A31997:53
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
Dedication: TO Those of Aldermanbury-Parish, Together, With all others who attend constantly upon t…
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.
That you may the better discharge this duty, you must labour to be acquainted one with another, as far as your Callings and Relations will give you leave. It is a great and common sin, and much to be lamented, That there is so little knowledge and acquaintance, ⟨image 16⟩between those that are of the same Congregation. They sit in the same Pew together, partake of the same Sacrament, and yet converse no more together, than if one lived at York, and the other at London. And when they do converse together, it is a mere civill and outward converse, as amongst sober heathens: But there is very little Religious society between them, for the spiritual edification one of another. Now this must needs be a great sin; For how can you watch over one another, edify and admonish one another? How can you support the weak, comfort the feeble-minded, if not spiritually acquainted one with another.
That you may the better discharge this duty, you must labour to bee acquainted one with another, as far as your Callings and Relations will give you leave. It is a great and common sin, and much to bee lamented, That there is so little knowledge and acquaintance, ⟨image 16⟩between those that are of the same Congregation. They sit in the same Pew together, partake of the same Sacrament, and yet converse no more together, than if one lived at York, and the other at London. And when they do converse together, it is a meer civill and outward converse, as amongst sober heathens: But there is very little Religious society between them, for the spiritual edification one of another. Now this must needs bee a great sin; For how can you watch over one another, edifie and admonish one another? How can you support the weak, comfort the feeble-minded, if not spiritually acquainted one with another.
And yet it is not my opinion, that every member of a Congregation is bound to know every fellow-member. I believe it was not so in the Church of Jerusalem, or of Samaria. It is incredible, to think that they all knew one another. I should be loath to lay such a clog upon you consciences, as to say,