CASE. In what Manners, and by what Actions, ought Sea-faring Persons, to make it Evident, that their Hearts are Fraighted with the Fear of God?

By the Fear of God, you know, is meant, Religion. I am now to set before you the Description of A Religious Marriner. There are certain Expressions of Religion, whereby Sea faring persons must, as by so many Flags proclaim, That they have the Fear of God within them.

Very particularly.

I. Let it be a Sensible and a Sorrowful mat­ter unto you, That so many of your Sea-fa­ring Brethren, are so fearfully miserable, by their wanting the Fear of God. All that have the Fear of God in them, shew it by this mark; 'Tis a Grief unto them, to see others [Page 9] without the Fear of God. They may all of them say with him, in Psal. 119.158. I beheld the Transgressors, and was grieved.

Our Marriners are a Generation of men, greatly Serviceable to the Common wealth. Ordinarily they are men of stout and brave Spirits: They are under God, indeed the very Defence of our Nation: And we are beholden to them, for a very great part of those Enjoyments, whereby our Lives are sweetened unto us. The Invaluable Benefits, by the means of our Sea faring Friends done unto us, oblige us to no little Value and Friendship for them. What a Trouble should it be, unto all that have the Fear of God in them, to see such an Useful sort of men, so much abandoned unto all sort of Sinfulness and Wretchedness!

It must be acknowledged unto the Exceeding Praise of God; There are many Marriners, that Fear the Lord exceedingly. We can find many Seamen, that are First-rate Christians, and exceed other men, for Piety, for Probity, for Charity. When our Lord Jesus Christ singled out His Disciples, He chose a company of Sailors. Truly, our Lord Jesus Christ, has no truer or greater Disciples under Heaven, than some that spend their Dayes, not upon the Earth, but upon the Sea. But can we say, They are all such. I would to God, we could. [Page 10] No, No; As the Psalmist could say, in Psal. 36.1. The Transgression of the wicked saith with­in my Heart, That there is no Fear of God before his Eyes: Thus, All people take notice of it, that Seamen, too many of them, too too com­monly indulge themselves, in those miscarria­ges, which declare them to be destitute of the Fear of God: About the Fear of God, we are told in the Word of God; (which Teacheth it:) That it is the Beginning of Wisdom: A man does not Begin to be Wise, until he have the Fear of God. Now concerning Wisdom, we read in Job 28.14. The Sea saith, It is not with me. 'Tis the gloss of a famous Interpre­ter upon it; Apud Nautas non solet habitare Sapientia; There are few Sailors, that have real Wisdom in them.

Now, Syrs, Let the Fear of God, cause you to mourn over those Foolish People, that want the Fear of God, and mourn over all the mi­series, to which they do by their Folly expose themselves. Mourn, I say, and Lift up your mournful Cries to God, for His Grace to be Showred from on High, upon the Hearts of your Perishing Brethren.

II Let the Fear of God, cause you to make all the Sail you can, to Faith in Christ, where alone, your Souls may be Anchored with Eter­nal Safety. What is the Fear of God? The [Page 11] right Notion of it, all the Bible over, is This: 'Tis a Dread of the Divine Displeasure for Sin, driving a man unto the Lord Messiah, for Delive­rance from this dreadful Displeasure, and from all the Causes and Effects thereof. Hence, in Psal. 147.11. They that Fear God, are described as those that Hope in his Mercy; that is, His Messiah.

Hearken, Sailors: You are all of you Sinners. Oh, be afraid lest the Wrath of God surprize you in your Sins; and let the Fright thereof put you upon, A Fight unto the Mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ: [An Incom­parable Definition of a Justifying Faith, some­times received in the Churches of God.] Fly away, with Distressed Souls, Fly away to the Jesus, who Delivers from the Wrath to come. Soul, Thou art hard Chas'd by terrible De­stroyers; Put ashore, on the Mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, by Faith, or thou art undone Eternally.

