The Seamans Companion, Sermon 1
THE SEA-MANS FAREWEL. SERMON I.
Acts 21.5, 6.
And we kneeled down on the Shore, and prayed; and when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship, and they returned home again.
THis Scripture gives us an account of the manner of Pauls imbarking at Tyre, in his voyage for Jerusalem; and therein an excellent pattern for all that go down into the Seas, to do business in the great Waters. It is true, his business in that voyage, was not to get an Estate, but to witness to the Truths of Jesus Christ, with the hazard of his life. Many discouragements he met with in this voyage, and not the least at Tyre, where he met with certain Disciples that said to him by the Spirit, That he should not go to Jerusalem, though, in that they followed their own spirit; but he is not to be disswaded: Like that noble Roman, Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam. Caesar.and upon a more noble account, he judged it necessary to go, but not to live. The Disciples seeing his unalterable resolution, express their affections to him at parting, by bringing him to the Ship, and that with their whole Families, Wives, and Children, Vers. 5. therein giving him the last mark of their dear respects.
In this farewel, their Christian Affections are mutually manifested by two sorts of actions, Viz.
Sacred
and Civil
in
Prayers
and Salutations.
1. Prayers; the best office one Christian can do for another. As Prayer is the best Preface, so certainly it is the best close to any business or injoyment. In which Prayer we may note the place, posture, and matter or scope.
First, The place, it was upon the Shore, the parting place near to which the Ship rode, waiting for Paul: And this was no unusual thing among them in those days.Per omne littus preces ad coelum mittunt. Tertul. de Jejun. Tertullian tells us, They sent their Prayers to Heaven from every Shore, and elswhere he calls them Orationes littorales. Shore-Prayers. So customary it was for holy Men in those days, to be taken into the Ship or Boat from their knees, not from the Tavern or Ale-house.
Secondly, The posture, they kneeled down. As all places, so all postures have been used in Prayer. Some have used one posture, and some another; but this is the common and ordinary posture, Knees when they can (as an ingenious Author speaks) then they must be bowed.
Thirdly, The matter and scope of the Prayer, which though it be not expressed, yet may with great probability be argued from the place and occasion, to be as Erasmus speaks, Pro fausta Navigatione, for a prosperous voyage, and Divine protection. He knew to what, and how many hazards of life they are hourly exposed, that border so near unto death, as Mariners and Passengers at Sea do; and therefore would not commit himself to the Sea, till first he had solemnly committed himself to God, whose voice the Winds and Seas obey. Nor was he willing to take his leave of his dear Friends, until he had poured out his heart to God with them, and for them, whose faces he might never see again in this World, and ingaged their Prayers also for him.
2. As their Affections were mutually manifested by this Sacred action, Prayer; so by Civil ones too, affectionate imbraces and Salutations. When we had taken our leave one of another. Salutations were used among the Jews, both at their meeting and parting. This latter consisted in words and gestures; the usual words were, The Lord bless you, Ruth 2. 4. Peace be unto thee. Grace be with you, &c. The gestures were kissing each other. These were kisses which a Cato might give, and a Vestal receive. In both these, viz. Their Prayers for, and Salutations of each other, they manifested their Christian Affections mutually, but especially by their Prayers at parting. Hence note.
Doctr. Those that undertake Voyages by Sea, had need not only to pray earnestly themselves; but also to ingage the Prayers of other Christians for them.
They that part praying, may hope to meet again rejoycing; and those designs which are not prefaced with Prayer, cannot wind up with a Blessing. There are two sorts of Prayer, stated and occasional.
Stated Prayer is our conversing with God, either publickly, privately, or secretly, at the constant seasons allotted for it, in the returns of every week and day.
Occasional, is the Christians address to God at any time, upon extraordinary emergencies, and calls of Providence; or, when we undertake any solemn busisiness (and what more solemn then this?) and then the chief matter and scope of Prayer is to be suited to the present occasion, and design in hand; of this sort is that I am here to speak. Now in opening the Point, I will shew
(1.) What those special Mercies are that Sea-man should pray for, when they are to undertake a voyage.
(2.) What influence Prayer hath upon those Mercies, and how it must be qualified for that end.
(3.) What aid and assistance the Prayers of other Christians may contribute to the procurement of them.
And then make Application of all.
(1.) We will inform the Sea-man, what those special Mercies are, he should earnestly pray for, when he undertakes a voyage.
