The Godly Mans Ark, Essay
Mrs. Elizabeth Moores EVIDENCES FOR HEAVEN: Collected by her self in the time of her health, in such manner and method, as they are here presented to Publick view.
1 Her Design in this Collection.
IN the Examination of my self, I finde that my Aims and Ends, why I desire to gather together, and clear up my Evidences for heaven (if my deceitful heart doth not deceive mee) are these following.
1 THat hereby (as a means) I may bee inabled to glorifie God in the great work of beleeving, The first Design.that hereby (with Gods blessing) the dimme eye of my Faith may more clearly see the Lord Jesus Christ to bee a Peace-maker, and Reconciler, and Surety, for mee, even for mee, who am by nature a fire-brand of Hell. The time was, I am sure, when I was the Devils picture, and had the black brand of Reprobation upon mee, and therefore it doth neerly concern mee to search and trye what Evidences I have to prove that God fetching Arguments out of his own bowels, and the riches of his free grace, hath redeemed mee out of this lost estate.
2 MY Aime is to strengthen that longed for grace of Assurance▪ The second Design.A grace, which though it bee not of absolute necessity for the being and salvation, yet it is of absolute necessity for the well being and consolation of a Christian; without this grace I can neither live nor dye comfortably; and I have been often exhorted by Gods faithful Ambassadors, to gather together my Scripture Evidences, and to have the approbation of some godly and experienced Minister or Christian; and this by Gods blessing may bee a means to strengthen Assurance: Yea, I finde in Scripture, that the Lord saith, that the Priests lips shall preserve knowledge, Mal. 3. 7.and thou shalt seek the Law at his mouth, for hee is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts.
3 MY Aime is to obey God in his Word, The third Design.who hath commanded mee by his Apostle, Phil. 2. 12.to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling;2 Pet. 1. 10. and to give all diligence to make my calling and election sure:2 Cor. 13. 5. And I am exhorted to examine my self, and prove my self, whether I bee in the faith or no, Know yee not (saith the Apostle) that Christ is in you, except you bee reprobates: And if any man bee in Christ, hee is a new Creature; old things are passed away, and all things are become new.
Now then to prove whether I bee indeed and in truth born again, is my desire at this time, the Lord help mee, and give mee a sincere and upright heart, and guide mee herein by his holy Spirit, for the honour of his holy Name.
2 A brief Collection of her Evidences for Heaven.
Blessed bee God,First Evid who hath through his free mercy begotten mee to a hope, that I am regenerated and born from above, and converted unto God.
Reason, Because the Lord hath gone the same usual way with mee, as with those he… pleaseth to convert to himself; and this I shall make to appear in five or six particulars.
1 The Lord by his Spirit accompanying the preaching of his Word, caused the scales to fall from my eyes, and opened them, and set up a clear light in my understanding, and made mee to see sin, to bee exceeding sinful, out of measure sinful, and to look on it as the loathsomest thing in the world, and on my self as a loathsome creature in Gods sight, and in my own sight, by reason of the Leprosie of sin, wherewith I was over-run.
2 The Lord brought mee to see the misery that I was in, by reason of my sins. I thought I was utterly forsaken of God, and I thought that God would never accept of such a wretch as I saw my self to bee. I could not think otherwise, but that hell was my portion, and that I, by reason of my sins must go thither, expecting every day when the Lord would glorifie himself in my damnation. I saw my self in more misery, because of my sins than I could then, or now expresse to any body. I looked upon God as a consuming fire, and on my self as stubble, ready to bee consumed by him, &c.
3 The Lord brought mee to a spiritual astonishment, that I cried out, What shall I do to bee saved! and said with Paul, Lord! what wouldest thou have mee to do? Do but make known to thy poor creature what thy will is, and I thought I could do any thing, or suffer any thing for the Lord. But since I have had some more knowledge of the holy Will of God, woe is mee! what a barren and unfruitful heart have I! a heart that can neither do, nor suffer any thing for the Lord, as I ought to do: But this I can say, that the astonishment I was in by the sight of my sins, and the misery I was plunged into, put mee on the performance of holy duties, especially prayer.
