hazard of his life. Many difcouragements he met with in this voyage, and not the leaft at Tyre, where he met with certain difciples that faid to him, by the Spirit, that he fhould not go to Jerufalem, though, in that, they followed their own fpirit; but he is not to be diffuaded: Like that noble Roman*, and upon a more noble account, he judged it neceffary to go, but not to live.' The difciples feeing his unalterable refolution, exprefs their affections to him at parting, by bringing him to the fhip, and that with their whole families, wives and children, ver. 5. therein giving him the last mark of their dear refpects.

In the farewel, their Chriftian affections are mutually manifested by two forts of actions,-viz. Sacred and Civil-in prayers and falu

tations.

1. Prayers; the beft office one christian can do to another. As prayer is the best preface, fo certainly it is the best close to any bufinefs or enjoyment: In which prayer we may note the place, pofture, and matter or fcope.

Firft. The place; it was upon the fore, the parting place near to which the fhip rode, waiting for Paul: And this was no unufual thing among them in those days. Tertullian + tells us, "they fent their prayers to heaven from every fhore ;" and elsewhere, he calls them, orationes littorales, "fhore prayers." So cuftomary it was for holy men, in thofe days, to be taken into the fhip or boat from their knees, not from the tavern or ale-house.

Secondly, The pofture; "they kneeled down." As all places, fo all postures have been used in prayer. Some have used one posture, and fome another; but this is the common and ordinary posture: Knees when they can (as an ingenious author speaks) then they must be bowed.

Thirdly, The matter and fcope of the prayer, which though it be not expreffed, yet may with great probability be argued from the place and occafion, to be, as Erafmus fpeaks Pro faufta Navigatione, for a profperous voyage, and divine protection. He knew to what, and how many hazards of life they are hourly expofed, that border fo near unto death, as mariners and paffengers at fea do ; and therefore would not commit himself to the fea, until first he had folemnly committed himself to God, whofe voice the winds and feas obey: Nor was he willing to take his leave of his friends, until he had poured out his heart to God with them, and for them, whofe faces he might never fee again in this world, and engaged their prayers alfo for him.

2. As their affections were mutually manifested by this facred action, prayer; fo by civil ones too, affectionate embraces and falutations. "When we had taken our leave one of another." Salutations were

Neceffe eft ut eam, non ut vivam. Cæfar.

Per omne littus preces ad cœlum mittunt. Tertul. de Jejun.

ufed among the Jews, both at their meeting and parting. This latter confifted in words and geftures; the ufual words were, "The "Lord bless you," Ruth ii. 4. "Peace be unto thee. Grace be "with you," &c. The geftures were kiffing each other. These were kiffes which a Cato might give, and a Veftal receive. In both these, viz. their prayers for, and falutations of, each other, they manifefted their Chriftian affections mutually, but especially by their prayers at parting. Hence note,

Doct. Thofe that undertake voyages by fea, had need not only to pray earneftly themselves, but also to engage the prayers of other Chriftians for them.

They that part praying, may hope to meet again rejoicing; and thofe defigns which are not prefaced with prayer, cannot wind up with a bleffing. There are two forts of prayer, flated and occafional.

Stated prayer is our converfing with God, either publicly, privately, or ferętely, at the conftant feafons allotted for it, in the returns of every week and day.

Occafional, is the Chriftian's addrefs to God at any time upon extraordinary emergencies, and calls of providence; or, when we undertake any folemn business, (and what more folemn than this ?) and then the chief matter and scope of prayer is to be fuited to the prefent occafion and design in hand; of this fort is that I am here to fpeak. Now in opening the point, I will fhew,

(1.) What thofe fpecial mercies are that feamen fhould pray for, when they are to undertake a voyage.

(2.) What influence prayer hath upon those mercies, and how it must be qualified for that end.

(3.) What aid and affiftance the prayers of other Christians may contribute to the procurement of them.

And then make application of all.

(1) We will inform the feaman, what thofe fpecial mercies are, he should earnestly pray for, when he undertakes a voyage.