And amongst those Mercies to be earnestly requested of God by him; the first and principal is, The pardon of sin. A Mercy which must make a part of every Prayer; and at this time to be earnestly sued for. Guilt is that Jonah in the Ship for whose sake storms, shipwracks, and ruine pursue it. It is said Psal. 148.8. That the stormy winds fulfil Gods word. If the word there spoken of, be the word of Gods threatning against sin, as some expound it, then the stormy Winds, and lofty Waves, are Gods Sergeants sent out with commission to arrest Sinners upon the Sea, his Water-Bailiffs to execute the Threatnings of God upon them in the great Deeps. Hence those expressions of Scripture. Numb. 32.23. Be sure your sin will find you out; and Gen. 4.7. Sin lieth at the door. In both which places, the Spirit of God compares a Mans guilt to a Blood-hound, that pursues and follows upon the scent where-ever a Man goes. And indeed our sins are called debts, Matth. 6.12. Not that we ow them to God, or ought to sin against him; but metonymically, because as pecuniary debts oblige him to suffer, that hath not wherewith to pay, and expose him to the danger of Serjeants and Bailiffs whereever he shall be found; so do our sins in reference to God, who hath reckoned with many thousands of Sinners upon the Sea, there arrested them by his Winds and Waves which he sent out after them, and laid their Bodies in the bottom of the Sea, and their Souls in the bottom of Hell. O, that is a dismal Storm that is sent after a Man, to drive Soul and Body to destruction! With what heart or courage can that Man go down into the Deeps, and expose himself among the raging Waves, and roaring Winds, that knows God hath a controversie with him; and for ought h… knows, the next Storm may be sent to hurry him to the Judgment Seat of th… great and terrible God? Certainly Friends, it is your great concern to get… Pardon, and be at peace with God;… thing so indispensable, that you canno… have less; and so comprehensive, tha… you cannot desire more. If sin be pardoned you are safe, you need fear no Storms within, whatever you find without: But wo to him that finds at once a raging Sea, and a roaring Conscience; trouble without, and terror within; Ship and Hope sinking together. You are privy to all the evils and wickedness of your hearts and lives. You know what treasures of guilt you have been heaping up all your days; and think you when distresses and extremities come upon you, Conscience will be as quiet and still, as it is now? No, no, guilt will flie in your faces then, and stop your mouths. O therefore humble your selves at the feet of God for all your iniquities; apply your selves to the Blood of Sprinkling; pray, and plead with God for remission of sin: Without which you are in a wo…ul case to adventure your selves at Sea, …o those eminent perils of life.
(2.) Another Mercy you are earnestly …o pray for, is, That the presence of God may go with you, I mean not his general …resence which fills the World: That will be with you, whether you pray for it, or no: But his gracious special presence, which was that Moses so earnestly sued for in Exod. 33.15. If thy presence go not with me, carry us not hence. He and the people were now in a wast howling Wilderness, but bound for Canaan, that Earthly paradice; yet you see, he chuses rather to be in a Wilderness with God, than in a Canaan without him: And no wonder, for this gracious presence of God, as to comfort, is all that a gracious Soul hath, or desires to have in this World: And as to security and protection from dangers, it is the only Asylum Sanctuary and Refuge in the day of trouble. If the presence of God be graciously with us, it will guard the heart against terror in the most eminent distress,Quamvis in summa mortis ipsius pericula incurram. Gloss. Psal. Sacr. as you see Psal. 23.4. Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death (that is, through th… most apparent and eminent dangers o… death) yet will I fear no evil, for thou a… with me. And indeed there is no roo… for fear; for with whomsoever God i… in a gracious and special manner present… these three matchless Mercies are secure… to that Man.
First, That Gods special providenc… shall watch over him in all dangers. Psa… 91.1 & 4. He shall abide under the shado… of the Almighty; he shall cover thee wit… his Feathers, and under his Wings shal… thou trust. As the Hen gathers her broo… under her Wings, not only to cherish… but to defend them from all danger. S… God takes his people under his Providential Wings for their security.
Secondly, He appoints for them… guard of Angels, whose office is to watc… over and minister to them in all thei… straits. So we read Psal. 91.11. He sha… give his Angels charge over thee, to keep the… in all thy ways. Many invisible service… they do for us: Luther tells us the Angel… have two offices, Superius canere, & inferius vigilare: To sing above, and watch below. These are as a Lifeguard to tha… Man, with whom the Lord is.
Thirdly, He readily hears their cries …n a day of distress, and is with them to …ave and deliver them. So Vers. 15. He …hall call upon me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honor him. O, what a matchless Mercy is this! How many times, when poor Sea-men have seen death apparently before their eyes; have they cried Mercy! Mercy! how ordinary is it for their eyes (on such occasions) to add Salt-water, where alass, there was too much before! But now to have God with you in such an hour of straits, to hear, support, and deliver you; O, you cannot estimate the worth of such a Mercy. Pray therefore, for it as a Mercy indispensably necessary for you; and say to him, as Moses, Lord if thy presence may not go with us, carry us not hence.
