A31997:210
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.
The stony ground, when persecution arose, parted with all its joy, and faith, rather than it would lose its estate, or life. As a godly man rejoiceth in worldly things, as though he rejoiced not, 1 Cor. 7. 30. So a wicked man rejoiceth in spiritual things, as though he rejoiced not. In the old Law those Fowls that did both fly and swim, were unclean: A wicked man would many times fly aloft in spiritual delights, but he would also bathe himself, and swim in carnal pleasures, ⟨p. 80⟩and his heart is more affected with worldly advancement, and bodily recreations, than with heavenly, and this is a sign that he is an unclean Christian, and that his delights in God, and his Word are not right, because they are not overtopping and superlative.
The stony ground, when persecution arose, parted with all its joy, and faith, rather than it would lose its estate, or life. As a godly man rejoyceth in worldly things, as though hee rejoyced not, 1 Cor. 7. 30. So a wicked man rejoyceth in spiritual things, as though hee rejoyced not. In the old Law those Fowls that did both flye and swimme, were unclean: A wicked man would many times flye aloft in spiritual delights, but hee would also bathe himself, and swimme in carnal pleasures, ⟨p. 80⟩and his heart is more affected with worldly advancement, and bodily recreations, than with heavenly, and this is a sign that hee is an unclean Christian, and that his delights in God, and his Word are not right, because they are not overtopping and superlative.
4 It is powerful and soul-strengthening, full of life, vigour, and activity; it will enable the soul to do and suffer any thing for God, it turns a Prison into a Paradise, it makes Martyrdom to be as a bed of Roses, it is Armour of proof to steel us, and make us fit to endure Afflictions, both for God, and from God; therefore David saith in the Text, Unless thy Law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine Affliction. His delight in the Law supported him from sinking. It is like Oil to the Wheels, like Sails to the Ship, and wings to the bird; but the delight that a wicked man hath in the Word is a powerless, dead, fruitless, and strengthless delight. It is as a paper Helmet, and a