A Spiritual Sea VoyageThou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy [place]. Psalm lxvi. 12.
By WILLIAM HUNTINGTON. SSFORMERLY A PUPIL UNDER MOSES, AND INSTRUCTED IN ALL THE WISDOM OF EGYPT;.. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." - Romans, xiii. 12.
..BUT LATELY A PUPIL AT THE FEET OF JESUS CHRIST,.. "Yea, he loved the people; all his saints [are] in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; [every one] shall receive of thy words." - Deut. xxxiii. 3
..AND BY HIM INSTRUCTED IN THE LANGUAGE OF CANAAN. FOR TWELVE YEARS A FELLOW OF GRACE COLLEGE, IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ZION. FELLOW-STUDENT WITH JONAH, PETER, THOMAS, MANASSEH, MARY MAGDALENE, AND JOHN BUNYAN."And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children." - Isaiah, liv. 13.
ORDAINED IN THE WELL-REMEMBERED YEAR OF OUR LORD, MDCCLXXIII. BY THE ONLY RIGHT, THE ONLY REVEREND. THE ONLY FATHER, THE ONLY GOD AND LORD HIGH PRIMATE OF HEAVEN AND AND EARTH, MOST GRACIOUS ARCHBISHOP OF SOULS."For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." - I Peter, ii. 25.
NOW UNDER-CHAPLAIN TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY THE ROYAL SHEBA, THROUGH SOVEREIGN GRACE THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN,....AT HER ROYAL PALACE, PROSPERITY, IN THE METROPOLITAN CITY OF SALEM ON THE EMINENT MOUNTAIN OF SION,....IN THE LAND OF CANAAN.A Spiritual Sea Voyage ORDAIN'D by Jehovah with Christ to embark
On board the Free Grace, or the old Noah's Ark
Which was launched at Eden to traverse the sea,
And came into harbour on purpose for me; I joyfully enter'd, nor could I delay,
When so many ventur'd with raptures of joy.
My captain was Jesus, and mercy his mate;
My labour was easy, my bounty was great. As soon as I boarded I viewed the ship,
In wonder I cry'd, "She's the best of the fleet."
God's love was her mizen, likewise her main-sail
She was plank'd with salvation quite down to her keel. I went in her hold, and I viewed her there,
Surpriz'd to behold such freedom from fear.
Her ballast was weighty, and strongly seeur'd;
Her burden was wealthy, and all was insur'd. Her excellent metal is spiritual pray'r,
Which always proves fatal when once brought to bear.
Her bits I examin'd, and found they were able;
Her anchor was Good Hope, and Faith was her cable. Well stor'd with provisions, both tunnage and hold;
Fair Truth was her cordage, and pleasant to haul.
I climbed aloft, and I rummag'd below,
And found her well finish'd from buttock to bow. Each yard was a cross, made fast by a brace;
Her head was a lion, with stars in their place;
Her ballast is weighty, she never can heel;
Her builder is God, and Election's her keel. I viewed her forecastle, likewise her waist,
Her immutable shrouds, and omnipotent mast;
I handled her helm, and I viewed her keel;
And smil'd at her rudder, her tiller and wheel. Her decks I examin'd, and found they were firm;
And that great is the number who walk them in turn;
The lowest Contritition, for that is its name;
This deck held the wounded, the sick, and the lame. Then blessed Adoption I found was the next,
And happy their station that on it are fixt.
Her poop is tile highest, surprising the view;
This deck is Assurance; its number but few. Having thus seen the decks, the blocks, and the sails,
I handled her caskets, her braces, and brails;
Divine was the compass; the binnacle good;
And its unerring needle the inetion of God. Her cable, a fake, lay near to her bow,
And thousands of fathoms were stored below.
The rigging was able the voyage to perfom,
The anchors sufficient for calm or for storm. Man's daily reflection is called the log,
But often neglected through drinking of grog.
I viewed her rudder, and many stood there,
Each wanted to con her; few able to steer. Her beckets were laden with cordage in store,
For the want of supplies we shall not run ashore.
Her pennant is glory, which always is up,
And joy is her spindle; assurauce her poop. Sound heart is her cannon, lash'd fast by a hitch
True zeal is her powder, and fervour her match.
The laws of Jehovah her forcible shot,
Which do execution if cold or if hot. 'Twas by Jacob's ladder at first I came in;
Nor was I a sailor till pardon'd for sin.
I lost all my clothing, from head to my foot;
And, in order for sailing, I got a new suit. My clothing is rich, and my faith 'twas put on;
Throughout it was woven by Jesus the Son;
A garment to cover, and gay to behold,
Intended for shelter, embroider'd with gold. This noble apparel it always comes free,
Completed by Wisdom, and given to me;
Bestow'd as her favour both free and complete,
And it cost her much labour to make it so neat. This never wears out, though 'tis always in use;
It covers throughout, and it comes to my shoes,
Oh! blessed be Wisdom, her name I adore;
Her garments are handsome, they cover the poor. I came to the light, and I saw I was clean;
My linen was white, and my hammock was green.
Thus, fitted by Grace with apparel to wear,
Bedeck'd with a chain, and a ring in my ear, I viewed the sailors, and watch'd their employ,
And listen'd to hear them expressing their joy.
Each blessed the Captain that took them on board,
And praised the wine that the Cape did afford. But some legal sailors I saw labour'd hard,
And cavill'd at others as idle on board.
Let breaming be done, and for sailing prepare,
For surely the signal will shortly appear. Jury-masts they were order'd by some to be made,
And others were slaving at caulking her side;
These rattled her shrouds, and then cried, "They are fast",
While others got timber for fishing her mast. These all were determin'd to work for their hire,
In fetching of water, and fuel for fire!
They cavill'd at others till quite out of breath,
And told them they'd surely make shipwreck of faith. "Have you nothing to do but be drinking of grog?
Your joy will be balanced by heaving the log;
You'll soon get the flux, if you tipple so fast,
Or fall overboard, and be drowned at last." Those famous for jibbing were shifting a boom,
Some mending old rigging with new from the loom;
And others contriving for fixing her vane;
Some knotting and splicing; - all labour in vain! Provisions were plenty, and plenty of flip;
With liberty granted to all in the ship.
Profuse was the Captain: our joy to enhance,
He paid us the bounty, with two months' advance. This set all the sailors to drinking of wine;
Nor could they persuade them to handle a line.
No duty was done, not a sail could be bent,
Till their liquor was gone, and their bounty was spent. Some mention'd their happiness, some their complaints;
And all were lost sinners, now enter'd for saints
My soul was delighted to hear of their voyage,
But more of the prizes they took at the siege. I heard their engagements related by them;
And, as to their Captain, they boasted of him.
So bold a Commander, such watch does he keep;
On board in a storm, ne'er but once known to sleep. I stood all attention to hear them relate,
And admired the union each had with his mate.
My soul was inflam'd when I heard them rejoice;
I no longer refrain'd, but I lift up my voice: "O bless'd be the Builder that first built the ship,
For all must confess her the best of the fleet.
