A44697:112
A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…
A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. In two parts. By John Howe, M.A. sometime fellow of Magdalen College, Oxon.
London: printed by A. Maxwell for Sa. Gellibrand, 1674
A TREATISE OF Delighting in GOD: From PSAL. 37. 4. Delight thy self… › Part 1
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.
'Tis answered there are many things, to which somewhat may belong not capable of description, and whereof we have yet a most certain perception. As the different relishes of the things we taste. There are no words that will express those many peculiarities. And as to the present matter; There is somewhat belonging to the things of God (those for instance that were mentioned, his wisdom, holiness &c.) besides the Truth of the conceptions that may be formed about them; which is more clearly apprehensible to a divinely enlightened understanding than to one that is not so. As,
1. The beauty of those Truths; which it is most delightful to behold, Their lively sparkling lustre, by which they appear so amiable and lovely, to a well-tempered spirit; as to transport it with pleasure and ravish it from it self into union with them. There was somewhat else apprehensible no doubt, and apprehended by them, the inward sentiments of whose souls those words so defectively served to express, Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the Gods, who is like thee, glorious in holiness! &c. besides the mere truth of any propositions that those words can be resolved into. And so in those, O the depth ⟨p. 27⟩of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! &c. And those, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that, &c. Or those, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, whereof I am chief. Or the strains of that rapturous prayer,—That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of Christ, that passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
1. The beauty of those Truths; which it is most delightful to behold, Their lively sparkling lustre, by which they appear so amiable and lovely, to a well-tempered spirit; as to transport it with pleasure and ravish it from it self into union with them. There was somewhat else apprehensible no doubt, and apprehended by them, the inward sentiments of whose souls those words so defectively served to express, Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the Gods, who is like thee, glorious in holiness! &c. besides the meer truth of any propositions that those words can be resolved into. And so in those, O the depth