A44697:409
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
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.
1. That we may know what we are not to take up with; because our present Subject confines us to this one measure of Religion, that it be delightful, it will be proper to limit our Discourse to this Character only of the Religion we are to pass from, as vain and worthless, viz. That which is without delight; which it also will be sufficient to insist on to our present purpose. For since (as hath been largely shown) the delightfulness of the Religion which is true, and living is intrinsical, and most natural to it, 'twill therefore be certainly consequent, that which is not delightful is dead, and can serve for nothing.
1. That we may know what we are not to take up with; because our present Subject confines us to this one measure of Religion, that it be delightful, it will be proper to limit our Discourse to this Character only of the Religion we are to pass from, as vain and worthless, viz. That which is without delight; which it also will be sufficient to insist on to our present purpose. For since (as hath been largely shewn) the delightfulness of the Religion which is true, and living is intrinsecal, and most natural to it, 'twill therefore be certainly consequent, that which is not delightful is dead, and can serve for nothing.
And yet here it will be necessary, for Caution, to insert,
1. That even such Religion as is true and living, and consequently in it self delightful, yet may by accident sometimes, not appear or be thought so; because either variety of occasions may divert from minding, or some embittering distemper of spirit may hinder the present relishing of that pleasure which is truly in it. As a man may eat and feed on that, which is very savoury and good; and yet, though his taste be not vitiated, but because he reflects not, may not every moment have that present apprehension that it is so; much more if the Organs of taste be under a present distemper. But, if they be not so, any one's asking him how he likes that dish, (because that occasions a more express animadversion), will also draw from him an acknowledgement that it is pleasant and savoury.