No vessel beside her is fit for the voyage,
Nor could he contrived to weather a siege. And blessed be Wisdom, by whom she was plann'd,
And fitted complete by her excellent hand;
So steady in sailing, she never can rake,
Nor will she want bailing for springing a leak. From time everlasting she stood on her block;
This world was her ocean, but never her dock;
She was launched from heaven for cruizing the main,
When mann'd with the chosen, she'll harbour again. Thrice blessed be Love, that launch'd her at first
That rigg'd her and stor'd her, on purpose for us.
Sweet Mercy insur'd her: take comfort from hence,
If captur'd by Justice, she's ransom'd from thence. When time was created, full sail she went out,
And when time's no more she'll arrive at her port.
When there was no sailor, no world, and no sea;
She was fitted for sailing, and fitted for me. Then blessed be Grace for her excellent store:
What dainty provisions are these for the poor!
Here's always a plenty, no sailor can want;
No scanty allowance: what mortal can faint? And blessed be Judgment, who plank'd her so strong
And fixed her mast that it cannot be sprung;
Her rigging's divine, and divine is her hull.
I wish that this vessel was mann'd to the full An immutable Builder has framed her keel;
No storm can arise that can make her to reel,
Her crew is insur'd, and the vessel is firm
She'll ne'er put in harbour for fear of a storm. Here lamb and here manna divine are the food,
With honey, and butter; the wine is as good;
Provisions to cherish here nobly are stor'd.
No sailor can perish who ventures on board. O bless'd be the Captain, the Owner, and Head;
He's also the Master that always has steer'd;
Her wonderful Gunner; her Purser as well;
And an excellent Pilot, that steers her with skill. This vessel was built and completed by Grace
Intended and fitted for burden and chase;
Her name is Eternal, the queen of the seas;
Or call her Invincible, with her cross-keys. And blessed be the breeze in which we sail,
Who seldom cast anchor for want of a gale;
The wind is from heaven, has never sunk yet,
The wind is secured as well as the ship. Quite firm are the bits, and the cable is good
The cat and the cathead are excellent wood
The capstan is able, and so is the voyol;
And, as for the anchor, it never was foul. Her blessed broad pennant has always been up
And she to an enemy never has struck;
She's often attack'd, and she's often at siege,
And as certain of victory as to engage. Then bless'd be the Captain who took us on board
We must be in safety, we sail with the Lord;
We are bound for the havens; the port we shall gain:
Notwithstanding the dangers in crossing the main. And bless'd be the Builder, the ship, and the crew;
And let not sailors be weak or be few.
Enlist from all nations of every sort,
And man her with millions, and take her to port." Thus as they related each story was new,
Which attracted my soul to unite with the crew;
But while we rejoic'd, the Commander appear'd,
And silence was call'd, and his counsel was heard. To some then in office he gave a command
For obeying his orders, till all gain'd the land.
If breakers appear'd, he told us to sound;
If her gage was three fathoms, she never could ground. Encourage each sailor before you set sail,
And what I command execute without fail;
Through much tribulation you'll sail to my rest,
Under clouds of dejection, through floods of distress. Privateers there are numbers, and pirates, at sea,
But none of them all in alliance with me.
Be valiant, be steady, my siginals discern;
Disable them all, and leave Death at your stern. There are boisterons winds, also turbulent waves,
But I am Jehovah, the God of the seas;
Tho' breakers and shoals, and tho' winds, will annoy,
You shall safety escape by a light or a buoy. Still various storms will cause thee to quake,
Yet these shall be manag'd and aw'd for thy sake;
No storm can affect thee but I can control,
For the wind and the waves have their motion by rare. Let each privateer be engaged in my name,
They sink in despair at the sound of my fame;
Be valiant and faithful, and keep above fear,
Broadside them and rape them with prevalent prayer. Discharge from the round-house, the fore-peak and waist,
And, if they bear off, tack about and give chase
Those sailors shall ever be worthy applause
Who prevent their enemy's thwarting their hawse Be valiant for me, let my glory be sought;
The prize is your own when the battles are fought;
Contend for my honour, and weather the main;
I'll crown you at last, and exalt you to reign. But furl not your canvass for fear of a storm,
There's nothing too hard for your ship to perform.
At the Cape of Good Hope take provisions on board,
Then gain the fair haven, the Cape's in your road. I am your protection, the sea is my own;
Both death and destruction submit to my crown.
I have purchas'd the crew, in the crew I delight;
I'll engage in your battles, and cover your fight. Divine is your traverse, my breath is the wind;
No foe shall e'er sever your souls from my mind.
Your voyage is safe, though the distance he far:
No scheme can be laid but my counsel can mar. Then sail by believing much more than by sight,
In the darkest of seasons thy faith is a light;
In the coldest of climates thy sun shall arise,
And the sweet milky way shall be plain in the skies. So steer with discretion, and bend all your sails,
She'll answer her helm in the strongest of gales;
Make some observations when planets are clear,
For the ram and the lion shall often appear. But learn navigation, and practise with skill;
Instruct all the crew in each branch of my will
Explain navigation, and do it with ease,
And shew them her mystical wake in the seas. For the sick and afflicted I've cordials in store;
Here's drink for the thirsty, and wealth for the poor;
I have courage for cowards, and strength for the weak,
A cat for the forward, and health for the sick. From my safe protection you never shall steer;
In me is salvation; live thou above fear;
My wisdom shall guide you, my valour shall fight,
My arm shall protect you: be strong in my might. Engage privateers; yea, and all that you meet;
'Tis your Captain they dare; fear none of the fleet;
Aim all at my glory, and fight in my name;
They shall fly before you when single your aim." "And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim,
and shall afflict Ashur, and shall afflict Eber, and
he also shall perish for ever," Numb. xxi. 24. "If dangers beset, give the signal distress;
Your voyage I'll prosper with constant success;
Your force is sufficient for shipping or fort;
And I am commission'd to bring you to port. Rebellion's the name of a fierce privateer,
And manna with a crew that is harden'd from fear
This ship will engage you, and warmly contend;
Free Grace is their foe, and destruction their end. Be humble to learn, and give heed to what's said;
Great things are discerned by light in the head;
I'll teach thee in peace, and I'll teach thee in fight
I'll instruct thee by feeling as well as by sight. Their war is repugnant to reason and sense,
They're wholly corrupt; their rebellion's from thence
Of their desperate war unbelief is the cause:
And declar'd by their king in defiance of laws. Their dreadful rebellion heaps wrath on their head,
And proves to the wise they're allied to the dead.
Peace comes by believing; 'tis hid from her crew;
Unbelief is destruction, which they never knew. My glorious tight is rejected by those;
My laws, which are right, with despite they oppose:
Too wise for instruction, too harden'd to feel,
Too proud for submission, too stubborn to yield. Too wise for enlisting, too stiff to submit,
They mend their old rigging, and man their own ship;
They fight with superiors, and boast of their way;
They call me their debtor, and fight for their pay. Speak but of repentance, they bid you depart;
They joy in resentment, and boast of their heart
At believing they scoff, they have always believ'd;
Are too wise to be lost, and too good to be sav'd. At grace they're offended, the vessel is mean;
She's mean in appearance, her glory's not seen.
