A31997:286
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
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.
But now on the contrary, A poor distressed Christian pores upon his iniquities and corruptions, but never minds himself of the Promises, and this makes him live so dejectedly, and disconsolately. A wicked man studieth his Corruptions too little. A distressed Christian too much. If he did study the Promises, as much as he doth his corruptions; he would not walk so uncomfortably.
But now on the contrary, A poore distressed Christian pores upon his iniquities and corruptions, but never mindes himself of the Promises, and this makes him live so dejectedly, and disconsolately. A wicked man studieth his Corruptions too little. A distressed Christian too much. If hee did study the Promises, as much as he doth his corruptions; hee would not walk so uncomfortably.
Wherefore if ever you would make the Word of God a Conduit of comfort in the day of your distress; you must not only meditate on the commanding and threatening word, but on the premising Word. The Commandments and threatenings must drive you to the Promises; you must not only study your corruptions to humble you, but also the Promises to comfort you. I do not say, you must not study your corruptions, but you must join the study of the Promises together with them. If Abraham had minded only the deadness of Sarahs womb, and of his own body, he had never believed, &c. but he was strong in Faith, and staggered not because he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, 1nor the deadness of Sarahs womb, but was fully persuaded, that what God had promised, he was able to perform. If Sarah had considered only that she was past age, she would never have believed ⟨p. 131⟩that she should have a Child, but she eyed the Promise, and judged him faithful, 2who had promised, and that made her believe. If a Saint of God looks only downwards upon the deadness of his heart, and meditates only upon his sins and infirmities; he will never be comforted in the day of his distress. But he must also look upwards unto the Promises, seriously ponder, and fixedly study them, which will be as strong Pillars to support him, and keep him from falling into despair; in the hour of tribulation.