A78903:441
The godly mans ark or, City of refuge, in the day of his distress. Discovered in divers sermons, the first of which was preached at the funeral of Mistress Elizabeth Moore. The other four were afterwards preached, and are all of them now made public, for the supportation and consolation of the saints of God in the hour of tribulation. Hereunto are annexed Mris. Moors evidences for Heaven, composed and collected by her in the time of her health, for her comfort in the time of sickness. / By Ed. Calamy, B.D. and pastor of the church at Aldermanbury.The godly mans ark or, City of refuge, in the day of his distresse. Discovered in divers sermons, the first of which was preached at the funerall of Mistresse Elizabeth Moore. The other four were afterwards preached, and are all of them now made publick, for the supportation and consolation of the saints of God in the hour of tribulation. Hereunto are annexed Mris. Moores evidences for Heaven, composed and collected by her in the time of her health, for her comfort in the time of sickness. / By Ed. Calamy, B.D. and pastor of the church at Aldermanbury.
London: printed for Jo. Hancock (brother to the late deceased Eliz. Moore) to be sold, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
I will not trouble you with a relation of her Christian carriage in the time of her health, because it is sufficiently known to most here present. I shall only take notice of her great care and diligence in making her calling and election sure. She had not her Ark to build when the flood came, nor her Corn to get when the seven years of Famine came: She had laid up a stock of graces, and comforts against the evil hour; She had not her evidences for Heaven, to get at the hour of death. But she had collected and composed them in the time of her life, and when she came to die, she had neither her graces, nor her comforts, nor her evidences for Heaven to seek, she had nothing to do but to dye.
I will not trouble you with a relation of her Christian carriage in the time of her health, because it is sufficiently known to most here present. I shall only take notice of her great care and diligence in making her calling and election sure. Shee had not her Ark to build when the flood came, nor her Corn to get when the seven years of Famine came: Shee had laid up a stock of graces, and comforts against the evil hour; Shee had not her evidences for Heaven, to get at the hour of death. But shee had collected and composed them in the time of her life, and when shee came to die, shee had neither her graces, nor her comforts, nor her evidences for Heaven to seek, shee had nothing to do but to dye.
Her sickness was very long, and ⟨p. 126⟩very painful, concerning which I shall briefly acquaint you with these few particulars.
1 God moved the hearts of very many godly people, to take compassion of her sad and afflicted condition, and to contribute liberally (she being poor) towards her relief; this merciful providence wonderfully comforted her; She saw Gods love in it, and was so much affected with it, that she was (for a little while) really and exceedingly afraid (notwithstanding her great torments by reason of a cancer in her breast) lest she should have her heaven in this life, and lest this mercy should be all her portion. The Lord recompense that labour of love and that Christian charity a thousand fold into the bosoms of those who manifested so much kindness to her.
1 God moved the hearts of very many godly people, to take compassion of her sad and afflicted condition, and to contribute liberally (shee being poor) towards her relief; this merciful providence wonderfully comforted her; She saw Gods love in it, and was so much affected with it, that she was (for a little while) really and exceedingly afraid (notwithstanding her great torments by reason of a cancer in her breast) lest she should have her heaven in this life, and lest this mercy should bee all her portion. The Lord recompence that labour of love and that Christian charity a thousand fold into the bosomes of those who manifested so much kindnesse to her.
2 Her Patience was very great. As God increased her pains, he increased her patience, even to the admiration of such of us as were frequent spectators ⟨p. 227⟩of it. She was brought to such a sweet frame of spirit, as to be willing to live under all her torments, as long as God pleased, and to dye whensoever he pleased.
2 Her Patience was very great. As God increased her pains, hee increased her patience, even to the admiration of such of us as were frequent spectators ⟨p. 227⟩of it. She was brought to such a sweet frame of spirit, as to bee willing to live under all her torments, as long as God pleased, and to dye whensoever he pleased.
3 She was a woman of a very fearful nature, and in the time of her health had many doubts and scruples (notwithstanding all her care forementioned) about her salvation. But in her sickness, all her doubts vanished. God chained up Satan. The Devil had no power to tempt her, she felt a great calmness in her soul, and had much inward peace, and enjoyed more of God, and his consolations, in the time of her sickness, than in the time of her health.
3 Shee was a woman of a very fearful nature, and in the time of her health had many doubts and scruples (notwithstanding all her care forementioned) about her salvation. But in her sickness, all her doubts vanished. God chained up Satan. The Devil had no power to tempt her, shee felt a great calmness in her soul, and had much inward peace, and injoyed more of God, and his consolations, in the time of her sickness, than in the time of her health.
4 She was very forward in spreading and diffusing those graces which God had bestowed upon her, and in giving good counsel to those who visited her. I have heard her often, and often persuading her friends to prize health, and to improve it for the good of their souls, to lay up against an evil ⟨p. 228⟩day, and to stock themselves with grace before sickness come. She would frequently say, O the benefit of health! O prize health! praise God for health, and improve health for your eternal good.
4 Shee was very forward in spreading and diffusing those graces which God had bestowed upon her, and in giving good counsel to those who visited her. I have heard her often, and often perswading her friends to prize health, and to improve it for the good of their souls, to lay up against an evil ⟨p. 228⟩day, and to stock themselves with grace before sickness come. Shee would frequently say, O the benefit of health! O prize health! praise God for health, and improve health for your eternal good.
5 She was very well versed in the Scriptures. The Law of God was her delight; and this kept her from perishing in her affliction. She was continually fetching cordials out of the Word, to comfort her under her great pains, and to preserve her from fainting. The twelfth Chapter of the Hebrews was a precious cordial to her, so was the eight of the Romans, and the 2 of the Corinthians the 4. Chapter and the 17, 18. verses. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
5 Shee was very well vers't in the Scriptures. The Law of God was her delight; and this kept her from perishing in her affliction. Shee was continually fetching cordials out of the Word, to comfort her under her great pains, and to preserve her from fainting. The twelfth Chapter of the Hebrews was a precious cordial to her, so was the eight of the Romans, and the 2 of the Corinthians the 4. Chapter and the 17, 18. verses. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which ⟨p. 229⟩are not seen are eternal.
While wee look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which ⟨p. 229⟩are not seen are eternal.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality; then shall bee brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law;
But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
But thanks bee to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may bee fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby hee is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
A little before her death she said, In the Lord Jehovah there is righteousness, and strength; righteousness for ⟨p. 230⟩justification and strength for supportation. She said, that the Word of God was the best cordial in the world: And that one minutes being in Heaven, would make amends for all her pain and misery.
A little before her death shee said, In the Lord Jehovah there is righteousness, and strength; righteousness for ⟨p. 230⟩justification and strength for supportation. Shee said, that the Word of God was the best cordial in the world: And that one minutes being in Heaven, would make amends for all her pain and misery.