They are forward to fight, being fond of renown;
They scorn for to strike, so the loss is their own." "Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well
strethen their masts; they could not spread the sail:
then is the prey of a great spoil divided, the lame
take the prey," Isa. xxxiii. 23. "Feign'd assurance is surely a keen fire-drake,
But easily known by her puzzling wake;
They'll offer to join you, as though outward bound,
Notwithstanding pretensions, they're still in the Sound. They laugh at the breeze of an heavenly gale;
They boast of their cable, though scanty of sail;
'They use not their metal, but trust in their plank;
For the want of good ballast, their vessel is crank. They speak of the compass, and box it at will,
And puzzle my crew; but no mariners still.
Navigation in theory, and mooring at ease,
But void of experience to traverse the seas. This spurious vessel was never full hand;
They acorn all the feeble, yet infantly mann'd.
Without wind or canvass no vessel can move.
In vain is their cable, if empty of love. All fighting and sailing, they're strangers to that,
For the Cape of Good Hope they've never been at;
They boast of their vessel, and how she is stor'd,
But never can tell you who took them on board. Some talk of Free Grace, from her keel to her vane,
And make you believe they are us'd to the main;
The compass becomes then the cant of the crew,
Each point comes in turn, yea, the whole thirty-two. All points of the compass are thirty and four,
For knowledge is one, if attended with pow'r:
If void of experience, and strangers to doubt,
Then the point of the needle is surely left out. My sailors by nature were strangers to grace,
I press'd them by power, and bought them with price;
I wash'd them, and cloth'd them, and took them on board,
I chang'd and renew'd them, a crew for their Lord. The compass itself is engrav'd on their mind,
And each point is felt as a motion divine;
'Tis box'd by sensation, yea, every point
They steer with precaution, and veer by a hint." "But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a
place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go
no galley with oar, neither shall gallant ship pass
thereby," Isaiah, xxxiii. 21. "FREE-WILL is the name of the worst privateer,
And while I relate be attentive to hear;
She was fitted from heaven, but soon suffer'd wreck,
For freedom's her keel, and obedience her deck. 'Tis true she was built by a capital hand,
And good was her rigging, but never strong hand;
Destruction engag'd her, assisted by Death,
And left her no canvas, so much as a reef. When first they engag'd her they blew up her store,
And chas'd her so hard as to wreck her on shore;
The crew that was in her, dismay'd at the shock,
Had sunk to the bottom, but hung by a rock. When Cain he espied her ruins at wreck,
And tried to mend her, and strengthen her back,
He ventur'd out in her, though much to his cost;
She sunk in the deluge, her crew were all lost. Though sunk in the flood, and all hands cast away.
Yet still Mr. Nimrod found out where she lay;
He went and survey'd her, and pity'd her hap;
The natives of Babel and him weigh'd her up. Some thousands of hands to repair they have found:
They vary their plan, but she still is unsound.
Wo be to the builder that dies at the work,
For all that die in her are prey for the shark! Though some undergird her to sail through the bay,
They will find in bad weather that something gives way,
They hoist up their colours as splendid deceits,
Yet they'll cripple their oars in passing the Straits. Full many a time she has been in their docks:
Their labour's in vain, though she's oft on their blocks;
Scarce a hand you can find but what brings her a pin,
They pay her with slime, and they sheath her with tin. Sure such bungling workmen proclaim they are mad,
No shipwright can mend her, her timbers are had;
But still they're at labour, yet can't make her last,
Nor find out a builder for fishing her mast. Their cordage and cables are feeble as hay,
The fluke of their anchor can hold but in clay.
Much is given to prelates to keep her repair'd,
Yet few touch their mallets, which seldom are heard Some are at repairing, while others contrive,
They grapple the hire, but they seldom will slave.
Some breaming her bottom, and slaving like Turks;
They caulk her with good words and wreck her at works. They christen her Virtue, or cell her sincere;
Each names her anew that pretends to repair.
Her keel is decay'd, her keelson is rot';
But the building of Babel must not be forgot. There are some pay her over, some lay her in store,
With their holy-water and wafers of flour.
The gulf Desperation will sink them like lead,
For Moses their Captain is certainly dead. Their compass is bad, and their judgment is worse,
And to find out their point they are all at a loss;
Some talk of perfection, which you must aim at,
Though none but your Captain could ever box that." "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do
business in great waters; these see the works of the
Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he comman-
deth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up
the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they
o down again to the depths: their soul is melted
because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then
they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bring-
eth them out of their distresses," Psalm cvii. 28-28. "The packet Distress, pray deal kindly with her,
She's been chased by Terror, the distance is far:
The packet's from Egypt, and laden with sin;
Was drove by a storm from the fleet she was in. The fire-drake Terror has found her at sea,
And the ship is so leaky she can't run away;
Then sail alongside her, and offer relief,
She's fighting with Terror commanded by Death. Leviathan the shark pursues the sick ship,
And hopes she will suddenly sink in the deep;
Long has he pursu'd her, by night and by day;
In vain is his labour, he's robb'd of his prey. I know she'll engage, though amazingly hurt,
And oft within reach of the guns at the port;
They've shatter'd her rigging, and wounded her men,
Still Sinai's the harbour she aims to put in. O pass her, and hail her, and bid her God's speed,
She'll ask for no aid, tho' in deepest of need,
Her daring broad pennant is still hoisted up,
Tho' compass'd with fire and with pillars of smoke, She scorneth to strike, tho' amazingly hurt,
And sadly disabled by shot from the port
Her poor shatter'd rigging will surely give way,
She will labour so hard in Despondency's bay. When foremast, and wizen, and bowsprit, are gone,
Then take it for granted she will not fight long;
She'll look to the heavens with tears in her eyes,
But clouds of displeasure shall cover the skies. Her ally she opposes in danger of wreck,
And still will have Moses to fight on her deck:
When her courage is sunk, and her pennant is low,
Then give her assistance, and take her in tow." "Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not
have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm
and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer:
for there shall be no loss of any man's life among
you, but of the ship. Howbeit we must be cast upon
a certain island," Acts, xxvii. 21, 22, 26. "The Pharisee frigate has bent all her sails,
Saint Anthony's call'd to supply her with gales.
The ship is from Rome, she was built by the pope,
And fitted in vain for the Cape of Good Hope. Her burden is reliques, confessions, and deeds;
Including a number of pray'rs and of creeds.
A bull has ensur'd both her cargo and land,
And her compass is call'd-The Whole Duty of Man, She lay in the harbour with several sail,
But I drew her to sea by a promising gale;
The praises of mortals are drank as their grog,
And The Week's Preparation's the book of her log. I have caused the wind so often to veer,
They are all at a loss to know how to steer,
And a turbulent sea they shall suddenly find,
And then she must sail in the eye of the wind. I'll keep her at sea till provisions are short,
And bring her to doubt of e'er gaining her port;
Her creeds and her merit shall sink in the deep,
She'll throw out her cargo fur saving the ship. She'll find, in a storm, that her rigging is vain,
And her anchor no better when toss'd on the main;
She then will repent of her leaving the fleet,
And wish that she never had loosed from Crete. She'll trust in her judgment, and summon her skill,
And weather the storm with an obstinate will;
In the anchor they'll trust while the vessel's afloat,
And while under Clauda they'll hope in the boat. I'll puzzle the soundings, and baffle her helm,
With billow on billow her deck overwhelm,
On breakers and shoals I will force her to steer,
And destruction in various forms shall appear. The wind shall be stormy, and thunders shall roll,
And visions of death shall appear in her hold;
I'll toss her aloft, and I'll sink her below,
Till I dash her in shivers from buttock to bow. The sun, moon, and stars, shall afford her no light;
I'll humble her pride in a perilous night;
With wave upon wave I will cause her to reel,
And wreck her to purpose from spindle to keel. She'll founder at last, and then pity her hap;
When her anchor is cast then her cable shall snap:
She'll sue for my favour, but think it in vain,
Not knowing her Saviour can walk on the main. She'll cast her sheet anchor, then all hope is lost,
For great is her tempest, and dreadfully tost;
She's beginning to weep, and repent of her way,
Is pamping the ship, and is wishing for day. The merciless waves they shall humble her pride;
To Malta she'll go when tho land is descry'd;
She'll then try her soundings, and sink in her fears;
And think out drowning, when no help appears. She'll run in a creek, with her stern to the waves;
The ship shall be wreck'd, but the crew shall be sav'd;
Each hand shall escape in a terrible shock,
On the ruins of wreck they shall swim to a rock. She's a-ground! O behold her now filled with fears!
