To pneuma ksopyrén, or Sparkes of the spirit, being, motives to sacred theorems, and divine meditations. / By a reverend father of the Church of England.

Sect. LXXXVII. The Sea-mans Card.

DAvid said not without great reason, that those that go downe to the Sea in Ships, and occupy their business in great waters, see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep: For indeed, those that be often at Sea be∣hold so many wonders and such diverse godly observa∣tions, that they never want there either a Sermon or a Preacher, for every thing a∣bout them preacheth unto them: First, those Crea∣tures that are in the Sea, are great in quantity and in∣numerable,

exceeding farre the number of land-Crea∣tures, and y••t they all mul∣tiply without any lustfull copulation; whereby we see that there is no encre••se like unto that which is void of sin and carnall lust; such as the fruit of Zachariah and Elizabeth was; or of Abra∣ham and Sarah. Again, ••he condition of the Sea doth b••st describe unto us the condition of the world: For as the Sea is in continu∣a••l motion and never quiet, but som••times toss••d up to the heavens, and suddenly falling down again, to the terrour of the beho••ders; So in this world, some are one while like proud surging waves hoysed up unto the highest sphear of honour,

and in a moment again thrust down, into the low∣est Down & Den of disgrace. Secondly, as the Sea is al∣wayes unquiet untill it cast up his dead; So the world is ever roaring and uneasie untill it cast out of it such as are dead unto the world, and live unto God; such the world is ready to vomit up & to surfeit upon. Third∣ly, as in the Sea the greater fish do devour the lesser, and small ones; So do the po∣tent in this world eat and swallow up the poor. Fourthly, as the Sea is full of dangers, as Rocks, Sands and Syrens, &c. So is the world full of tri••lls and travells, deceit and trouble, perills without & terrours within (as the Apostle says)

casting Job into the Dung∣hill, Daniell to the Den, and Joseph to the Dungeon. Fifthly, as often times in the midst of greatest calms there ariseth at Sea the soa∣rest tempest; So oftentimes in the midst of the worlds solace ariseth the greatest sorrow. Sixthly, the Sea is no certain place of abode, but serves onely to bring men to some surer haven or harbour: No more is this world any certain place of dwelling for us, but a mean to bring us to that City which we expect for. Se∣venthly, as a man on the Sea cannot saile whither he would, but whither the winde driveth him; So is it not in the power of man in this world to do what he

will, or to go whither he will, but onely as the Spi∣rit of God guideth him. Eighthly, as the water of the Sea is brinish and bitter, and the extreamest holes and end thereof but sand; So is the world bitter and distastfull, & the end there∣of but sand, dust, and ashes: And as upon the Sea Ships do alwayes sail; So on the Sea of this world, the Church of God like Noah's Arke doth continually a∣bide, whose main-Mast is the Cross of Christ, her Sails the holy Scriptures, her An∣chor true Faith, her Pilate the Spirit of God, hee Calls Christian Hope, and Gods gracious Promises, her chief Master & Governour, Christ himself. This Ship is often

tossed and troubled with the tumults of our Enemies, which are like uno foure tempestuous windes; the Atheist, the Turk, the Pa∣pist, and the Puritan. The Atheist acknowledgeth not the Ship-Master, the Turk would hew down her main-Mast, the Papist would take away her Anchor-hold, & the Puritan would break her Sterne of Government, and cast away her Ordnan∣ces: But God still these windes. Yet those that are at Sea se•• by their Card that in the midst of tempestuous weather the needle of their Compass remaineth always unmovable, & stayeth upon one point, because it go∣verns it self by the Pole. In like sort the soul of a faith∣full

Christian in the midst of all these unruly windes, and sturdy stormes, will stand quiet, & enjoy a most assured peace, because his love and affection, like the needle point, aimeth at Heaven, and stayeth it selfe upon Gods Promise, which is the true Pole and Object of our love.

Spark 87.

O sweet Jesus, sleep not in the Ship of thy Church, still and stay all tempests and unruly stormes that may a∣rise to terrifie us. Lord, look upon us in these dan∣gerous times, wherein we are well nigh covered with wicked waves. Lord, save us least we perish, and re∣buke

these winds and waves that trouble thy poor Ma∣riners.* 1.1 Good Lord, walke thou with us upon the Sea of this world, that if the Sea cast us up as dead, thou mayest receive us. Hinder the great Leviathan to de∣vour us, and the mighty Nimrods of the world to hunt after us, and let the needle of our affection re∣main alwayes stedfast to the Pole of thy Promises. Be with us on the Sea as thou wast with Jonah, and on the Land as thou wast with Jo∣seph; that if we be cast to the Whale's belly with the one, or into the Prisons profundity with the other, yet do thou never forsake us. But till our Cause be knowne, let us still out of

the deep call upon thee; that the deep of thy mercy may help the deep of our misery, & so one deep may call upon another.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 8.23, 24, 25, 26.