The Seamans Companion, Sermon 6 – Conclusion
THE Sea-mans Return. SERMON VI.
Deut. 33.19.
They shall call the people unto the Mountain, there they shall offer Sacrifices of Righteousness: For they shall suck of the abundance of the Seas, and of the Trasures hid in the Sand.
THis Scripture is part of the last words of Moses. A Man that in his life was a great Blessing to Israel; and when …e was to be separated from them by …eath, he pronounces distinct and suit…le Blessings upon all the Tribes. As …hrist parted from the Disciples, blessing …em; so doth Moses from his People. Only with this difference, Moses as Gods Mouth pronounced, but God alone could confer the Blessing. Moses blessed them authoritatively, but could not bless them potestatively as Christ did. Now these words contain the Blessing of the Tribe of Zebulun, which was the Tribe of Sea-men. And in them we shall consider these two parts. Viz.
1. Their Priviledge.
2. Their Duty.
First, Their Priviledge: That they should suck of the abundance of the Seas, and of the Treasures hid in the Sands. Affluentiam maris sugere, est marinis bonis, & mercibus abundare. Glos.To suck the abundance of the Sea, is a metonymica… expression, signifying a… much as to be inriche… and stored with the Wares and Merchandize imported by Sea to them. Geographers attribute to the Sea, Arms and Bosoms; and the Scripture, Brests. The Sea like an indulgent Mother imbraces thos… that live upon it in her Bosom, and with full flowing Brests nourisheth them, an… feeds them, as a Mother doth the Infan… that Sucks, and depends for its livelihoo… upon her Brests.
And these Brests do not only afford those that hang upon them the necessaries of life, Bread,Referunt ad eaquae evomere solent maria, scil. ad aurifodinas. Effodient e terra arenosa aurum. Pol. Synop. in Loc. Rayment, &c. but the Riches, Ornaments, and Delights of life also. The Treasures hid in the Sand; as Gold, Coral, Ambergriece, and such like precious and rich treasures which it yields. This was the Blessing and Priviledge of this Tribe of Zebulun, whose Cities and Villages were commodiously scituated upon the Seashore, for Merchandize and Traffick: As you may see Jos. 19.11.
Secondly, Their Duty, to which these Mercies and Priviledges obliged them. They shall call the People to the Mountain, there they shall offer Sacrifices of Righteousness. By the Mountain, we are here to understand the Temple, which Moses, by the Spirit of Prophesie, foresaw to be built upon Mount Sion, and Mount Moriah; which two were as the Shoulders that supported it, Vers. 12. Here was the Worship of God; the Sacrificers were here offered up to him. And hither Zebulun, in the sense of Gods Mercies to them, should call the People, (i. e.) say some, their own People, their Families, and Neighbors; or as others, the Strangers that were among them for Traffick. Saying as Isai. 2.3. Come, let us go up to the House of the Lord, to the Mountain of the God of Jacob. And here they shall offer the Sacrifices of Righteousness. By which we are to understand their Thanks-offerings for the Mercies they had received of the Lord. The Jews had not only Expiatory Sacrifices to procure the pardon of sins committed, but Eucharistical Sacrifices, or Thanks-offerings, to testifie the sense they had of Mercies received. These Sacrifices typified Moral Duties and when these Types were abolished, the Apostle shews, that the calves of our lips, the sacrifices of praise, are in the stead of them, Heb. 13.15.
So then, the sum of all, is this, That when they returned from Sea, or had received the Blessings thereof, from the Hand of God, they should repair to the place of his Worship, and there acknowledge and praise the God of their Mercies. So that the whole Verse thus explained, casts it self into this Doctrinal observation.
Doctr. That it is the special duty of Sea-men, when God returns them to their habitations in peace, thankfully to acknowledge and bless his Name, for all the preservations and mercies they have received of his hand.