(3.) A third Mercy you are specially concerned to beg of God, is, That you may be kept from the temptations to sin, you will meet with, when you are abroad in the World. The whole World lies in wickedness, 1 Joh. 5.19. Every place, every imployment, every company hath its snares and temptati…ns attending it. And you know you have corrupt nature, as much disposed to close with temptations, as Tinder is to catch Fire: So that unless the preventing, restraining, and mortifying Grace of God be with you, they will but touch and take. If there were no Devil to tempt you externally; yet such a corrupt heart meeting with a suitable temptation and occasion, is enough to overcome you. Jam. 1.14. Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lusts and inticed. Alass, you know not what hearts you have till temptations prove them; and what comfort can you take in the success and prosperity of your affairs, be it never so great, if you return with Consciences polluted and wounded with sin? He that brings home a pack of fine cloaths, infected with the plague, hath no such great bargain of it, how cheap soever he purchased them. O therefore beg earnestly of God, you may be kept from sin, pray that you be not led into temptation.
(4.) Pray for Divine Protection in all the dangers and hazards to which you shall be exposed. You know not how soon your life and estate shall be in jeopardy. This night you may sleep quietly in your Cabbin, to morrow you may be tugging at the Pump, and the next night take up your lodging upon a cold Rock. How smartly doth the Apostle James reprehend the security of Trading Persons. Jam. 4.13, 14. Go to now ye that say, to day or to morrow we will go to such a City, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, and get gain; whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away. How easily can God dash all your designs, and hopeful projects in one hour! You know you are every moment as near death, as you are near the Water, which is but a remove of one or two inches. How poor a defence is the strongest Ship against the lofty Seas, and lurking Rocks! How innumerable are the accidents and contingencies in a voyage, which the most skilful Navigator cannot foresee or prevent!
Rector in incerto est, nec quid fugiatve, petatve
Invenit: Ambiguis ars stupet ipsa malis.
Ovid.
They are as the Psalmist speaks at their wits end, Psal. 107.26. But, O how secure and safe, amidst all dangers, is that Man whom the Lord takes into his special protection? And he will not shut out those that sincerely commit themselves to him: The Winds and Seas obey his voice; he can with a word turn the Storm into a Calm, Psal. 107.29. Or order means for your preservation, when you seem lost to the eye of Sense and Reason. I have read of a young Man, that being in a great Storm at Sea, was observed to be very chearful, when all the rest were as dead men: And being asked the reason of his chearfulness, in a case of so much danger; he replied, Truly I have no cause to fear; for the Pilot of the Ship is my Father. O, it is an unspeakable comfort when a Man hath committed himself into the hands of God, as a Father, and trusted him over all.
(5.) Pray for Counsel and Direction in all your affairs, and undertakements, and lean not to your own understandings. I know, O Lord, (saith the Prophet) that the way of man is not in himself; neither is it in him that walks to direct his own steps. Jer. 10.23. Undertake nothing without asking Gods leave, and counsel. How many that have stronger heads, than you, have miserably ruined themselves, and their designs, by trusting to their own prudence? A mans heart (saith Solomon) deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps. Prov. 16.9. We must still reserve the power of Gods Providence (saith one) God would not have us too carnally confident.Manton on Jude. It is robbery to use goods without the Owners leave. We forget to bid our selves good-speed, when we do not acknowledge Gods Dominion. This is but a piece of Religious manners. The Lord can blast your enterprise, …hough managed with …ever so much wisdom …nd contrivance. You …re not only to look to God as the Author of …he Success; but as the Director and Guider of the Action: It …s by his Conduct and Blessing, that all …hings come to pass. If your designs suc…eed not, you are presently ready to …scribe it to ill fortune, and say, you had …ad luck; when indeed you ruined it …our selves in the first moulding of it, by …ndertaking of it without asking coun…l of God. In all thy ways acknowledge …m, Prov. 3.5.
(6.) Pray for Success upon your lawful imployments and designs, and own it to be from the Lord. You have an excellent pattern in Abrahams Servant. Gen. 24.12. O Lord God of Abraham thy servant, send me good speed this day. He reverences the soveraignty of Providence, and acknowledges Success to be a flower of the Imperial Crown of Heaven, and the Bridle that God hath upon the reasonable Creature, to dispose of the Success of Humane affairs. I look on that business or design in a fair and hopefu… way to prosper, wherein we have ingaged God to be with us, by asking his counsel, and recommending the Success to hi… Blessing. These are the Mercies you ar… to pray for.
Secondly, Next I will shew you wha… influence Prayer hath into those MercieMercy… you are to pray for; and it hath muc… every way: To be short it hath a threefold influence into them.
