A31997:148
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.
3 As we must expect and provide for afflictions,1 so also we must labour (when afflicted) to improve them for our spiritual benefit and advantage. We must pray more for the sanctification of them, than for their removal: It ⟨p. 40⟩was not the staff of Elisha that revived the dead child, but Elisha himself. It was not the troubling of the waters of the Pool of Bethesda, that made them healing, but the coming down of the Angel. It was not the Clay and spittle that cured the blind eyes, but Christs anointing them with it. It was not the cloak of Elijah that divided the waters, but the God of Elijah: Troubles, strokes, blows, afflictions, and distresses will do us no good, unless the Lord be pleased to make them effectual; And therefore let us pray unto God that he would give us grace together with our affliction. That he would add instruction to his correction, that he would make us good scholars in the school of afflictions, and enable us to take out all those excellent lessons, which he would have us to learn in it, that thereby we may come to know God more powerfully, and experimentally, and took now our selves, and our own frailty, and our absolute de pendene upon God ⟨p. 41⟩more effectually, that thereby we may be more purified and refined, that the wind of temptation may cleanse us from the chaff of our corruption, that we may learn righteousness by Gods judgements, and be made partakers of his holiness. Such a good Scholar was Manasseh, he got more good by his Iron chain, than by his Golden chain: Such another was the Prodigal child, who was happier amongst the Swine, than when in his Fathers house; Such was Paul, his being strucken down to the ground, raised him up to Heaven; by the blindness of his body, his soul received sight; and he was turned from a persecuting Saul, to a persecuted Paul. Such another was David, who professeth of himself, that it was good for him that he was afflicted; and such Scholars ought we to be.
3 As wee must expect and provide for afflictions,1 so also wee must labour (when afflicted) to improve them for our spiritual benefit and advantage. Wee must pray more for the sanctification of them, than for their removal: It