And amongst thofe mercies to be earnestly requested of God by him, the first and principal is, the pardon of fin; a mercy which must make a part of every prayer, and at this time to be earneftly fued for. Guilt is that Jonah in the fhip. for whofe fake ftorms, fhipwrecks, and ruin purfue it. It is faid, Pfalm cxlviii. 8. "That "the ftormy winds fulfil God's word." If the word there fpoken of be the word of God's threatening againft fin, as fome expound it, then the stormy winds and lofty waves, are God's ferjeants fent out with commiffion to arreft finners upon the fea, his waterbailiffs to execute the threatenings of God upon them, in the great deeps. Hence thofe expreffions of fcripture, Numb. xxxii. 23 "Be fure your fin will find you out ;" and Gen. iv. 7. "Sin lieth at the door." In both which places, the Spirit of God compares a man's guilt to a blood-hound, that pursues and

follows upon the fcent wherever a man goes. And indeed our fins are called debts, Matth. vi. 12. Not that we owe them to God, or ought to fin against him; but metonymically, because as pecuniary debts oblige him to fuffer that hath not wherewith to pay, and expofe him to the danger of ferjeants and bailiffs wherever he fhall be found; fo do our fins, in reference to God, who hath reckoned with many thousands of finners upon the fea, there arrested them by his winds and waves which he fent out after them, and laid their bodies in the bottom of the fea, and their fouls in the bottom of hell. Oh! that is a difimal ftorm, that is fent after a man, to drive foul and body to deftruction! with what heart or courage can that man go down into the deeps, and expose himself among the raging waves and roaring winds, that knows God hath a controverfy with him; and for ought he knows, the next ftorm may be fent to hurry him to the judgment-feat of the great and terrible God? Certainly, friends, it is your great concern to get a pardon, and be at peace with God; a thing so indispensable, that you cannot have less; and fo comprehenfive, that you cannot defire more.. If fin be pardoned, you are fafe, you need fear no ftorms within, whatever you find without: But woe to him that finds at once a raging fea, and a roaring conscience; trouble without, and terror within; fhip and hope finking together. You are privy to all the evils and wickednefs of your hearts and lives. You know what treasures of guilt you have been heaping up all your days; and think you when diftreffes and extremities come upon you, confcience will be as quiet and still as it is now? No, no, guilt will fly in your faces then, and ftop your mouths. O therefore huinble yourselves at the feet of God for all, your iniquities; apply yourselves to the blood of forinkling; pray and plead with God for remiffion of fin; without which you are in a woeful cafe to adventure yourselves at fea to thofe eminent perils of life.

(2.) Another mercy you are earnestly to pray for is, That the prefence of God may go with you, I mean not his general prefence, which fills the world; that will be with you, whether you pray for it or no; but his gracious Special prefence, which was that Mofes fo earnestly fued for in Exod. xxxiii. 15. " If thy prefence go not with me, car"ry us not hence." He and the people were now in a waste howling wilderness, but bound for Canaan, that earthly paradife; yet you fee be chufes rather to be in a wilderness with God, than in a Canaan without him; and no wonder, for this gracious prefence of God, as to comfort, is all that a gracious foul hath, or defires to have in this world; and as to fecurity and protection from dangers, it is the only affylum, fanctuary, and refuge in the day of troubie. If the prefence of God be gracioufly with us, it will guard the heart against terror in the most imminent diftrefs, as you fee, Pfal. xxiii. 4. "Yea, though VOL. V.

Y Y

"I walk through the valley of the fhadow of death* i. e. (through "the moft apparent and imminent dangers of death), " yet will I "fear no evil, for thou art with me." And indeed there is no room for fear; for with whomfoever God is in a gracious and fpecial manner prefent, thefe three matchlefs mercies are fecured to that man.

Firft, That God's fpecial providence fhall watch over him in all dangers, Pfalm xci. 1,-4. "He fhall abide under the fhadow of the "Almighty; he fhall cover thee with his feathers, and under his

wings fhalt thou truft." As the hen gathers her brood under her wings, not only to cherish, but to defend them from all danger, fo God takes his people under his providential wings for their fecurity. Secondly, He appoints for them a guard of angels, whofe office is to watch over, and minister to them in all their ftraits. Pfal. xci. 1r. "He fhall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee So we read, in all thy ways." Many invifible fervices they do for us. tells us the angels have two offices,-Superius canere, et inferius vigiLuther lare to fing above, and watch below. Thefe are as a life-guard to that man with whom the Lord is.

