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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…Edmund Calamy, 1658

Rule 13.

pp. 209–22218 passages

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.

:423p. 209

Rule 13.

:424p. 209–211

Study thy interest in the promises in the time of health, ¹and outward prosperity; For I find by experience that a child of God (under outward affliction, or divine desertion, or extreme melancholy) is many times like a man in the dark. A man in the dark cannot (though never so learned) read in a book of the clearest print, or fairest character, he cannot (though never so active) undertake any thing of weight. No more can a child of God in the hour of distress, read his evidences for heaven, much less study to find out evidences; he looks upon all the promises with a black pair of spectacles, and wants light to see his interest in them. When Zion was ⟨p. 210⟩in distress,² she said, God had forsaken her, ³and her Lord had forgotten her. When David was persecuted by Saul, he said in his haste, All men were liars, even Samuel himself, who had told him that God would bestow the Kingdom on him,⁴ He said in his haste he was cut off from before Gods eyes; ⁵Thus did Heman. Christ himself cried out, when he was upon the Cross, with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? As men in Ag•es and Fevers, are not fit judges of meats and drinks, (whether they be good or bad) because their palates are out of taste. So a distressed Christian, (when under extreme melancholy, divine desertion, or some great affliction) is no fit judge, at such a time of his interest in the Promises. And therefore my advice is, Make out thy interest in time of prosperity, and live upon it in time of adversity. Make, and read over thy Evidences for Heaven in ⟨p. 211⟩

Study thy interest in the promises in the time of health, ¹and outward prosperity; For I find by experience that a childe of God (under outward affliction, or divine desertion, or extream melancholy) is many times like a man in the dark. A man in the dark cannot (though never so learned) read in a book of the clearest print, or fairest character, hee cannot (though never so active) undertake any thing of weight. No more can a childe of God in the hour of distress, read his evidences for heaven, much less study to finde out evidences; hee looks upon all the promises with a black pair of spectacles, and wants light to see his interest in them. When Sion was ⟨p. 210⟩in distress,² shee said, God had forsaken her, ³and her Lord had forgotten her. When David was persecuted by Saul, hee said in his haste, All men were liars, even Samuel himselfe, who had told him that God would bestow the Kingdome on him,⁴ Hee said in his haste hee was cut off from before Gods eyes; ⁵Thus did Heman. Christ himselfe cryed out, when hee was upon the Cross, with a loud voyce, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee? As men in Ag•es and Feavers, are not fit judges of meats and drinks, (whether they bee good or bad) because their pallats are out of taste. So a distressed Christian, (when under extream melancholy, divine desertion, or some great affliction) is no fit judge, at such a time of his interest in the Promises. And therefore my advice is, Make out thy interest in time of prosperity, and live upon it in time of adversity. Make, and read over thy Evidences for Heaven in ⟨p. 211⟩time of health, and learn then by heart, that when thou comest into a dark condition, thou mayest neither have them to make, or to read. Do as Tamar did, Gen. 38. 18. 25. When Iudah her Father in law, lay with her, shee took as a pledge, his signet, bracelets, and staffe. And afterward when shee was in great distress, and ready to bee burnt as a Harlot, shee then brought her staffe, and signet, and bracelets, and said, By the man whose these are, am I with childe, and thereby shee saved her life. So must you do. In time of health study thy interest in the promises, and in time of sickness live upon what thou hast studied, then bring forth thy staffe and bracelets, &c. then produce thy evidences, and make use of them as spiritual butteresses to keep thee from falling into despair.⁶

:425p. 211–212

I knew a very godly woman (not unknown to many here) who in her life time had taken a great deal of pains to compose, and write down her evidences ⟨p. 212⟩for heaven, and who also kept a Diary of her life, and wrote down how she spent every day; when she lay upon her death-bed, it pleased God to with-draw himself from her for a while, and to let the Devil loose, who tempted her to despair, told her she was an Hypocrite, a Formalist, and that she had no true grace in her. She sent for me, made her bitter complaint to me, and sadly bewailed her condition. Then she told me (which before I knew not) how she had spent her life, how careful she had been in searching her ways, in observing how she spent every day, and how exact in collecting Evidences for Heaven, the book was sent for, I read a great part of it to her, and took much delight and content in what I read. And it pleased God to come to her with comfort in the reading of it. She showed her Staff, and her Bracelets, and thereby quenched the fiery darts of the Devil.

