A25247:98
Prima the first things, in reference to the middle and last things
Prima the first things, in reference to the middle and last things: or, the doctrine of regeneration, the new birth, the very beginning of a godly life. Delivered by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amounderness in Lancashire.
London: printed by J.F. for I.A., 1650
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.
Thus it is with the man now labouring in his new birth, his heart grieves, his eye weeps, whence the Proverb, The way to heaven is by weeping cross; the way to Gods kingdom is to cry like children coming into the world, the way to be new born is to feel throws (as a woman labouring of child) and so is Christ formed in us. Can a man be born again without bitterness of soul? no, if ever he come to a sight of sin, and that Gods sanctifying Spirit work in him sorrow for sin, his soul will mourn till he may say with Jeremiah, Mine eye droppeth without stay — mine eye breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my City, because of all the sins of my soul, Lament. 3.51. True it is, 1as some infants are born with more pain to the mother, and some with less, so may the new man be regenerated in some with more, in some with less anxiety of travel; but more or ⟨p. 32⟩less, it cannot be so little, but the man that labours in these pangs shall mourn, and mourn, There shall be a great mourning, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon, Zach. 12.11. What else? 2He cannot look on a Saint, that sailed not first through the Ocean of tears, and therefore he falls on his face with Abraham, 3he wrestles with God like Jacob, he roars out his grief with Job, he pours out his soul with Hanna, he weeps rivers of tears with David, he mourns as a dove with Hezekiah, yea, like a crane, or a swallow, so doth he chatter, Isa. 38.14. O the bitter pangs and sore travel of a man, when he must be born again.
Thus it is with the man now laboring in his new birth, his heart grieves, his eye weeps, whence the Proverb, The way to heaven is by weeping cross; the way to Gods kingdom is to cry like children coming into the world, the way to be new born is to feel throws (as a woman laboring of childe) and so is Christ formed in us. Can a man be born again without bitterness of soul? no, if ever he come to a sight of sin, and that Gods sanctifying Spirit work in him sorrow for sin, his soul will mourn till he may say with Jeremy, Mine eye droppeth without stay — mine eye breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my City, because of all the sins of my soul,