A Learned and a Godly Sermon, to be read of all men, but especially for all Mariners, Captains, and Passengers, which travel the Seas, preached by john Madoxe, Master of Art, and fellow of All souls in Oxford, at Waymouth and Melcombe regis, a port in the County of Dorsett, the 3. day of October, in the year of our Lord. 1581.  Esaiah. 55.3. 
Incline your ears, and come unto me: hear, and your souls shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.  
At London, Printed by I. Charlwood.   

To the worshipful M. Mayor of Waymouth and Melcombe regis, in the County of Dorsett, and his brethren the Bailiffs and Aldermen of the same Town, Thomas Martin wisheth increase of grace, with the true fear of God.  
WHen I considered with myself, (worshipful and in the Lord beloved) the manifold and subtle practices, with the malignant drifts, that the man of sin & his ministers, by the suggestion of Satan do daily put in ure, to bring God's word being a Lantern unto our steps, and a light unto our feet, not only into contempt & disliking, but also unto utter ruin and decay, that he may reign in the temple of men's hearts as God alone: (I could not stay) but carefully endeavour myself▪ what way best I might diligently, as well to support and underprop, as to promote and advance the same. And for that of myself I am not so good a labourer in the lords vinyeard, as I wish I were, yea rather a loiterer, as I wish I were not, for in truth, the good thing that I would do I do not, & the contrary, that I would not, that do I, yet not I, but sin that beareth sway in me) I thought it good, to set abroad, in the view of the world, to the constant comfort and joy of the Godly, and to the griping grief and sobbing sorrow of the wicked, that short, sweet, and comfortable sermon, which that godly, learned, and virtuous young man john Madoxe, M. of Art and fellow of all Souls in Oxford, in your hearing, preached here in this Chapel of Melcombe the third of October in the year of our Lord 1581. to all your great comforts. That as then in your hearts, being by the spirit of God thereunto zealously moved, you diligently heard him; so now the same being eftsoons offered unto you to be perused, you may glorify God in him. And that, as he, now having reaped the fruits of his faith, is made coheir with his and our Christ, in the kingdom of our good God: so his good studies, in virtuous exercises not buried in the pit of oblivion, may make him in fame, on earth to live for aye. Which sermon, as by the author at my motion, was first willingly unto you pronounced, and at that time of you thankfully received, so now unto you most gladly the same do I dedicate: and so much the rather, because you being Merchants, and therefore often travailing the dangerous salt foam, may, (by taking it with you and recording the same) learn how to pass in the acceptable fear of God, your idle times at sea, to the benefit of your own souls, and most of all to the glory of God. So be it.  
Your friend in the Lord to command. Thomas Martin.   
Luke. 10.18. 
And when he was entered into the ship, his disciples followed him. etc.  

O Lord God our strength and refuge, which only dost great miracles, thou which art the hope and health of the just, and the defender of them in the time of trouble, thou that buildest thy tabernacles in heaven and hast fastened the joints thereof below in the earth, which callest the waters of the Sea, and pourest them upon dry land: appease the rage of this tempestuous world, still the storms of the flesh, and rebuke the wicked spirits which seek to bring both body and soul unto shipwreck: Arise Lord in thy mercy and help, for we are hardly distressed: set our vessels out of danger, that so in safety we may arrive to the wished Haven, which is heaven itself, the rather to take the land with Christ which is our chiefest carriage, then to make show or sale of any other Merchandise of our own. For all other is nothing in comparison of him, in whose name we assemble together, humbling ourselves and advancing his glory, who is our life, our light, and our comfort, even Christ jesus, to whom he praise, power, and dominion, for ever. Amen.   
BEtter a simple Cook dress the supper, then that the guests go hungry to bed: better spread up a Canvas sheet, then to be quite without a sail, and make no way at all: better a small venture in a little Pynasse, then to sit out for nought, and to be left quite without a share: and so I trust you will think, that sith this place can not now be so furnished as it should, yet better take that it may have, then look for that it cannot have: assuring you that albeit my cookery be simple, yet will I see that the meat shall be good and wholesome▪ and albeit, my Bark be not stored with shift of Tackell, yet shall it bring you to a safe Haven: and albeit, the bottom be but small, and nothing deeply laden, yet shall it share to every man at least one good lesson.  
