A Plat for Mariners, Sermon 5

A Plat for Mariners · Sermon 5

p. 148Jonah 1. 7.

And every one ſaid to his fellow; Come, let us caſt Lots, That we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us, &c.

WE are now to diſcourſe the end, and aime, that theſe poor Marriners had, in caſting Lots in this diſtreſs and danger which is here expreſt, That we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us. This evill of Puniſhment; ſome cauſe there was; that they concluded: and that the guilty perſon would be diſcovered by caſting Lots; that they alſo concluded. And you ſee, they were unanimous, and earneſt in finding out the cauſe.

The Obſervation is, In all diſtreſſes and afflictions, it is our duty to be inquiring into the cauſe. [That we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us.]

There is a two-fold inquiry into the cau…e of diſtreſſes and afflictions. 1. There is an p. 149Inquiry of diſcontented expoſtulation, and reaſoning the caſe with God, in a way of un belief: Thus Gideon, when the Lord had told him, that he was with him: If the Lord be with us, O my Lord, why then is all this befallen Judg. 6, 13.Judg 6:13us: and where be all his miracles which our Fathers told us of, ſaying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now, the Lord hath forſaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites: Here is an inquiry, but it was with an unbelieving Reaſoning againſt God: And we read of eminent Saints, falling into this Temptation; why doth the way of the wicked proſper? wherefore Jer 12. 1.Jer 12:1are they happy that deal treacherouſly? (ſaies Jeremy).

2. There is an inquiry of ſubmiſſion and humiliation; when poor Souls would know wherefore the Lord doth contend with them. …b 10 ….that they may be humbled for giving God cauſe to come forth againſt them. And this is the Inquiry ye are diſcourſing about. That God doth not contend without a cauſe, that we have heard already: And, That we are to inquire into the cauſe, now we are to prove.

When Iſrael was ſmitten at At, the Lord refuſed to go with the Camp, What was the matter; There was a ſecret cauſe, an hidden cauſe, Joſhua he complains to God, and ſadly bewails the want of Gods preſence; and the Lord upon his Inquiry tells him, There is a p. 150cauſe, and the cauſe was this, The Accurſed thing was among them. And this was the 13, 21.cauſe, O Iſrael; thou cannot ſtand before thine Enemies until thou take away the accurſed thing from among you. Here are three things obſervable. 1. The accurſed thing was the hidden thing hid among the ſtuff; The Babyloniſh garments was hid, and the Silver under it. O the accurſed thing lies hid, the cauſe is hid, but it muſt be inquired into; hid in your ſhips, it may be in your ſhops; hid in your Trade or Converſe with men, where ever the cauſe, or accurſed thing lies, it muſt be inquired into. 2. Achan was of the Tribe of Judah, which was the Tribe ſo honourable, that Chriſt came of it; and yet one of this Tribe was the cauſe of the Lords thus withdrawing his preſence; after this the Tribe that kept cloſe to the true worſhip of God. Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints, yet one of the Tribe of Judah taken as the guilty perſon. 3. Achan was diſcovered, taken by Lot: Joſhua 6. verſefor this diſcovery, fell down on his face before the Arke. The Ark was to inquire in dark and doubtful caſes, all; and now he was inquiring of the Lord the cauſe of this diſappointment, and God anſwered him, in Judg. 20. 27.Judg 20:27telling him, what courſe to take for a diſcovery.

Hence it is, that when Gods People are p. 151brought into ſtraits, and diſtreſſes, he uſually points all their ſins, and provocations, as being the cauſe of his ſo dealing with them; and tells them as he did, by the Prophet Jeremiah, Jer. 4. 18.Jer 4:18your wayes and doings, have procured theſe things unto your Souls, &c. Alas, ſaith God, you put me upon it! it was your own doings, and this is but to eat of the bitter fruit of your own evil wayes, This is your Eſay 50. 1.Isa 50:1wickedneſs, you ſee now what miſery your ſins have brought upon your heads: thus in that great ſtroak of the Captivity, God clears himſelf. Behold, for your Iniquities have you ſold your ſelves; and for your Tranſgreſsions, is your Mother put away, (viz.) It was your own Act and Deed: And indeed thus inquiring into our ſelves for the cauſe of theſe evils, when they are upon us, is a ſweet frame of heart; then, the Soul ſayes, as the Church did, wherefore ſhould a living man complain, for the puniſhment of his ſins, why ſhould we be complaining? doth not God ſay to the complaining Soul, as to Joſhua; Ariſe, get thee Joſh 7. 9.Josh 7:9up, wherefore lyeſt thou upon thy face? Iſrael hath ſinned, and taken the accurſed thing. So, poor Soul, thou haſt ſinned (ſayes God.) The accurſed thing is found in thy skirts, in thy Tent, in thy Houſe, in thy Heart; Thy work is to be inquiring, and Searching, now after the cauſe; therefore it follows, Let us ſearch La…. 3. 39, 40and try our wayes, and turn again unto the Lord.

