A Counterpoison, Allegory – Note
THE STATE OF A CHRISTIAN, lively set forth by an Allegorie of a Shippe Prov. 31. 14. Job 9. 26. …say 23. 1. Rev. 8. 9.under Sayle.
MY body is the Hull, the Keele my backe, my Ne…ke the Stem, the Sides are my Ribbe…, the …e …es my bones, my flesh the plankes, Gr…stles and ligaments are the … and …n…e-…im…rs; Arter…es, veynes, and sinewes, the severall se … of the Ship; my blo…d is the ballast, my heart the principall Hold, my stomack the Co…e, my Liver the Cisterne, my Bowels the Sinke, my Lungs the Bellowes, my Teeth the Chopping-knives (except you divide them, and then they are the 32, p…ints of the Sea-card, both agreeing in number;) Co…coction is the Caldron, and hunger the Salt or Saw…, my belly is the lower Decke, my Kidnyes Close Ca…ins, or recep…acles; my thighes are long Galleries for the grace of the Ship, my armes and hands the Can…ookes, my Midriff… is a large Partition, or Bulk-head; within the circumference of my head is placed the Steeridge roome, and chiefe Cabb…ns, with the Round house where the Master lyeth; and these for the more safety and decency, are inclosed with a double fence; the one Dur…ter, something hard and thicke; the other Pi…mater, very thinne and soft, which serveth instead of hangings: The cares are two doores or Seuttles, fitly placed for …ntertainment; the two Eyes are Casements to let in light, under them is my mouth the Stowidge or Stewards roome; my lippes are Hatches for receit of goods, my two Nostrils serve as Gratings to let in ayre; at the one end stands my chin, which is the Beakehead; my forehead is the upper decke; all which being trimmed with my fat instead of pitch, and haire instead of O…kham, are coloured with my skinne.
The fore-decke is humility, the stearne charity, active obedience the sayles; which being hoysed up with the severall Yards, Halliers, and Bowlings of holy precepts and good purposes, are let downe againe by ficklenesse, faintings, and inconstancy; Reason is my Rudder, experience the Helme, hope of salvation my Anchor, passive obedience the Capstaine, holy revenge the Cat and Fish to hawle the sheate Anchor, or last hope; feare of osfending is the Buoy, vertues are the Cablo…, hol… d…ires, and sodaine ejaculations the shrouds; the zeale of Gods glory is my Main-mast, pr…meditation the fo…e-m…st, desire of mine owne salvation the Mizz…n-mast, saving knowledge the B…sprit, Circumspection a sounding line, my Light is illumination, Justice is the …ard, Gods Word the Compasse, the meditation of lifes brevity a Foure-houreg…asse, Contemplation of the Creatures the Crossestaffe or Jacobs stasfe, the Creede a Sea-grammar, the life of Christ my Load-starre, the Saints falls are Seamarkes, Good examples Land-markes; Repentance Pumps out the sinke of my sinnes, a good Conscience keepes me cleane, imputative righteousnesse is my Flagge, having this Motto (BEING CAST DOWNE WE PERISH NOT) The Flag-staffe is since…ity, the Shippe is vict…led afresh by reading, hearing, receiving; Bookes are Long-boates, Letters are little Sciffes to carry and re-carry my spirituall merchandize, Perseverance is my speed, and Patience my name, my fire is lust, which will not be cleane extinguished; full feeding and strong drinke is the fuell to maintaine it, whose slame (if it be not supprest) is jealousie, whose sp…rkes are evill wordes, whose ashes is envy, whose smoake is infamy; Lascivious talke is as …int and steele, Concupiscence as tinder, opportunity is the match to light it, Sloath and idlenesse are the Servants to prepare it.
The Law of God is my Pilot, Faith my Captaine, Fortitude the Master, Chasti…y the Masters mate, my will the Coxen, Conscience the Preacher, Application of Christs death the Chirurgion, Mortification the Cooke, Vivi…ication the Calker, Selfe-denyall is an Apprentice of his, Temperance the Steward, Contentation his Mate, Truth the Purser, Thankefulnesse the Pursers mate, Reformation the Boatswam, The 4. humors, Sanguin, Choler, &c. are the Quarter-masters, Christian vigilancy undertakes to supply the office of Starbord and Larbord watch▪ Memory is Clerke of the Checke, Assurance the Corporall, the Armour Innocency, the Mariners Angels, Schismaticks are searchers sent aboard; my understanding as Master Gunner culls out from those two Budgecaskes of the New and Old Testament, certaine threats and promises, which is my onelyonly Powder and Shot; and with the assistance of the Gunners mate, holy anger against sin, chargeth my tongue, which like to a Peece of Ordnance shootes them to the shame and overthrow of my spirituall Adversaries.
My Noble Passengers are Joy in the Holy Ghost, and the peace of Conscience, whose re…inue are divine graces; my ignoble, or rather mutinous passengers are worldly cogitations and vaine delights, which are more then a good many; besides some that aee arrant theeves and traytors, namely pride, envy, prejudi…e; but all these I'le bid farewell when I come to my journeys end, though I would, but cannot before.