Are you going to Do Business on the Great Waters! I must mind you of it, Syrs, That you have a far greater Business to do before you go. Get into the Lord Jesus Christ, by committing your Never Dying Souls, into His Ever glorious Hands. A Sailor at Sea may say with the Psalmist, in Psal. 119.109. My Soul is continually in my Hand. But before it come to this, O man, I beg it of thee, if [Page 12] thou Love thy Soul, that thou effectually put thy Soul, into the Hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, by Repairing to Him, and Relying on Him, for thy Righteousness, thy Blessedness, thy Everlasting Life. I Remember, the Poet counted him a Bold man, that ventured first of all, to go to Sea; Audax Japetigenus,— yea, but I earnestly testify unto you; He that will Venture to Sea, before he have Savingly closed with the Lord Jesus Christ by Faith, is a Bold man, yea, he is a Mad man; an hardy, a Sottish, a desperately venture some Creature, It may be said of him, as, in Prov. 23.34. Thou shalt be as he that lyes down in the midst of the Sea, or as he that lyes on the Top of a Mast. Sirs; will you go to Sea, before you have made up your Accounts? Oh, There are sad Accounts between God and you: I beseech you, get them all made up, in your Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Pardon of all your Sins, before you stir. The First Ship, no doubt, that ever was Built, was that famous Ark built by Noah; a Ship, of perhaps forty two thousand Tuns. This Ark, was in This, a Type of the Lord Jesus Christ, That the Salvation of our Souls does depend on our being in Him. Neighbours, Don't step into any Ship, until you are first got into that Ark. It was said, in Psal. 32.6. Every one that is Godly, shall pray unto thee, in a Time when thou mayest be found; [Page 13] surely, in the Floods of great Waters, they shall not come nigh unto him. Don't, Oh, Don't put off the work of Coming Nigh unto the Lord Jesus Christ by Faith, until thou art Lanched forth into the Floods of great Waters: It may then be, All too late. I lay the Charge of God upon thee, That before thy going to Sea, thou Retire, and Ponder, upon the Sinful State of thy Soul, and give no Rest unto thy Heavy la­den Soul, (a Soul ready to Sink under the hea­vy Lading of Sin,) until thou hast found Rest for thy Soul in the Lord Jesus Christ. Said the Psalmist, in Psal. 18.4, 6, 16. The Floods made me afraid; In my Distress I called upon the Lord, and cryed unto my God: He drew me out of many Waters. Consider, poor Sailor, when thou art going on the many Waters, Consider, the Anger of God, at thy Sin, and at thee for thy Sin, is Raised against thee, like an horrible Tempest; and be afraid of those Tremendous Floods: Oh, plead with the Holy God, that the Lord Jesus Christ, has like Jonah, been cast over-board into the Swelling and Roaring Sea of Enraged Justice, for the appeasing of the Tempest; and cry to Him, That though He hath been Angry with you; His Anger may be turned away. When the Sins of a man are Pardoned, they are, as it were, Cast into the Depths of the Sea. Let none of you dare to Sail upon the Depths of the Sea, until your Sins, by being [Page 14] Pardoned, are Cast into the Depths of the Sea. 'Tis obtained, by going to the Lord Jesus Christ, and sincerely thus desiring of Him, and thus depending on Him, O Blessed Lord, Thou art my Lord Redeemer; I come to thee for Grace, and for Glory, and for every good thing. O Save me, as thou art able to Save me, unto the uttermost.

III Let the Fear of God cause you to Steer clear of the Sins, which are the more frequent Rocks or Shoals, whereupon the Souls of Sai­lors are Shipwrack'd. What is the Fear of God? We are told, in Job 28.28. The Fear of the Lord, is to Depart from Evil. [Compare, Prov. 3.7. and Prov. 16.6.] Let our Sea fa­ring People then be Sin fearing people; and count Sin the worst Evil in the World. In­dulge not your selves in any One Sin. You may see one thing aboard, that may livelily set home this Counsil upon you. If there be but One Leak aboard allowed and neglect­ed, that One Leak may prove the Destruction of all. Man, A Lust is a Leak in thy Soul, if it be allowed, it will prove thy Damna­tion at the last, it will Drown thee in Per­dition.

But there are some Vices, which are the Special Vices of the Sea. Against those Vices especially, be all of you warned that go to [Page 15] Sea. As men in several Nations, and in seve­ral Ages, thus men in several Callings, have that which may be called, Their own Iniquity ▪ Now, let a Sailor be able to say with the Psal­mist, in Psal. 18.23. I was upright before God, and I kept my self from mine Iniquity. If other Marriners do those Ill Things which Marriners too often are Used, or at least are Tempted unto, Let it be thy care, O man, that thou mayst say with him, in Noh. 5.15. But so did not I, because of the Fear of God.

As now; Is not the Sin of profane Swear­ing and Cursing, become too notorious among our Sailors? Reform that Impiety, Ye pre­sumptuous Fighters against God, Reform it; else you that now Sail in a vast Sea of Waters, must ere long have that blasphemous unruly Tongue, tortured in the Fiery Ocean of the Wrath of God, where you shall in vain cry, Oh! for a Drop of Water to [...] my Tongue! Think on that word, in Jam. 5.12 Above all things my Brethren, Swear not.

