A44697:385
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.
Delight in God is a great piece of homage to him, a practical acknowledgement of his sovereign excellency, and perfect all comprehending goodness; when we retire from all the world to him, we confess him better than all things besides: That we have none in Heaven ⟨p. 166⟩or Earth that we esteem worthy to be compared with him. But when our hearts are averse to him, and will not be brought to delight in him, since there is somewhat in the mean while wherein we do delight; we do as much as say (yea, we more significantly express it than by saying) that whatever that is, 'tis better than he; Yea, that such a thing is good, and he is not. For as not-believing him is a denial of his Truth, the making him a liar; not delighting in him is, equally, a denial of his Goodness, and consequently even of his Godhead it self.
Delight in God is a great piece of homage to him, a practical acknowledgment of his sovereign excellency, and perfect all comprehending goodness; when we retire from all the world to him, we confess him better than all things besides: That we have none in Heaven ⟨p. 166⟩or Earth that we esteem worthy to be compared with him. But when our hearts are averse to him, and will not be brought to delight in him, since there is somewhat in the mean while wherein we do delight; we do as much as say (yea, we more significantly express it than by saying) that whatever that is, 'tis better than he; Yea, that such a thing is good, and he is not. For as not-believing him is a denial of his Truth, the making him a liar; not delighting in him is, equally, a denial of his Goodness, and consequently even of his Godhead it self.
And since we find the words are here laid down plainly in a preceptive form; Delight thy self in the Lord: Can any think themselves after this at liberty, to do so or not? 'Tis true, that they who are in no disposition hereto have somewhat else to do in order to that (of which hereafter); but, in the mean time, how forlorn is their case, who have nothing to excuse their sin by, but sin; and who, instead of extenuating their guilt, do double it!