or ſomthing in the Ship, or ſomthing in the Heart, or ſomthing in the Life, either of thee, or thine, out of which this Controverſie ariſes: O ſearch for the Accurſed thing! p. 142for the Jonah, for the cauſe of the Controverſie. 2. O be humbled for the cauſe you give God, to come forth againſt you! for He is ſlow to Wrath. Had God been as quick in ſmiting, as you have been in ſinning, what would have been become of your Souls, long ere now? He is not eaſily provoked; eaſie to be entreated, but not eaſie to be provoked. Now, to give a man a cauſe to be angry, that is hardly provoked, will grieve afterwards an ingenious diſpoſition. Alas, poor Sea-men, God is not a word and a blow. Heb 10: 31.Heb 10:31Who have ſuch experience of the Patience of God as you, and your Relations have? And will you give this God cauſe to be angry, and not be humbled for it? 3. O be humbled for the cauſe you give God to come forth againſt you! For, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, (viz.) To take Vengeance on poor Sinners for their guilt: you think it is a fearful thing to fall into hands of Pyrats, into the hands of Turks, (and indeed ſo it is); but, what then is it to fall into the hands of an impartial Sin-Revenging God! O terrible thing, now for God to ſend his Avengers of blood after you at Sea! for God to reckon with guilty Sinners for all their aggravated Provocations againſt him! To have the Lord laugh at your Calamity, and mock when your fear comes; Pro. 1. 27, 28.Prov 1:27Prov 1:28when your fear comes as deſolation, and p. 143your deſtruction cometh as a Whirl-wind, when diſtreſs and anguiſh comes upon you. 4. O be humbled for the cauſe you give God, to come forth againſt you! God is willing the Controverſie ſhould be taken up. O, how willing is the Lord to accept you to terms of grace and mercy upon your ſubmiſſion and humiliation! Doth not he call upon you to lay down your weapons, to this end? doth not he ſend out his Ambaſſadors of Peace, to this end? to entreate, woe, and beſeech you to be Reconciled to him? We are Ambaſſadors in Chriſts ſtead, beſeeching you (as the Apoſtle ſaies) to be reconciled unto God; doth he not complain of your obſtinacy, of your obduracy under all the precious means you have to bring you upon your knees, that you may lie at the mercy of God? doth not he tell you, His arms are open, yea wide open, ready to embrace all poor guilty Souls that flie thither for mercy? 5. O be humbled for the cauſe you and your Relations give unto God, to come forth againſt you. If it be not taken up, when ever you ſhipwrack at Sea, or die at Land, you periſh; yea, you periſh for ever. Alas, what is the periſhing of a ſhip? or the periſhing of a State to the periſhing of a Soul? It may be ſaid in this caſe, as in that, Were they greater ſinners that were caſt away in the late ſtorm, than you? no, but Except you Repent, p. 144you ſhall all likewiſe periſh: O, How had you need to cry, as to your Souls, as they did, as to their bodies, Careſt thou not that we periſh? Is the periſhing of thy mortal Soul become ſo light a matter with thee, that thou art ſo little concerned whether thou ſink or ſwim when thou launches into the vaſt Ocean of Eternity? Hath not the very thoughts of it made many a poor Soul to tremble? and is it ſo ſmall a thing in thy eye, as not worth falling upon thy knees, and with crys and ſtrong tears, beſeeching that there may not be any Controverſie betwixt God and thy poor Soul, either at Sea or Land.

