Dedication to Sir John Frederick

Much honor'd and esteem'd,

Although Dedications are too often abused to a vain flattery, yet is there an excellent use and advantage to be made of them: Partly to encourage Persons of Vvorth and Eminency to espouse the Interest of Religion themselves; and partly to oblige those Readers, for whom such Books are principally intended, to a diligent perusal of them, by interesting such Persons in them, for whom they have great Respects, o[•] on whom they have any dependance.

Vpon the first account, a Dedication would be needless to you: for I am perswaded, you do not only in your Judgment approve the Design I here manage, namely The Reformation of the prophane and looser sort of our Sea-men; but are also heartily willing to improve your Interest to the uttermost for the promotion of it. I cannot look upon you as Persons acted by that low and common spirit that the most of your Profession are acted by, who little regard, if they be good Servants to them, whether God have any Service from them, or no, and if they pay them the Wages due for their work never think of the Wages they are to receive for their sin. You are judged to be Persons of another spirit, who do not only mind, but advance Christ's Interest above your own, and negotiate for his Glory, as well as for your own gain: And yet, herein you consult your own Interest as well as God's: Subordinata non pugnant. Your Interest is never more prosperously managed, or abundantly secured, than when it is carried on in a due subordination to God's. Their Reformation will apparently tend to your advantage. Those sins of theirs, against which I have here engaged, are the Jonahs in your Ships: 'tis sin that sinks them, and drives them against the Rocks. One sinner destroys much good, Ecclesiastes 8:11. How much more a leud Crew of them conspiring to provoke God! The death of their Lusts, is the most probable means to give life to your Trade. And as these Counsels prosper in their hearts, so will your Business thrive in you hands. Piety and Prosperity are married together in that Promise, Psalm 1:3. Onesimus was never so profitable a Servant to Philemon, as when he became his Brother in a Spiritual, as well as his Servant in a Civil Capacity. Philem. vers. 11. and 16. compared. And yet if your Interest were forced to step back, to give way to Christ's; I hope you would (notwithstanding) rejoyce therein. So that my present business is, not so much to perswade you, whose hearts, I hope, God ha[•]h already perswaded, to so good a work; as to make your Fames and Respects, which are great among them, an innocent Bait to tempt them to their Duty. And if either your Name or Interest may be useful to such an end, I presume I may use them freely, and welcome: for, sure I am, they can never be put to a better use.

Well then, I will make bould to send this small Adventure in your Ships; and if the Return of it be but tke Conversion of one Soul to God, I shall reckon that I have made a better Voyage than you, let your Returns be never so rich.

How these things will affect them, I know not. I do suppose it will produce different effects upon them, according to the different tempers of their spirits, and according as God shall command, or suspend the Blessing. Possibly some will storm at the close and cutting Rebukes of the Word, (for most mens Lusts are a great deal more sensible and tender than their Consciences) and will fondly imagine that this necessary plainness tends to their reproach. But if none but the guilty can be supposed to be angry at them, they will thereby reproach themselves a great deal more than ever I intend to do.

I confess it is a bitter Pill, and compounded of many [•]perative and strong Ingredients, which do acute it; [•]ut not a jot more than is necessary. I shall beg the [•]ssistance of your Prayers to God for them, and of your [•]rave Admonitions and Exhortations to them for God; [•]hich will much help its Operation, and facilitate my Design, to do their Souls a piece of everlasting Service; [•]ith which Design I can truly say I even travel in pain [〈◊〉] them. Your assistance therefore in this good Work, [•]ill put the highest Obligation upon

Your most affectionate Friend and Servant to be commanded, John FLAVEL.