They that go down to the Sea in ships, 
Psal. 107.23.24.  and occupy by the great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For at his word the stormy wind ariseth, and troubleth the waves thereof. In as much therefore as this Town is placed so nigh the main, that it useth the Ocean as an handmaid to bring in profit, whereby you become well acquainted with all the knacks & conditions of the salt Foam, how serviceable it is when it is well pleased, & what bedlam leges it will fetch, when it beginneth to be wanton: Therefore have I chosen this text, even from this Gospel, that you may confess the might and marvelous power of Christ, by working such a miracle, and also he instructed how to order yourselves that you may pass the waves without danger of loss. If any man were able to undertake▪ the safe landing of all your commodities, and warrant every voyage that you make, I doubt not but you would gather about him in a throng, and listen to all his words and admonitions. If therefore the preacher will warrant the safety of your souls, with all the heavenly fraught and spiritual merchandise thereof, be not slack to hear him, for it is the better part: it is ware that serveth in a dear year: yea it enricheth you and all your children.  
Saint matthew having declared before the wonders that Christ wrought upon the earth, not in the wilderness only, where few perhaps might be to see them, but even in the towns and Cities, where every man might behold them: and not in the Ualleys alone among the people, but in the tops of the mountains among his Disciples, now he proceedeth to declare a miracle that Christ wrought upon the water, that it might be made manifest unto them that Christ's power was omnipotent, and that he was the very son of God, because all creatures were obedient and subject unto him.  
In this Gospel therefore are three things especially to be observed, 
The division general  (that is to say) the person of the Disciples, and such as sailed: the person of Christ that sat at the stern, the occasion of the miracle, and the working thereof. The Disciples were they, for whose cause this thing happened, Christ was he by whose power it was done, the miracle was that which made them all to wonder.  
Of these three things, that I may speak briefly, and yet so speak as God's name may be magnified, our understanding lightened, and our lives altered, being tempered a fresh, by God's handy work, and renewed inwardly with a right spirit, let us desire of God the giver of all goodness, who teacheth us things profitable, and guideth us in the way wherein we walk, that the church whom he hath sanctified in holiness, purchased with his blood▪ and cleansed with the washing of water in the word of life, may be a glorious congregation without spot or wrinkle, holy▪ and undefiled, and acceptable before God, and that it may so be strengthened by the power of the holy Ghost, that the gates of hell may never prevail against it, especially let us desire God that the infant whom with pain of travail and displeasure of the great Dragon, she hath here childed in England and Ireland, may prove a man of might & courage, boldly to fight the lords battles, and that our Queen's Majesty, Lady Elizabeth may march with him in comfort and defence, as Deborah marched with Baracke the son of Abinoa, against Sisera the cruel Cananite, & return again with like victory, and that she may stand unto him as effectually as Hester stood to Mardocheus against the proud Ammon, & with as much rejoicing of the people of God, overcome in the end.  
And for the more happy success in this spiritual fight, and the more assured conquest, let us pray that our Bishops and ministers, may 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 in their silver Trumpets, that we may be remembered before the Lord our God, and that they may hold up their hands in prayer as Moses did in the mountain, when Iosua fought against Amelecke utterly to destroy him.  
Let us 〈◊〉 God also to direct the Lords of the 〈◊〉 with his wisdom, that they may be such to us, as Obed was to the Ephrami●es, and Ieh●ida the Priest to 〈◊〉 and his people, because all war (as saith Solomon) is to be enterprised by counsel, and in the multitude of them that can give good advise, is safety and health.  
Let us pray for all Schools and Universities, Oxford and Cambridge, that as they are like mount Eph●aim, where the Children of the Prophets be 〈◊〉, so they may be like Mount Zion, where the Lord is truly worshipped for ever, and that therein God of his mercy, will beautify with virtue and learning the College of Allsoules.  
