A31997:380
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.
Rule 5.
5 If thou canst not lay hold upon the Promises made to those, 1who are in the highest form in Christs School, lay hold upon the Promises made to those who are in the lower forms. In Christs School there are divers sorts of Scholars, some are in the high form, some in the middle, ⟨p. 189⟩some in the lowest, some are Babes in Christs School, some are grown Christians, some are as tall Cedars, some are as low shrubs. Now you must know that it is our duty to labour to be of the highest form. 2He that saith he hath grace enough, hath grace little enough. He that stints himself in his endeavours after grace, never had true grace. We must labour to be perfect, as God is perfect. But yet you must also •now, that he that is a real Scholar in Christs School, is in an happy condition, though he be not the best Scholar. And that it is our duty so to […] the eminent graces, which are in others, as to be thereby incited to a further progress in grace, but not so as to be thereby disheartened and discouraged. There are many distressed Christians like to those who gaze so long upon the brightness of the Sun, that when they come into their houses, they cannot see at all, they pore so much upon the transcendent excellencies ⟨p. 190⟩which are in their Brethren, that they are stark blind in their own concernments, and cannot see any grace in themselves, and hereupon are apt to conclude, that they are out of Gods favour. But this is a non sequitur. The foot must not say, that it is no part of the body, because it is not so eminent a part as the head or heart. We must rather say with the Martyr, Blessed be God that I am a member in Christs body, though but the weakest and lowest. We must not rest satisfied with being lo• Christians; but yet we must not therefore say, We are no Christians. And when we are under great tribulations and temptations, if we cannot apply to our selves for our comfort those Promises which are made to minent Saints of the highest form, let us apply those which are made unto true Saints, though to such who are the lowest of the lowest form; and hereby we shall (through Gods blessing) find our souls marvellously supported