p. 1521. Reaſon, why in a day of Diſtreſs, and Affliction, it is our duty to inquire into the cauſe, not becauſe that the cauſe of Gods controverſie, often is hid; from us, it lyes hid, and we cannot find it out, without a diligent inquiry, it was ſo here in the Text, They knew not what was the matter; and to ſearch … out, they were reſolved. And ſo they caſt …o…s to decide the caſe, and to diſcover the guilty Perſon. The cauſe of Gods not going up with Iſrael, was hid from Joſhua: there was a guilty Achan there, as well as a guilty Jonah here, and both taken by Lots. The accurſed thing, was the hidden thing, we read of Heman, under his affliction what courſe he took, I communed with mine own heart, and my Spirit made diligent ſearch: he Pſa. …7. 7.Ps 7:7ſuppoſed, There might be ſome hidden guilt, that might occaſion it to be thus with him; therefore, he would fall to ſearching. (The Septuagint reads it) I digged my own heart. The vulgar Latin, I ſwept my own heart. Both ſenſes import that there might be ſome undiſcerned guilt, which God was angry with him for. O, how good is it in ſtorms, for Sea-men to ſay, Lord, is not the accurſed thing among us? is not the wedg of Gold aboard? and the Babyloniſh garment? and now hath not our ſins found us out? nay▪ our ſecret ſins, which the Lord ſets in the light of his countenance? ſin may be hid a long time, but, as is commonly ſaid of Murder, p. 153it will out: ſo, it may be ſaid of other ſins, They will out, Jonah's running away from God, you ſee came out.

2. Reaſon, why we ſhould be inquiring into the cauſe, when under Diſtreſſes and Afflictions; Becauſe, this frame of heart vindicates and honours the juſtice and righteouſneſs of God. Thus Jonah was brought to this at laſt, For my ſake is this ſtorm come Pſ. 9. 13.Ps 9:13upon us. O now, God ſends his Agents, his Purſevants, to arteſt Delinquents! we read therefore of God making Inquiſition for blood; then, ſaith the Text, he remembreth them, he will ſeek out blood, (ſo it is read.) Now whether remembring refers to Bloods, to Murders, God is ſearching out; or, Remembring relates to the afflicted ones, as (a learned Expoſiter obſerves the Caldee to read it) he that requires blood of the innocent, remembers his juſt ones: however this is true, God remembers ſin. Now, when he makes 2 Ch…n. 2…. 22.Inquiſition for it, to puniſh it, requiring, and puniſhing the ſame, therefore we read of the Lord looking upon Blood, and requiring it, (viz.) to puniſh and avenge it; and ſo Joſephs Brethren ſay, Behold his blood is required. O now, the Lords ſearchers are abroad; Gen. 42. 22.Gen 42:22it is good to be inquiring our ſelves, and ſo juſtify God. You Sea-men have the Kings Searchers come abroad, and they wait upon you. O my friends, God hath his ſearchers, and his waiters too, ſuch as you p. 154cannot deceive, O then inquire into the cauſe, Lord thou art righteous in all thy proceedings againſt ſinners at Sea, and Land: and there is ſome great cauſe, that thou doth thus contend with us. That which we know Job 31. 32.Job 31:32not, teach thou us; and, if we have done iniquity, we will do ſo no more.

3. We ſhould be inquiring into the cauſe: becauſe God will certainly diſcover it. God will fetch it out, let it lye never ſo latent, and hid. The Lord ſees where the accurſed thing lyes, he knew the Babyloniſh garment was hid, and the Silver under it, Gods eye looks under the Babiloniſh garment, you, it may be, think your ſins are ſecret from the knowledg of Relations, and ſo you are ſafe enough; and, upon the account of the ſecrecy of ſin, go on and are hardned: but alas for you, poor Sea-men, God will bring all out. O, what a place is that, Thou haſt Pſ. 90. 8.Ps 90:8ſet our ſecret ſins, in the light of thy countenance: that word you have had again and again, your ſin will find you out: ſhall God make a diſcovery, and we make no inquiry? O, never think that you can hide the accurſed thing out of God's ſight. That is an obſervable place, He will ſearch Jeruſalem with Zeph. 1. 12.Zeph 1:12Candles, and puniſh the men that are ſetled upon their leeſe; that ſay in their hearts, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil: ſome carries it, To ſearch with Lant-horns, p. 155exactly and narrowly, and take it, that the Caldeans ſhall be their ſearchers, to ſeek out their wealth and treaſures: But others, that God would make a diligent narrow ſearch after their ſins, and his ſearch ſhould reach ſo deep, as to a diſcovery of mens very hearts. That ſay in their hearts, &c. Begin to draw up Atheiſtical concluſions againſt God, that he never regards the government of the world. The arguing of too many poor Seamens hearts, (I am afraid) God will diſcover the very thoughts of your hearts, and if the cauſe lye hid there, either in heart, or houſe, he will find it out. Therefore we ſhould be upon inquiry: But this will fall in under the next Doctrine. And the Lot fell upon Jonah.