Filthy Speaking, Baudy Speaking, Unclean and Obscene Ribaldry ▪ is too commonly heard in the mouths of Sailors. Leave off this Buseness. 'Tis more loathsome, then all the [...]st cast up in the Vomits of the Sea sick. Make [...] not your excuse, Words are but Wind. [...] may be such a wind, as may s [...]k a [...] in the Waves of Eternal Confusion. Think on [Page 16] that word, in Eph. 5.4. Let not Filthiness, nor Foolish Talking be among you, but rather giving of Thanks.

The Sins of Unchastity, are too often the Sins of Sailors. Fornication and Adultery, and other Diabolical practices do render many Vessels, horribly Foul. Sailors, Be prevai­led withal, to Abhor that Vice, which will render you, the Abhorred of the Lord. It were better for you, to drink the nasty Bildge-water, than to taste the stollen waters of Un­chastity. Think on that word of God, in Heb. 13.4. Whoremongers, and Adulterers God will Judge.

'Tis a significant similitude, in Jam. 3.4, 5. Behold the Ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small Helm, whithersoever the Governour listeth: Even so the Tongue.—That Little Helm in thy mouth; Govern it, O man, and Restrain it, by the Rules in the Word of God; else thou wilt run upon some fatal mischief. Mind, even as if it were hung up in the Steerage, that Command of Heaven, in Psal. 34.12, 13. WHAT MAN IS HE THAT DESIRETH LIFE? KEEP THY TONGUE FROM EVIL.

I will add; The First man that ever built a Ship, once fell into the Sin of Drunken­ness. Are none of you that Sail in a Ship, [Page 17] too liable unto that woful Sin? Oh, Beware of that Beastly Vice. Beastly, did I call it? I have wrong'd the Beasts, by so calling it: Beasts will not be Drunk: To be Drunk, turns Men into worse than Beasts: A Drunken man, is but Old English for, A Drowned man. Let our Sai­lors take haed of being Drunkards, lest God Al­mighty Drown them, yea, Damn them, for their being so. Think on that word, in 1 Cor. 6.10. Drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Briefly; Whatever Lewdness may be too fre­quently incident unto Sailors; I must give you the word, Bear away, Oh, Bear away from it. We read about the Ships of Jehoshaphat, in 2 Chron 20.37. The Ships were Broken, that they were not able to go their Voyage. Ahaziahs men were his Marriners; a Wicked, Horrid, Abominable crue, were the Ships of that King Mann'd withal. Syrs, You'l hazard the Brea­king of your Ships, and which is infinitely worse, the Breaking of your Souls, if you don't break off your Ungodly Wayes, and Shape another Course.

When You are Sollicited unto the doing of my Ill Thing, I wish you would fortify your selves, with the Thoughts of One Thing, which often occurs unto the Marriner. Don't you often Divert your selves with Fishing? In do­ing so, then think with your selves, The Devil has [Page 18] cast out his Hooks, to catch my precious and im­mortal Soul: His Hooks I am told, are Baited with the pleasures of Sin; or, perhaps with the Hopes of Riches: If I do any Sinful Thing, to ob­tain these Pleasures and Riches, the Hooks of the Devil have taken me. But if I am Seized by those Hooks of Hell, what, ah what is like to become of me, throughout Eternal Ages!

In fine; 'Tis a common thing, for Sailors when they have received their Wages, to be gone unto Ill Houses, and there Squander a­way in a few weeks at Riotous Living, all that they have got, by many months of hard Ser­vice aboard and abroad. Would not any Considerate Murriner, call that man, a Fool, and a Sot, and not worthy to be called a man, who should so ridiculously, throw away, what he hath Earned with so much of Diffi­culty. But, O Silly Sailor, come to thy wits, and think, In these Impious Courses, I not only throw away all my Earnings, in such an unac­countable manner, that all mankind will deride me, and I shall tear my own Hair for madness, when I reflect upon it, but I shall throw away my own SOUL also, and for the Shadow of some fil­thy Delight, which is but for a moment, I shall cast my self into the Burning Lake of the Wrath of God, where the Smoak of my Torment will ascend for ever and ever.

[Page 19] IV. Let the Fear of God keep you from car­rying any thing Aboard, that may Raise a Tempest, either on your Vessel, or in your Con­science. There was no Jonas Aboard, when 'tis said, The men feared the Lord exceedingly. Why, show your Fear of God, by not carrying any Jonas Aboard There is nothing of so much concernment, for Sea-faring people, as to have the Gracious Presence of God with them, in their Voyages. Methinks, you should say with him, in Exod. 33.15. Lord, If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up from hence. But you cannot enjoy the Gracious Presence of God aboard, if you carry any Ac­cursed Thing aboard. An Accursed Thing brought Confusion on a Camp; and will bring as much Confusion on a Ship. I come unto you then, as the Angel unto Joshua, saying, Put away every Accursed Thing from among you, that so the Blessed God may go with you, and multiply His Blessings on you. Put away every Thing that will probably expose you, to the Curse of God. You Clean your Vessels, when you are going to Sea; I pray, Cleanse your Consciences.

