A44697:114
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.
There is a certain acceptableness in some Truths (necessary to their being received in the love thereof), which is peculiarly so represented to some, as that their apprehension is clear and vivid, beyond that of other men; who, however they have the representation of the same things, yet have not the same representation; Though, if they be things of necessary and common concernment, it is (as was said) their own fault that they have it not. And to have yet clearer apprehensions of this sort, is what the renewed Soul doth most earnestly crave, and would be proportionably delighted with.
2. The tendency of such Truths, is much more clearly conceivable to an holy Soul, than another; what their scope and aim or aspect is, which way they look, and what ⟨p. 28⟩they drive at, or lead to. I mean not what other truth they are connected with, and would aptly tend to infer; But what design God hath upon us in revealing them, and what impression they ought to make upon us. To the ignorance or disregard of which tendency and design of Gods revelation, it is to be attributed, that many have long the same notions of things hovering in their minds, without ever reflecting with any displeasure upon the so vastly unsuitable temper of their spirits thereto. They know it may be such things concerning God, the tendency whereof is to draw their hearts into union with him, to transform them into his likeness, to inflame them with his love. But they still remain notwithstanding at the greatest distance, most unsuitable, averse, coldly affected towards him, yea utterly opposite and disaffected; and fall not out with themselves upon this account, have no quarrel nor dislike, take not any distaste at themselves for it. They take no notice of an incongruity and unfitness in the ill temper of their own spirits; but seem as if they thought all were very well with them, nothing amiss; and apprehend not a repugnancy in their habitual dispositions towards God to their notions of him.
2. The tendency of such Truths, is much more clearly conceivable to an holy Soul, than another; what their scope and aim or aspect is, which way they look, and what