Let us not forget to 〈◊〉 unto God, the protection and defence of all Cities, Magistrates and justices, the Mayor of this Town, and Bailiffs, the Customer, Con●●●●●●, Searcher, and such what ever, beseeching of God, that both them and we, and all the Commons may enrol to God, such an account of our lives in love, and charity, that he which searcheth the hearts and the reins, may find us free from all gall and bitterness, being full fraught with humility, bound for the land of promise, having our sails of heavenly hope, filled with the wind of God's spirit, being directed by the compass of his word, and governed by the roother of wisdom, with the anchor of faith, and the mainmast of an upright conscience and smooth conversation in Christ jesus.  
For these things and all other whereof our blessed Father knoweth us to have need, let us with one heart and voice, power out unto him, that prayer which Christ jesus his first begotten and best beloved son, hath taught us saying. Our Father which art in heaven. etc.   
Math. 8.23.24.25. 
And when he was entered into a ship, his Disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the Sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with waves: but he was a sleep. And his Disciples came to him, & awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  
I Told you that in this Gospel were three especial observations: The first whereof is the person of Christ's Disciples, in whom this is worthy the marking, that they being simple men and unlearned, were admitted even to the company of our Saviour Christ, being ordained before to be witnesses of those things they saw and heard, and to be messengers of peace and of the glad tidings of salvation to all that believed, that the wisdom of this world might be confounded and quailed, through the apparent foolishness of the Cross of Christ, which seemed such a jest to the Greeks, that they laughed it to scorn, and was such an eye sore to the jews, that they could not look strait upon it, and such a stumbling block in their way, that they fell headlong over it.  
In these Disciples yet, though well acquainted and enured both in the manners and with the might of their master Christ jesus, we may behold an image of man's frailty and weakness, that being but a little. Seashaken with a storm, they were strait ways at their wits end, ready to give up the Ghost for fear, not considering that so long as Christ was in the Ship, let the winds rage, and the Sea roar, let the Cables crack, and the Clouds throw down lightning, let the surges mount up to Heaven, and let the waves open and gape like hell, yet so long as Christ sitteth in the stern, there is no danger: Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos, 
Roma, ●.  If God be on our side, who can prevail against us. If the sorrows of death compass us about, and the snares of wickedness make us afraid, yea, though the whole earth should be moved out of her place, and the Mountains fall into the midst of the Sea, yet because God is with us, we shall not fear, God shall help us, and that right early: But the Disciples did, as do commonly other Sailors, and Seafayring men, nay, I pray God, all that go to the Sea, do no other ways than did they: while the sky looketh clear, and the water calm, and that they scour the stream with a good forewind, than all without care we scarce think upon GOD, but let him once stir the deep out of his treasures, and overcast us with the black mantles of the South, and power the water out of his bottelles upon us, than our soul melteth for very trouble, and we are even hard at deaths door.  
But here shall be a good lesson for us to learn, that not only in fair weather we must look for a storm, and therefore pray unto God before it be thrown down upon us, but also at the time of our affliction, we must fly only unto Christ, and cry unto him, Help, help Master, for unless thou help we perish: The council of man is windy to seek, and all our labour is nothing worth: Peter is here, and cannot save us: james and john have no skill to help us: Andrew is in as great fear as we: And therefore help Master, help us O Christ, thou canst help, thou wilt hear. The Saints in Heaven (we know) do love us, but their arm is too short to send us secure. Or if there were hope in them, as there is none, yet better fly to the head, then to the foot, especially, the head being so ready, so willing, so well able, so gentle: At the head of the Spring, fair water is sweetest, and at the fountain of mercy, mercy is received with most pleasure. Doubt nothing, it is better to trust in the Lord, then to put any confidence in Princes.  