4. We ſhould be inquiring into the cauſe, Becauſe until this be diſcovered, the judgment is not removed; as Phyſicians ſay, The cauſe of a diſeaſe known, the diſeaſe is half cured. So in this caſe: this ſtorm, do what they could, never calmes, until Jonah was diſcovered. Though they uſed all the means poſſible for men to uſe, when at laſt they were ſo ingenious, that they thought to ſave the life of the Delinquent; yet the Sea wrought and was tempeſtuous; and they could ver. 15.not do it, until the righteous ſentence of God was executed upon him, that they caſt him over-board. And then (ſayes the Text) p. 156the Sea ceaſed from her raging: we read that …v. …6. 42, 43, 44, 45.ſuch a time ſhould come that God would Remember the Land of Iſrael, when they were under ſad tryals and diſtreſſes, and God would Remember his Covenant: now, it is obſervable what time that was, The Text tells, When their uncircumciſed hearts are humbled, and they accept the puniſhment of their iniquities: becauſe, even becauſe, they deſpiſed my Judgments, and their Souls abhorred my Statutes. You ſee now, here is the cauſe of all, diſcovered: well, they accept of the puniſhment of their iniquity, here the cauſe of the Judgment is acknowledged, and now it ſhall be remembred▪ And yet, for all that, When they be in the Land of their Enemies, I will not caſt them away, neither will I deſtroy them utterly, nor abhor them, nor break my Covenant with them, For I am the Lord their God. See here, now is the controverſie taken up, betwixt God and Them.

5. Reaſon. We muſt inquire into the cauſe, when under Diſtreſſes and Afflictions, this ſpeaks us truly humbled under the hand of God: When we are digging into the cauſe of God's Judgments, that lye upon us, many poor ſinners may be ſenſible of the ſad effects, of God's diſpleaſure, in taking away Relations from them by violent tempeſts, in breaking their Eſtates, in the loſs of Ships, p. 157but this is but to cry, and complain of the ſmart of God's diſpenſations, but what is this to the cauſe of them? there your work lies. Lord, wherefore doeſt thou contend with us? have you found out the Achan? the Jonah all this while? therefore you muſt in your Humiliations be more punctual, and particular, when under the hand of God, than at other times. When Iſrael was under the hand of the Philiſtines, and lamented after the Lord, Samuel, in his exhortation to them, upon a ſolemn Faſt-day, a Humiliation-day, he leads them by the hand to the cauſe of their diſtreſs. If you return to the Lord, with all your heart, and put away the ſtrange Gods from among you, and Aſhtaroth, then he will deliver you out of the hands of the Philiſtines. 1 Sam … …, 4.This Idol was the grand provocation to the Lord, Nay, this argued them deeply humbled, that they would put the Idol away, and ſo in the days of Ezra, they came to this, …o find out the particular provocation, (viz.) (the marrying ſtrange wives, againſt the expreſs mind of God,) they reſolve to put them away, and (ſayes the Text) They ſate trembling, Ez… …0▪ 9.becauſe of this matter. O, it is a hopeful caſe to be inquiring into the matter, and cauſe of the Lords controverſie, When poor Sea-men and their Relations are ſaying to God, under their diſtreſſes, and tryalls, Lord what is the matter? what is the ſin, whereby p. 158Lord, we have cauſed thee to ſend ſuch terrible Meſſengers of thy diſpleaſure after us? When you ſay, Is this ſin it, or that ſin it? Lord is it our drunkenneſs? is it our neglect, nay, profanation of Sabbaths? Is it our neglecting the worſhip of God aboard our Ships, when at Sea; or neglecting family-prayer when at home? Is it our carnal confidence in our ſucceſſes? Is it our unrighteous dealings in the way of our Trade betwixt man and man? Lord, what ſin is it? find it out. O the Lot will fall upon Jonah! the Perſon and the crime too, will be found out by God.

APPLICATION.

Is it ſo, that it is our duty to inquire into the cauſe, when under tryals and diſtreſſes. 1. It is a word of Counſel and Exhortation, to poor Sea-men, and their Relations to ſet upon the work, when under ſuch diſpenſations of God. The work that the doctrine calls for. To ſay to the Lord, ſhew us wherefore thou contendeſt with us? why are theſe ſad blows come upon us? why are we broken in our Comforts, in our Eſtates, in our Relations? Lord, why are we thus? Is it to try grace? Is it to diſcover guilt? Is it to wean from the uncertain comforts of this preſent life? Is it to let us ſee where more durable Treaſures are to be had, then thoſe periſhing p. 159Treaſures that come by the Sea? nay, what if God ſhould give all the Families of the Tribe of Zebulun, the performance of the word. Thou ſhalt ſeek of the abundance of the Deut. 33. 19.Deut 33:19Sea, and of Treaſures hid in the Land. What would theſe things ſignifie, if you have no Title to the other treaſures of God above. Heaven is the only treaſure-houſe, Lay up your treaſures in Heaven: theſe treaſures never can ſuffer Ship-wrack.

