A31997:117
The Godly mans ark, or, City of refuge, in the day of his distress…The Godly mans ark, or, City of refuge, in the day of his distresse…
The Godly mans ark, or, City of refuge, in the day of his distress discovered in divers sermons, the first of which was preached at the funeral of Mistress Elizabeth Moore : the other four were afterwards preached, and are all of them now made public, for the supportation and consolation of the saints of God in the hour of tribulation : hereunto are annexed Mris. [sic] Moors evidences for heaven, composed and collected by her in the time of her health, for her comfort in the time of sickness / by Ed. Calamy ...The Godly mans ark, or, City of refuge, in the day of his distresse discovered in divers sermons, the first of which was preached at the funerall of Mistresse Elizabeth Moore : the other four were afterwards preached, and are all of them now made publick, for the supportation and consolation of the saints of God in the hour of tribulation : hereunto are annexed Mris. [sic] Moores evidences for heaven, composed and collected by her in the time of her health, for her comfort in the time of sickness / by Ed. Calamy ...
London: printed for John Hancock, 1658
Sermon 1: The Godly mans Ark; OR, City of Refuge in the day of his Distresses. SERMON I.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
By all this it appears that God afflicts his children not to hurt them, but to ⟨p. 22⟩help them, and that God hath many glorious and gracious ends and aims in afflicting of them. Therefore it is that David saith of himself in the 71. verse of this Psalm, It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes, He never said, It is good for me that I have been in prosperity, but he rather saith the contrary in the 67. verse, Before I were afflicted, I went astray, but now I have kept thy word. Gods people will bless God as much (if not more) in Heaven, for their adversity, than for their prosperity.
By all this it appears that God afflicts his children not to hurt them, but to ⟨p. 22⟩help them, and that God hath many glorious and gracious ends and aimes in afflicting of them. Therefore it is that David saith of himself in the 71. verse of this Psalm, It is good for mee that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes, Hee never said, It is good for mee that I have been in prosperity, but hee rather saith the contrary in the 67. verse, Before I were afflicted, I went astray, but now I have kept thy word. Gods people will bless God as much (if not more) in Heaven, for their adversity, than for their prosperity.
Use 1. Let us not pass rash censures upon persons under great afflictions. Say not, such a woman is a greater sinner than others, because more afflicted. This was the fault of Jobs friends, and God expresseth his anger against them for it, Job 42. 7. My wrath is kindled against thee, and thy two friends, for you have not spoken the thing that is right, &c. This was the fault of the Barbarians, ⟨p. 23⟩Act. 28. 4