She's freezing with cold, and she's drowned with tears!
Her sticks shall be gather'd, and fire shall be made;
No viper that bites ber shall make her afraid. The boat Resignation Shall bring them on board,
And each shall be enter'd by faith in their Lord;
They're sound navigators, their judgment is clear,
They shall have their bounty; they hand, reef, and steer. When they are on board, entertain them with wine;
Receive them as messmates; be tender and kind
Partake of their bounty, and shew them the ship;
Let messes be plenty, and cheer them with flip. Inform them the reason you enter'd at first;
Relate the best tidings, but none of the worst;
Then shew them her stores, and her metal, and force:
Let all see the compass, and shew them her course. Then bring forth their jackets, their trowsers, and shoes,
And cheer them with wine; entertain them with news;
Speak of pay, and advance too, let nought be untold,
And show them the stores that are stow'd in the hold. Also talk of the port to the which you are bound,
And tell them all's safe, if three fathoms they sound;
Speak much of your Captain, his word, and his pow'r,
Which are the kedge-anchor, the sheet, and the bow'r." Here ends his discourse with the sailors on board.
And with raptures of joy we applauded the Lord.
Each sailor was bid to attend to his call,
And the signal for sailing was given withal All hands to the capstan, the anchor's a peek!
The Captain he smil'd as he walk'd upon deck,
Delighted to see us weigh anchor so fast.
Some cry'd, "She's a cock bill," and others, "Avast!" Thus anchor was heav'd, and thus cable was coil'd.
At such expedition the Captain he smil'd.
We stood for the offing, and crowded all sail;
And a southerly wind blew a heavenly gale. Delightful the weather, and sweet was the breeze;
A following sea, and each sailor was pleas'd.
We all stood amaz'd at the knots that she run,
When under full sail and the bonnets lac'd on. We sailed some weeks in this prosperous gale,
And never once thought it would vary or fail:
But all on a sudden we found it to veer,
Nor up to the wind could we bring her to bear. Some were greatly distressed, and wish'd for a calm,
While others contended for easing the helm;
And some of them fainted at reeving a rope,
While some cried, "No near!" and others, "Bear up!" We got in a latitude dreadfully strange,
And found on a sudden the climate to change;
Some were sadly dejected, and fainted in mind,
While others suspected we had cross'd the line. For several days we had gain'd but a knot;
We lost the sweet gale, and the climate was hot;
Allowanc'd in frog, and allowanc'd in meat,
While some ware a fainting and dying with heat. Then many repented their coming on board,
And others declar'd we were not in the road.
The lubbers protested, if they were on shore,
On so dreadful a voyage they'd venture no more. Among the rebellious a mutiny rose
When others endeavour'd their minds to compose,
They loathed the water and call'd it not good,
And rail'd at the purser for keeping their food. A number, in office; united in heart
To petition the Captain his mind to impart.
The petition was sent, but no answer came back
And after the second he came upon deck. The crew were immediately ordered up;
When the Captain ascended, and stood on the poop.
The first in the mutiny trembled with dread
When conditions of war were explicitly read. Court martial was called, and numbers arraign'd,
And guilty were all when the laws were explain'd;
But some intercessors were order'd to plead,
And the consequence was, that a number were need. But all the ringleaders were tied to the gun;
And Satan the boatswain his duty was done.
Our noble Commander and propitious Saviour,
Then order'd a dozen for each mutineer. The complainers for food were bid stand aloof,
And at last were dismiss'd with a cutting reproof:
The gun they escaped, and likewise the cat;
But scanty allowance was harder than that. While those that were fainting, and dying with heat,
Were ordered flip, with a plenty of meat;
And, to screen them in future from forcible rays,
He faithfully promis'd an awning to raise. Some needless provisions were cast overboard;
And barnacles scrap'd, that obstruct,in the road;
The compass and lights, on a binnacle rear'd,
Remov'd all the frights of the course we had steer'd. We'd now a fine sea, and a promising breeze;
The Captain endeavour'd each sailor to please.
All former distresses were raz'd from the mind,
When got under sail in the way of the wind. The wine was delightful, and fresh was the meat;
It revived the sick who had fainted with heat.
And suddenly land was descry'd from the top,
When we shouted for joy, "Tis the Cape of Good Hope." We now tack'd about, and stood right for the shore,
And sent off a boat's crew the coast to explore.
They presently found that the bottom was good,
And return'd with the news, to the honour of God. The anchor was cast in an excellent birth;
The sailors rejoiced in raptures of mirth;
With loud exclamations saluted the fort,
And were answer'd again with a pleasing report. Some ancient deserters were taken on board,
With joyful expressions that they were restor'd;
And some under irons were freely releas'd,
Whose additional bounty afforded a feast. Provisions were plenty, with excellent wine,
Which drowned all sorrow and cheered the mind;
Each sailor that tasted the blood of the grape,
He wished he never might sail from the Cape. And many young sailors were taken on board
During all the time that we lay in the road.
They received their bounty and two month's advance,
Which made all the sailors just ready to dance. The climate was healthy, the air it was good,
And richly supplied with excellent food;
But several sailors were cut to the heart
When the signal was given for us to depart. We weighed the anchor, and put out to sea,
And for several days after sail'd by the lee;
The heavens appeared inclined to bless,
And various planets predicted success. Highly favour'd we were with a prosperous wind,
Nor were the delights of the Cape left behind:
For all the young sailors were filled with news,
And their simple expressions they serv'd to amuse. On a sudden the sea was begloom'd with a fog,
Espy'd by a man that was heaving the log;
No harbour could now be descry'd from the top,
Far we had lost sight of the Cape of good Hope. "And they said every one to his fellow, Come,
and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose
cause this evil is us. So they cast lots, and the
lot fell upon Jonah", Jonah, i. 7. A terrible tempest began to arise,
And the rays of the sun were hid from our eyes;
The pirate Corruption appeared in view.
And under full sail she did closely pursue. Her name is Corruption, a dragon her head,
She's bound for Destruction, ally'd to the dead;
Her canvass is darkness, her metal is spite,
Her captain the devil, unwearied in fight. The waves mounted high, and the north wind arose.
Corruption was nigh; we were threaten'd with woee.
Disorder'd were all when the pirate appear'd;
Each sailor so flurry'd no voice could be heard. Some in sad complaining did bitterly weep,
And some cry'd, "The Captain is not in the ship.