1. Motive, to enquire into the cauſe, this is the only way to have the controverſie taken up, betwixt God and You. And O, what a mercy would this be? How comfortably then might you go to Sea? and look dangers and difficulties in the face? How couragiouſly might you look Turks and Pyrats in the face? when you have the controverſie taken up betwixt You and God, you need not then fear mans controverſie. If there ſhould be War betwixt Nation and Nation, what brave Sea-men will they be that have made their peace with God? then they may Rejoyce in going out to War; ſo ſome take that Jud. …. 18.Text of Zebulun, for Zebulun is commended for jeoparding there lives unto the death: they diſdained their Souls to death, (as the Dutch Annotators obſerve upon it) they fought ſo bravely for Iſraels deliverance, that they ſeem to condemn their very lives: no man will fight ſo bravely with an Enemy, as p. 160he that is reconciled unto God, Are not they fitteſt to fight, that are fitteſt to dye.

2. Motive to inquire into the cauſe of all Evils coming upon you, this ſpeaks you ſenſible of the hand of God. There are ſome that, whatſoever they meet with at Sea, or at Land, all their lives; they never ſay, for whoſe cauſe is this come upon us? they are obdurate and hardned, they are like Solomons drunk ard, Thou ſhalt be as he that lyeth down in the midſt Prov 23. 34, 35.Prov 23:34Prov 23:35of the Sea, or as he that lyeth upon the top of the Maſt; they have ſtricken me, ſhal… thou ſay, and I was not ſick; They have beat en me, and I felt it not, when ſhall I awake▪ I will take it yet again. Are there not many ſuch poor drunken Sea-men? and O, what danger are they in, as one that lyeth aſleep in the top of the Maſt, and is ſtricken, and yet feels nothing, is even hardned in his ſin. O, theſe poor Souls never inquires into the cauſe of the evil, and dangers they meet with all. As God ſaid of a People, why ſhould you be ſmitten any more, you Revolt more and more.

3. Motive, to inquire into the cauſe of all evils you meet with, this-will help you much to the knowledg of your hearts, and lives, and O, how neceſſary are theſe to know? both for Sea-men, and Land-men. You love to know how ſuch a Rock lyes, and ſuch a Sand, ſuch a Port, and ſuch a Coaſt, ſuch a … or Cape? O, it is as neceſſary to p. 161know your hearts, to know where ſuch a Rock of temptation lyes, and ſuch a Sand of a temptation lyes; to know theſe, that your precious Souls may never be ſplit upon any of them. O, many of theſe Rocks of temptations lye hid in your hearts, and you may be run upon them, before you ever are aware; if you do not know, how they lie. O, how many a pretious Soul hath periſhed for want of knowing, how the temptations of their own hearts lay? they have thought they have run upon a bold Coaſt, as you ſay; and hath ventured upon temptations with their own carnal confidence, and ſo have miſcarried for ever: did you know you had ſuch proud hearts, you were almoſt ſplit upon the Rock of Pride? did you know, you had ſuch worldly hearts, until you were almoſt ſplit upon the Rock of Covetuouſneſs? well, now by inquiring into the cauſe of your evils, you come to the knowledg of your hearts. For ſometimes the cauſe lyes there; and your lives, it ſomtimes lyes there; O that poor Sea-men would ſee into their lives, and ſee if the accurſed thing be not there. Is it not your looſneſs▪ your profaneneſs? your ſwearing? your violation of the Sabboth? your mocking at prayer? your deſpiſeing of ordinances, your cruelty to the Souls of the men under your charge, ſome of you? Are not thoſe things the cauſes of the Lords controverſie with you? It may be you go on and ſin, and never inquire into theſe matters, until the fatall ſtorm p. 162and diſmal ſtroak over-take you, and then periſh you muſt, when you have ſcarce time to ſay, Lord for whoſe ſake is this evil come upon us.

4. Motive, to inquire into the cauſe of the evils, you meet withall. This will argue, you look higher, then ſecond cauſes in ſtorms, and diſtreſſes, that none of theſe afflictions ariſe out of the duſt: the winds are his winds, his ſervants; the Seas his ſervants, and you muſt look over from the ſervant to the Lord. Theſe poor Mariners, you ſee, did look higher; therefore they pray unto their Gods: this is a Chriſtian ſpirit, this ſtorme fulfills the will of God, the word of God; and good is the word of the Lord.

5. Motive, to inquire into the cauſe of the evils, you meet with, This argues ſincerity and integrity of ſoul, that they all were ſo willing to caſt lots, and find out the Malefactor, argued their uprightneſs and innocency, as to that extraordinary guilt, that they thought this ſtorm came for. When a poor Sea-man can ſay, with holy David, Lord, ſearch me and try me, and know my heart, and know my thoughts, and ſee, if there be any wicked way in me: doth not this argue ſincerity and uprightneſs? can any Pſ. 139. 23, 24.Ps 139:23Ps 139:24but a ſound heart abide ſearching, eſpecially Gods ſearching; Can any but upright hearts deſire to know the plague of their own hearts, to deſire to know the worſt by themſelves, to ſay, is it I Lord? is it I, that have cauſed this ſtorm? am I the Jonah in the Veſſel? am I the guilty Perſon, this ſtorm is ſent p. 163after? if Lord I yeild to thy moſt righteous ſentence; do what thou wilt with me, ſo that this ſtorm may become a calm.

