A31997:216
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.
7 The delight that a godly man hath in the word, is not only a delight in spiritual things, but a spiritual delight, grounded upon spiritual aims and reasons. But the delight of a wicked man, though it be in spiritual things, yet it is but a natural delight. As a godly man spiritualizeth carnal things; so an ungodly man carnalizeth spiritual things. Austin before his conversion, rejoiced much to hear Ambrose preach, but it was because of his eloquence (as he saith) not upon a spiritual account. ⟨p. 85⟩A wicked man may follow a Preacher, and delight in his preaching, because of his elegant words, and Rhetorical expressions, because he is unto him as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, &c. as it is Ezek. 33. 32. Or, out of novelty, because newly come (as the Israelites delighted in Manna at first, but afterwards loathed it) or because he loves his person; or out of a desire to obtain a form of knowledge in heavenly things. The Pharisees delighted to do many spiritual things out of vain-glory. Jehu delighted to do the will of God, but it was for his own ends. Pauci quaerunt Jesum, propter Jesum. Stella is of opinion, that the Devil persuaded Herod, to hear John Baptist gladly, and to reverence him, and to do many things, that so he might hold him the faster in his possession. The Devil had him sure by one sin, and therefore he provoked him to do some good things, that so he might rock ⟨p. 86⟩him asleep in presumption, and by his good things he might quiet his conscience, and put a fair gloss upon his incestuous practices: A man may rejoice in spiritual things upon sinful grounds and reasons. But now a true Saint delights in the word upon a spiritual account, because it is Gods word, and God would have him delight in it, because it is his guide to glory, the way by which he is sanctified. It is both concha & canalis, A Cistern to contain the glorious mysteries of salvation, and a Conduit to convey God and grace into his soul.
7 The delight that a godly man hath in the word, is not onely a delight in spiritual things, but a spiritual delight, grounded upon spiritual aimes and reasons. But the delight of a wicked man, though it bee in spiritual things, yet it is but a natural delight. As a godly man spiritualizeth carnal things; so an ungodly man carnalizeth spiritual things. Austin before his conversion, rejoyced much to hear Ambrose preach, but it was because of his eloquence (as hee saith) not upon a spiritual account.