These are Mercies indeed, which are obtained from God by Prayer, and returned to him again by praise. When we have received our Mercies, God expects his praises: After the Psalmist had opened the hazards and fears of Sea-men upon the Stormy Ocean, and the goodness of God, in bringing them to their desired Haven, Psal. 107.30. he presently calls upon them for this duty, Vers. 31. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
O that men would, why, how is it imaginable they should not? He hath the heart of a Beast, not of a Man, that will not. Did I say the heart of a Beast? Give me that word again. There is a kind of gratitude, even in Beasts, to their Benefactors. The Ox knoweth his owner, and the Ass his Masters Crib. Isai. 1.3.
Now the method into which I will cast the discourse, shall be
First, To open the nature of the duty, and to shew you what it is to praise God for his Mercies.
Secondly, To give you the Grounds and Reasons of the Duty, why God expects it, and you ought to give it him. And then
Thirdly, To apply it in the several Uses it is improvable unto.
1. The nature of the Duty needs opening, for few understand what it is. Alass, it is another manner of thing than a customary, formal, cold, God be thanked. Now, if we search into the nature of this duty, we shall find that whoever undertakes this Angelical work, must
First, Be a heedful Observer of the Mercies he receives. This is fundamental to the Duty. Where no Observations of Mercies have been made, no praises for them can be returned. God was never honored by his unobserved Mercies. When David had opened the Providences of God, to the several degrees and orders of Men, in its various administrations; and called upon them distinctly, to praise God for them. He adds in the close of all, Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Psal. 107. ult. It is Gods charge against Israel, Hosea 2.8. She did not know that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, and multiplied her Silver. i. e. She did not observe and take notice of these Mercies, as coming from my hand; but only look at the next cause. Thus it is with many, they think not upon their own Mercies; others can observe them, but they cannot; they can quickly observe what troubles befal them, but take little notice of their own Mercies. Such men can never be thankful.
Secondly, The thankful man must not only observe what Mercies he hath, and from whom they come; but must particularly consider them, in their natures, degrees, seasons, and manner of conveyance. There is much of Gods glory, and our comfort lost for want of this. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psal. 111.2. And indeed, there is no imployment in all the World, that yields more pleasure to a gracious Soul, than the Anatomising of Providences doth. How sweet is it to observe the mutual respects, coincidencies, and introductive occasions of our Mercies! Every minute circumstance hath its weight and value here. He hath little pleasure in his meat, that swallows it whole without chewing.
Thirdly, The thankful person must duly estimate and value his Mercies. It is impossible that man can be thankful for Mercies he little esteems. Israel could not praise God for that Angels food with which he fed them, whilest they despised it in saying, There is nothing but this Manna.
And surely it shews the great corruption of our nature, That those things which should raise the value of Mercies with us, cause us the more to slight them; yet thus it falls out. The commonness, or long continuance of Mercies with us, which should indear them the more, and every day increase our obligation to God; causes them to seem but cheap and small things. And therefore doth God so often threaten them, yea, and remove them; that their worth and excellency may thereby be acknowledged.
Fourthly, The thankful person must faithfully Record his Mercies, else God cannot have his due praise for them. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits, Psal. 103.2. Forgotten re-M cies bear no fruit: A bad memory in this case, makes a barren heart and life.
I confess, the Mercies of God are such a multitude, that a memory of Brass cannot retain them. I will come before thee in the multitude of thy mercies, saith David, Psal. 5.7. They are called Showers of Blessings, Ezek. 34.26. And as impossible it is distinctly to recount all our Mercies, as to number the drops of rain that fall in a shower. Nevertheless, it hath been the pious care and indeavor of the People of God, to preserve and perpetuate his Mercies, by using all the helps to memory they could. Therefore they have kept Registers, Exod. 17.14. Indited Psalms. To bring to remembrance, Psal. 70. Title. Denominated places from the Mercies received there. Thus Jacob called the place where he found so much mercy, Bethel. Hagar named the Well, where God, unexpectedly, relieved her, Beerlahairoi. The Well of him that liveth and looketh upon me, Gen. 16.13, 14.