(1.) It is a proper and effectu… means to obtain and procure them. Go… will have every thing fetched out b… Prayer. Ezek. 36.37. I will yet for th… be inquired of by the house of Israel, to… it for them. God gives not our Merci… for our Prayers, nor will he give them without our Prayers. This is the stated method, in which our Mercies are conveyed to us; and therein the Wisdom and Goodness of God are eminently discovered. His Wisdom in making us to see the Author of every Mercy in the way of receiving it, and securing his own glory in the dispensing of every Mercy: His Goodness to us, in sweeten…ng every Mercy this way to us, and …aising its value in our estimation. Prayer …oming between our wants, and supplies …s a singular means to raise the price of Mercies with us, and ingage us to due …mprovements of them. So that it is an …le pretence for any to say, God knows …ur wants, whether we pray or no; and … Mercies be decreed for us, we shall …ave them, though we ask them not: …or though God knows our wants, yet …e will have us know them too, and sen…ly to feel the need of Mercy. And …ough Prayer be altogether needless to …s Information, yet it is very necessary … testifie our submission: And though it …rue, if God have decreed Mercy for … we shall have it; yet it is not true, …at therefore we need not pray for it: For Decrees exclude not the second Means, nor render the Creatures duty unnecessary. I know the thoughts, that I think, towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end; then shall you cal… upon me, and you shall go and pray unt… me, and I will hearken unto you, Jer. 29▪ 11, 12. So that it is plain, Mercies mus… be expected in the way of Prayer, that being Gods appointed way, and stated method in the dispensing of them.
(2.) As Prayer hath an influence into the procuring of our Mercies, so it hath a singular influence into the sweetning o… them: No Mercies so sweet as those tha… are received upon the knee. There is… twofold sweetness Men taste in thei… Earthly injoyments: One is natural, an… that those that never eye God in them may relish as much as others; the othe… is spiritual, and supernatural, resultin… from the consideration of the way i… which, and the end for which they an… given. And I am confident, such is th… refreshing sweetness of Mercies comin… in the way of Prayer, that they derive… thousand times more sweetness from t… Channel, through which they com… than they have in their own natures. So that it was rightly observed by him that said, A Believer tastes more sweetness in the common Bread he eats at his own Table, than another can do in the Consecrated Bread he eats at the Lords Table. And then
(3.) Prayer hath a sanctifying influence upon all our injoyments; and therefore no wonder it makes them so sweet. What you obtain this way, you obtain with a Blessing, and that is the sweetest and best part of any injoyment. So you find, 1 Tim. 4.5. every Creature is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer. One Mercy of this kind is better, than Ten thousand promiscuously dispensed in the way of common Providence. By these no Man knows love or hatred; but these surely come from Gods love to us, and end in the increase of our love to him. So that you see Prayer hath a manifold influence upon our Mercies. But it is not any kind of Prayer that doth thus procure, sweeten, and sanctifie our Mercies to us. Some Mens Prayers rather obstruct than farther their Mercies,Si bonum petant boni, bene, ad bonum. but if it be the servent Prayer of a righteous Man, directed by the Rule of the Word, to the Glory of God; we may say of such Prayer as David said of Sauls Sword, and Jonathans Bow, It never returns empty.
Thirdly, I shall shew you what aid and assistance the Prayers of others may give to the procurement of the Mercies we desire: For you see this instance in the Text, it was the united Joynt-Prayers of the Disciples with Paul, that on this occasion was judged necessary.
Now considering Prayer according to its use, and end, as a means of obtaining Mercy from the Lord; the more disposed, apt, and vigorous the means are, the more surely and easily the Mercies are obtained which we pray for. There may be much zeal, fervency, and strength in the Prayer of a single Saint. Jacob alone may wrestle with God, and as a Prince prevail; but much more in the joynt united force of many Jacobs. Vis unita fortior… If one can do much, many can do more… O what may not a blessed combination o… holy and humble Spirits obtain from the Lord? If one Mans heart be dead and out of tune, anothers may be lively and full of affection. Besides, God delights in those Acts of mercy most, by which many are refreshed and comforted; and where there is a common stock of Prayers goings like a common Adventure in one Ship; there the return of Prayer, …ike the return of such a Ship, makes many glad hearts. Certainly it is of great …dvantage for the people of God, to ingage as many as they can to pray for …hem. When Daniel was to obtain that …ecret from the God of Heaven, Dan. 1.…7, 18. he makes use of his three friends …o improve their acquaintance with God, …nd interest in God for him upon that …ccasion. Then Daniel went to his house, …nd made the thing known to Hananiah, Michael, and Azariah, his companions; …hat they would desire mercies of the God …f Heaven, concerning this secret. Some Christians have greater intimacies with …od than others, they are special favo…tes in the Court of Heaven; and what …n advantage it is to be upon their hearts, …hen they are with God, judge ye. I re…ember, S. Bernard having spoken of the …ue frames and tempers that Christians …ould strive to work their hearts into, …hen they are ingaged in this work of Prayer, concludes with this request, E… quum talis fueris, memento mei. An… when thy heart (saith he) is in this temper then remember me. O, it is a singular Mercy to be interested in their Prayers, that ar… in special favor with God. It is true, Jesu… Christ is the great Favorite, for whos… sake all Prayers are heard; and withou… his intercession, the intercessions of a… Abraham, a Moses, a Jacob, signifie nothing; but in the virtue of his intercession, the intercessions of others may b… singularly advantagious to us. Job… friends were good Men, but yet the… must go to Job, and get his Prayers fo… them, before God would be intreated fo… them. Job 42.8.