2. Uſe. Is it ſo, that inquiry into the cauſe is our duty, when in diſtreſs? then it is a word of direction: O, but ſayes poor Souls, now we ſhall inquire into the cauſe of God's controverſie with us.

1. By Prayer: This is the great inquiry; ſhew me wherefore thou contendeſt with me: this is the only way to find out the controverſie. Thus David did, as you have heard, Search me O God, try me, &c. Joſhua's prayer found out the Achan, for God, upon it: bid him ariſe and ſearch out the curſed thing. He knew not of the accurſed thing, until he had been inquiring of God, and then all comes out. O, Prayer brings all out: As ſometimes God ſayes by Preaching, Thou art the man, as he did by Nathan unto David: ſo he ſays ſomtimes by Prayer, thou art the man; and this is the ſin; the cauſe of ſuch an evil, and of ſuch a tryal.

2. Direction: Would you find out the cauſe? then you muſt look into your ſelves, as well as look up to God, looking inward, is as neceſſary as looking upward, you muſt make a diligent ſearch; you muſt commune with your own hearts. You muſt find this, if ever you find it, upon ſearch. O it is not an eaſie thing to find out the cauſe of Gods contending with us. And therefore we muſt be exact in the ſcrutiny. 1. It is, it may be, ſome hidden thing; the accurſed thing was the hidden thing; it was p. 164not in the open field, no, it was in Achans Tent, yea, and it was hid there, therefore we muſt ranſack every corner of our hearts: they have many dark corners, and we muſt, if we will find out the cauſe, go from corner to corner, with the light of the Word. You Sea-men, ſearch your Ships, for the accurſed thing: you Land-men, ſearch your Shops for it, and every one, ſearch your hearts for it. It is not many times viſible, there is, it is true, a viſible curſed thing many times carried to Sea with you (viz) your drunkenneſs, your neglect of the worſhip of God, your ſwearing, your Sabbath-breaking. But is there not, where theſe are not, accurſed covetuouſneſs, the accurſed wedg of gold, accurſed defrauding and cheating in a more hidden way, and accurſed uncleanneſs in a more ſecret way? that, it may be, few know of it. 2. You muſt ſearch your hearts for the cauſe of your evils. For, few know their own hearts, who knows them? it is a very hard thing to know them aright: we may think we know them, & be very ignorant of them; if they that ſearch them ſomtimes, be ignorant of them, how ignorant are they then of them, that never look into them; Pſ 19. 12,Ps 19:12which made David ſay, who can underſtand his error? cleanſe thou me from ſecret faults. 3. You muſt be diligent in the ſearching out the cauſes of your evils; for you may very eaſily overlook them: you may eaſily over-look in the ſearch, the wedg of gold; it may lye in a little room; and the Babyloniſh garment, may lye in p. 165a little room. 4. You muſt be diligent in the ſearches; for, our Hearts are very prone to be partial. We have a Peter within that often calls to us, Maſter ſpare thy ſelf. We ſay of a beloved ſin, that uſually is the cauſe of Gods contending with us, as David did of his beloved Son, deal gently with my Son Abſolom, for my ſake. We are very indulgent to our right hands, and to our right eyes. 5. You muſt be diligent in your Search; for, while you are upon it, if it be poſſible, Satan will blow out your Candle, (I mean your Conviction) in the light of which you Search. It may be, God convinces you of your duty, and you fall upon ſearch; but, before you have made any thing of it, you will have Satan blow your light out, and ſo you will give over; as the woman ſought her loſt groat, lighted her Candle, and ſwept her houſe; ſo, had you need to do, in this inquiry after the cauſe of your diſtreſſes, and Afflictions.