They have stamped the Mercies upon the days, in which they received them. Thus the Jews called those days, in which God wrought their deliverance, Purim, after the name Pur. Signifying the Lot Haman had cast for their lives. Esth. 9.26. Yea, they have called their Mercies upon their Children. 1 Sam. 1.20. Thus thankful Souls have striven to recognize their Mercies, that God might not lose the praise, nor themselves the comfort of them.
Fifthly, The thankful Person must be suitably affected with the Mercies he receives. It is not a speculative, but an affectionate remembrance that becomes us: Then God hath his glory, when the sense of his Mercies melts our hearts into holy joy, love, and admiration. Thus David sits down before the Lord like a man astonished at his goodness to him. 2 Sam. 7.20. And what can David say more? For thou Lord knowest thy servant. The Mercies of God have made the Saints hearts leap for joy within them. Psal. 92.4. Thou Lord hast made me glad, through thy Works; therefore will I triumph in the Works of thy hands. Mercies are not Mercies, Deliverances are no Deliverances to us, if we that receive them, are not glad of them.
Sixthly, The thankful Person must order his conversation suitably to the ingagements that his mercies have put him under. When we have said all, it is the life of the thankful, that is the very life of thankfulness. Obedience and service are the only real manifestations of gratitude. He that offereth praise, glorifieth me, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God. Psal. 50.23. Set down this for an everlasting truth, That God was never praised and honored by an abused Mercy. God took it ill from Hezekiah, That he rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him. 2 Chro. 32.25. He that is truly thankful, will say as David, Psal. 116.12. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? We then glorifie God with his Mercies, when we imploy them to right ends, when we thankfully take out our own share of comfort from them, receiving them with thanksgiving, as from the hand of a Father. Mr. Swinock tels of a young man,Swinocks Christian Mans Calling, pag. 409. who lying upon his sick bed, was always calling for meat; but assoon as it was brought him, he shook and trembled dreadfully at the fight of it, and so continued till it was taken away; and before his death, acknowledged Gods Justice; for that in his health, he ordinarily received his Meat without thanksgiving.
Use all Gods Mercies with thankfulness, God will remember them in fury, who forget him in his favors.
And think not what God bestows upon you, is wholly for your own use: But honor God with your Mercies, by cloathing the naked, and feeding the hungry, especially such as are Godly. This is a due improvement of your Estates; thus you may make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness. Ah, how little do we consider, what praise, what glory, we may occasion this way from others to the Name of God!Justin. Lib. 51. It is storied of Dionysius, the Syracusian Tyrant; that when he saw what heaps of Gold and Silver his son hoarded up in his Closet. He asked him, what he meant to let it lie there, and not to make friends with it, to get the Kingdom after his death? O Son (said he) thou hast not a spirit capable of a Kingdom. Thus honor the Lord with your substance; look upon all you have as your Masters Talents; for which, you must give an account: And so use and imploy them for God, that you may give up your account with joy; and then you will shew your selves thankful indeed. Thus you see what is included in real thankfulness. O, it is another matter than we take it to be.
2. Next I promised to give you the Grounds and Reasons of this Duty. Why you are obliged after the receit of Mercies, to such a thankful return of praises. And among many, I will only single out these three, and briefly open them.
First, God requires and expects it. It is so special and peculiar a part of his glory, as he will never part with it. As great Landlords oblige their Tenants to an homage and service, when they make over their Estates to them, and reserve a quit Rent to themselves, which they value at an high rate; so God when he bestows Deliverances … Mercies upon us, still reserves an acknowledgment to himself: And this is dear to him, he will not indure to be defrauded of it; much less, that it be given to another. You find this reservation of praise expresly made by him in Psal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie me… Where you have the request, the grant and the reservation in the grant, q. d When I have granted thee thy desire, see thou do not defraud me of my glory There be three things in every Mercy the matter of it, the comfort of it, and the glory of it. The two first, God make… over freely to us, he gives the MercieMercy… themselves, he allows us to suck out al… the lawful pleasure, and delight that is in them; but the third he reserves to himself, and will never part with to any other. If an Hezekiah himself render not to God due acknowledgments, as well as God loves him, there shall be great wrath upon him, and Judah, for the default. 2 Chro. 32.26.