All hope of perfection was now took away;
But we lighten'd the vessel, and wished for day. Then Lieutenant Reason was call'd upon deck;
But while he commanded the cloud gather'd black,
So he cried out, "Strike, for the victory's lost."
We were all in a fright, and amazingly tost. And Captain Self will was advis'd to engage.
Deficient in skill, though quite filled with rage;
But all his pretensions were falsehood and pride,
For he to Corruption was closely ally'd. The pirate discharged her powder-tub first;
And after the stink-pots, and they were the worst:
She then cannonaded, and fired so bold,
That all our young lubbers crept down in the hole. She fired her cases of musquet-shot next,
Which wounded a number that were on the decks.
Her fire continu'd so long and so hot,
We'd none but were wounded with splinter or shot. Such dreadful distresses appear'd on each hand;
No marvel, for Moses had got the command;
Instead of engaging the foe for his hire,
He aided Corruption, and cover'd her fire. Thus some lost their valour, and others their fright;
Some fainted with fear, and fell sick at the sight.
Our gallant young lubbers, who seemed so bold,
Had lost all their courage, and crept in the hold. But Gospel Resistance he stood unconcern'd
His undaunted courage a many alarm'd;
We flew to the guns, and, beginning to fire,
We gave the old pirate a broadside of pray'r. We shot from the round-house, the fore-peak and waist,
Which shatter'd her rigging and splinter'd her mast;
And thus for some hours we kept her employ'd,
And presently after came side alongside. We shot off her bowsprit, and some of her sail;
And long did the victory hang in the scale.
But, tho' the engagement was hot on each hand,
Yet still the old pirate had not lost a man. Our fire we continu'd with prevalent pray'r,
Which she answer'd again without symptom of fear,
And boldly engag'd without any concern,
Till away went her rigging from head to her stern. When her rigging was gone she grappled us aft,
And chained her hull both afore and abaft;
So all our attempts for to quit her were null,
Nor did we e'er after get rid of her hull. Her desperate crew then attempted to board,
In open defiance of musket and sword.
We muster'd all force, and resisted amain,
But soon we perceiv'd that resistance was vain. Their Admiral, Lucifer, ventur'd on board,
And Commodore Faithless came waving his sword.
And then Captain Enmity came up her side,
With Lieutenant Terror, assisted with Pride. And Boatswain Sufficient, he ventured next;
With Savelife the Purser, and Jacky Perplex;
Also Malice the gunner, resolv'd not to spare;
And Midshipman Murmur, a stranger to fear. The next that did board us was Mr. Complain,
And one Mr. Doubt, with a numerous train,
Old Mr. Relentless, for that is his name,
And Mr. Reluctant, attended with shame. Contention, the mate, he next boldly came up,
And Stubborn, the master, who climb'd by a rope,
Then Hardheart and Peevish, they follow'd amain,
Impatience and Fretful, with Mr. Disdain. Now old Mr. Covet to plunder began,
But good Mr. Liberal cut off his hand;
And old Daddy Wanton expected a prize,
But Chastity gave him a wound in his eyes. Then Lucifer offer'd to take the command,
But his orders were boldly,withstood to a man;
He keenly attempted the weak to beguile,
But none could he gain to be fully disloyal. Thus bloody encounters were fought upon deck;
Each party resisted, but neither gave back;
Our furious foes they attacked so bold,
That several fear'd a confine in the hold. But those at their guns still continu'd their fire.
And shatter'd the hull with their spiritual pray'r;
While some on the top they kept crying, "Be brave;
For the Captain is seen on the top of a wave." As the blessed Commander began to draw near,
We thought 'twas a spirit, and cried for fear;
He call'd to the sailors, their doubts to upbraid,
And said, "Tis your Captain, why are you afraid?" Acclamations aloud were now heard from the men,
When tidings were spread that the Captain was seep.
Our jolly young lubbers came up from the hold
As soon as the Captain's arrival was told. We cried for joy when we found 'twas the Lord,
And quickly prepar'd to receive him on board;
A many salutes he receiv'd from the lip,
While we gladly receives him into the ship. As soon as the Captain on deck did appear,
Our enemies trembled with horror and fear.
He told us the ocean should shortly be still,
For the winds and the waves do acknowledge his will. The crew that had boarded us trembled with dread,
And fell on the deck as if wounded or dead:
They knew the Commander, and threw down their sword;
Their valour was lost at the sight of the Lord. They all look'd abashed, and trembled with fear,
When sternly demanded who first brought them there.
Our desperate foes, who fought us so bold,
Were now laid in irons, and chain'd in the hold. Nor orders were given for lots to be cast,
To know for whose cause the late storm came to pass,
Each sailor consented that lots should go forth,
And good master Legal was taken forsooth! When Legal was caught, he was compass'd about,
To see if his country could be traced out,
While some did conjure him his name to avow,
The others demanded, "From whence camest thou?" Sinai, he said, was the place of his birth,
And vanity caus'd him at first to go forth;
He own'd he was griev'd at the rays of the Lord,
And Iced from his presence as well as his word. We demanded of him of what people he were,
Why he slept in the vessel, and how he came there;
And why he could not his devotion perform,
And how he could sleep so secure in a storm? He said, "I'm an Hebrew, a God-fearing man;
The God that created the sea and the land,
Jehovah of heaven's the God of my fear;
I fled from his presence, and so I came here." We told him his fear should have kept him from flight;
And, if God was his fear, why flee from his sight?
Fear flieth from evil, and cleaveth to good;
But thy fear has fled from the presence of God. His true occupation it could not be known;
His trade or his calling he never would own;
His silence gave ground for an evil surmise,
To live in apostacy who can devise! At last he reply'd, "Take me up, if you please;
Before I'd go back, I would sink in the seas;
Or, if you are willing to let me sleep here,
I have no objection to paying my fare." He could not deny but he'd caused the storm,
And own'd that he could not in prayer perform,
Nor did he attempt his rebellion to palm,
But bid us to drown him, and promis'd a calm. At last 'twas concluded by most of the crew,
He belong'd to some galley, or else a canoe;
He ne'er had encounter'd the blasts of Boreas,
The trips he had made were with paddles or oars. He ne'er had been used to plow in the deep;
By the violent storm that had lull'd him to sleep:
A boatman he was by the words of his mouth,
And had row'd to the north with his face to the south. That he is no sailor is plain by the test,
And is but a passenger here at the best;
"Let him sink in the deep," says the Master, for me.