4 The Lord took mee off my own bottome, off my own righteousness, and made mee to see that that was but a sandy foundation, and would not hold out. I was not taken off from the performance of holy duties; no, I thought with my self that I am commanded by God to perform holy duties, which is the way and means whereby wee may meet with God (For hee is ordinarily to bee injoyed no where but in his own ordinances) but the Lord took mee off from resting and trusting in Ordinances. And as hee made mee to see that without the practise of them hee would not accept of mee; so also hee made mee to know that it was not for holy duties, for which I was accepted. The sins that cleave to my best performances, are enough for which the Lord may justly condemn mee, if I had no other sins.
5 The Lord brought mee to see a Superlative beauty and excellency in the Lord Iesus Christ, and my soul was deeply in love with him, even with whole Christ in all his Offices, and (if I know any thing at all of my owne heart) I desired Christ as much to bee my King and Prophet, to teach, and guide mee, and subdue mee to himself, and rule over mee, as to bee my High-Priest, to make Attonement by offering up of himself for mee, and washing mee in his blood, by which I must bee justified.
6 The Lord brought mee to see a soul-satisfaction in the Lord Jesus Christ alone; and I think I should bee as fully satisfied with Christ alone, as my heart can desire. If I know my heart, it panteth after Christ, and Christ alone: None but Christ, none but Christ. The whole world in comparison or competition with Christ, is nothing to mee: But in him I see full contentment. To see and know my interest in him and to injoy communion with him, is that, which if the Lord would bestow upon mee, I should with Iacob say, It is enough; and with old Simeon) Now let thy servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen thy salvation.
Now I desire to set down some other Scripture Evidences, that I finde upon search and examination of my heart, by laying it to the Rule; The Word of God.
My Second Scripture Evidence is taken from Mark. 2. 17.Second Evidence. Where Christ saith, They that are whole have no need of the Physitian, but they that are sick, and hee came not to call the Righteous, but sinners to repentance. Now through Gods mercy I can say, that I am a sin-sick-sinner (the Lord make mee more sick) I am not righteous in mine own eyes, but a sinner, and see my self undone for ever, without the righteousness of Christ bee imputed to mee, and therefore I hope I am amongst the number of those whom Christ was commissionated by his Father to come to save.
From Matth. 11. 28, 29. I am weary and heavy laden; Third Evidence.now Christ hath promised to give ease to such. And I am willing to take his yoke upon mee, and would fain learn of him the lesson of meekness and lowliness, and therefore am invited to come unto him.
I can say with David, Fourth Evidence.that my sins are a heavy burden to mee, they are too heavy for mee, Psal. 38. 4. and I can say that I mourn, because I cannot mourn no more for my sins; now Christ saith, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall bee comforted, Mat. 5. 4.
From Matth. 5. 3. I think (if my heart do not deceive mee) I am pòor in spirit; Fifth Evidence.now theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven, saith Christ.
From Matth. 12. 20. I am a bruised reed, Sixth Evidence.and smoaking flax, and therefore Christ hath promised, hee will not break such a reed, nor quench the smoak of grace, if it bee true grace, but hee will increase it more and more (as hee saith) Untill judgement breake forth into victory: And hee came to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke 4. 18. Therefore I hope I am such a one as hee came to binde up, and set at liberty; Yea, and that hee was anointed and sent by his Father to mee, and such as I am, Isa. 61. 1.
From 1 Tim. 1. 15.Seventh Evidence. This is a faithfull saying, and worthy of all acceptation, (saith Paul) That Iesus Christ came into the world to save sinners: And so say I too; it is worthy all acceptation, that Christ should come from the bosome of his Father, who was infinitely glorious and happy, that hee should come into the world to save mee, mee a sinner, mee the chiefe of sinners; mee, that if saved, I do verily beleeve, there is none in heaven, nor any that ever shall come thither, that hath or will have the cause to magnifie and adore free grace, as I shall have. And herein doth God commend his love towards mee—For if when wee were enemies, wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, wee shall bee saved by his life, Rom. 5. 10.