And indeed, upon the contrary, it is… sad sign, that God designs not to give u… that Mercy wh ch he takes off our ow… heart, or the hearts of others from praying for. When he saith pray not for such a Man, or for such a Mercy for him; th… case then becomes hopeless, the Mercy is set, and there is no moving it. Jere▪ 14.11. But if once a Spirit of Prayer b… poured upon you, and upon others too… in your behalf: You may look upon th… Mercy as even at the door, and count i… as good as if it were in your hand. And thus you see what the Mercies are you should pray for, what influence Prayer hath upon them, and what assistance the Prayers of other Christians may contribute to the obtaining of them; that so …our hearts may be excited and incou…aged, not only to pray for your selves, out to ingage as many as you can, to seek …he Lord for you, as you see Paul here …id, when he was undertaking his dan…erous voyage. In the next place I shall …pply it.
Ʋse 1. And first this may serve sharply …o reprove the generality of our Sea-men, …ho mind every thing necessary to their …oyage, except Prayer, the principal …hing; who go out in voyages without …sking Gods leave or blessing. And here …hree sorts of persons fall under convicti…n, and just rebuke.
First, Such as do but mock God, and …elude themselves by heartless, dead, and …mpty Formalities. Some there be, that are not altogether flight and neglect …rayes, but, pro forma, they will do some…ing themselves, and it may be as a …mplement; or, at most, as a customary …ing, will desire the Prayers of others: But alass! There is no heartiness or sincerity in these things. They are no way affected with the sense of their own wants, sins, or dangers, they never understood the use, nature, or end of Prayer We blame the blind Papists, and tha… justly, for their blind Devotions, who reckon their Prayers by number, and no… by weight; and truly, there is but littl… difference betwixt theirs and some of our Devotions.Discite habere in corde, quod omnis homo habet in lingua. Aug. in Psal. 32. It is S. Augustine counsel, Do you learn t… have in your hearts who every one hath in his lip… O that you would once learn to be i… earnest with God, to pray as Men tha… understand with whom you have to do and what great things you have to transact with God! Ah my Friends, yo… may believe it, that if ever you had fel… the weight of sin upon your Consciences and had had such sick days and night for it, as some have had, you would no… ask a pardon so coldly and indifferently as you do. If you did but know the benefit of Gods presence with you in troubles, how sweet it is; or could but apprehend how terrible a thing it is to b… left of God (as Saul was) in a day of …istress; you would weep and make sup…lication for his Gracious presence to go …orth with you, and would say with Moses, If thy presence may not go with me, …hen carry me not hence. But alass, these …hings appear not to you in their reality …nd importance. And hence is all that wretched formality, and deadness of …pirit.
Secondly, It rebukes much more such …s wholly slight and neglect Prayer, as a …seless and vain thing; who undertake …esigns without Prayer, not at all acknowledging God in any of their ways. And it is justly to be suspected, these are multitudes of such practical Atheists …mong Sea-men, as well as other orders …f Men. Poor Men! My heart mourn…th over you; you are certainly a forlorn …ort of men, who live without God in …he World. It was ancient…y said,Qui nescit o…are, discat Navigare. He that would learn …o pray, let him go to Sea: But now how long may a Man be at Sea, before he hear a praying Sea-man? Let your Families, from which you part, witness what conscience …ou have made to seek God (as you have been here directed) before your out-set… It is said, Deut. 33.18. to the Tribe o… Sea-men, Rejoyce Zebulun in thy going… out; but in this case we may invert th… words, and say, Mourn, O ye Sea-men… for your going out. How deploreable a cas… is this? Let your Cabbins witness wha… Conscience you make of the duty o… Prayer: You can talk and sleep there but when did you pray there? You ther… hear the voice of God in the roaring Seas but when did God hear your voice i… Prayer? You see the wonders of God i… the Deeps, wonders of Creation, an… wonders of Preservation; but mean tim… you your selves are the greatest wonder that are to be seen in the Sea. Men immediately depending upon God for thei… lives, liberties, and estates, every moment; and not once owning or acknowledging him by Prayer.