If he's sav'd, he will own that salvation is free. He would not unite with the sailors in pray'r;
No incense goes up while the villain is here;
He plainly has prov'd, by the path he has trod,
That he could not exist in the presence of God. So guilty he stood, without any reply,
Nor would he request though condemned to die;
For Legal's his name, and quite legal his cast,
And stubborn the rebel remain'd to the last. We pray'd; and agreed him to throw from the deck;
For, if God is his fear, he will find his way back;
And we soon were convinc'd that the prayer was heard,
And that God did approve by the calm that appear'd. We proceeded with Pur until Slothful was took,
For he had neglected the log and the book;
On trial 'twas prov'd he was guilty of that,
So he was dismiss'd with the tails of the cat. And one Mr. Loose for a time was confin'd,
For he had not girded the loins of his mind;
And one Mr. Freezeheart was put in the hold,
Whose love to the Captain had lately got cold. Old Mr. Remiss, he was taken by lot,
And Mr. Lukewarm, neither cold nor yet hot;
The former was order'd in irons to lay,
Till the weight of his shackles should teach him to pray. But Mr. Lukewarm, he was left in his state;
Not whipt with the cat, nor reviv'd by the best;
Nor able to draw a conclusion from hence,
But inwardly gall'd with a daily suspense. Now old Mr. Fearful was taken by Pur,
Whose want of good courage had brought on a slur;
In order to make him more useful and bold,
Old Lucifer sifted him down in the hold. All those that were valiant the Captain approv'd,
And those that had fainted their doubts were remov'd;
He order'd a balm for the wounded on board;
The sick and afflicted were shortly restor'd. The blinded in part they received their sight,
And those were embolden'd who fainted with fright;
The deaf were attentive to all he'd impart;
The lame and the maimed they leap'd like a hart. The wine it was plenty, and plenty the food,
The messes all vary'd, but excellent good;
It made the inflexible tender and soft;
The timid and fearful would venture aloft. This excellent birth it engag'd us to stay;
And the sailors received the whole of their pay;
The ship was a roadster for several days,
The Captain receiving his tribute o; praise. As daily our pay it increased the feast,
Not a sailor but coshed the banquet to last;
We drank of that ancient and heavenly wine,
Which chased the fight and the storm from the mind. At length orders were given for us to prepare.
And the set time for sailing began to draw near;
So we weighed our anchor, and got under sail,
And shortly were bless'd with an excellent gale. Still raptures of joy they were daily kept up,
The number increased that walk'd on the pool,
Some on the mast-head they continu'd to view,
In hopes to give tidings of land to the crew. We sail'd with delight for a number of days,
And bask'd in the sun, and rejoic'd in his rays;
So strong and delightful, and steady the gale,
We had no occasion for shifting a sail. These prosperous days we all sail'd with great ease,
And hoped the Most High would continue the breeze;
A following sea, and the heavens so clear,
We thought the Fair Havens would shortly appear. With joy we rehearsed the dangers we pass'd,
Without ever hurting the ship or the mast;
And sung with delight of the joys of the Cape,
And ended each verse with the blood of the grape. We sung of the straits thro' the which we had steer'd;
How the aid of Jehovah had daily appear'd;
Of his provident eye, that refuseth to sleep;
And sung of the wonders of God in the deep. We sung of his judgments attending his foes,
How they were all vanquish'd that dar'd to oppose;
We sung of the conquests we lately had won,
And ascribed salvation to Jesus alone. But days of prosperity seldom are long,
For, ere we had finish'd our rapturous song,
Instead of a view of the havens to cheer,
We found on a sudden new dangers appear. A rock on the larboard was seen from the deck;
We found it was Arius lying at wreck;
Large shoals on the starboard appeared by day,
And the pirate Socinus was there cast away. Now breaker so visible fill'd us with fear,
Because we had few that were able to steer;
We said that the billows that tumbled and toss'd,
Prefigur'd the doom of the souls that were lost. Our terrors increas'd with th' approach of the night,
To pass such a strait we had need of the light.
The mariners trembled at every joint,
For fear we should founder, or miss of the point. To shun all these breakers, we tried the sound,
For fear that the billows should run us aground;
The sea it began to be terribly rough;
But we had three fathoms, and that was enough. While the Captain was sought by credulent pray'r,
We watched the rudder, but found him not there;
But still we cuntinu'd to watch and to wait,
In hopes of his presence in passing the Strait. The prayer of Faith was not sent up in vain,
For a Comet appear'd with a fine brilliant train;
Where Ariua was wreck'd we perceived a buoy,
And shunn'd him with ease, and with raptures of joy. Our faith was increas'd when petitions were heard;
The Ram and the Lion they sweetly appear'd;
Socinus the shoal by a light was discern'd,
And we pass'd him without being over concern'd. If once constellations withhold but their light,
The best navigator will hardly be right;
The unerring Ram he refused hls ray,
When both the old pirates were wreck'd in the way. We shudder'd to pass them because it was night,
Till we found that the planets afforded their light.
Some said the Day-spring was beginning to rise,
The bright Milky Way was perceiv'd in the skies. Once more we attempted and got under sail,
And favour'd we were with a prosperous gale;
The point was direct in the centre to keep;
We passed without ever bulging the ship. We often replied, "How awful's the shock:
That men, for their pride, are turn'd into a rock!
Navigators turn'd shoals! O it makes one to quake,
When so many thousands are wreck'd in their wake! We safely escaped the perilous strait,
Where so many dangers appear'd to await;
The wake of the ship was as straight as a line,
But no sailing here in the eye of the wind. We praised the Ram who had guided us right,
And blessed the Lion for giving us light;
Admired their aid in the dangers we cross'd,
Having sailed with safety where millions are lost. The cloud was remov'd from the sweet Milky Way,
And the ray that appear'd was as bright as the day;
We blessed Jehovah for sending the breeze,
And worshipp'd Elohim, the God of the seas. We tippled the wine, and we boozed the grog.
And balanc'd affairs in the book of the log.
The heavens were clear, and the climate was warm;
No sign did appear that predicted a storm. The fearful on board now advanc'd in belief,
At seeing the danger and sudden relief;
Some who were on the poop would ascend the round top,
And some on the mid-deck ascended the poop. For several days we were under full sail,
And blessed we were with a prosperous gale;
The thoughts of the harbour amused the crew,
And kept them expecting the Havens in view. We saw on the leeward a whirlpool appear,
Not far from the course that the ship was to stear;
At sight of th' irruption the sailors were flat,
For fear on a sudden of falling in that. But as we sail'd closer some galleys appear'd,
With numbers on board by the voices we heard;
The galleys were mann'd with some thousands of slaves
Which often appear'd as if sunk in the waves. The turbulent billows still compass'd them round;
At times they appear'd as if trying the sound;
They labour'd at rowing, and try'd to get out
But still in the pool they were tossed about. Their toil was in vain in that perilous deep,
But when they espy'd us they cry'd, "Hoa, ship!"
They gave us a signal as if in distress,
And some were inclin'd to afford them redress. The Captain inform'd us the name of the fleet,
And said they had better ne'er loosed from crete;
He told us their wisdom perverted their way,
And led them to toil in Arminius's bay. Isaiah foretells us of rivers and streams;
But that to Arminians a mystery seems;
However the prophet's prediction is clear,
No galley with rowers can ever go here. They hail'd us, and asked the name of the ship,
And how many days we had been in the trip?
They also inquired the state of the crew,
The rate of the ship, and the water she drew? From whence we had sail'd, and to where we were bound,
And what the success in the voyage we found?
Then whether our metal was mighty or weak?
And whether the sailors were healthy or sick? The commander? his name? with what we were Stor'n;
And what was the number of sailors on board?
If we had engag'd? and who were the powers?
And how we could venture to sea without oars? What strange new phenomena we could discern
In the various latitudes left at the stern?
The voyage of Vanharmin, if prized by us?
If any Baxterian point was the course? With a jubilee trump we inform'd them her name.