I knew a very godly woman (not unknown to many here) who in her life time had taken a great deal of pains to compose, and write down her evidences ⟨p. 212⟩for heaven, and who also kept a Diary of her life, and wrote down how shee spent every day; when shee lay upon her death-bed, it pleased God to with-draw himself from her for a while, and to let the Devil loose, who tempted her to despair, told her shee was an Hypocrite, a Formalist, and that shee had no true grace in her. Shee sent for mee, made her bitter complaint to mee, and sadly bewayled her condition. Then shee told mee (which before I knew not) how shee had spent her life, how carefull shee had been in searching her wayes, in observing how shee spent every day, and how exact in collecting Evidences for Heaven, the book was sent for, I read a great part of it to her, and tooke much delight and content in what I read. And it pleased God to come to her with comfort in the reading of it. Shee shewed her Staffe, and her Bracelets, and thereby quenched the fiery darts of the Devil.

:426p. 213–214

Thus I have in three Sermons taught you how to make use of Scripture-promises, as Conduits of soulsupportation, and soul-consolation in the day of distress. When you hereafter read the Bible, remember the promising-word (as well as the commanding and threatening word) make a Catalogue of the Promises, meditate upon the preciousness, freeness, usefulness, latitude, richness, and immutability of them. They are as certain as God himself, they have the strength of God, the comforts of God, and assistance of God in them. Above all, labour to make application of them to your own soul. For this purpose, study these thirteen Rules and Directions. Pray unto God to give thee spiritual eyes, to see thy interest in them, and spiritual hands to reach out after them. Pray to God to give thee spiritual ability, to act faith upon the promises, to draw virtue from them, as the woman who had the bloody issue, did ⟨p. 214⟩from Christ; to suck out all the sweetness that is in them, to hang upon them, as the woman did upon the Prophet, and as a Bee doth upon a flower, and by application of them to thy soul, to live in God, and on God here, till thou comest to enjoy the blessings promised with God for ever in heaven.

Thus I have in three Sermons taught you how to make use of Scripture-promises, as Conduits of soulsupportation, and soul-consolation in the day of distress. When you hereafter read the Bible, remember the promising-word (as well as the commanding and threatning word) make a Catalogue of the Promises, meditate upon the pretiousness, freeness, usefulness, latitude, richness, and immutability of them. They are as certain as God himselfe, they have the strength of God, the comforts of God, and assistance of God in them. Above all, labour to make application of them to your own soul. For this purpose, study these thirteen Rules and Directions. Pray unto God to give thee spiritual eyes, to see thy interest in them, and spiritual hands to reach out after them. Pray to God to give thee spiritual ability, to act faith upon the promises, to draw vertue from them, as the woman who had the bloody issue, did ⟨p. 214⟩from Christ; to suck out all the sweetness that is in them, to hang upon them, as the woman did upon the Prophet, and as a Bee doth upon a flower, and by application of them to thy soul, to live in God, and on God here, till thou comest to enjoy the blessings promised with God for ever in heaven.

:430p. 215–216

Nay, I must add, That God is not only a long time performing his promises, but sometimes instead of performing them, he seems to the eye of flesh and blood to walk contrary to them. Sometimes the Providences of God run cross to his Promises. God promised to make David King; instead of this, he is persecuted by Saul, as a Partridge upon the mountains, he is driven to that extremity that he begins to doubt of Gods promise, and to say, That one day he should dye by the hand of Saul. God promised to Joseph, ¹That the Sun, Moon, and Stars should worship him, and that his sheaf should be lifted up above the sheaf of his brethren. But he ⟨p. 216⟩finds the quite contrary, his brethren seek to slay him, sell him into Egypt, and there he is put in prison as one quite forsaken of God. But yet notwithstanding all this, you must know, That though the way of God, in performing his promises, be very mysterious and secret, yet he will at last perform every [Greek or Hebrew] and tittle of them. Thus David was at last made King of Israel, and Joseph Lord of Egypt, and his brethren came all to worship him.

Nay, I must adde, That God is not onely a long time performing his promises, but sometimes instead of performing them, hee seems to the eye of flesh and blood to walk contrary to them. Sometimes the Providences of God run cross to his Promises. God promised to make David King; instead of this, hee is persecuted by Saul, as a Partridge upon the mountains, hee is driven to that extremity that hee begins to doubt of Gods promise, and to say, That one day hee should dye by the hand of Saul. God promised to Ioseph, ¹That the Sun, Moon, and Stars should worship him, and that his sheaf should bee lifted up above the sheaf of his brethren. But hee ⟨p. 216⟩findes the quite contrary, his brethren seek to slay him, sell him into Egypt, and there hee is put in prison as one quite forsaken of God. But yet notwithstanding all this, you must know, That though the way of God, in performing his promises, bee very mysterious and secret, yet hee will at last perform every 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and tittle of them. Thus David was at last made King of Israel, and Ioseph Lord of Egypt, and his brethren came all to worship him.