More particularly. One Caution proper for you, is This: That you be sure, you don't Go out of the way, when you Go to Sea. There was a man, who would needs Go to Sea, when [Page 20] he had no Call to be there: But we read in Jon 1.4. The Lord sent out a great Wind into the Sea, and there was a mighty Tempest in the Sea, so that the Ship was like to be broken. Be­fore you Go to Sea, seriously Examine, What Call you have to Go to Sea? Examine, Whether the Rules of Christianity given in the Sacred Scriptures, be observed in your going to Sea? Examine, Whether in going to Sea, you have done, what you may with peace Reflect up­on, if you saw the Ship foundring, or splitting under you. Could you say, Lord, I am where thou didst call me to be? Syrs, Where are your Sailing Orders?

Truly, 'Twere much to be advised, That the Enchantments of the Sea, may not have too strong and quick a Force upon some, to make them rashly leave Good Callings, by which they might competently subsist ashore. I am far from condemning all that leave their Cal­lings, and go away to Sea; but this we have seen, where one hath Advanced himself, more than two have Ruined themselves, by doing so.

But then, there is another Caution, which is no more than what is Needful for you; This is, That when you Go to Sea, you don't go out with the Guilt of any Injustice upon you. Of the Sea faring, 'tis said, They do Bu­siness on the Great Waters. God will find La­mentable [Page 21] Business for you to do on the Great Waters, if you have not been True, and Just, and Fair, and Square in your Business before you go. Said the Apostle, in 1 Thes. 4.6. Let no man go beyond, and defraud his Brother, in any matter, because the Lord is the Avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you. There are Sailors, that have taken Wages of their Masters aforehand and then run away from those Masters, to Ship themselves with others. Wretch, Go Ship thy self where thou wilt, I forewarn thee, that thou shalt find, The Lord the Avenger of all such. Thus also, How Un­prosperous oftentimes are the Ships, about which there has been any Dishonesty unrepented of? Cheat no man of his Dues: Do not unjustly decline to pay the Debts that are owing to any man. Ships, either Built or Fill'd, not by Right, will find their Sails of such a Make, that no Good Winds will Blow into them. They that by Iniquity in their Dealings, have made Shipwreck of a Good Conscience, what can they look for, but every other Shipwreck?

And perhaps, it may not be amiss to add this one Caution more, unto all the rest. There are some kinds of Passengers, 'tis a dangerous thing to Ship them. There are Sinners, of whom 'tis said, Evil pursues them, and the Ven­geance of God will follow them, Let them go where they will. There are bloody Murder­ers, [Page 22] and Pyrates, and Atheists, and those Mon­sters of Wickedness, that have a mountain of Sin upon them, enough to Sink the strongest Ship under Heaven. Sirs, many a Ship ha's been lost, by having a Jonas aboard. There are some, in such Ill Terms with Heaven, that if one could help it any way in the World, one would not care to carry them: Tis no safe thing, to be of their Mess!

V. Let the Pear of God, put you upon Prayer to God; the Prayer of Faith, and the Holy Wor­ship of God. If there be no Prayer to God, there is no Fear of God: Unto the Prayerless Marriner, it may be said; as in Job 15.4. Thou castest off Fear, and Restrainest Prayer before God.

Now, Prayer must be used before your Voyages, if you would have Preservation and Prosperity in your Voyages. Tis no rare thing, for Marri­ners, to use wicked Superstitions, and Sorceries, & Fooleries, that they may obtain Prosperous Voyages. To Do those Things, is to go unto the Devil, and not unto God, that your Voyages may be Prospered. And however, God may for the present permit the Prince of the power of the Air, to Do some odd Things, for the Encourage­ment of those who Diabolically seek unto him, yet the Impiety proves Bitterness in the Latter End: Horrible Destruction at last overtakes them that were so Impious. Does any man [Page 23] imagine, That Prosperity in our Affairs, is in the power of Man and not the gift of God? The Devil himself, is a better Christian than such a Man. I don't speak this without Book; I find in the Book of God, that the Devil himself said of a prosperous Man, in Job. 1.10. Thou hast blessed the work of his hinds, and his substance is increased in the Land. If men have their Substance increased by the Sea, 'tis by the Blessing of God, on the work of their Hands. Well, If all Prosperity be from God, how can we, without Prayer to God, expect Prosperity? Never undertake a Voyage, without much Prayer before the Voyage, and about it. Oh, Pray much unto the Lord on High, who is mightier than the mighty waves of the Sea, That He would Mercifully order, and Happily direct, all your motions towards the Sea; Pray to Him, Whose Way is in the Sea, Lord, Guide me in the way wherein thou wilt have me to go, about my going to Sea. This is no more than what is required in Prov. 3.6. In all thy ways acknow­ledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