Secondly, You are under manifold ingagements to render it to the Lord.
(1.) Common ingenuity obliges to a due acknowledgment of favors freely received, and unthankfulness on tha… score, is the odium of mankind. Ingratum si dicas, omnia dixeris. You cannot give a man a more odious character among men, than to say, He is an ungrateful man.
(2.) The examples of the very Heathen will condemn you. They praised their gods, which yet were no gods, when they received any deliverance. Judg. 16.24. Shall Idols, Dunghil-Deities, receive their sacrifices and praises, whilest the true God is forgotten?
Nay (3) many of you have formally and expresly obliged your Souls to it, by solemn vows and promises in the day of your distress: And yet will you deal perfidiously with God? Will you not pay the vows which your lips have uttered? Certainly, you can never free your Souls from the guilt of perfidiousness against God, whilest you give him not the glory due to his name.
3. Lastly, Your ingratitude is the ready way to deprive you of the Mercies you have, and to withhold from you the Mercies you might have in your future distresses and wants. He that is ungrateful for Mercies received, provokes God to remove them. Thus it fell out with ungrateful Israel. Hos. 2.5, 8, 9. She did not know, (i. e.) She did not with consideration and thanks duly acknow…edge) That I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oyl. Therefore will I return, and take away my Corn in the time thereof; and my Wine in the season thereof: And will recover my Wool, and my Flax. Thus they suffered their Mercies to lapse into the Lords hand for non-payment of their Duties. If you be weary of your Mercies, and willing to be rid of them, you cannot take a more effectual course, than to forget from whom you had them, and withhold his praise for them.
And then, for future Mercies and Deliverances, you have no ground to expect any more from God, whom you have thus requited for former favors. He that gives no thanks for one Mercy, hath little ground to expect another. It was a sad word which God spake upon this very provocation. Judg. 10.11, 12, 13. When a new distress befel Israel by the Ammonites, and they cried to the Lord for help; he tells them, That he had many times delivered them from their enemies. Yet, saith he, have you forsaken me, and served other gods. Wherefore I will deliver you no more; go and cry to the gods which ye have chosen, and let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. q. d. With what face can you come to me for new Merrcies and Deliverances, when your selves know, how former Mercies have been abused! Think ye that I am weary of my Mercies, to cast them away upon such unthankful wretches? No, no. Expect no more Mercies from me, I will deliver you no more. One of the Fathers calls ingratitude, Obex infernalis. An Hellish stop; which interrupts the course and current of all Gods Mercies. Mercy is not only a precious thing, too good to be cast away, but it is a very tender thing, and God deeply resents the abuses of it. Thus you see the Grounds and Reasons of your duty; it remains now that we apply it.
1 Ʋse. Is it your unquestionable Duty to return praises upon every receit of Mercies? Then in the first place, bear your shame and just reproof for your manifest unthankfulness. You dare not deny, but you have received many signal and eminent Mercies from the Hands of God. If you should deny that, I need go no farther to prove you prodigiously ungrateful. But it is too manifest to be denied: You have found God a very present help in trouble; his Mercy hath often rescued you out of the very jaws of death. Some of you have been in dangers in the Deeps; in Deaths oft. You have been put to your wits end; all visible hope and help failed. You might have said with the Psalmist, Psal. 142.4. I looked upon my right hand, and there was none; and upon the left, but refuge failed. You have seen your companions intombed before your eyes in the Seas, and concluded in your own thoughts, your turn was next. You have been in danger by barbarous enemies, that have chased you upon the Sea, to make you a prey: Yea, it may be you have been a prey to them, and never thought to have seen the Land of your Nativity; your Houses, Wives, and Children any more. You have languished under dangerous diseases, and that remote from friends, and necessary accommodations. You have lost your Estates, and been reduced to a low ebb, and never thought to have seen a day of prosperity any more. Yet hath the Lord delivered you out of all your troubles: He hath provided unexpected means of preservation, when the proud Waters were ready to go over your Souls. And though others went down before your eyes, you were marked out for Deliverance. God spake to the raging Waves, saying, Touch not this Man▪ I will not deliver him up, though I have done so by others. When cruel enemies chased you, he delivered you, causing the darkness of the night to interpose seasonably betwixt you and them; as the dark side of the Cloud shadowed Israel from the Egyptians that pursued them. Exod. 14.20. Sometimes giving you a favorable gale, which blew Mercy and Deliverance to you: Sometimes by strengthning you to resist their furious attacks, and delivering you from their rage; or, if he delivered you into their hands, yet there he preserved you, inabling you to indure their severities, or causing the enemy to intreat you well; and finding out a way which you knew not, to bring you at last out of the House of Bondage.