3. If you would find out the cauſe of your Afflictions, and tryals, then make Inquiery by the word. Then, is the only Rule to find out the Jonah. This way would theſe poor Heathen Mariners have taken; but that they were ignorant of any ſuch Rule: therefore, they caſt Lots, There can be no ſearch made to any purpoſe, without the word. It is, upon this account, called a Lamp, a Lanthorn. If a ſin, we ſeek for evade diſcovery, and run into the dark corners of our Hearts; we are to follow the ſearch ſtill in the light of the word: And, if guilty Jonah had p. 166but been kept awake, to have askt his Soul the Queſtion, O my Soul, Is this according to the word of the Lord, that came to thee? was thy Commiſſion to go to Tarſhiſh? or to Ninevie? Is it according to Rule, for thee to go one way, when God bids thee go another? he had then ſoon come to a diſcovery of the cauſe of this ſtorm upon eaſie Inquiry. We ſhould in ſuch a caſe ſay, as Paul did in that controverſie. But what ſaies the Scripture? 1. Make your Inquiry by reading the word. O, that Sea-men would Sail by this Compaſs! and when you meet with a ſin (ſet out in the word, and markt by the Lord) that you would ſay, Here is a Sea-marke for thee to avoyd, here is a Rock that thou muſt be careful thou ſplit not upon, a Sand thou muſt be careful thou fall not foul upon. Here is a Gulph thou muſt be careful thou be not ſwallowed up in. You talk of the Gulph of Venice, and the Gulph of Lyons: but the Word tells you of the Gulph of Drunkenneſs, and of the Gulph of uncleanneſs, and of the Gulph of ſwearing, and Sabbath-breaking. And O, how many are ſwallowed up, precious Souls of poor Sea-men caſt away in theſe Gulphs? Do you in reading the word obſerve what marks God hath given ſuch, and ſuch ſins; and how they have cauſed his diſpleaſure? As ſoon as ever the ſin of drunkenneſs came into the world, God ſet a brand upon it. It came in by a ſad hand indeed, even …en. 19. …6, 37, …8.by Lott: But O, what a puniſhment God ſet upon it, ſuffering it to be fellowed with another p. 167ſin, the great ſin of Uncleanneſs, nay the higheſt, even Inceſt. O, what ſin came in at this door? what Murders, Quarrellings, Paſſions, Adulteries, even the door of Drunkenneſs? but ſee a further mark ſet upon it, as the ſad effects of it? The firſt Daughter bare a Son, and Judg 11 4 2….Judg 11:4called his name Moab; the other bare a Son, and called his name Ben-ammi, the Father of the Children of Ammon unto this day. Now, this Poſterity apoſtatized to Idolatry, and became both of them as dwelling near Canaan, great Enemies to poor Iſrael. Some read (Deut. 23. 3, 4.) and was not this a black mark upon that ſin, that ſuch a Father ſhould have ſuch a Poſterity, begot in the ſin, that ſhould in after Generations, be inveterate Enemies to Gods people? Take but another Inſtance (becauſe this is one of the ſins of Seamen, that is often a cauſe of the Lords controverſie with you in ſtorms at Sea) Eſa 23. 1, 2, 3.Isa 23:1Isa 23:2Isa 23:3Wo to the crown of Pride, and the Drunkards of Ephraim, whoſe glorious beauty is as a fading flower, &c. Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and ſtronge one, which is a Tempeſt of haile, and a Deſtroying ſtorme, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, ſhall caſt down to the Earth with his hand; The Drunkards of Ephraim ſhall be troden under feet. This is a Propheſie of the wrath of God upon the Ten Tribes; for, their drunkenneſs did much abound, and this mighty ſtrong one as a deſtroying ſtorm to come upon them, which was made good in Salmaneſer the King of Aſſyria's coming, to beſeige Samaria, p. 168and carry them Captive, when the Turks carry ſo many Engliſh Sea-men Captive into Sally, into Argiers; is it not good inquiring, Is not our Drunkenneſs the cauſe of this Evil coming upon us; mark well, then conſult the word what it ſaies of Drunkenneſs. 2. Conſult the word in your reading of it, and obſerve what a mark God hath put upon uncleanneſs, which I doubt is another Rock that many a poor Sea-mans Soul is ſplit upon; Saies Solomon, I diſcerned among the ſimple ones, among the youths, a youngman voide of underſtanding. Here is a brand upon him! What was he? one that fell in with the ſtrange Woman; what became of him? Pr…. 7. …, 26. 27.He was led of her, till a dart ſtruck through his Liver, as a bird haſteneth to the ſnare, and knoweth not it is for his life; her houſe is the way to Hell, going down to the Chambers of death. He is a man, a dead man, and a damned man, if not reſcued from this ſnare. O, that poor Sea-men would read that Chapter often over? ſhe tells him, She had deckt her bed, &c. O, but yet, it was the Chamber of Death. Though the bed was perfumed, and all in bravery, yet it was the way to Hell; well, but after a while, he is ſtruck through the Liver, being the ſeat of Luſt (ſaith one) therefore the foul-diſeaſe, as you call it, is called (Morbus Hepatarius.) The diſeaſe of the Liver; Splen ridere facit, cogit amare jecur. Is it not good to ſay, Is not this the cauſe of the Lords controverſie many a time at Sea? O, how many Sea-mens Souls have been ſwallowed up of this Guloh?

p. 1693. Conſult to find out the cauſe, the Word Preached. A ſearching Miniſtry may be a great bleſſing to Sea-men upon that account. The word Preached to you, is to be your Spiritual Pilots, to ſhew you where ſuch a Rock lies, ſuch a Sand lies, where ſuch a Shelve lies; we are to tell you from our Lord and Maſter, that if you ſteer a courſe of ſin, you will run a courſe of Ruine. It was the Lords Commiſſion to his Prophets, Lift up thy Voyce like a Trumpet, cry aloud and ſpare not: Shew unto my people their ſins, and the Houſe of Jacob their Tranſgreſſions. We are to ſhew your ſins, as the cauſes of Gods controverſie with you. We ſhew you your danger of ſuch a Rock, ſuch a ſin; but, do you bear off? do you ſtand off from it? if you do not, at your peril; if you miſcarry, your blood be upon your own heads. O, me-thinks, of all men, Sea-men ſhould love a ſearching Miniſtry, you enjoy ſo little of it, go many months, and hear not a Sermon; you that run ſo many hazards and dangers, you love Carpenters for the ſafety of the ſhip, and Chirurgions for the health of your bodies, and why ſhould not you love Miniſters for the good of your Souls? Muſt ſhips, muſt bodies be preferr'd before precious Souls?

