The one necessary thing to be sought briefly touched in a four-fold dialogue upon some of the great and most concerning truths of practical religion.

QU. VIII.

It is sure, there are such of that imploy∣ment, and I hope not a few, whose being convincingly serious in the things of God, with a Christian walk, to the credit of the Gospel, is beyond question. But since what you have spoke as to many of these, is too visi∣bly manifest, what are these pressing Motives and Argu∣guments that such, whose calling lyes most on the Sea, have more than others to take Religion deeply to heart?

ANSW. You may judge what a pressing call such have to be in greatest earnest about their eternal state. 1. Who are through most of their time so near a bordering with eternity, in deaths often; and their life hanging so frequently in suspence before their eyes. 2. Such, who cannot but have their conscience oft struck with the sense of a God-Head, by seeing his marvellous power shewed forth in the Depths, so as it may be said, they live and converse amongst wonders, to see that great Body of the Sea, how it is with such advantage made passable for Transport and Commerce; the regular course of its ebbbings and flowings, with the singular use and subserviency of the tides; how it is shut up also with gates and barres, and hath its appointed bounds, without which there could be no reason how a bank of sand could restraine the great Oceans breaking forth. O! what a book is thus spread open for sea - faring men to read, and bring near their thoughts with wondering, to Fear and Worship him, whose voice is so known on the wighty waters; who turnes the most impe∣tuous storme into a calme at his pleasure, which is so far above all hnmane reach, & causeth the swelling of an enraged sea in a moment to know his command and be still 3. What ought such to be, who have not only been oft surprised

with preventing mercy, when they were not aware from dashing on some shelve or rock, or falling in on a bank of sand, and thus brought out of greatest hazard, even before they were put in fear: But have oft likewise been rescued from the very Jawes of present Death, in that manner, when no visible or ordinary means could ever have answered thereto. Oh! Can such deliverance be so easily forgot, and what were then their thoughts of entring into endless eternity, and meeting grim death with such a surprise? was it not then a matter of earnest to pray? Or would you then have dared to break forth into an Oath? yea what a blessed state were you then made to reckon those in, who had been formerly serious about Religion, and how soon may such a surprisal meet you again? 4. What ought such to be, and are accounta∣ble for, who knowes how many thousands have been swallowed up in these devouring Depths, and hears of such ordinary shipwracks, whilst they are yet preserved? Oh! Doth not this marvellous longsuffering and tender∣ness of the Lord have some serious voice? Hath it yet never tended to melt your heart with sorrow and contri∣tion, for so sad a returne you have hitherto given to such forbearance. 5. What solemne and express engage∣ments are many, if not most of such under, and accoun∣table for, which their lips have uttered, when trouble was upon them, and when they were at the very brink of perishing, that if some extraordinary cast of providence had been deferred but a very few moments longer, they had been lost? Now set me seriously ask, what did you really intend? Was it to deale deceitfully with the most High, and be no more serious in the thoughts of this when ye were once at land? If it be so, how can you dare to pray and plead with the Holy Lord in a new Strait: Oh! let me beseech you, lay this to heart, and that to make use of your present calmes at sea, for making sure your eter∣nal interest, would help to make a sweet calme within on your soul when a storme arises. 6. Let me but add this

what advantage such have, who have so clear an embleme of their life and condition here so frequently before them, how thus they are under saill, and moving to that port where once the anckor must be cast down never to be weighed again: yea how there can be no safe reckoning to get safe to that blessed, O blessed and desireable port of glory, without knowing how their course lyes, which from the Scripture is more infallibly clear, than they can be by any Carte or Compass? Let me but further add, how strange it is to see some of these, so far from under the aw and dread of God; that they are not more concerned to put to sea, and work on the Sabbath, without any convincing necessity, than on any other day?