Chapter 5: Sailors Foresee Danger — Few Prepare for Greater Spiritual Dangers

Sea-men fore-see a Danger, and prepare: Yet few of greater Dangers are aware.

OBSERVATION

HOW watchfull and quick sighted are Sea-men, to prevent Dangers? If the Wind die away, and then fresh up Sourtherly; or if they see the Sky hezy, they provide for a Storm: If by the Prospective-Glass they ken a Pirate at the greatest distance, they clear the Gun-room, prepare for fight, and bear up, if able to deal with him; if not, they keep close by the Wind, make all the Sail they can, and bear away. If they suppose themselves by their reckoning near Land, how often do they sound? And if upon a Coast with which they are unacquainted, how careful are they to get a Pilot that knows and is acquainted with it?

APPLICATION

Thus watchful and suspicions ought we to be in Spiritual Concernmets. We should study, and be acquainted with Satan's Wiles and Policy: The Apostle takes it for granted, that Christians are not ignorant of his devices, 2 Corinthians 2:11. The Serpent's eye (as one says) would do well in the Dove's head: The Devil is a cunning Pirate, he puts out false Colors, and ordinarily comes up to the Christan in the disguise of a friend.

O the manifold depths and stratagems of Satan, to destroy Souls! Though he have no Wisdom to do himself good, yet policy enough to do us mischiefe. He lies in ambush behind our lawful comforts and employments: Yet for the most of men, how supine and careless are they, suspecting no danger; Their Souls, like Laish, dwell carelesly; their Senses unguarded. O what an easie prize and conquest does the Devil make of them!

Indeed, if it were with us, as with Adam in innocency, or as it was with Christ in the days of his flesh (who by reason of that overflowing fullness of Grace that dwelt in him, the purity of his Person, and the Hypostatical Union, was secured from the danger of all temptations) the case then were otherwise; but we have a Traytor within, Jam. 1. 14, 15. as well as a Tempter without 1 Peter 5:8. Our adversary the Devil goes about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. And like the Beasts of the Forest, poor Souls, lie down before him, and become his prey, All the lagacity, wit, policy and foresight of some Men, is summoned in to serve their Bodies, and secure their fleshly enjoyments.

REFLECTION.

Lord! how does the care, wisdom, and vigilancy of Men in temporal and external things, condemn my carelesness in the deep and dear concernments of my precious Soul! What care and labor is there to secure a perishing life, liberty, or treasure! When was I thus sollicitous for my Soul, though its value be inestimable, and its dangers far greater? Self-preservation is one of the deepest Principles in Nature. There is not the poorest Worm or Flie, but will shun danger if it can: Yet I am so far from shunning those dangers to which my Soul lies continually exposed, that I often run it upon temptations, and voluntarily expose it to its enemies. I see, Lord, how watchful, Jealous and laborious your People are, what Prayers, Tears, and Groans, searching of Heart, Mortification of Lusts, guarding of Senses: and all accounted too little by them. Have not I a Soul to save or lose eternally, as well as they? Yet I cannot deny one fleshly lust, nor withstand one temptation. O, how am I convinced, and condemned; not only by others care and vigilancy, but my own too, in lesser and lower matters!

THE POEM.

I am the Ship, whose Bills of Lading come

To more than Mans or Angels are can sum.

Rich fraught with Mercies, on the Ocean, now

I float, the dangerous Ocean I do plow.

Storms rise, Rocks threaten, and in every Creek

Pirates and Pickeroons their Prizes seek.

My Soul should watch, look out, and use its Glass,

Prevent Surprizals timely; but alas!

Temptations give it chase, it's grappled sure,

And boared while it thinks it self secure.

It sleeps like Jonah, in the dreadful'st storm,

Although its case be dangerous and forlorn.

Lord, rouze my drowsie Soul, lest it should knock

And split it self upon some dangerous Rock.

If it of Faith and Conscience shipwrack make,

I am undone for ever: Soul, awake!

Till you arrive in Heaven, watch and fear;

You mayst not say till then, the Coast is clear.