4. Would you find out the cauſe, Be then often reading over your lives and Converſations. You keep your Journals, and is it not as neceſſary to keep Diaries? The book of your lives, you may read every day, when you cannot p. 170have time to read other books; nay, it may be ſome of you cannot read at all. O but this book you may read! and may not you often read, O Lord, my wickedneſs now doth correct me? doth purſue me; doth, as an Avenger of blood, follow me? This is thy Iniquity that teſtifies againſt thee, this is thy ſin that now hath found thee out; this is thy drunkenneſs, thy abominable uncleanneſs, thy blaſpheamous Oaths; thy mocking at Prayer; thy prophaining of Sabbaths! May not you read all this in your lives? men at Land, that would know how it is with them, as to their Eſtates, will caſt up their books; and men at Sea, that would know where they are, and what courſe they run, will keep their obſervations and watches. So, ſhould you be often caſting up your Books, your Accounts, your Obſervations, if you would know where abouts you are, for your Eternal Conditions. It may be, the Jonah is in thy Converſation, that brings the ſtorm, then thou muſt look to Reform that.

5. Would you find out the Cauſe? Then, you muſt ſet before you the danger of miſcarrying. Now they were in danger, they cry out, For whoſe cauſe is this evil come upon us? Truly we are ſeldom either at Sea, or Land, led into our duty, until danger drive us to it. In your ſtorms you are, it may be, ſaying to your ſelves, What if the ſhip ſhould miſcarry? but, do you ever ſay to your Souls, what if your Souls miſcarry? what if the ſhip be loſt, you ſay? but, p. 171if you ſaid, What if your Souls be loſt? this would help you in the inquiry after the cauſe of the Lords Controverſie with you. Set thy danger before thee, poor Sea-man, that thou may'ſt find out the cauſe. 1. If thy Soul miſcarry, it is an eternal miſcarriage; thou art fixed in that miſcarryed eſtate to all Eternity, never to come out of it. It is to go to the Pit, from whence there is no Redemption. There may be Redemption from Sally, from Algier, nay from Fez, where poor Sea-men, when they are taken by the Turks, are ſo affraid of being ſent. O, but poor Sea-men, from Hell, there is no Redemption. The King of this Country never gives up his Slaves. 2. If thy Soul miſcarry (poor Sea-man), it will aggravate thy ſin, and miſery, that thou had'ſt ſo many warnings, but refuſed them. O, what a fair way waſt thou once in? when convinced of ſuch a ſin, would be thy Ruine, if thou did'ſt not Repent of it? ſuch a Rock would ſplit thy Soul for ever, if thou came foul upon it; and yet what a bold courſe did'ſt thou ſteer, notwithſtanding all theſe warnings. Miniſters called to thee, Relations called to thee, Conſcience called to thee, Godly. Friends and Acquaintance, that loved thy Soul, called to thee; O, ſtand off the Rock of ſinful Company! O, take heed of ſuch a ſin! and ſuch a Luſt! but alas all theſe ſignified nothing to thee. O, theſe refuſed-warnings, will be as oyle to make Hells flames burn more vehemently. 3. If thou miſcarry (poor Sea-man) p. 172thou many times miſcarryeſt on a ſudden. They go down in a moment to the grave. O what little time have they to prepare for Death? that little time they have, is to provide for their lives, that they ſeldom entertain a thought what will become of their Souls? The Sea-mans deſtruction comes upon them, as a whirl-wind; ſuddenly, and often inevitably; ſuddenly deſtroyed, and that without Remedy (as that word you read): and, Are not all ſudden things ſad, and full of aſtoniſhment? Is it not a comfortable thing to have time to prepare for your change? now, The ſenſe of your danger, every Voyage you go, ſhould make you find out the cauſe of Gods Controverſie with you.

The laſt Uſe is of Tryal. How may we conclude what is the cauſe of Gods Controverſie with us? what ſin is the Jonah? We may paſs a falſe Judgment, then how may we find out the ſin and Provocation, to ſay, This is the cauſe, why God contends with me, as David, when Nathan ſaid to him. Thou art the man; ſo, we may ſay, Thou art the ſin: and ſo ſingle out the particular Provocation to God.

1. That ſin uſually, that lies uppermoſt on the Conſcience, is the cauſe of Gods Controverſie with us, when we are in any diſtreſs, or under any Affliction. When Jonah's Conſcience was gotten cured of his Lethargy, it was thus with him, his guilt of fleeing from the preſence of the Lord, was uppermoſt; why haſt thou done this, ſay the Ships Company to him. For, p. 173the men knew that he had fled from the preſence Gen 4…: 21.Gen 4:21of the Lord; for, he had told them. Thus it was with Joſephs Brethren. And they ſaid one to another in this wiſe, Saw we not the anguiſh of his Soul, when he beſought us, and we would not hear: therefore, is this diſtreſs come upon us; you ſee, This ſin layd uppermoſt upon his Conſcience. Now, obſerve it well, what that ſin is; you may write upon the head of it, Thou art the Jonah, this is the cauſe of this Controverſie; when the Conſcience is humbled, there is a Controverſie betwixt God and the Soul. Now ſin is very prone to walk in the Conſcience, in a day of diſtreſs and affliction.