The very Heathen… will rise up in judgmen… against you,foreign, Cui respondet Socrates, foreign, Plato in Timeo. and condemn you. I remembe… Plato brings in Alcibiades, asking Socrates How he ought to express his resolutions and purposes; t… whom he thus answereth, Before every …ndertakement thou must say, If God will. And we know the Eastern Nations would …ndertake nothing of moment, without …rst acknowledging God by Prayer. The Greeks foreign by the leave or blessing …f God is known to all. The Turks will …ondemn such as you are, for they fail …ot to pray five times a day, how urgent …ever their business be. The blind and …uperstitious Papists will condemn you, …ith whom it is a Proverb, Mass and …eat hinder no man. O, whither will you …rn? And, who shall comfort you, when …rouble comes upon you? Wonder not …t crosses and disappointments in your …usiness; how can you expect it should …e otherwise, as long as God is neglect…d, yea, disowned? Say not, this is the …ruit of ill-luck, but of your prophane …eglects. If the Success of all your busi…ess depends upon God, (as none but …theists dare deny) then certainly the …irectest and readiest course a man can …ake to destroy all, is to disingage God …y a sinful neglect of him. The most …ompendious way to ruine is to forget God, and cast of Prayer. Pour out thy …ury (saith the Prophet) upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy name. Jere. 10.25. Will nothing less then extremity make you cry to God? Wonder not then, if God bring you into that extremity, which your prophaneness makes necessary for your awakening.
Thirdly and lastly, How much sadder… and more deplorable is the case of those that not only neglect to call upon the Name of God by Prayer, but do also wound his Name through and through by their cursed Oaths and Blasphemies▪ who instead of going on board praying as Paul here did, go on board cursing swearing, and blaspheming his great and dreadful Name; not going from their bended knees, but drunken Ale-benches to the Ship.
O the admirable patience of God! O the power of his long-suffering! That ever that Ship should swim one hour above Water, that carries such loads of sin and guilt within it. It is noted in Gen. 4.26. in the days of Seth, That then men began to call upon the Name of the Lord. Some translate the word Invocation, foreignor Prayer, and some prophanation; then began prophaness in calling upon the Name of the Lord. In a mournful feeling of this dishonor done to God by it, Seth calls the son that was born to him …n those times, Enosh, or Sorrowful. Sure I am, however the word be here to be …ranslated, there is a vile generation in our days, that instead of calling upon …he Name of the Lord by Prayer, do call …pon it prophanely, rending and tearing …hat great and terrible Name with the …anguage of Hell. Poor Man! With what hope or incouragement can tho…e …ips of thine, in the day of thy extremity, …ry, Mercy! Mercy! that have struck …hrough the sacred Name of God so many times with Blasphemy? O that …ou would lay it to heart: O that this …ay God would set your sins in order be…ore you.
Is this a beginning that promises a …omfortable issue? Do you thus prepare …our selves to meet death, and danger? O my Soul, come not thou into their …ecrets. O let God rather strike me per…ectly dea… whilest I live, than afflict my Soul through my ears with these dread…ul Dialects of the damned.
Ʋse 2. In the next place this point i… exceeding useful by way of Exhortation to perswade all men, and particularl… Sea-men to be men of Prayer; to imitate that noble pattern in the Text, an… no longer to live in the neglect of a dut… so necessary, so sweet, and so beneficia… to them, as the duty of Prayer is. O… that you did but know the excellency o… this duty! How would you give you… selves unto Prayer! As David speaks Psal. 109.4. Now to perswade you to b… praying men, and no longer to live in the neglect of so excellent a duty, I wil… offer these Motives to your consideration.