There is a commendable practice among you, to send in your Notes unto the Congre­gation, intimating, That such and such, Bound to Sea, desire a Remembrance in the prayers of the Congregation Well; but have you solicitously Employ'd your own Prayers over your Voyage? [Page 24] 'Tis but a mocking of God, for you to ask our Prayers, if you make no Prayers of your own [...]. Indeed some very worthy Marriners, have used, before their Voyages, to carry their Libe­ral Alms, unto these and those poor Servants of Christ, that were Eminent for Holiness; obli­ging them to Pray for the good Success of their Voyages every day during the Time of their Absence: And God has Bless'd those Marri­ners, most wonderfully. Nevertheless, Pray for thy self, O Marriner, Pray for thy self. What man will be content, that none but a­nother shall Go to Heaven for him?

But what can Prayer do, if it be not the Prayer of Faith? Without Faith, it is not Ef­fectual. It must be Faithful, as well as Fer­vent. Single out such Promises of God, as may suit your Voyages, and let your Faith humbly urge those Promises for His Protecti­ons. One of those Promises, you have in Psal. 65.5. O God of our Salvation, Thou art the Confidence of them that are afar off upon the Sea. Another of them you have, in Isa. 43 3. When thou passest thro' the waters, I will be with thee. A Third of them you have in Heb. 13.5. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Now go before the Lord, and put these Promises in suit: [They are all of them, Cables that will hold, be the stress never so great!] O God of my Salvation, [Page 25] according to thy word, I put my confidence in thee for my Salvation, in my going afar off upon the Sea. I am now passing thro' the waters; wilt thou be with me in my passage? I am taking my leave of my Friends, wilt thou never leave me? For the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ, who has purchased such Blessings for me, Let thy promised Goodness and Mercy follow me wherever I go.

But then, when you are actually Embarked on your Voyages, let the Worship of God, be maintained aboard. Said the Psalmist, in Psal. 5.7. In thy Fear I will worship. If God be not wor­shipped in the Vessel, we may say of that Vessel, as Abraham did of that Country, There is no Fear of God in this place. What an happy, what a lovely thing were it, if your Vessels might be, like little Floating Churches, for the Devotions therein performed? Those Masters, who don't pray with their Families, are very Pagans, worse than Pagans. Now let me tell you, Masters, your Companies at Sea, are your Families. And, if you would pray with them every day, and Keep good Orders aboard, you would find, sober and civil men, would covet still to go with you; yea, your men would Bless God for you, throughout the Dayes of Eternity. Masters, If any of you are Prayer­less, I urgently come unto you, with the Call of Jonahs Master, and I wish your Marriners would also come unto you with such a Call, [Page 26] Jon. 1.6. Arise, Call upon thy God, that we perish not. Call your Ships Company together, and unto some such purpose as This, joyn with them in Calling upon God.

Pray to Some such Purpose, I say; For I give you not this as a Form, nor would I have you stint your selves unto a Form. Thus let every Master be able to say, Out of the Depths, I have cryed unto thee, O Lord. Oh, Let it be said of every Master, as it was of that Captain, He was a Devout man, and One that Feared God, with all his Vessel, and Pray'd to God always. But then, Let your dayly Prayer [Page 28] to God, be accompanied with Reading His Word. In Prayer we Speak to God; In Reading, God Speaks to us. Why should we speak all? Indeed from God Speaking to us, we should be taught our Speaking to Him, and fetch some­thing of what we pray, out of what we Read. The Singing of Psalms, is an Agreeable Exer­cise, to be by no means omitted: It will invite the Angels of Heaven aboard you: And are not Psalms better than the Nasty Songs that sometimes make a Ship, to be but as a Cage of Unclean Birds?

On the Lords Day, still double your Devo­tions; and Repeat Sermons also on this Day of God, by which you may keep alive the Re­membrance of what you once heard in the House of God. Nor let that High Day, be needlesly diverted unto such Things, as are improper for it. I am verily perswaded, and I have good grounds for my perswasion, That if you would Sanctifie the Lords-Day, with much exactness, you would find all your Con­cerns, in all the ensuing week, for the most part, under a notable Blessing of Heaven. I beseech you, Syrs to make the Experiment.