I can say with Paul, Eighth Evidence.that I delight in the Law of God, after the inward man, and I am grieved that I cannot keep it. I finde that spiritual war in mee, between flesh and spirit, which Paul complaineth of, and I can say, that Paul doth confess over my heart in his confessions, Rom. 7. And I can go along with him there, from verse 9. to the end of the chapter; and from hence I gather, that there is some spiritual life in my soul, and an indeavour to walk after the spirit, and therefore I hope and desire to conclude with him, that there shall bee no condemnation to mee, but that the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus shall make mee free from the law of sin,Rom. 8. 1, 2 and death. I finde an earnest desire wrought in my soul, to bee made like unto Jesus Christ, and that it may bee my meat and drink to do and suffer his will, as hee would have mee.
I can say,Ninth Evidence. that the Lord hath in some measure put his fear into my heart, that I fear to offend him out of love to him, and I love to fear him.
I can say with the Church to Christ,Tenth Evidence. Cant. 1. 7. O thou whom my soul loveth! (and if I know any thing at all of mine own heart) Christ is altogether lovely, and most desirable to my soul.
I think I can truly say with David, that I have none in Heaven but thee, and there is nothing on earth that I desire besides thee, in comparison of thee, in competition with thee. Though all that is dearest to mee in the world should forsake mee, yet if God whom I have chosen for my portion will not forsake mee, I have enough. It is my desire and endeavour more and more to account all things but loss and dung, that I may win Christ. I can with Peter make my appeal to him, and say, Lord, thou who knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee, and that it is the desire of my soul to love thee more, and to love thee for thy self, because thou art holy, and good, and gracious, and the chiefest amongst ten thousand; Yea God in Christ alone, is worthy to be beloved, and it is my highest priviledge that hee will give mee leave to love him, who only can satisfie my soul, and rede…m it from death eternal, who hath justified mee by his blood, and sanctified mee by his Spirit, whom therefore I love with all my heart, and all my soul, and all my might, and all my strength. Finding therefore, that God hath drawn out my heart to love him, and make choice of him alone, I from hence gather and ground my hope, that God loveth mee, according to that Scripture, 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Wee love him, because hee first loved us.
I finde my heart much inflamed with love to all the children of God,Eleventh Evidence. because they are Gods children, and the more I see, or finde, or hear of God in them, the more I finde my heart cleaving to them, and I thinke I can truly say with David, That my delight is in the Saints, and those that excel in grace; not because they are friends to mee, or I have relation to them in regard of outward obligations, but because they bear the Image of God upon them, and manifest it in their holy conversation. I love them, whether rich, or poor. And though I did never know some of them, but onelyonly hear of their holiness, and piety, yet I could not but exceedingly love such. Therefore I hope that I am passed from death to life, because I love the Brethren, 1 Ioh. 3. 14.
I do not only love God,Twelfth Evidence. and the children of God, but I labour to keep his Commandements,1 Joh 5. 3 and they are not grievous to mee. But I pray with David,Psal. 119. 5. v. 32, 34 O that my waies were directed to keep thy statutes! Lord inlarge my heart, and I will run the waies of thy Commandements: Give mee understanding, and I shall keep thy Law, yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart; for therein do I delight.
I finde I am one that is very thirsty after Jesus Christ,Thirteenth Evidence. and the grace of Christ; and I thirst to have his image more and more stamped upon mee; and I would fain bee assured by Gods Spirit, that I am transplanted into Christ, and therefore I long, and indeavour after a true and lively Faith, because that Grace is a soul-transplanting and uniting grace. Now Christ hath promised to satisfie the thirsty, Matth. 5. 6. and such Christ hath earnestly invited to come, though they have nothing to bring but what may make against themselves, yet to come empty, and hee hath promised to fill them, Isa. 55. 1, 2.
