A31997:118
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.
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. When they saw the venomous beast hang upon the hand of Paul, they said among themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer, &c. But remember they were Barbarians. It is a sign of a Barbarian, not of a Christian to pass a rash censure upon persons in affliction. Think you (saith Christ) that those eighteen upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell and slew them, that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem. I tell you, nay, but except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish, Luke 13. 4, 5. Think you that they which have the stone and gout in extremity, that have cancers in their faces and breasts, are greater sinners than others. I tell you nay, &c. For my part, if I would censure any, it should be such as live wickedly, and meet with no affliction: These have the black brand of reprobation upon them. These are men designed to damnation. Ambrose would not tarry a night in the house of a Gentleman that had never in all his ⟨p. 24⟩life been afflicted, for fear (as he said) lest some great and sudden judgement should betide it. But when I see a godly woman afflicted, then I say, this is not so much for her sin, as for her trial; this is not to hurt her, but to teach her to know God, and to know her self, to break her heart for sin, and from sin, to make the world bitter, and Christ sweet. God hath put her into the fire of affliction, to refine her, and make her a vessel fit for his use. God is striking her with the hammer of affliction, that she may be squared, and made ready to be laid in the heavenly Jerusalem.
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 Iobs friends, and God expresseth his anger against them for it,