Thirdly, He readily hears their cries in a day of distress, and is with them to fave and deliver them. So ver. 15. "He fhall call upon "me, and I will anfwer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him." O what a mercy is this! how many times, when poor feamen have feen matchless death apparently before their eyes, have they cried, mercy! mercy! How ordinary is it for their eyes, on fuch occafions, to add falt-water, where alas, there was too much before? But now to have God with you in fuch an hour of ftraits, to hear, fupport, and deliver you: 0 you cannot eftimate the worth of fuch a mercy! Pray therefore, for it is a mercy indifpenfably neceffary for you; and fay to him, as Mcfes, "Lord, if thy prefence may not go with us, carry us not hence."

(3.) A third mercy you are specially concerned to beg of God, is, that you may be kept from the temptations to fin you will meet with when you are abroad in the world. The whole world lies in wickedness, 1 John v. 19. Every place, every employment, every company hath its fnares and temptations attending it: And you know you have corrupt natures, as much difpofed to clofe with temptations as tinder is to catch fire So that unless the preventing reftraining, and mortifying grace of God be with you, they will but touch and take. If there were no devil to tempt you externally; yet fuch a corrupt heart meeting with a fuitable temptation and occafion, is enough to overcome you; Jam. i. 14. " Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lufts, and enticed." Alas! you know not what hearts you have till temptations prove them; and what comfort can you take in the fuccefs and profperity of your affairs, be it never fo great, if you return with confciences polluted and wounded with fin.

Quamvis in fumma mortis ipfius pericula incurram. Gloff. Philol. Sacr.

He that brings home a pack of fine clothes, infected with the plague, hath no fuch great bargain of it, how cheap foever he purchased them. O therefore beg earnestly of God that you may be kept from fin ; pray that you be not led into temptation.

(4.) Pray for divine protection in all the dangers and hazards to which you fhall be expofed. You know not how foon your life and estate shall be in jeopardy; This night you may fleep quietly in your cabin, to-morrow you may be tugging at the pumb, and the next night take up your lodging upon a cold rock. How fmartly doth the apoftle James reprehend the fecurity of trading perfons; Jam. iv. 13, 14. "Go to now, ye that fay, to-day or to-morrow we will go into fuch "a city, and continue there a year, and buy and fell, and get gain; "whereas you know not what fhall be on the morrow. For what is "your life? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time, and "then vanisheth away." How easily can God dafh all your defigns, and hopesul projects in one hour! You know you are every moment as near death as you are near the water, which is but a remove of one or two inches. How poor a defence is the strongest ship against the lofty feas and lurking rocks? How innumerable are the accidents and contingencies in a voyage, which the most skilful navigator cannot forefee or prevent?

They are, as the Pfalmift speaks, at their wit's end, Pfalm cvii. 27. But how fecure and fafe amidst all dangers, is that man whom the Lord takes into his fpecial protection? And he will not shut out those that fincerely commit themselves to him: The winds and feas obey his voice: he can with a word turn the storm into a calm, Pfalm cvii. 29. or order means for your prefervation, when you seem loft to the eye of fenfe and reafon. I have heard of a young man, that being in a great storm at fea, was obferved to be very cheerful, when all the reft were as dead men; and being asked the reason of his cheerfulness in a cafe of fo much danger? He replied, Truly I' • have no cause to fear, for the pilot of the hip is my father." O it is an unípeakable comfort when a man hath commited h. n.Bunto the hands of God, as a Father, and trufted him over all!

(5.) Pray for counsel and direction in all your affans and undertakings, and lean not to your own understandings. “I know, O Lord, "(faith the prophet) that the way of man is not in himtelf, neiber is "it in him that walks, to direct his own fteps," Jer. x. 23. Undertake nothing without asking God's leave and counfel. low many that have ftronger heads than you, have miferably ruined themfelves and their designs by truiting to their own prudence?" A man's "heart (faith Solomon) devifeth his way; but the Lord directeth his " fteps," Prov. xvi. 9. We muft ftill preferve the power of God's providence, faith one;

God would not have us too carnally confi- ́

Manton on Jude. It is a robbery to use goods without the owner's leave. We forget to bid ourselves good fpeed, when we do not acknowledge God's dominion. This is but a piece of religious manners.