I am willing to confess, Fourteenth Evidence.and with all my heart to forsake all my sins. I am willing to give glory to God in taking shame unto my self. I acknowledge my self a guilty malefactor, and judge my self worthy of the just condemnation of the righteous Judge of all the earth. And I do not only confess my sins, but with all my heart I desire to forsake them, and to turn to the Lord: Now hee hath said, hee will have mercy on such, and will abundantly pardon them. For his thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his waies, as our waies, Isa. 55. 7, 8. It is my constant indeavour to dye to sin, to live to newness of life. And this is my comfort and hope, that hee who hath begun a good work in mee, will perfect it. For it is hee that worketh all our works in us, and for us, Isa. 26. 12. and hee that hath wrought in mee to will, to do that which is pleasing in his sight, will work in mee to do also, and that of his good pleasure, Phil, 2. 13.
I hope I am one whom God hath taken into Covenant with himself,Fifteenth Evidence. because hee hath bestowed upon mee the fruits of the Covenant, because hee hath circumcised my heart to love him, and hath put his fear into mee, and hath wrought an universal change in mee; and hath given mee a new heart, and a new spirit; yea his own spirit which hee hath put within mee, even the Spirit of Truth, which will guide mee into all Truth. It is his own promise to give his holy Spirit to them that aske it of him (as I have done often) Luke 11. 13. and I hope that God will make it in his due time, a witnessing and a comforting Spirit. I will wait upon him for the accomplishment of all his promises, both of grace, and to grace. Hee hath said, hee will bee a Sun and a Shield, he will give grace and glory, and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that walke uprightly. And hee hath promised to subdue our sins for us; and hath said, That sin shall not have Dominion over us, Rom. 6. 14. That hee will bee our God, and wee shall bee his children; and hee will save us from all our uncleannesses. I hope I have a share in this blessed Covenant of Free Grace.
As for my Affliction that lyeth upon mee (though it bee in it self very heavy) I much more desire the sanctification of it,Sixteenth Evidence. than the removal. I earnestly labour to learn all those lessons which God teacheth mee by Affliction. I know I should not bee scourged, nor bee in tribulation, but that I have need of it; it is for my profit to make mee partaker of his holiness. Afflictions are an evidence of Sonship, Heb. 12. 6, 7, 8. God hath promised that all things shall work together for good to them that love and fear him. Rom. 8. 28And I have had much experience of his faithfulness, who hath not suffered mee to bee tempted above what hee hath inabled mee to bear; therefore I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him. Hee hath chastized mee less than mine iniquities deserve. Hee chastizeth mee here, that hee may not condemn mee hereafter.
Faith is the condition of salvation.Seventeenth Evidence. Beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ, and thou shalt bee saved. And this is his Commandement, Act. 16. 31.that wee should beleeve in his Son Iesus Christ: 1 Joh. 3. 23Now I find nothing so hard to mee as to beleeve aright: to cast away all my own Righteousness as dung, in point of justification, and to cast away all my unrighteousness, so as that bee no bar to mee, and to role, and cast, and venter my immortal soul upon Jesus Christ and his Righteousness, for life and salvation by him alone, and to see my self compleat in him; this is supernatural. Yet I must and will give glory to God, and say, Lord I beleeve, help thou my unbeleef. And by this I prove that this precious grace of faith is wrought in mee, because Jesus Christ is to mee very precious: and I finde in the Word,1 Pet. 2. 7 that to them that beleeve hee is precious: and I am willing to take Christ upon his own termes, as hee is tendred in the Gospel; and am willing to give up my self soul and body wholly to him; and my love to God, and to the children of God, is a fruit of my Faith, as also my desire to bee made like unto him: For hee that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as hee is pure, 1 John 3. 3. And I trust that I am kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, 1 Pet. 1. 5. I know whom I have beleeved, and I am perswaded that hee is able and willing to keep that which I have committed unto him, 2 Tim. 1. 12.which is my immortal soul.
Thus I have according to the Apostles exhortation endeavoured to give a reason of the hope that is in mee. What have I but what I have received? The desire of my soul is, that God may have all the glory. And if I bee deceived, the Lord for Christs sake undeceive mee, and grant that if I have not true grace, I may not think I have, and so bee in a Fools Paradise. And the Lord that is my heart-maker, bee my heart-searcher, and my heart-discoverer, and my heart-reformer. Amen.
FINIS.