The Times' Whistle Or A Newe Daunce of Seuen Satires, and other Poems: Compiled by R. C., Gent. [i.e. Richard Corbett]. Now First Edited from Ms. Y. 8. 3. in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral: With introduction, notes, and glossary, By J. M. Cowper |
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Christianus Navis. |
 | The Times' Whistle |  |
Christianus Navis.
A ship vnto a certaine haven bent,
Turmoilde in Neptunes watry element,
With longing expectation doth attend
To make arrivall to his wishèd end.
This ship thus troubled is a Christiane
Tost vp and downe in the vast ocean
Of this terrestriall orbe, of which even all
We fitlie by the name of sea may call;
For 'tis a place of perturbation,
Of anguish, sorrowe & vexation,
Like the tempestuous sea; & is to vs
For rockes, quicksandes, & gulfes, as dangerous.
Vpon this ocean terrestriall,
This ship, this vessell allegoricall,
A Christian, floating vp & downe, doth strive
To heaven his safest haven to arrive.
Which harbour ere he can entirely winne,
He must first passe by rockes & gulfes of sinne,
And therfore needes good preparation
To make a prosperous navigation.
Turmoilde in Neptunes watry element,
With longing expectation doth attend
To make arrivall to his wishèd end.
This ship thus troubled is a Christiane
Tost vp and downe in the vast ocean
Of this terrestriall orbe, of which even all
We fitlie by the name of sea may call;
For 'tis a place of perturbation,
Of anguish, sorrowe & vexation,
144
For rockes, quicksandes, & gulfes, as dangerous.
Vpon this ocean terrestriall,
This ship, this vessell allegoricall,
A Christian, floating vp & downe, doth strive
To heaven his safest haven to arrive.
Which harbour ere he can entirely winne,
He must first passe by rockes & gulfes of sinne,
And therfore needes good preparation
To make a prosperous navigation.
Assist me Phœbus, & I will recite
How he must riggèd be to saile vpright.
The earthly stuffe wherof this ship 's composde
Is flesh & bones in order well disposde.
Ships have their sides or ribbes, & soe hath man
All tacklings else, soe must a Christian.
The maine-mast must be love o' th' Diety;
The lesser ones, meeke heart & charity;
The sailes strong faith, hope anchor is assignde,
And fervent prayer is the gentle winde
That blowes it forward; other tacklings be
Good thoughtes, good wordes, good workes, which trinity
Must all conioyne in one to holde the sailes,
For when these stringes slip, faith then quicklie failes.
The pilote which must alway be aborde
To steere the right way, is Godes holy worde;
The sences must the common sailers be,
Affections, slaves restrainde of libertie,
Kept only to take paines, their actions
Must still be ordered by directions
Given by reason, which must have some sway
In this same voyage; but all must obey
The counsell of the pilot, & still stand
Prest at his service, when he doth command.
How he must riggèd be to saile vpright.
The earthly stuffe wherof this ship 's composde
Is flesh & bones in order well disposde.
Ships have their sides or ribbes, & soe hath man
All tacklings else, soe must a Christian.
The maine-mast must be love o' th' Diety;
The lesser ones, meeke heart & charity;
The sailes strong faith, hope anchor is assignde,
And fervent prayer is the gentle winde
That blowes it forward; other tacklings be
Good thoughtes, good wordes, good workes, which trinity
Must all conioyne in one to holde the sailes,
For when these stringes slip, faith then quicklie failes.
The pilote which must alway be aborde
To steere the right way, is Godes holy worde;
The sences must the common sailers be,
Affections, slaves restrainde of libertie,
Kept only to take paines, their actions
Must still be ordered by directions
Given by reason, which must have some sway
In this same voyage; but all must obey
The counsell of the pilot, & still stand
Prest at his service, when he doth command.
Now, 'cause this voyage cannot welbe made
Free from all danger, but ther will invade
Some hostile foe or other; be ther placd
A prospective vpon the top o' th' mast,
Wherin 'tis fitt that carefull diligence
Keep evermore his watchfull residence,
And straight give notice, when he doth descrie
The force & comming of the enemie.
For Sathan, that leviathan, that whale,
Who is an enemie & ever shall
To Christian man, doth wat[c]h occasion
When he may make his best invasion.
Wherfore against this foe, which seekes to kill,
Offensive & defensive weapons still
This ship must carrie, & himselfe prepare
To fight it out like a strong man of warre.
First at his beake-head he must fasten on
Th' impenetrable helme salvation,
And then the breastplate of true righteousnes
Which will resist the devill, & represse
His furious rage. Then faith his sheild must be
To quench the balles of wilde-fyer presentlie;
But the sword of the spirit Sathan quailes,
And to attaine the conquest never failes:
This is the weapon that the pirate woundes,
This is the sword-fish which the whale confounds.
Free from all danger, but ther will invade
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A prospective vpon the top o' th' mast,
Wherin 'tis fitt that carefull diligence
Keep evermore his watchfull residence,
And straight give notice, when he doth descrie
The force & comming of the enemie.
For Sathan, that leviathan, that whale,
Who is an enemie & ever shall
To Christian man, doth wat[c]h occasion
When he may make his best invasion.
Wherfore against this foe, which seekes to kill,
Offensive & defensive weapons still
This ship must carrie, & himselfe prepare
To fight it out like a strong man of warre.
First at his beake-head he must fasten on
Th' impenetrable helme salvation,
And then the breastplate of true righteousnes
Which will resist the devill, & represse
His furious rage. Then faith his sheild must be
To quench the balles of wilde-fyer presentlie;
But the sword of the spirit Sathan quailes,
And to attaine the conquest never failes:
This is the weapon that the pirate woundes,
This is the sword-fish which the whale confounds.
Thus if vnto the end he doe endure
Like a brave champion, then he shalbe sure
The fiend will like a coward run away,
And he, a happy victour, gett the day.
Then having once attaind the victorie,
He may advance his flag trivmphantly,
And saile with ioy, till he the port attaine,
Where in perpetuall blisse he shall remaine.
Like a brave champion, then he shalbe sure
The fiend will like a coward run away,
And he, a happy victour, gett the day.
Then having once attaind the victorie,
He may advance his flag trivmphantly,
And saile with ioy, till he the port attaine,
Where in perpetuall blisse he shall remaine.
| The Times' Whistle | |