another note may you learn by these Disciples, that those whom GOD doth most entirely love, them doth he exercise in most troubles and fears, tossing them from rock to rock, and from danger to danger, knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience, and patience experience, experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, and knowing that the man is blessed, whom the Lord doth chastise: for though he be sore thrust at, yet falleth he not, because the Lord is his help: In two perils shall he deliver us, and in the third, shall he quite set us free: heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning: Blessed be the Lord that suffereth no man to be tempted above his strength. And therefore (my brethren) if it please God to lay the burden of his Cross upon any, either through sickness, or shipwreck, or piracy, or broken debtors, or otherways, let him not therefore despair of God's love, but rather let him be glad, that it pleaseth him to pick him out as one from the people, in whom the might of his Majesty might be glorified. For you may read in the former Chapters, that so long as Christ was among the multitude, there fell no danger or temptation, but all was quiet and peaceable, without trouble, without fear: but so soon as he meant to make a trial of their faith, he calleth only the Captains, even his dearest Disciples▪ and suffereth none else to come with him in the Ship, that they alone might be brought into fear. This is to us no small comfort, that those he so well loved, he was content to have them so much endangered, but yet all for the best. Silver is not Silver, till it be blown and purged in the fire: Gold cometh to no honour, till by long hammering and chase, it be forged into a vessel meet for the kings service: The corn is ground on a rough mill, and baked in an hot oven, before it become good bread. The Lord make us pure silver, and fine gold, and wholesome bread to be served on the table at the marriage feast of the Lamb, for his name's sake▪ Amen. And thus much of the first considederation, which is the person of the Disciples.  
Next, cometh the consideration of Christ's own person, of whom we may read, that for this cause was he borne, and for this cause came be into the world, to save sinners. And because those that had long laboured without relief, under the burden of the Law, not finding therein any salvation, might set their eyes on him, which is the Law of righteousness, and well perceive that he was the true Messiah: he therefore did not only preach unto them a new Doctrine of the Gospel, and gave them a new commandment of love, but also to their great comfort, and no less wonder, he confirmed all his doctrine by Miracles, healing all diseases, both of body and mind, ever applying the Miracle to make proof of that which he then preached unto them. As when he would show that man's sins were so foully infected with the contagion of leprosy, as that no works of the Law could cleanse the same, but that it must be purified by his Merits, he letteth them hereof see an outward sign, by healing that leprous body with a touch of his finger, whom no Physic before could cure. When he would have us to understand how shrewdly we are all shaken with a burning fever, that distempereth the lively blood of our souls▪ and maketh our taste so bitter, that we cannot savour the sweetness of his doctrine in ourselves without him, nor serve to minister in any necessary use: he doth hereof make evident demonstration, by curing of Peter's mother in law that was sick of an Ague. And here likewise because he would have us to consider, that in ourselves there is no ability to resist the storms and tempests of this world, the rage of the flesh, and the devil, without his help: he therefore bringeth his Disciples into this peril, and then delivereth them when they call upon him, that they may know where to seek help for their souls in time of affliction, by finding such ready help for their bodies in time of distress.  
Yea, but Christ was a sleep at the stern, yea, but let Christ be awaked: if he hear not at the first, call to him the second time: if not the second time, cry upon him the third time: yea, call and cease not, till ye have awaked him: be sure, he will both hear and help at the last. Christ is not like one of these testy squires, or those nice Dames that can abide no noise in the house, for breaking their morning sleep: no, Christ would be awaked with our early prayer, yea, with our early and earnest calling upon him. Would he be glad to be awaked? Yea surely, and more glad to be kept waking still. But how shall we keep him waking that he sleep not? Give him leave to talk unto us, and let us diligently hearken and listen unto him: for he is willing to talk and tell us of our salvation. But how shall we set him a work to talk? I will tell you. When we pray (saith Augustin) then do we talk with God: but when we hear the Scripture read, than GOD talketh unto us: for the Scripture is the voice and the words of GOD piercing the ears of our hearts by the virtue of the holy Ghost. If therefore you will hear Christ, talk and so keep him awake: Let the Bible be read unto you, whether it be on Shipboard or on shore, so oft as you can, hearken unto it, and keep Christ waking: for it is danger to let him fall a sleep, because while he slept, the Sailors were in jeopardy to be drowned: While the good man of the house slept, the envious man sowed tars among his wheat: while jonas slept under hatches, the tempest and storm with raging increased. Let us watch him well to keep him awake, nay, let us set him to watch, and wake, and keep us, and then will he not once so much as nod: For he that keepeth Israel, shall neither sleep nor slumber.  