He pitied you under your dangerous diseases, and though necessary accommodations and means might be wanting he was your Physician, and healed you; he recovered you immediately without means, or blessed weak and small means to your good. When you were reduced by losses, and captivities to a low ebb. So that you might say as the Church, Lam. 3.17. I forgat Prosperity. He hath not only recruited thy strength, but thy estate also; and when both thy body and estate, like an old leaky Ship, have been ready to sink; he hath stopped the leaks in both, careened, repaired, and launched thee into the World again, as whole, as sound, and strong as ever.
And now Reader, suffer me to account and expostulate a little with thy Conscience. What hath the fruit of all these Mercies been to thee? And how hast thou carried it since those days, towards the God of thy Mercies. Hast thou indeed been melted by the sense of all this kindness into love, thankfulness, and new obedience? Have these favors ingaged thee to more strictness in thy duties, and greater watchfulness against sin? Hast thou said with that good man, Ezra 9.13, 14. And now, my God, seeing thou hast punished me less than mine iniquities deserve, and hast given me such Deliverances as these, should I again break thy Commandments? If it be so, surely Mercy and Goodness shall follow thee all the days of thy l…fe. The Lord then reckons all these Mercies well bestowed, and will never repent that he hath done thee good.
But I fear this is not thy case. Sure I am, there are some among you that have quickly forgotten the God that delivered you. Some that have abused him to his face, by ascribing his Mercies to good luck, chance, and fortune; not once owning him as your Deliverer. And some that have made his Mercies weapons of sin, to wound him withal, wasting your estates by prodigality, which were given to refresh your Families, and Gods poor; yea, abusing them to drunkenness and luxury: And is this the thanks you return him? For which of all my good Works (saith Christ to the Jews) do you stone me? So say I, for which of all Gods kindnesses to you, do you thus dishonor and abuse him? O let shame cover your faces this day. Go Reader, sold down this Leaf, and get thee to thy knees, and say, I am the man to whom this reproof is sent. I have abused the God of my Mercies, I have turned his Grace into wantonness Smite with Ephraim upon thy thigh, and say, What have I done! Mourn heartily for thy unkindness to thy best Friend, The God that hath done thee good all thy life long; and deserves other returns from thee than these.
2 Ʋse. Lastly, It calls upon you all to be thankful for your Mercies. Chrysostome once wished for a voice like Thunder, that all Men might hear him. O that I could so call you to this duty, that some of you might effectually hear Gods call in this Exhortation.
Will you own the hand that delivers you, that feeds, cloaths, and heals you? Will you resolve to live the life of praise? And render to the Lord according to the benefits you have received? Will you indeed walk humbly and thankfully, under all your Deliverances and Successes, and glorifie God by that, wherewith he hath comforted and refreshed you? If there be any saving knowledge of God, and spiritual sense of his love in your Souls, methinks I should prevail with you; for do but weigh these following Arguments seriously, and they will ingage you to it.