5. If God do not ſend forth extraordinary ſtorms without a cauſe, then O that poor Sea-men might not go on in a courſe of Provoking, and giving God cauſe to come forth againſt them and their Relations? This was Jonah's aggravation, he goes on in a courſe running from God, he doth not come to a ſtand with himſelf, nor conſider the way he was in, until the Lord ſent a Purſevant to Arreſt him, until he is in an extraordinary manner diſcovered. O poor Souls, did you never read that terrible word of the Lord? God will wound the heads of his Enemies, and the hairy ſcalp of ſuch an one as goeth ſtill on Pſal. 68. 21.Ps 68:21in his Treſpaſſes. The word for hairy ſcalp ſignifies an High-way-man, an high-way Robber, and is the ſame with that in Job, and p. 145the Robber ſhall prevail againſt him, As the J…b 18. …Dutch-Ambaſſadors obſerve, Their hair makes them terrible to the Traveller. Well, but God will wound ſuch, if they walk in their guilts, (ſo it is to be read). O, how good is it, poor Sea-men, to ſtop your Courſe? 1. The longer you continue to provoke God to come out againſt you, the harder will it be to take up: The longer that a diſeaſe runs, or hangs upon a man, the harder it is to cure. The longer thou ſleepeſt in thy ſin, and ſecurity, the harder will it be to awaken thee. Thus it was with Jonah. He goes on in his guilt and ſecurity, and then a whole ſtorm at Sea awakens him not, and you ſee he is glad to be called on; Nay, as it were haled out of his hole, and all little enough. Such a ſound ſleep doth guilt caſt the Soul in. The longer, poor ſinners, you wear your Chains, and Fetters, the ſtronger will they be upon you. The nearer you are to the bottom of the hill, the harder you will be to ſtop. O therefore, in time conſider your ways, and turn your feet unto the Lords Teſtimonies, 2. The longer you continue to give God cauſe to come forth againſt you; the greater will the account and reckoning be. And, if you cannot Anſwer for one of a thouſand, how ſhould you Anſwer for ten thouſands? nay, ten thouſand times ten thouſand that is put upon your ſcore… (as that word in Job is.) …f p. 146God will contend with him, he cannot Anſwer him, one of a Thouſand; (ſome read it) he ſhall be found guilty a thouſand times over; and, O what a Terrible Reckoning will this be? here is now double intereſt, nay intereſt upon intereſt! O, it is dangerous running upon the ſcore with God. 3. The longer that you continue in giving God Cauſe, to come forth againſt you; the more dreadful will the blow be, when it comes upon you; O, how heavy will that ſtroak be, that is ſo long a fetching! The longer that any Judgment of God is coming, the more terrible it is when it comes. I have a long time holden Eſa. 42. 14.Isa 42:14my Peace, and lain ſtill, and refrained my ſelf; now, will I cry like a Travelling woman, I will deſtroy and devour at once, or ſwallow up (as the words is) altogether. Long deferr'd Judgments are ſwallowing-up Judgments, when they come. 4. The longer you continue to give God cauſe to come forth againſt you; the dearer it will coſt your Souls, when you come to be made ſenſible of it. O, how will you cry out of your ſelves, that you ſhould ſtand out againſt ſo many Calls! that you ſhould ſtout it out ſo many years againſt that God that exerciſed ſuch infinite Patience and long-ſuffering towards you! that he, that was armed with ſo much Power, ſhould exerciſe ſo much Patience towards ſuch Rebels? Then you will ſay, with cries and p. 147tears to God for mercy, The time paſt of your 1 Pet. 4. 3.1 Pet 4:3lives may ſuffice you, To have wrought the wills of the Gentiles, &c. O how will it grieve your Souls, that you kept up arms againſt that God, who held out his golden Scepter to you, to offer you tearms of Peace, & Reconciliation! 5. The longer you continue to give God cauſe to come forth againſt you, the more danger you run of being hardned in your courſe. O, poor Sea-men, is not that Text a word that looks ſadly upon you? Becauſe Eccleſ. 8. 11.Eccl 8:11Sentence is not ſpeedily Executed, therefore the hearts of Sinners are hardned. The words are very conſiderable, Becauſe Sentence againſt an evil work is not executed ſpeedily, (viz.) The righteous Judgment of God upon ſin is delayed for the preſent, therefore the hearts of the Sons of men, is fully ſet in them to do evil: O what an abuſe is here of Gods Patience! Their heart is full to do evil, ſo the Hebrew reads it). What if God, (poor Souls) ſhould let you alone? ſtrive no more with you; but give you up to the hardneſs of your hearts? and ſay, ſleep on, and ſin on, until my Judgments meet you, and my wrath arreſt you, and you reap of the fruit of your own evil ways. Would not this be ſad? O therefore, poor Sea-men, no longer ſtand out againſt God, but upon your knees, and beg for mercy, that the Controverſie may no longer continue betwixt p. 148God & your poor Souls. Thus, we have done with this firſt Obſervation, That God doth not ſend forth extraordinary ſtorms without a Cauſe.