Another good note in the consideration of the person of Christ, is this, that Christ is a very good Master to govern the Helm, and take him into the Ship with you, and let him be Loads man, let him come who ever styres his course, while Christ is Master, although the tide set on the weather bow, yet the boat shall never by sinking to léewarde, fall on a wrong coast. And while Christ is Pilot, it shall neither run upon the flats by mistaking of the channel, nor make in against the current by misreckoning of the tides, and therefore be sure to take Christ aboard with you.  
But how shall we be sure to have him with us? Surely, where two or three be gathered together in my name, there will I be also, saith Christ. If therefore you would have him in your company, then gather yourselves in his name, take your voyage in hand in his fear: let the chief purpose, be first his honour, and then a profitable service of your Country in your calling, and then no doubt God will be with you: Let your talk be of him and of his wonderful works, by telling of his salvation from day to day: Let the elder sort show unto the younger, the corners of the world, the North and the South, and praise his name that laid the foundations thereof: Let them show the points of the Compass, and the storehouse of the winds, and glorify him which bringeth them in and out at pleasure: Let him take his Star with the Ballastéelie, and show how the hours of the night are descried by the guards: Let him show, how the current followeth the first moving Heaven, and how the tides be attempered by the epicyle of the Moon, and in every thing let him praise the GOD of heaven, which hath created all this for the use of man. To conclude, let no filthiness, nor evil speaking, nor backbiting, nor blasphemy, nor corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers, and then be sure, Christ will be with you, as he was with the two Disciples that talked on him in their travail toward E●●aus. And thus much for the second consideration in this Gospel, which is the person of Christ, whose company bot●e at Sea and at land, we must chiefly desire.  
The last note that I promised, was a view and consideration of the Miracle, wherein I call you my brethren to witness, which have been in some desperate plunges on the water, whether it be not a work only appropriate to God, that when the stormy wind ariseth, and lifteth up the waves of the Sea, when they mount up to heaven, and descend again into the deep, and hear the horrible rage and rushings of the billows, when the vehemency of the flaw, renteth down the tackle, and washeth away the labourers from the hatches, when they reel too and fro, and stagger like drunken men, and their cunning is windy to seek. I report me then to you, whether it be not a work both of mercy and might, to make glad on a sudden the distressed Soul, by turning the storm unto a calm, and making the waves to be still, by rebuking the winds and the Sea, to make all things so temperate and so quiet, that the Ship shall slide toward harborowe as yare as a Pike.  
kings may boast in the multitude of their people, and merchants rejoice in their ware and their money: he thinks himself some body that can command a whole City: and he that hath but a boy to carry his Sword and Target, would take scorn to be esteemed of small reckoning. The Captain in a Ship of war, is a jolly fellow, and thinketh himself a little God, because he speaketh proudly to the Soldiers, and maketh them quail at the shaking of his locks: because at his word the Cannon's rattle, and the wild fire fléeeth through the stifling smoke, the guns thunder and spew out their pellets, and the Soldiers muster themselves on the hatches: If any be unruly, he casteth him overboard, or if any be fearful, he binds him to the Mast: if he cry aloof, the Helms man dares not go roomer: and if he bid shoot, the gunner dares not but give fire. But let the Prince or the Potentate, the King or the Captain, the Merchant or the money man, say to the South wind, cease thy blowing, or to the Clouds, hold yourselves dry: let him bid the Sun shine in a gloomy day, and let him show me the Stars in a tempestuous night▪ let him command the tide, to stay till he be ready, and charge the waters of the Sea to look smoothly, and then I will say, he is a Captain in deed, and will confess that he is worthy to be honoured and followed. And therefore if our Saviour Christ, have done, and can do it, and doth it daily, what is he that will grudge to follow so good a Captain: but take heed, if we will follow him, we must fight under him: for we cannot serve both God and Mammon.  