2. That ſin that is thy darling ſin, uſually is the cauſe. This uſually, of all ſins, is the Jonah. This complexion-ſin, as that Country-ſins, where you, Sea-men, go. So you muſt remember, there are conſtitutional ſins, which you carry; and now to carry your conſtitutional ſins, to meet with other-country-ſins, is ſad. If you run into them here in England, what will you do when you come into climates, that ſhall be like ſparks to gun-powder. You carry the gun-powder with you; but there you meet with Sparks, viz▪ occaſions exciting your corruptions. And, may it not be ſaid then of many a poor Sea-man, as of the wild Aſſe, In her occaſio…, who can turn her away? Gods Controverſy frequently either at Land or Sea, ariſes upon the account of our right-hand, or right-eyes, viz. our deareſt and neareſt corruptions. p. 174Some mens complexion ſin, is Luſt; others, Drunkeneſſe; others, Paſſion; and theſe are often breaking out to provoke the Lord. And O, how good it is to know them! For, there is an eſpecial providence made to ſuch, as Know the Plague of their own Hearts.

3ly. That ſin that we deſign moſt to hide, that is the cauſe of the Controverſy, betwixt God and us. The accurſed thing you have heard, was the hidden thing. We have it naturally from our firſt Parents, to hide our Sin. This is like the children of Adam, though the Lord hath expreſly told us, that He that hideth his Sin ſhall not proſper. Man is a proud creature, Pro. 28. 13Prov 28:13and cannot endure to leave his own ſhame; therefore he finds out covers for his ſins, although they be but Fig-leaves, which will blow away with the leaſt breath of a powerful conviction: and then the Sinner will ſee the ſhame of his nakedneſs, and cry out of his Guilt both before the Lord and others. O poor Sinners conſider, Had not you better be aſhamed here, than damned hereafter? Had not you better bear your ſhame now? ſay as ſhe did, when you are to die, And I am one of the fools in Iſrael, and whither ſhall I carry my ſhame? It will be ſad to carry it to Hell with you, and have it upon you to all Eternity.

4. That ſin, that we are moſt prone to plead for our excuſe, that uſually is the cauſe of the Controverſy betwixt God and us. And, as we are Adams children in hiding our Sin; ſo p. 175we are his children in being prone to excuſe our Sin. The woman thou gaveſt me, gave me Gen. 3. 11, 12Gen 3:11Gen 3:12and I did eat: He puts it off, & the woman, ſhe ſayes, The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat▪ and ſhe puts it off. And thus do we for our beloved ſins eſpecially, It is a little one and my Soul ſhall live; a little Pride, a little Paſſion, a little worldlineſs, a little drunkenneſs; ſomtimes overſeen in drink, but yet no drunkard. O Sirs, it is a dangerous thing to cover your Sins with excuſes: Your woe is written upon the head of it. Wee to them that cover, but not with a covering of my Spirit.

5. That Sin is the controverſy betwixt God & us, which is the Sin we cannot endure ſhould be ſharply Reproved. We expect that this Sin ſhould be favoured; therefore when the power of the Word in an Ordinance comes, then the hearts of Sinners ſwell. As Herod, when John-Baptiſt comes to his particular ſin, to his Herodias, O then Johns head muſt go for it. O, poor ſinners cannot bear particular home-preaching, as a profane Gentleman ſaid of a godly Preacher where he lived: He divides his Text like a Scholler; and follow his doctrine like a Logician: but the Devil cannot ſtand before his Application: O, ſinners cannot bear plain dealing, for their Souls can ſay, ſpare this ſin, deal gently with this ſin, for my ſake; as David ſaid of his ſon Abſalom.

6ly. That is the ſin that is the controverſy betwixt God and us, which we are ſo loath to p. 176part with: O, it goes to the heart to part with ſome ſins! a ſin of cuſtome, or a ſin of Intereſt, or a ſin of inclination; O, what ſtrugling and combatting is there in the Soul, before they can give up ſuch ſins: other evils, when they ſee no other way, they can be more contented to part Gen. 42. 36.Gen 42:36with; but what? them I ſay, that hath cauſed them to laugh, and ſport themſelves ſo often? What, their Benjamins? O what a parting was there betwixt the old Patriarch and his ſon Benjamin: Gen. 43. 11.Gen 43:11Joſeph is not, and Simeon is not, and you will take Benjamin away: All theſe things are againſt me: and at laſt he came to, If it muſt be ſo now. Such a parting there is betwixt theſe beloved ſins, and poor Souls. Pharaoh will not let Iſrael go, untill he ſee no other way: So it is in this caſe. Thus I have diſpatched the ſecond obſervation of the Text. That it is our duty to make inquiry into the Cauſe, when any evil is upon us, either at Land or Sea.