A31997:186
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 2: THE Word of God IS THE Saints Delights. SERMON II.
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. This shows that there are but few true Saints amongst us. There are many bastard Saints, and nominal Saints, but few true and real Saints. We live in an age, wherein there were never more Saints, and never fewer, never more by outward Profession, and never fewer by a holy Conversation. It is the property of a true Saint to ⟨p. 65⟩make the word of God his darling and delights.
Use. This shews that there are but few true Saints amongst us. There are many bastard Saints, and nomin•l Saints, but few true and real Saints. Wee live in an age, wherein there were never more Saints, and never fewer, never more by outward Profession, and never fewer by a holy Conversation. It is the property of a true Saint to ⟨p. 65⟩make the word of God his darling and delights.
But where shall we find such Saints? It is easy to find out men that can say, Eating and drinking is my delight, carding and dicing is my delight, reading of vain and trifling books is my delight, to satisfy the lusts of the flesh is my delight. But where is the man that can truly say as David doth? The Law of God is my delights, and the joy and rejoicing of my heart for ever. Austin professeth of himself, that before his Conversion, he took no pleasure in the Word of God. His proud heart (as he saith) would not stoop to the humble expressions of it. After his Conversion, he was ravished with the beauty and excellency of the Scriptures, but before his Conversion, he saw no excellency in them. Politian (though a great Scholar, yet a notorious Atheist) professeth most blasphemously, that he never lost more time than in reading the ⟨p. 66⟩Scripture. And it is reported of Plato, that when he had read the first Chapter of Genesis, he said, Hic vir multa dicit, sed nihil probat: This man saith many things, but proveth nothing Where shall we find the man that puts a due estimation upon the word of God? That prizeth it above gold, yea above much fine gold? That rejoiceth in thy word, as much as in all riches, verse 14. That can appeal to God, and say as David, vers. 159. Consider, Oh Lord, how I love thy Precepts? and vers. 97. Oh how do I love thy Law? There are some men that can delight in any thing but in God, and his Word, and his Ordinances: They can delight in the creatures of God, but cannot delight in the Ordinances of God. They can delight in the gifts of God, in riches, and health, and honours: But they cannot delight in the God of these gifts. They can delight in books of Philosophy, and Humanity, but they cannot delight in the word of God.