It is written of Edgar, a King of the English Saxons, that walking on the strand for his recreation at an ebb, so soon as the flood began, and he loath to leave walking, he setteth down his foot by the water side, and thus began to speak: I charge thee thou Sea, to stay thyself, and you billows, that ye recoil back, touch not my foot, lest I be angry, and so thou perish (for the displeasure of the King is death to the Subject.) I am thy Sovereign, and Lord of thy streams, and under me thou holdest thy water channel. What? Did the Sea, think you tremble at his voice, or was the flood quailed to hear him speak? no hardly. For had he not saved himself by flight, the salt foome would have washed his tinsel Gown. Which when the King had well espied, turning to his Bishops and Nobles that stood by, he charged them all straightly, not to flatter him thenceforth, with any lofty title of power or puissance, because there was in him no might at all.  
Cyrus' King of Persia, thought so much of himself, that, because one of his great Horses was drowned in the river Oetis, he swore in his rage he would dry it quite up, but yet could not. Well, the time weareth, and I will not hold you long▪. The mark that I shoot at, is the greatness of Christ's miracle, which not without cause made the Sailors to wonder, and to say among themselves, Who is this, that both the wind and the Sea obey him.  
But now to turn this Miracle unto our profit. The Ship may well be resembled to a City or common wealth: the Winds, be those whisperers that stir up strife, and spread debate between man and man: the waves be such ambitious desires, as do trouble the peace of the City, and make men's minds inordinately to swell in pride, in vainglory, in emulation, in debate: so wrestling and struggling together, as one byllowe dasheth against an other: which all do fill the City with the water of their garreboyles, shaking it so sore, till it be ready to sink again: Surely, where these things do happen, either Christ is not at all in that City, or else they have let him fall a sleep: wake him for God's sake, that he may still the tempest, or else the whole town will be in danger to perish. You know the Ship may hull for a while in fowl weather, and brook the rough Sea for a season: but if the tempest of rage continue without ceasing, what hope is there other, then either to be supped up of the wide yeaning waves, or to be carried against a Rock, and so spléeted in sunder. Dissension in a Town is a sore tempest, take heed, unless Christ calm it with love, and still it with agreement, what hope remaineth but a pitiful wrack. Yea, but why should the tide yield aught to the wind: or why should not the winds so long strogle for the pre-eminence, till the title of Sovereignty be allotted to some one of them? God doth know, and not I, which wind hath most right to blow: and I could wish, there were no more bickering, till that were honestly tried. I mean, I could so wish, and so I request, even in Christ, that the Ship be not troubled with surges of debate, while the Mariners strive, who shall sit at the Helm. If other means cannot be found (which Iwis might, if men would be men) yet let the law try the right of the quarrel: and yet let the Gospel establish the quiet of your hearts. Let the controversy in God's name, be decided by the Law, but let your conversation be approved by love: and let that love be without dissimulation. For I can tell you one thing, except we love one an other, we cannot love GOD: and if we love not him, how shall we look, that he will love us.  
More yet I may say somewhat, and more particularly. This body of ours is like unto a Ship, wherein the reasonable soul, like a mariner saileth: this world is nought else but a sea of wickedness: and the provokements of the flesh are tempestuous winds, which of ourselves we are not able to assuage: which if they be not in time appeased, will bring us in danger to be eaten up of the Sea, and so to make a miserable shipwreck. Let us therefore be sure, that Christ be in our ships, yea, let his fear be ever before our eyes. If that through negligence we have let him sleep, yet in time I pray you heartily let us awake him: nay, let us awake him while time serveth, and that with fasting, with weeping, with praying, and he shall surely hear us: For he is our fortress and deliverer: our God shall make calm all the unruly motions of the flesh, that strive against the spirit, whether pride or covetousness, or lust, or envy, or whatsoever, and shall supple us with the Oil of his love and heavenly grace, to him therefore be praise for ever and ever. Amen.  
FINIS.