Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

Book IV. THE SOUL OF MAN COMPARED TO A SHIP. 1. Red, fignifies the Suffcrings of the Church, together with the Blood and Slaughter, or dreadful Judgments, that Je~us Chnit hath eo execute on the W·orld by the Minifl:ration of Angels, or a fevere lJ1!penfatton. . . · 2. Speckled, thew• a mixed State or Difpenfation of God's Ju9gments m1xed With Mercy. . 3· White, notes Peace and Profperity to the Saints, and the whole World, which– will be p roduced by the .Prov•idence of God, after the bloody and m1xed State of the ·Church is gone. THE SOUL 'OF MAN COMPARED TO A SHIP. Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul, &c. Heb. vi. I 9· HERE obferve two Doctrines; one implied, the other expreffed : DoCl:. I. 'The Soul of a Believer, in the Judgment offome Divines, is and moyfit!y be compared to a Ship. Doer. 2. Hope, that noble audprecious Graa of the Spirit, is andmay fitf.y be c0111pared an Anchor. METAPHOR. J. A Ship is a rare and curious Piece of Workmanfhip; it fhews fonh the excellent Wit and Invention of Man. I!. A Ship is a very cofllyThing; a little will not build, rig, and fit out a Ship to Sea, efpecially if it be deogned for a long and profit– able Voyage, as to the Eafl-Indies, or the like. III. Some Ships are built for noble and eminenr Service, and are very profitable to the Owners IV. He that builds and owns a Ship, doth ufually commit the Care and Charge of her to another, who is to fail in her. V. A gallant Ship that is bound for India, or for fome noble and eminent Service, is richly freight– ed, hath divers rare Commodities in her, &c. VI. A Ship ought to have agood Bottom, or th~ Danger is very great. Whatever fhe feems to b~ above Deck, though never fo ftately and lovely to look upon; yet if her Bottom be nought and defective, fhe will never make the Voyoge. VII. A Ship cannot fai l without Wind or Title. Vlll. A Ship-ou"ht to have a wife and lkilful Pilo~. PARALLEL. I. THE Soul of a Believer is a very rare and curious Piece of God's Workmanlhip. The Body and Face of a Man cloth magnify the Wifdom and Glory of the Creator; bm what is the Body withom the Soul? it is but the Cabin<t without the Jewel. !I. The Soul of a Believer is a very co!l:ly and chargeable Thing; God hath parted with much, Treafure in building, or rather rebuilding and fitting of it our, to fail through rhe Ocean of this World, to the Haven of eternal Happinefs; hath parted with his Son, with his Spirit, his Grace, his Gofpel, &c. 1 Pet. i. 18. Ill. The Charge that God bath been at in building and rebuilding the Soul of a Believer, is for renowned and eminent Service, viz. the Glo· ry of God, and ever!afl:ing Happinefs. IV. So doth God Almighty commit the Charge and Care of our Souls to us. We are employed but as Stewards, or Deputy-Owners, and mull: be accountable to God, if our Souls are loll:. Deut. iv. 9· Prov. iv. 23. V. So the Soul of a Believer, that it may make a blefftd and glorious Voyage, is moft rich– ly feared and freighted with the ·precious Gifts and Graces of God's Holy Spirit, &c. VI. So ought the Soul of a Chrifrian to have a good Foundation. If not built upon Chrift, if not fincere and firm at Heart, what Profe!Tion he may rpake, thnugh ·never fo glorious, will prove fruitlefs and vain, the Soul is in danger, and will for ever unavoidably be loft. VI!. The Soul of a Believer cannot fail Hea– venwards in any Service, Duty, or Suffering, with~ out the fweet Movings and Gales of God's Spirit. VIII. So ought the Soul of a Believer ; for if it hath not Chrifl: to guide and freer its Courfe for ir, it is impo!Tible to efcape the Danger of the Sea of Trouble and Temptation. IX. So

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