Heaven is my Countrey, where I am registred in the Booke of life; my King is Jehovah, my tribute Almesdeeds, they which gather it are the poore; Love is my Countries badge, my language is holy conference, my fellow companions are the Saints.
I am poore in performances, yet rich in Gods acceptation; The foundation of all my good, is Gods free Election; I became bound into the Corporation of the Church, to serve him in my baptisme; I was inrolled at the time when he first called me; my freedome is Justification, it was purchased with the bloud of Christ, my evidence is the earnest of his Spirit, my priviledges are his sanctifying Graces, my Crowne (reserved for me on high) is Glorification.
My Maker and Owner is God, who built me by his Word, which is Christ; of earth, which was the materiall: he fraught it with the essence of my soule, which is the Treasure; and hath set me to sayle in the Sea of this world, till I attaine to the Port of Death▪ which letteth the terrestriall part into the …ur of the grave, and the celestiall into the Kingdome of Heaven; in which voyage conveniency of estate is as Sea-roome, good affections serve as a tyde, and prayer as a prosperous gale a winde, to helpe forward.
But innumerable are the impediments and perils, for here I meet with the proffers of unlawfull gaine, and sensuall delights as so many Syrens; the baytes of prosperity (as high bankes) on the right hand or weather-shoare, and there with evill suggestions, and crabbed adversity (as Rocks) on the left hand, or Leeshore, ready to split me; the feare of Hell, like quickesands, threatens to swallow me; Originall sinne, like weeds, clogge me; and actuall transgressions like so many Barnacles, hang about me: yea, every sinne I commit springs a new leake; my senses are as so many stormes of raine, haile, and snow, to sinke me; lewd affections are roaring billowes and waves; selfe-confidence, or to rely upon any thing but divine assistance, is to lose the Boltsprit; Restitution is heaving goods over-board to save the Ship; Melancholy, is want of freshwater; the scoffes of Atheists, and contempt of Religion in all places, is a notable becalming; the lewd lives, and evill examples of the most, a contagious aire; Idlenesse furres it, and is a shrewd decay, both of Hull and Tackling. Moreover sayling along, and keeping watch, (for they that are Christs friends, you know, must looke for all they meet to be their enemies) we no sooner looke up, but presently we ken a man of warre, and then we must be for warre too, and provide for a skirmish.
Now the Gallyon that hath our Pinnace in chase, and alwayes watcheth for advantages to surprise it, is the Piracy of Hell, the Synagogue of Satan; her fraight is Temptations and Persecutions, with all the Engines of mischiefe; in which the Devill is Master, malice the Masters mate, cruelty the Captaine, Murder the Cooke, Flattery the Calker, Prophanenesse a Quarter-master, Ryot the Steward, Never-content his mate; Pride the Cockeson, Superstition the Preacher, Hypocrisie the Boatswain, Covetousnesse the Purser, Lust the Swabber, Fury the Gunner, Presumption the Corporall, Sedition the Trumpeter, Drunkennesse the Drummer, Vices are the Sayles, Custome the Main-mast, Example of the multitude the Fore-mast, Lusts and passions the Cables, Blindnesse of minde the Rudder, Hardnesse of heart the Helme, the wisedome of the flesh the Card, the mystery of iniquity the Compasse, the five senses, or if you will, scosling Atheists, prophane fowle-mouthed drunkards, and all the rabble of Hell, are the Mariners; lewd affections the Passengers, little conscience the Load-starre; she hath two Tyre of great Ordnances planted in her, heresie, and irreligion, (being either for a false God or none) Oathes, Blasphemy, and Curses, are the Powder and Shot, which they spit against all that worship the Lambe, or fight under the ensigne of faith; her Armour is carnall security, the Flag in her top is infidelity, the Motto (There is no God but Gaine;) Her ballast which keepes her upright, is ignorance; most of her Tackling she has from Rome; Antichrist as Pilot steares her in such a course, that she goes on swiftly, proudly, securely, scorning & scoffing (Senach…rib-like) to heare that any Lord should deliver this poore Pinnace out of her hands; yet in the sequell this silly Pink… having the insurance of Gods omnipresence, findes not onelyonly succour from the Stock of the Churches prayers, which like another Merchant man comes in to the rescue; but likewise that Gods Almighty …owe… and providence is neare at hand, as a strong Castle of defence to free her, whereby she escapes, even as a Bird out of the snare of the Hunter, to praise the Lord, who hath not given her as a prey unto their teeth, that would have swallowed up all quicke; but delivered her from such swelling waters, flouds of affliction, and streames of persecution, as else had gone over her, and even drowned her soule; as it is Psalme 124. while this great Gallion (though it seeme like that Invincible A…mado) flyes, and (having no Anchor) when the stormes of Gods wrath arise, down shee sinkes to desperation, and perisheth in the bottomlesse pit, or burning lake of fire and brimstone; where wee'le leave her, to receive a just recompence of reward.
Decemb. 4. 1640.
Imprimatur
Th: Wykes.
I have transiently found (in making up the Index) some literall mistakes, points misplaced, &c. which in viewing of the proofes escaped me, though obvious enough: and I doubt not but the Reader may finde others, when perhaps bee shall not finde the very same: yet none are (I hope) of such consequence, as to a charitable or intelligent Reader, shall need an Errata.