Cluist our Sun is at the highest in our heart?, when they are most holy. (4.) This hohness is that which is directly opposite to sin ; sin eclipses holiness, and holiness scatters sin, Ileb. vii. 26. Phil. ii. 15. 2 Pet. iii. 11. Concerning death, we must know, (1.) Death is cer- tain ; the sun of our life will set in death ; when our days come about to this western point, it will be night, Heb. ix. 27. Psal. xhx. 7, 9* (2.) If we die in our sins out of Christ, we are undone for ever. Job viii. 24. Phil. i. 21. (3.) It is our benighting to die, but it is not our annihilating, 1 Cor. xv. Rev. xx. 12. (4.) After death comes judg- ment ; all that die shall arise to be judged, either for life or death, the second time, Heb. ix. 27. Matt. xxv. Heb. vi. 2. These four heads, and the particulars under them, are as necessary to be known in spiri- tual navigation, as the four points of the compass are in natural navi- gation. The things which we ought to do in order to our arrival to our happiness, our author makes as many as there be points in the compass. And for an help to memory we may begin every particu- lar with the initial, known letters on the points of the compass. (1.) N. Never stir or steer any course, but by light from God, Psal. cxix. 105. Isa. viii. 10. (2.) N. and by E. Never enter upon any design but such as tends towards Christ, Acts x. 43. (3.) N. N. E. Note nothing enviously, which thrives without God, Psal. Ixxiii. 12, IS. (4.) N. E. and by N. Never enterprize not warrantable courses to procure any of the most prized and conceited advantages, 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. (5.) N. E. Now entertain the sacred commands of God, if hereafter thou expect the sovereign consolations of God, Psal. cxix. 48. (6.) N. E. and bv E. Never esteem Egypt's treasures so much, as for them to forsake the people of God, Heb. xi. 26. (7.) E. N. E. Err not, especially in soul affairs, Jam. i. 16. 1 Tim. i. 19, 20. 2 Tim. ii. 18. (8.) E. and by N. Eschew nothing but sin, 1 Pet. iii. 11. Job i. 7, 8—31, 34. (9.) E. Establish thy heart with grace, Heb. xiii. 9. (10.) E. and by S. Eye sanctity in every action, 1 Pet. i. 15?. Zech. xiv. 29- (11.) E. S. E. Ever strive earnestly to live under, and to improve the means of grace. (12.) S. E. and by E. Suffer every evil of punishment of sorrow, rather than leave the w^ays of Christ and grace. (13.) S. E. Sigh earnestly for more enjoyments of Christ. (14.) S. E. and by S. Seek evermore some evidences of Christ in you the hope of glory. (15.) S. S. E. Still set eternity before you, in regard of enjoying Jesus Christ, John xvii. 24. (16.) S. and by E. Settle it ever in your soul as a principle which you will never depart from. That holiness and true happiness are in Christ, and by Christ. (17.) S. Set thyself always as before the Lord, Psal. xvi. 8. Acts ii. 25. (18.) S. and by W. See weakness hastening thee to death, even when thou art at the highest pitch or point. (19.) S. S. W. See sin which is the sting of death, as taken away by Christ, 1 Cor. XV. 55, 56. (20.) S. W. and by S. Store up wisely some provisions every day for your dying day. (21.) S. W. Set worldly Vol. V. O
S12 AN EPISTLE TO SEAMEN SAILING HEAVENWAllD.
things iindei' your feet, before death come to look you in the face. (22.) S. W. and by W. Still weigh and watch with loins girded, and lamps trimmed, Luke xii. 35, 36, 37. (23.) W. S. W. AVeigh soul- works, and all in the balance of the sanctuary. (24.) W. and by S. Walk in sweet communion witth Christ here, and so thou mayest die in peace, Luke il 29- (25.) W. Whatsoever thy condition be in this world, eye God as the disposer of it, and therein be contented, Phil, iv. 11. (26.) W. and by N. Walk not according to the course of the most, but after the example of the best. (27.)"W. N. W. Weigh not what men speak or think of thee, so God approve thee, 2 Chron. X. 18. Rom. ii. 28, 29. (28.) N. W. and by W. Never wink at, but watch against small sins, nor neglect little duties, Eph. v. 15. (29.) N. W. Never wish rashly for death, nor love life too inordi- nately. Job iii. 4. (30.) N. W. and by N. Now work nimbly ere night come, Job xii. 35, 36. Eccles. ix. 10. (31.) N. N. W. Name nothing when thou pleadest with God for thy soul, but Christ and free-grace, Dan. ix. 17. (32.) N. and by W. Now welcome Christ, if at death thou wouldst be welcomed by Christ. A tender, quick, enlivened, and enlightened conscience, is the only point on which we must erect these practical rules of our Christian compass, Heb. xiii. 1. 2 Cor. i. 1 2. Our memory, that is the bocc, in which this compassmust be kept, in which these rules must be treasured, that we may be as ready and expert in them as the mariner is in his sea-compass. So much for the speculative and practical parts of the art of spiritual - navigation. The affectionate part doth principally lie in the .secret motions or movings of the soul towards God in the affections, which are raised and warmed, and especially appear active in meditation ; meditation being, as it were, the limbec, or still, in which the affec- tions heat and melt, and, as it were, drop sweet spiritual waters. The affectionate author of the Christum'' s compass doth indeed, in the third and last part of his undertaking, hint at several meditations which the spiritual seaman is to be acquainted with, unto which thou hast an excellent supplement in this Netv Compass for Seamen. This collec- tion is prefixed, that at once thou mayest view all the compasses (both speculative, practical, and affectionate) by which thou must steer heaven-ward . What further shall be added by way of preface, is not to commend this new compass, which indeed (2 Cor. iii. 1.) needs no C'j?arr/.m irrtioym, letters of commendation , or any panegyric to usher it into an honest heart ; but to stir up all, especially seamen, to make conscience of using such choice helps for the promoting the sanctifi- cation and salvation of their souls, lor the making of them as dexte- rous in the art of spiritual navigation, as any of them are in the art of natural navigation. Consider therefore,
1. What rich merchandise thy soul is. Christ assures us, one soul is more worth than all the world. The Lord Jesus doth, as it were, put the whole world into one scale, and one soul in the other, and the world is found too light, Matt. xvi. 26. Shouldst thou by skill
AiJ EPIStLE TO SEAMEN SAILING HEAVENWARD. 213
in natural navigation carry safe all the treasures of the Indies into thine own port, yea, gain the whole world, and for want of skill in spiritual-navigation lose thy own soul, thou wouldest be the greatest loser in the world. So far wilt thou be from profiting by any of thy sea-voyages. There is a plain 'xnMSig in those words of Christ, " What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose " his own soul ? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?" More is meant than is spoken *.