The Merchants and Mariners Preservation and Thanksgiving, Title page – Preface
THE MERCHANTS and MARINERS Preservation and Thanksgiving. OR, THANKFVLNESSE RETVRNED, for Mercies received. Set forth in A SERMON OF Thanksgiving, Preached at S. Andrewes Vndershaft, Sept. 6. 1649. To the R. Worshipfull, The Comittee of Merchants, trading for the Eastern India, upon a late Returne of seven of their Ships together. By EDVVARD TERRY, Minister of the Word, (who was sometime in their service, there) now Rector of the Church at Great-Greenford, in the County of Middlesex.
In winged ships who passage make,
And through vast Seas their journeyes take;
See, (while their ships on billowes keepe)
Gods workes, and wonders in the deepe.
The Lord on high is mightier then the noyse of many waters, yea then the mighty waves of the Sea. Psal. 93.4.
Qui nescit orare, discat navigare.
Octob. 4. 1649. Imprimatur. John Downame.
London, Printed by THOMAS HARPER. 1649.
To the Right VVorshippefull, VVILLIAM COKAYNE Esquire, Governour of the Company of Merchants of London, trading into the Eastern India WILLIAM METHVVOLD Esquire, Deputy Governour, JOHN MASSINGBERD Esquire, Treasurer, and to all the re… of the Commi…tee for the s…me Company.
Right Worshipfull:
YOV were pleased of la…e, when I expected it not, to put mee unto that most willing t…ske, of Preaching this following Sermon; and now besides your expectation, to testifie my respects to you, for your Noblenesse when I had done my Worke, doe I offer it (with the addition of some few particulars then omitted, for feare of being over tedious) to your eyes, now it hath passed your eares, that so it may sinke further, and not rest, neither returne voyd, but prosper in the thing for which it was intended.
I know that there are a number of things Printed already, more then needes, poore innocent Paper dayly receiving such blurres and staines from the Presse, that make it fitter for the fire then for any thing else But arguments of this kinde shall never bee but usefull, though the iniquity of times should arme thousands with Pen-knives, as J…hoiakim was, when hee cut, and so cancel'd, and then burnt the Roule of Jeremiah the Prophet, because it told him the truth, which never was, nor ever will bee, for every mans turne.
This I presume may bee for yours, wherein through your many streights, perils, extremities, you may cleerely reade, your escapes, preservations, and deliverances; what you have received from, and what you must returne to God for his manifold multiplyed, renewed mercies, which are to be seene every where, but most of all in the Mount.
I doe not goe about to counsell you as a Merchant, as a Divine, I will, to keepe God alwayes in your eye, ever in your sight, that whatsoever your Adventures are, whithersoever you send or goe, your way may bee prosperous, for they that reckon without God, must reckon againe; and they travell too far, that leave God behind them; adventuring themselves out of his protection.
One of the Ancients tells us, that there are foure sorts of men, who seeme to take foure severall wayes, that in conclusion meete, and bring them all to happinesse.
Some steale Heaven (as it were) and they are such, as can give an Almes without a Trumpet, and can pray without a Witnesse, who had rather bee good, then seeme so; and these performing unto God much service in secret, are afterward openly rewarded.
There be others againe, which are compelled (as it were) to take Heaven, and they are such as are wearied with, and weaned from the World by afflictions, and having the happinesse to bee taught, as well as chastened, they turne unto him that smites them, they seeke the Lord, and by seeking finde him enjoy him.
Some will have Heauen (as it were) whether God will or no, they will have it by force. These carry their Estates, Names, Liberties, Lives, in their hands, and will part with them all, rather then with that. The Kingdome of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it: Ibi rapina non est crimen, crimen est non rapere; 'tis not a fault to be violent in the pursuit of Heaven, of salvation; it is a fault, I and a great one too, not to be so.
Lastly, there are some that buy it (as it were) and they are such wise Merchants as the Gospel mentions, that will have that Pearle of great price, whatsoever it cost them. That hidden Treasu…e, though they pay never so much for the F…eld where 'tis layd up. And this is a justifiable covetousnesse, which I dare commend unto you, to covet spirituall things, to covet earnestly the best things: To follow peace and holinesse, as having them alwayes in chase: To labour after godlinesse, which brings contentment and gaine, great gaine, the greatest gaine. 'Tis excellent counsell that Solomon gives: Buy the truth, but sell it not, be at any charge for it, but doe not part with it for a World, Non Priamus tanti — because there is nothing in the World that can be put in the Ballance, with it, against it: And when you have tryed all Commodities, yee shall finde Heaven the best bargaine, and worth the having upon any tearmes.
'Tis well observed of Jacob that he got one blessing from his Brother by purch…se; a second from his Father by policy; a third and the chiefest of all from God by contention: If by purchase, or policy, or strife, wee can get this Blessing, the Blessing, wee are happy I shall adde nothing further, but my heartiest wishes for your present and eternall welfare, which shall be some of the Petitions dayly sent up, from him who is, most Worthy Sirs:
Yours in all Civil and Christian respects, most ready to doe you Service, EDVVARD TERRY.
Dum in vitâ, sumus in viâ.
THis life's our way, in which where ere we be,
We misse our Path, if that felicity
Be not our utmost ayme; towards which we meete
With Crosse-wayes, rubs, and streights that cause our feete
To faint, or else to stumble; yet must we on,
What ere we meete, untill our journey's done.
We seeke a Countrey, cannot finde it here,
Here, in this Pilgrimage, ith' whole world, where
The streightest, evenest pathes trac'd by the best,
Are wayes of Labour, trouble, not of rest.
Our God, and Countrey too, are both above,
We keepe our way, while that we thither moove;
Lose it, when we doe not. Let's on, and know
We have a further journey still to go.
For though we could with weary Paces get,
The Worlds great round our tyresome progresse yet
Were not at end; we must not therefore lye
Still, and loyter, till God say rest, that's dye.
In Europe, Asia, Affrick, have I gone,
One Journey more, and then I am at home.
EDVVARD TERRY.
THE PREFACE.
Right Worshipfull:
YOU that are the Representatives, and into whose hands and trust, the managing of that great businesse of Trade is put, by that most Worthy Company of Merchants, trading for the Easterne India; you are heere met this day to offer up a voluntary, and a willing sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving unto Almighty God, for a great, and an unexpected mercy, in safely returning, and that of late, seaven of your Ships together, from that long, and tedious, and hazardous Voyage. A greater returne at once, for number of Ships, then ever you had, since you looked that way, since you knew that Trade. Now, as I cannot but presume you have already, more then once, sent up your private and particular acknowledgements to God for this great mercy: So you doe well, very well, now in Publick to give him thankes for it, in the great Congregation. Thankefullnesse to Almighty God being a debt, which as it is ever owing, so it must be alwayes paying, as it is continually due. And truely this is a time of good tydings for you, and you should doe very ill if you held your peace; but seeing you do not so, and you have been pleased to make me your mouth to God, as (by his most gracious assistance) I must be his mouth to you this day, in the performance of this publick duty: I beseech you (that we may presently set upon this worke) to turne and to fix your eyes upon that portion of Scripture, unto which God hath directed me to speake on, upon this particular occasion; which will first remember you of the cause of your present joy and gladnesse, and then tell you that you ought, and therefore must be very thankefull for it: the Argument for both these, lyes written in