And told them Free Grace, and exalted her fame;
We said that the vessel was built by the Lord,
And he by his power had put us on board. The ship she was mann'd in fair Eden at first,
And bound for Flesh Island, on purpose for us;
Our number consisteth of millions and odd,
Tho' none on the books but the chosen of God. Jehovah the Lord is the health of the crew;
Each sailor on board is created anew;
Provisions are fresh, and the liquor is good;
No scorbutic humours, he's cleansed their blood. Our vessel contains an invincible force,
We sail on a point,'tis an unerring course;
Our God is her builder; Free Grace is her name.
There is but another that's built by the same. Our noble commander is Jesus the Lord,
And, bless him for ever, he's mostly on board;
We are not afraid of his final elope;
We miss'd him but thrice from the Cape of Good Hope. Corruption, we told them, had fought us at sea;
We try'd if Perfection would cause her to flee;
In spite of perfection they ventur'd on board,
And are in confinement, as chain'd by the Lord. There are but two ships that were built by the Lord,
If you can believe what the scriptures record.
The vessel of Mercy we know to be safe,
The other is called the vessel of Wrath. All galleys at first were invented by knaves,
And rowing's intended for none but for slaves;
The sailors of Tarshish they plied the oar,
But God was against them, and drove them from shore. The arm of the creature will poorly perform,
With oars or with paddles when toss'd in a storm;
The sailors from Joppa had sunk in the deep,
If stubborn Free Will had remained in the ship. To phenomena new we never give heed,
And wandering stars they can only mislead;
The sweet Milky Way is direct in the course,
The Ram and the Lion's sufficient for us. We ventur'd to sea with our anchors and sails,
And hope to arrive under prosperous gales;
Our sails they will last, whether furled or bent,
Nor are we afraid that the canvass will rout. Vanharmin and Baxter, we shun them of course,
For self contradictions; for what can be worse?
'Tis proved, by all the directions they urge,
Their whole navigation was penn'd in a surge. They got our reply, and began to retort;
Our ship and her crew were the subjects of sport;
Free Grace is her name, all elect are the crew.
That ship will deceive them, if Johnny be true! They call her Free Grace, and themselves the elect,
And think they're eternally fixt on the deck;
What a scandalous tale those same villains have told,
With all their corruptions confin'd in the hold! Their ship is so small, she contains but a few;
But we are resolved to give Jesus his due;
Our galleys are open, and all are receiv'd,
But these for election, and they are deceiv'd. When Free Will commands no corruptions appear,
And fleshly perfection destroys them with fear;
Examine the galleys, pray come, and behold
If there's a corruption confin'd in the hold." We said we believ'd their report to be true,
They ne'er fought Corruption, nor captur'd her crew.
Nor can we confute all the story you told,
Corruption commands you, yourselves are in the hold. Free Will, if sufficient, why call ye for aid?
And if ye are perfect, why are ye afraid?
If rowing will serve you, why whirl ye about?
And if you're all-mighty, why don't you come out. In spite of Free Will, they are still in the bay,
And certain we are they are out of the way;
No wonder that they with a whirlpool are twirl'd,
Those galleys must sink that are mann'd by the world. At last they perceiv'd we attempted to go,
And fired a popgun to make us come to.
No damage was done to the men on the deck;
For want of saltpetre their powder was weak. We shortly discern'd their iniquitous scheme,
And sailed away with the wind on the beam;
Those rebels that dare with election to sport
Are bound for Destruction, and sure of their port. The Pharisee merchant had been to recruit:
She pass'd us, and gave us a taunting salute:
Their vessel was stow'd, they were now steering home.
Left heaven astern, and were sailing for Rome. Now glories immortal began for to shine,
As if we had sailed just under the line;
The heavens appeared remarkably clear,
And all things predicted that glory was near. Some climbed aloft, and look'd out for the land,
While others their loud acclamations began;
They cry'd, "The fair havens are full in our view."
We look'd thro' the glass, and the tidings were true. Immortal felicity darted its rays,
Which made all the canopy seem in a blaze;
These visions they caused fresh light to distil,
The city of Zion appear'd on the hill. The tree of the Living he sent us his leaves,
Which ever have healed the soul that believes,
He bowed his branches, and yielded his fruit,
To all that had formerly made him their suit. The Fountain of Light he dispersed his beams,
As if all the city was burning with flames;
The river of pleasure its tide was so high,
That millions of spirits were bathing in joy. The haven of rest now appeared in a vale,
From an easy descent at the foot of the hill.
These raptures of joy they were balanc'd with fear,
For Death must engage us before we go there. But we blessed the Lord, who directed the course,
By whom we were kept both from fraud and from force;
Who ne'er will forsake us till all are at rest,
For all that sail with him are finally bless'd. This glorious city was suddenly veil'd;
When this was perceiv'd our courage then fail'd;
This strange alteration put numbers in fright,
Which was but a cordial to prompt us to fight. We sailed in darkness for several days,
The glorious sun had eclipsed his rays;
Some trembled to think they had yet to engage;
When many were feeble and drooping with age. We saw at a distance a large man of war,
Which sail'd from the harbour that we were bound for;
Her colours were gloomy, her canvass was dark,
And she sailed as swift as a letter of marque. Her daring broad pennant was flying at top,
Near six thousand years have her colours been up;
There ne'er were but two but acknowledg'd her rag,
Elijah and Enoch ne'er struck to her flag. She seem'd to approach in a boisterous gale,
A wind from the harbour had filled her sail;
Her decks and her hold, they all seem'd to be stor'd;
As if she had nought but destruction on board. Her crew it consisted of terrors and fears,
Of shadows and phantoms, distresses and snares;
Of frights, of defections, of tremblings and dread;
And every monster allied to the dead. Of destruction, of ending, of stopping all breath,
Of judgment, of sentence, with terrible strife
Of teazing, of wrecking, of turbulent wrath
And every monster that brings us to death. When first she appear'd we had numbers dismay'd;
To the able in faith she appear'd but a shade.
We took it for granted each sailor must die,
Nor need I assign any reason for why. This ship must be fought with expiring breath,
Dissolution's her name; she's commanded by Death;
Suppose she should conquer, she can't take our right,
The prize we'll obtain, tho' we die in the fight. Tho' Death we are certain will ne'er strike to us:
She's a sentence from God and preceded his curse;
Yet Grace she will never be captur'd by death:
So, as neither will yield, we must forfeit our breath; This monster in time shall be brought to submit,
And fall as a captive at Jesus's feet;
Yea, Death and Destruction are doomed to die,
That Jesus the Saviour may triumph on high. Her dreadful commander may justly be bold,
When all Adam's offspring lie slain in her hold;
The noble, the peasant, the fearful, the brave;
Death levels them all with the fool or the knave. We shortly engag'd her with faith and with pray'r;
This had no effect, Death's a stranger to fear;
To force her retreat we could never preveil,
Against a decree all petitions must fail. Nor can the petitions of faith be in vain,
Nor come to the suitor as empty again;
The answer was love, which afforded release;
With death we're at war, but with Jesus at peace. We shortly engag'd her, and dreadful the fight;
Her force was not worse than her terrible sight;
She rak'd us most furiously, both fore and aft,
But some in the vessel escaped her shaft. Some wounded with terrors, and others with fright,
Some pierced with sorrows, refused to fight;
While some by temptations were wholly dismay'd.