Motive 1. God hath stiled himself a God hearing Prayer. For your incouragement to this duty, he hath assumed this title to h mself, Psal. 65.2. O thou that hearest Prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. You cry not as the Heathens do, to stocks and stones, that cannot help or hear them that seek to them, but to the living and true God; by whom never did any upright Soul loose a Prayer. And to come home to your case more fully, he is a God that hears the Prayers of poor distressed men upon the Seas, when all hope and humane help hath utterly failed …hem. So you read in Psal. 107.23, 24, …5, 26, 27, 28. They that go down into …he Sea in Ships, that do business in great Waters; these see the works of the Lord, …nd his wonders in the Deep: For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy Wind which lifteth up the Waves thereof. They mount up to Heaven, they go down again to …he depths; their Soul is melted, because …f trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger …ike a drunken man, and are at their wits …nd. Then they cry unto the Lord in their …rouble, and he bringeth them out of their …listress. So that what the Psalmist elswhere speaks of the mystical depths of …rouble, is true here, even in a proper …itteral sense. Out of the depths have I …ryed unto thee, O Lord, hear my voice. Psal. 130.1, 2. Many a Prayer hath been heard, and miraculously answered upon …he Sea. There have men been convinced …nd fully satisfied, that it is not in vain …o cry to the Lord. So evident and clear …ave been the appearances of God at the …ry of poor distressed Creatures, that …hey have sensibly and thankfully ac…nowledged him according to his name, …he hope of the ends of the Earth, and the confidence of them that are afar off upon the Sea, Psal. 65.5. Who is there among you, that hath not either heard of, or himself been an example, and instance of the Truth? I might here insert many famous examples to confirm it, but the case is too plain to need them, and it would be too great a digression.
Motive 2. Prayer is certainly the best relief to the distressed. We may say of it, as David said of the Sword of Goliah; give me that, for there is none like it. You that are Sea-men, know what the use of the Pump is, when the Waters leak into your Ship; and of what use the Scupper-holes are to you, when Waves break and wash over your Decks: Why, of the same use is Prayer, when sorrow leaks into your hearts, and distresses are ready to overwhelm your Souls. This gives a vent to that which else would quickly sink you. Your heart shall live th… seek the Lord. Psal. 69.32. Prayer will buoy up your fainting spirits; it will sensibly ease an oppressed heart. No fear of fainting, while a man continues praying. Luther was wont to call Prayers the Leaches of his cares and troubles. O but if troubles come in upon a man every way, and he have no vent, no outlet for them; when the ordinary vents of Reason, Courage, and Resolution, are all choaked (as sometimes they are) and there is no succor or relief coming in from Heaven: What a wretched forlorn condition is such a poor creature in? O therefore get acquaintance with this excellent duty.
Motive 3. All secondary means of deliverance and comfort, necessarily depend upon the will and pleasure of God, and signifying nothing without him. What the Psalmist saith of an Horse, I may say of a Ship. Psal. 33.17. That it is a vain thing for safety. Alass! What a poor defence …s it against those giant-like Waves of the Sea? And that men (especially Sea-men) may be convinced of this, God hath many times caused those stately and strong built Ships to perish, and be dashed all to pieces, and preserved those that were not safe in them, upon a Plank or broken piece of the Ship, Acts 27.44. which hath carried them more safely to the shore, than it could do. And will you not yet see that means signifie nothing without God, and that your dependence …pon him, is necessary in every condition, and the acknowledgment thereof so too? I am perswaded there would not be half so many Shipwracks, and disappointments as there are, if your carnal confidence in the means were less, and your reliance upon the Lord more. Therefore it is, you so often receive the sentence of death in your selves, that you may learn not to trust in your selves, but in God. O were but your Sails filled by Prayer, how prosperous would your designs be?
Motive 4. What ever deliverances from dangers, or success in business, you receive out of the way of Prayer, can yield you but little comfort; for they are not sanctified to you. You may be delivered, though you pray not; and Success may follow those that seek not God for it; but that which you call Deliverance, is rather a reservation to future misery; and that you call Success, is but a snare to your Souls. You have the things, but not the comfort and blessing of them. God may give your desire to your ruine: Your lives may be rescued for a time from death, that you may fill up the measure of your iniquities. Your affairs may prosper, and that prosperity may destroy you. Prov. 1.32. At best it is but an effect of common Providence, and of such Deliverances you can never say as Hezekiah said of his; and every one that receives the like Mercy in the way of Prayer, may say of his. Isai. 38.17. But thou hast in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of corruption; for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. I deny not, but a Deliverance by the Hand of common Providence, is a Mercy in it self; and it may prove a very great Mercy to you in the event, if time thereby added to your life be a space of Repentance; else it is but a short reprieval of your damnation, and leaves you to perish under greater guilt, then was upon you before. But on the contrary, how sweet are those Mercies, that come in the way of Prayer, that discover Gods love to you, and inflame yours to him? One such Mercy is worth a thousand of the former.