If you will do thus, then, as we read in Act. 27.23. No small Tempest lay on us, and all hope that we should be Saved was then taken a­way: but Paul said, There stood by me the Angel of God whose I am, and whom I Serve; saying, [Page 29] Fear not, God hath given thee all them that Sail with thee: Even so, whatever Tempest may a­rise, if you be able to say, O God, Thine I am, and Thee I Serve: Who can tell, but, O Ma­ster, God may give thee all them that Sail with thee? If the Lord Jesus Christ, be aboard with you, how comfortably are you circumstanced? Marriners that behave themselves as the Disci­ples of the Lord Jesus Christ shall have Him aboard with them. Then, tho' there should a­rise a Tempest in the Sea, insomuch that the Ship shall be covered with the Waves, You may chear­fully Repair to the Lord Jesus Christ; He will be, The God that will perform all things for you. Suppose you should now miscarry at Sea: You may Dy like one Mr. Avery, an Excellent Minister, who being thrown upon a Rock, from their Vessel Staved in a direful Storm, off our Marble head, saw one friend after another, washed off the Rock, into the Sea: And there, up to the middle in wa­ter, expecting the next Wave to carry him off also, he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven, with these Expressions; Lord, I cannot challenge a Promise of the preservation of my Life, but thou hast promised to deliver us from Sin, and bring us safe to Heaven, thro' the Allsufficient Satisfacti­on of Jesus Christ; This, This therefore I chal­lenge of thee. He had no sooner spoken thus, (in the hearing of some that afterwards [Page 30] got alive to the Shore,) but he was by a Wave sweeping him off, immediately wafted away to Heaven!

VI. Let the Fear of God, cause [...]o you a Sense of Death; and make no False Reckoning in your [...]ailing towards Eternity. As a Sense of Death, will help to Excite a lively Fear of God, so the Fear of God will hinder then from laying aside a Sense of Death. It was Expostulated, as an unaccountable Thing, in one that was nigh unto Death, Luk. 23.40. Dost not thou Fear God? Need Sailors now to be minded of a Thing so very obvious? There are none more Exposed than you, to the Dangers of Death. And what? Will not you Fear God? Sometimes you Encounter Terrible Storms, and sometimes Calms in the vast Ocean, do more terribly threaten you than Storms. There are Numberless Accidents also, whereby Ves­sels at Sea are Lost; and among those Acci­dents, it may be there are none more formida­ble, than what happen from Fire, tho' in the midst of Water. Enemies do likewise prey upon Vessels at Sea, as the Greater Fishes do upon the Lesser ones; but the worst Enemies are Pyratical Crues, who barbarously butcher all that may discover them. In short, so near to Death are people upon the Sea, that one of the Philosophers being asked▪ Who were the [Page 31] most, The Living, or the Dead? Replied, I can't answer, till you tell me first, in which rank, you reckon people at Sea. Another being asked, How far a Sea faring man was from Death? Answered, No more than the Thickness of a Plank or two! The Poet Sang upon it; ‘Tam prope Mors urget, quam prope cernis Aquam.’

Marriner, I say to thee, as Jonathan to Da­vid, Most certainly there is but a step between thee and Death. Such a trail Bark as thy Body, how easily is it shivered all to pieces.

Sirs, That pitch't Box of Oak, in which you Sail, what is it, but a larger sort of a Coffin? Coffins for the Dead, were of old made of Cy­press wood, in Commemoration of the First Ship, the Ark, made probably of that Wood, wherein mankind was, as were Coffin'd up.

Come then; Don't flatter your selves with a Vain Dream, of having yet many years to Live. It may be, O Vain Man, This very Voyage, thy Soul may be required of thee. Most Emphatically sayes the Apostle; in 1 Cor. 7.29. This I say, Brethren, the Time is short. The Emphasis of the Original is, The Sails of Time are Furling. Even so, This I say, Brothers, You Cannot say, how near you may be to the Time of your putting Ashore in Eternity. It often proves a most pernicious Error in Sailors; [Page 32] They misreckon, and Reckon that they have yet many Scores of Leagues to run, when perhaps in a Fog, they Strike and Strand upon a Coast, and are broke all to Pieces. It is a much more pernicious Error for you to fancy your selves a great way [...] the Future state, when perhaps you'd Strike immediately, and all Trem­ble at the Stroke. But let it now, no more be complained of you, That Sailors, though they are nearer to Deaths, and oftener in Deaths, than any men Living, yet there are no men, who less Live like men that are to Dy. You Live Surrounded with Deaths; Don't Live, as if Death were an Article, as difficult for to be Believed, as the Resurrection from the Dead.