1 Argument. How freely have all your Mercies streamed to you, from the Fountain of Grace! There was nothing in you to ingage it. The very notion of Mercy includes freeness; they are all bestowed upon us, not only as we are immerentes, but male merentes, undeserving, but ill deserving Creatures; not only without our merits, but against our merits. And what though there be … concurrence of your abilities, headwork, and hand-work, in the procurement of some of your Mercies, yet still those Mercies are the pure effects of Free-grace: For all those indeavors of yours had signified nothing to their procurement, without Gods Blessing; yea, and that wisdom and industry which you used, are themselves the Free-gifts of God. You know there be thousands in the World, as industrious and wise as you, and such as never provoked God by such sins as you have; who yet are denied the Mercies you injoy. O, how should this indear you to God!
2 Argument. How seasonably your Mercies have been bestowed upon you, in the very nick of extremity and danger? God hath on purpose suffered it to grow to an extremity, that thereby he might commend his Mercy to you with the greater advantage. In the Mount of the Lord it hath been seen. Gen. 22.14 Without this, God saw his MercieMercy would have been slighted and low prize… by you. But God hath watched the opportunity of bestowing his goodness upon you, for no other end, but to magnifie his Mercies in your eyes, and mak… the deeper and more lasting impression upon your hearts. Shall such Mercies which at first were so amazing, and overwhelming to you; at the receit whereof you were like men that dreamed, as th… Psalmist speaks, Psal. 126.1. So soo… grow stale and common? God forbid.
3 Argument. How special and distinguishing, have some of your Mercies been? God hath not dealt with every one, as he hath with you. Are not some that went out with you, found wanting at your return? They are among the dead, it may be among the damned, and you among the living, yet injoying the capacity and means of Salvation. God hath prospered your Voyage, and returned you with Success; you have sucked the abundance of the Sea, and the Treasures hid in the Sand, as the Text speaks; but others may say as Naomi, Ruth 1.21. I went out full, and am come back empty. … went out full of hopes, and come back with sad disappointments; and is not his a strong tie to Thanksgiving?
4 Argument. Did not your Mercies …ind you under great guilt? You know what your own transgressions against the Lord were; and yet such was the …trength of Mercy, that it brake …hrough all your great provocations, …nd made its way to you through a mul…itude of iniquities. It came triumphing over all your great unworthiness, and is not such Mercy worthy to be admired and recorded for ever! O what will affect and melt your hearts, if this will not? Surely such Mercies have a constraining power in them, upon all sensible Souls.
5 Argument. To conclude, if all the goodness of God, which hath passed before your eyes, do indeed prevail upon you, to love the Lord, and fear to offend him; if they really constrain you to give up your selves, and all you have, to be his: Then all these, are but the beginnings of Mercies, and you shall see yet greater things than these. God hath more Mercies yet behind, and those of an higher kind, and more excellent nature than these Temporal Mercies are. You are now delivered from the dangers of the Sea, and have escaped those perils: O but what is this, to deliverance from wrath to come? You have been preserved from, or delivered out of Turkish slavery. But what is that to a Deliverance from the curse of the Law, the bondage of your Lusts, and the power of Satan? Happy Souls, if these Deliverances prove introductive to the great Salvation.
The Conclusion.
Thus I have (as the Lord hath inabled me) indeavored to chuse, and improve proper subjects for your Meditation in every condition that befals you. I cannot carry these Truths one degree farther; it is the Lord only, that can make them effectual to your Souls. But it is my earnest request to you Masters, that have the over-sight, and must give an account for your Companies, That you will not only read and consider these things your selves, but that you will at fit seasons, especially upon the Lords day, read and inculcate them upon your Servants and Company; and that, as those, who must give an account. Will not this be a better expence of that precious and hallowed time, than to spend it in sleeping in your Cabbins, or drinkin Tipling-Houses? All that sin of theirs which you may prevent, and do not; becomes your own sin. And have you not personal sins enough already, but you must draw the guilt of their sins upon you also? I beseech you, and it is my last request, That you will faithfully labor, that you and your Companies may serve the Lord.
FINIS.