Motive 5. Consider all you that go out without Prayer, how soon you may be out of a capacity of Prayer. Now you will not, and shortly you may not, have one opportunity to pray for evermore: Now unbelief shuts your Mouths, and shortly death may do it. How soon may you be past Prayers, both your own and others; and be fixed by death in your unalterable condition? O seek the Lord therefore, whilest he may be found, call upon him whilest he is yet near. Now is your praying season; hereafter there will be no use of Prayer. For this (saith the Psalmist) shall every one that is godly pray unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely in the Floods of great Waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Psal. 32.6. (i. e.) Saith Deodate upon the place, in the time of the general destruction of sinners, as it was in the Deluge; then there is no coming nigh to God by Prayer, nor canst thou come nigh him in the day of thy particular destruction, by the Floods of great Waters. O therefore live not a day longe… in the prophane and sinful neglect of thi… great duty of Prayer.
Object. Why, but I observe those tha… pray not, generally escape as well as they tha… do.
Answ. This Objection was once mad… by a Soldier in the time of fight, whe… he was pressed by his companion to pray and God quickly stopt his Blaspheming mouth with a mortal bullet. Have a car… of such bold Atheistical pleas; the… greatly provoke the Lord against you: I had rather die praying, than live prayer…ess.
Object. But to what purpose is it for me to pray, if I am unregenerate? God bears not such Prayers, if I make them; …nd besides, the Prayers of the wicked are an …bomination to the Lord.
Answ. Labor therefore to get into a …egenerate state, and be not perswaded …o rest a day longer in so sad a condition. However, in the mean time, you must know, that Prayer being a part of Na…ural Worship, all Men, even the un…egenerate, are obliged to it by the Light …nd Law of Nature; otherwise, the …eglect of it could not be their sin.
Object. But many pray, and receive …ot: I my self have often done so.
Answ. You ask and receive not, because …ou ask amiss. Jam. 4.3. If we were disposed to receive, as God is to give: We …hould not be long without the answer of …ur Prayers.
If (1.) your persons were accepted …hrough Christ, your Prayers should be …ccepted too. Gen. 4.4. But you are in a …tate of Nature, destitute of the Spirit. …oh. 15.7. And so your voice is to God not the voice of a Child, but a stranger.
(2.) If your Prayers were regulate… by the Will of God, they could not mis… of the desired Success. 1 Joh. 5.14.… we ask any thing according to his Wil… he heareth us.
(3.) If your Prayers had more fait… and fervency, they would not retur… empty. See Jam. 1.6. & 5.16. Wel… then object no more against your duty but in the fear of God apply your selve to it; and dare not to go forth in an… design, until thou hast by Prayer recommended thy self, and thy affairs to God Go alone, my Friends, retire from th… World; and say not, you cannot spar… time for Prayer: Better any thing els… were neglected then this. Tell the Lord thou art now lanching forth into th… Ocean, and knowest not what this voyage may bring forth. Possibly thou mayest never return to the Land of thy Nativity any more; but however it shal… please him to dispose the event, beseech him with all earnestness, that thou mayes… have the pardon of sin sealed to thee before thou go. O beg him to separate guil… from thy person, before thou be separated from thy Habitation and Relations; …est that stroke that shall separate thy …oul from thy Body, should eternally separate both Soul and Body from God.
Desire of the Lord that his presence may go with thee where-ever thou shalt go. Tell him, it is the Fountain, both of …hy safety and comfort. Desire him, if …is presence may not go with thee, not …o carry thee thence. All the relief thou …ast against trouble, is wrapt up in that …romise of his, I will be with him in …rouble. Tell him, those will be tastless …omforts, and succorless troubles, in …hich he is not.
Intreat the Lord with all importunity, …o keep thee by his fear from the sins and …emptations that are in the World. Tell …im, thou art sensibly affected with the …anger, which thy own corrupt heart …ill every where expose thee to: Sins in …uying and Selling, into which thou …ayest easily be drawn by an Earthly co…etous heart: Sins in Drinking, wherein …hou mayest be intangled (except he keep …hee) by evil company, and an irregular …petite: Sins of Uncleanness, by which …ou mayest be overcome in the absence … lawful Remedies and presence of alluring objects, except his fear quench the temptation, and break the snare.
Be earnest also with the Lord for his gracious protection of thee in all thy dangers. Tell him, thou canst not be in safety any where, but under the shadow of his wings. Tell him, at what time tho… art afraid, thou wilt trust in him; and beseech him, that when thy heart shall be overwhelmed with fears and troubles he will lead thee to the Rock, that i… higher than thee. Beseech him also to give thee counsel in all thy streights and difficulties, that thou mayest not lean to thine own understanding; but that he will make thy way plain before thee.
And if it be his good pleasure, that h… would bless thy just and honest enterprises with Success and Prosperity. Which if he shall do, tell him, it is thy desire, and beg the assistance of his Grace, that thou mayest improve all thy Mercies to his praise. If thus you set forth in the fear of God, you may expect a sweet Success, and happy Issue.