Would you be duely apprehensive of your Mortality, certainly, it would make you Now to do those Things, which you will Wish to have done, when you come to Dy. There is no one point, that I would press upon you, with more of Agony than This: If you were now going down in the Deep; Suppose an Ir­resistible Wind were driving the Ship, into an unavoidable Wreck; suppose more than Six Foot Water in the Hold, and the Sides of the Ship apace opening the Port holes of Death; and no possibility of your ever getting to Land alive. What Sentiments of Things, would you have in such a Deadly Extremity? Sure I am, you would then wish, Oh, That [Page 33] I had not Lived in any Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts, but Lived soberly, and Righteously and Godlily in the World. You would then wish, Oh, That I had long ago given my self up to the Lord Jesus Christ, and by laying hold on His of­fered Righteousness, Laid hold on Eternal Life. You would then wish, Oh, Let not my Soul now be gathered with Sinners, I wish, I had not been one of them; I wish, I had pray'd without Ceasing; I wish, I had made the Word of God the man of my Counsil; I wish I had never derided Serious Religion, but most seriously practised it. Wherefore, Now use the Discretion, to do those Things, which in a Dying Hour, you may not Look back with Horror upon; do those things, that may comfort you in a Dying Hour, and help you comfortably to say, Remember, now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in Truth!

And I will add; Methinks the Shortness of your Time, [How few Sailors Live to be Old men!] should very particularly cure your Mis­pence of your Time. Sailors, I hear, and I fear, 'Tis utterly a Fault among you. How many weary Contrivances have you, at Sea, to pass the Time away? Yea, but thy Soul, O man, thy Soul, is on the very Banks & Brinks of Eternity. Cast the Line, O man; How many Fathom, I pray? Art thou sure, That thou hast one weeks Time left unto thee? Now, to be for nothing but pastime [Page 34] with this little Spot of Time! Oh, a little more of this Time, in Reading and Supplications and Meditations over the State of thy Soul. That, That would be for thy good Account, when Time shall be no more. As the Apostle says, Pass the Time of your Sojourning, so let it be said, Pass the Time of your Sailing, in Fear; even in the Fear of God.

VII. Let the Fear of God work in you, a zeal rightly to improve the Works of God; e­ven those Works, which at Sea, you are En­tertained withal. We read concerning the Sea-faring, in Psal 107.23, 24. They that go down to the Sea in Ships, that do business in great Waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His Wonders in the Deep. Now there is an use which they should make of what they see. And what use? When some had seen the Great Works of God, it was said upon it, in Zeph. 3.7. I said, surely thou wilt Fear me. When you go to Sea, you cannot but see the Wonders of Creation: See them all, with de­vout Wonders confessing the Creator of them all. Your Ships carry you to Do Business, where you see Creatures, that are full of Won­ders. Let it be part of your Business there, devoutly to confess, These are the Works of the Lord! and adore the Power and Wisdom, and Goodness of the Lord, which is display'd in all [Page 35] these Works. You'l see many Wonderful Things by Going to Sea, which they who Travel not from the sight of their own Chimneys can see nothing of: The Invention of the Loadstone and the Compass, about Three hundred years ago, has led men to the view of Wonderful Things every where, which till then they were more strangers unto; Behold them all with pious Contemplations, and give Glory to the God, Who made all these Things Even the mute Fish themselves, do with a Loud Voice call upon you, Fear God, and give Glory to Him.

But then the Wonders of Providence, these Entertain you at Sea, with yet a more particular Application.

Have you not met with wonderful Mercies, with merciful Deliverances and Salvations, up­on the Sea! Let the Fear of God, keep you from Forgetting those Mercies. The Favours we have received on the Waters, the memory of them should not be written on the Waters; no, but as it were, on the durable Marble. Oh, lay that charge, and charm upon your Souls, in Psal. 103.2. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and Forget not all His Benefits, who hath Redeem­ed thy Life from Destruction. Have you no Journals, of what Mercies God hath at Sea be­stow'd upon you? 'Tis fit, they should be Entred. And when you come home, 'tis well, that you ordinarily publish in the Congregation, [Page 36] your desires to Praise the Name of God, for such Mercies. Thus we read, in Psal. 107.31, 32. He brings them unto their desired Haven. Oh, that men would praise the Lord, for His Goodness, and for His wonderful works to the Children of men. Let them Exalt Him also in the Congregation of the people, and praise Him in the Assembly of the Elders. But what signifie these verbal Thanksgivings, if you don't Live your Thanks, as well as Give your Thanks? Who is the man, that so Offers praise, as to Glorify God? We are told, in Psal. 50.23. He that or­ders his Conversation aright. Now, if you would Order your Conversation aright, be sure to Order it so, as in your perils at Sea, you would have chosen to have done. It is like­ly, that like Jonahs Marriners, you have laid your selves under Vows to God Oh, Remem­ber the VOWS, you have made in your Di­stresses▪ God will Remember them, if you do not Have you not Vow'd, That if God spa­red you in such and such Distresses, you would be more prayerful, more watchful, and spend your Time to better purposes, than formerly? Trifle not with the Eternal Majesty of Hea­ven: Tremble at His Word, in Eccl. 5.4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for He hath no pleasure in Fools: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy Hands? Resolve with the Saint, [Page 37] in Psal. 66.13, 14. I will pay thee my Vowes, which my Lips have uttered, and my Tongue hath spoken, when I was in Trouble.

