A31997:329
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.
4 They are the Wings of Prayer: Prayer is a Divine Cordial to convey grace from Heaven into our souls.1 It is a Key to unlock the bowels of mercy, which are in God. The best way to obtain holiness, is upon our knees; the best posture to fight against the Devil, is upon our knees; and therefore Prayer is not put as a part of our spiritual Armour, but added as that which must be an ingredient in every part,2 and which will make every part effectual. But now the Promises are the Wings of Prayer. Prayer without a Promise, is as a Bird without Wings: 3And therefore we read both of Jacob ⟨p. 156⟩and Jehoshaphat, 4how they urged God in their prayers with his Promises. And certainly the Prayers of the Saints winged with divine promises, will quickly fly up to Heaven, and draw down grace and comfort into the• souls. And upon this account it is that the Promises are so useful to a Christian, because they are so helpful in prayer. When we pray, we• must urge God with his Promises, and say, Lord, Hast thou not said, Th•• wilt circumcise our hearts to love the• thou wilt subdue our sins, thou wil• give the Spirit to those that ask it? Lord! Thou art faithful, fulfil thes• thine own promises: And we must remember this great Truth, That the Promises God makes to us, to mortifie• our sins for us, are greater helps against sin, than our promises to God to mortify sin. Many men in the day of their distress vow and promise to leave sin, and fight against it in the strength of these promises, and in stead of conquering ⟨p. 157⟩sin, are conquered by sin. But if we fight against sin in the strength of Christ, and of his promises; if we urge God in prayer with his own Word, we shall at last get victory over it. For he hath said, That sin shall not have dominion over us,