11 Sam. 27. 1.

:433p. 216–218

1 It is our duty to wait patiently, ¹and believingly, till Providences and Promises meet together. He that believeth maketh not haste. The Prophet there speaks of a glorious promise,² and adds, That a true Saint will ⟨p. 217⟩wait Gods time, which is the fittest and best time, he will patiently expect, till God fulfil his promise. He will do as the Martyr did, who might have escaped privately out of prison, and was tempted to it by his friends; But answered: He would not go out of prison when his enemies would have him, for they would make him tarry longer than he should, nor yet when his friends would have him, for they would make him tarry a lesser time than he should; but he would come out when God would have him. Gods time is the best; and they are soon enough delivered, who are delivered in Gods way, and at Gods time. This then is thy great duty (O Christian) to wait patiently, and believingly, and not to seek by unlawful ways to be rid of they miseries, as David did by going to the Philistines; and as many in Queen Mary's days did,³ by yielding to the Popish superstitions. To help you to wait Gods leisure, holding Faith ⟨p. 218⟩and a good conscience; you have

1 It is our duty to wait patiently, ¹and beleevingly, till Providences and Promises meet together. Hee that beleeveth maketh not haste. The Prophet there speaks of a glorious promise,² and adds, That a true Saint will ⟨p. 217⟩wait Gods time, which is the fittest and best time, hee will patiently expect, till God fulfil his promise. Hee will do as the Martyr did, who might have escaped privately out of prison, and was tempted to it by his friends; But answered: Hee would not go out of prison when his enemies would have him, for they would make him tarry longer than hee should, nor yet when his friends would have him, for they would make him tarry a lesser time than hee should; but hee would come out when God would have him. Gods time is the best; and they are soon enough delivered, who are delivered in Gods way, and at Gods time. This then is thy great duty (O Christian) to wait patiently, and beleevingly, and not to seek by unlawful waies to bee rid of they miseries, as David did by going to the Philistims; and as many in Queen Maries daies did,³ by yeelding to the Popish superstitions. To help you to wait Gods leisure, holding Faith ⟨p. 218⟩and a good conscience; you have

1Three duties to be practised when providences […] cross to promises.Three duties to bee practised when providences 〈…〉 cross to promises.
2Isa, 28. 1•.
31 Sam. 27. 1.

:440p. 220–222

Now as the Promises are the ground and rule of our prayers, so our prayers are divine means and helps for the obtaining ⟨p. 221⟩of the promises: Though God hath made many glorious and precious promises to his children, yet he will perform none of them, but to those who by prayer seek them at his hands. When Nathan told David what great things God had promised to him, he went into Gods house to pray for them, 2 Sam. 7. The Prophet Isaiah mentioneth a glorious promise, Isa. 43. 25. but he adds, Put me in remembrance, vers. 20. Thus Ezekiel 36. 37. I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, and therefore when you read the Promises of the Bible, remember whatsoever God makes a promise, you must make a prayer; and that prayer will hasten the fulfilling of the promises: You must continue to pray, and faint not;¹ for the vision is but for an appointed time, though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. This did Daniel when he understood the time approached, &c. ⟨p. 222⟩he prayed, Dan. 9. 2, 3. Thus did David, Psal. 56. 9, 10, 57. 1, 2. Thus must you do. These are the three great Duties which the Lord requires of us at all times, but more especially in these our days, wherein the Providences of God seem to run quite cross unto his promises. The Lord give us grace to practise them. So much for this Text.

Now as the Promises are the ground and rule of our prayers, so our prayers are divine means and helps for the obtaining ⟨p. 221⟩of the promises: Though God hath made many glorious and precious promises to his children, yet hee will perform none of them, but to those who by prayer seek them at his hands. When Nathan told David what great things God had promised to him, hee went into Gods house to pray for them, 2 Sam. 7. The Prophet Isaiah mentioneth a glorious promise, Isa. 43. 25. but hee adds, Put mee in remembrance, vers. 20. Thus Ezekiel 36. 37. I will yet for this bee inquired of by the house of Israel, and therefore when you read the Promises of the Bible, remember whatsoever God makes a promise, you must make a prayer; and that prayer will hasten the fulfilling of the promises: You must continue to pray, and faint not;¹ for the vision is but for an appointed time, though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. This did Daniel when hee understood the time approached, &c. ⟨p. 222⟩hee prayed, Dan. 9. 2, 3. Thus did David, Psal. 56. 9, 10, 57. 1, 2. Thus must you do. These are the three great Duties which the Lord requires of us at all times, but more especially in these our dayes, wherein the Providences of God seem to run quite cross unto his promises. The Lord give us grace to practise them. So much for this Text.

1Hab. 2. 2.