And some of eternity sorely afraid. We knew that by Death we should surely be took,
And yielded at last, but no pennant was struck;
We did not engage with this monster for nought,
The prize we had seen for the which we had fought. Tho' fatal some darts that were hurled on board,
Yet some that were wounded were strong in the Lord;
These triumph'd in hope, altho' rank'd with the slain,
The joy of the Lord counterbalanc'd their pain. Now some of the crew, who at first were dismay'd,
View'd Death in a vision no more than a shade;
With mental felicity wished to die,
And said in veracity Jesus was nigh. Poor old Master Doubtful began to complain,
And all our attempts to revive him were vain;
He wished he never had ventur'd on board,
Nor did he believe he belong'd to the Lord. He laid in distress for a number of days,
But all were dispell'd by enlivening rays;
When these were remov'd he forbore not to sing,
And said he should die in the cause of his King. Old Goodman Distrust he received a wound,
And suddenly fainted away in a swoon;
He knew that his heart was attach'd to the Lord,
And if he were lov'd, he should soon be restor'd. He daily requested his life might be spar'd,
That hope might revive and his health be repair'd
When patience was try'd he requested to go,
Nor had he a doubt but he'd conquer'd his foe. Now poor little Feeble was found with the sick,
A man that was always allow'd to be weak;
The thoughts of departing so fill'd him with dread,
His spirits within him were sinking like lead. But tidings were brought that he was not to go,
'Till wholly resign'd to submit to his foe;
And, when he perceiv'd that his strength was restor'd,
He called for Death, and he wish'd him on board. My old Master Peevish received a shot,
Design'd by Jehovah to fall to his lot;
He greatly rebell'd at the sharpness of pain;
We try'd to appease him, but labour'd in vain. Tho' Death he opposed with desperate force,
He found to his sorrow he daily grew worse;
But pains, still imbitter'd, so ended the strife,
That he wished for strangling rather than life. Now good Master Careful received a hurt,
And griev'd he had lost all the views of the port;
The cares of the world had so often perplex'd,
He pray'd not to go till affections were fix'd. Omnipotent Love brought him soon to relent,
At a heart so divided he'd often repent;
With his cheeks all bedewed with penitent tears,
He owned to grace he was deep in arrears. His body was rack'd, and acute were the pains:
His spirit rejoiced in seraphic strains;
He own'd at departing salvation was free;
"What sailor can doubt! 'Tis su~cient for me!" Master Purblind he next received a dart;
The wound it was fatal,'twas sent to his heart;
And long did he mourn in a horrible shade,
For want of the light he was wholly dismay'd. A sensible darkness had veiled his mind,
To wretched despair he was ever inclin'd;
His horror; he said, was a proof he was curs'd
Nor would he believe he should end with the just. The Judge he assum'd, and arraigned his heart;
The sentence he pass'd, and he wish'd to depart;
His fate he predicted, and fixed his doom,
And begg'd of Jehovah to let him go home. He daily expected that God would approve
Of these his proceedings, and bid him remove
But judgment's committed to Jesus alone,
No sentence shall stand that comes not from his throne. We daily attempted to cherish his faith;
But all was rejected, he cleaved to death;
While those that would cheer him be sternly abus'd.
And all consolations he daily refus'd, He question'd the voyage, and state of the crew,
And whether the men and the Captain were true;
He bid us defiance, and longed to go,
To know whether we were deceivers or no. The rest of the wounded they trembled with fear,
To find Master Purblind was sunk in despair;
And daily inquired if he was alive,
Nor could they be cheer'd till they saw him-revive. Now all on a sudden a light was convey'd,
That rescu'd his mind from the horrible shade;
He quitted the gloom, and was fill'd with amaze,
His visage reflecting divinity's rays. In raptures he yielded to conquering Death,
And praised Free Grace with expiring breath;
And begg'd each beholder this story to tell,
That Purblind the wretched was saved from hell. It seems that Cold Heart got a wound in the fray,
Which caus'd him to linger for many a day;
The ship Dissolution, her terrible hold
He could not endure while his heart was so cold. A tempest from Sinai, that caus'd him to mourn;
The spirit of judgment began for to burn
This forc'd him to try and examine his state;
The terrors of wrath made him tremble at fate. By numbers on board his deep groanings were heard,
The ship Dissolution so shocking appear'd;
With waves of Despondency he was so toss'd,
That many conceived his senses were lost. But Jesus appear'd in the vision of faith,
And wholly removed the terrors of death:
He took an affectionate leave of the crew,
Aud said he'd the city of Zion in view. The good Master Tender refus'd to complain;
The joy that he felt counterbalanc'd his pain;
He said to the crew with expiring breath,
That the battle was won in the triumphs of faith. Now Death had a charge with respect to the dead,
To keep them asleep who had Christ for their head;
Then Death shall be vanquish'd, for thus 'tis divin'd,
His flag shall be stuck, and his captives resign'd. Altho' we had thousands that fell in the fight,
Yet numbers we had who recover'd their plight;
While Death was employed in stowing the hold
A tempest appear'd that was often foretold. A glorious Person appear'd on the land,
And up to the heavens he lifted his hand;
By the greatest of names then he solemnly swore,
That time and mortality should be no more. A trumpet was heard, a release was proclaim'd;
It came from Jehovah, eternally fam'd;
All-conquering Death seemed wholly dismay'd;
The voice was to him, and he trembled with dread. The hold of the dead it gas quickly expos'd,
And millions of saints found their eyes were unclos'd;
The thunders they roll'd in perpetual peal,
And smash'd Dissolution from pennant to keel. Now Death to his grief an emetic receiv'd,
And the numbers he'd gorg'd very soon were reliev'd;
With huge and deep heavings resigned the dead,
And the chosen appear'd in the form of their Head. To the sailors then quickly a flame was convey'd;
Mortality felt it, and trembled and fled;
The motion was felt, the sensation was strange;
But nature gave way to a spiritual change. A ray from the heavens dispelled all shade,
And glory eternal was sweetly display'd;
The Judge and his chariot flll'd all with amaze,
His wheels and attendants seemed all in a blaze. Death cast up the wicked as sand on the shore;
Yea, all that he ever had gorged before;
And, when he discharged his numberless prey,
He sunk to a shadow, and vanish'd away. This was the bright morning we long'd to enjoy,
When foes to the saints should no longer destroy
Dissolution was floating in ruins on shore,
Mortality vanish'd, and Death was no more. The waters of life they delightfully cheer'd;
The glorious Lord as a river appear'd,
Which leads to the ocean that none can explore;
Eternity has neither bottom nor shore. Free Grace and her crew all arrived at last,
No sailor was missed when the muster was pass'd;
By thousands and millions the angels appear'd,
And welcom'd us home with the anthems we heard. Creation they hymn'd, and immutable fate,
Which fix'd them so firm in their innocent state;
Of judgment they sung on the millions that fell,
Of election that kept them while others rebel. We sung of redemption in Jesus the Lord,
Of sovereign love, and how we were restor'd;
The dangers we met, and the helps that appear'd,
Of infinite wisdom by which we were steer'd. Delightful the union, and great was the throng,
The melody charming, delightful the song;
An order came forth for ascending the throne;
And: when we were seated the judgment came on. William Huntington |