Again; Have you not seen wonderful Judg­ments at Sea? Perhaps, you have your selves met with Disasters there. Don't fancy now, that a Blind Fortune sent those Disasters. There is the Hand of God in them all. They speak to you, as in Hag. 1.7, 9. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your wayes. Ye looked for much, and lo it came to Little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. You have also been Witnesses, to the Doleful, and Rue­ful Calamities, wherewith others have there been overwhelmed. It was the commination in Isa. 2.16. The Day of the Lord of Hosts, shall be upon all the Ships. Our Lamentation has been upon the Execution of that Commi­nation, in grievous Things, that our Marriners have met withal. Alas, Alas, How hardly have they been used? What Cruelties have many of them suffered; not only from the Hands of cruel Enemies abroad, but also from some of their own Commanders and Officers in their own Ships at Home? To what consuming Diseases have they been exposed, while the Destroying Angels have had large Commissions to consume them, and cut them off, and what Pest houses have even their own Ships been unto them? Upon them there has fallen the seve­rest [Page 38] share of those Calamities, that have of late years distress'd a sinful world; and they have, Dy'd of Grievous Deaths. Take warning by these dismal Things, I entreat you; and let such things awaken you unto the Fear of God. It was said of Tyrus, in Zech. 9.4, 5. Behold, the Lord will smite her power in the Sea; And of others it follows, They shall See it and Fear.

But know it, That if you would Fear the Lord Exceedingly, you must Fear the Lord Sea­sonably; I mean, in your Youth. We read of One, who Feared the Lord Greatly: But that person could say, in 1 King. 18.12. I Fear the Lord from my Youth. Our Sea men are mostly Young Men. And because the Fear of God is no more among them, therefore it is, that so few of them ever come to be Old Men. Hear­ken, Young men. Do you Betimes Devote your selves unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and be able to say unto Him, Lord, I am thy Servant, devoted unto thy Fear. There is a Ship of the greatest Consequence imaginable; The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is that Ship. The Commander of the Ship is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Come to the Illustrious Commander. Request Him to Accept you among His Mar­riners. Commit your selves to His Conduct; That is to say, Enter into Covenant with Him. [Page 39] Do This, now in your Youth, O my Young Folks ▪ Lest you never have any Opportunity to do it at all. Do This, and you will make a more gainful Voyage, than ever the Marriners of So­lomon did unto Ophir, or, Africa; as much more gainful, as Grace is better than the gain of fine Gold.

Upon the whole; Take my Wishes for you all. We read of some, who neglected the Ser­vice of the Lord Jesus Christ; because, Judg. 5.17. They did remain in Ships. I Wish, That this very Thing may Excite and Assist you, to Serve the Lord Jesus Christ; Because you remain in Ships. I Wish, That Heaven may be the Haven, which you are all bound unto, and that your Souls may, as Gaius's did, make a Good Voyage to that Haven. A Minister going from New England, in a Ship, that met with a Storm, wherein they all were Expecting the Vessel to Sink, said unto the affrighted Com­pany, Come, who is now bound for Heaven among you? Behold, One is now Wishing, that you may All be so. I Wish, That you may have an Eye of daily Observation, upon the Sun of Righteousness; and Look unto Jesus. I Wish, That you may duely Regard, the Pole Star of the Scripture; whereto you will do well to take heed, as to a Light shining in a dark place. I Wish, That you may ply the Pump of Repentance, with continual Endeavours to get Sin out of the [Page 40] Hold, of your Heart; and so, Draw Water be­fore the Lord. I Wish, That when the Gales of the Spirit striving with you, are Blowing, you may Spread the Sails of your Souls before them, Sailing right before that Blessed Wind; and when He shall say, Seek my Face, your Hearts may answer, Thy Face, Lord, I will seek. I Wish, That you may often see What way you make; and Commune with your own Hearts, in impartial Self Examinations. I Wish, That you may thus proceed on in your Heavenly Voyage, however you may be Afflicted and Tossed with Tempests, until you come to Cast Anchor within the Vail.

And, As for me, God forbid, that I should Sin against the Lord, in ceasing to Pray for you.