A25250:501
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things
Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things: or certain meditations on life, death, judgement, hell, right purgatory, and heaven: delivered by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes in Lancashire.
London: printed for J.A., 1650
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.
Secondly, they offend on the other side, who after invitation come not, through a kind of unmannerly modesty, or a bashful despair; Some there are, that may perhaps go so far as to acknowledge their sins, and to confess, that without Christ they are utterly undone, and everlastingly damned, that may be ravished with the thoughts and apprehensions of this invitation of Christ, and would ever think themselves happy if they had their hungry souls filled with Christ Jesus; but yet so it is, that (considering their manifold grievous sins, sins of a scarlet die, of an horrid strain against knowledge, against conscience, and that which troubles them most, for all these sins their sorrow being so little, and poor, and scant, and in no proportion answerable to them, they cannot, dare not; will not meddle with any mercy, or believe that Christ Jesus in any ways belongs unto them. To these I speak or rather let them hear our Saviour himself speak to them:1 Whosoever will (saith he) let him come, and drink of this water of Life freely: yea, those that think themselves furthest off, he bids them come,2 Come all that are weary and heavy laden: if they find sin a burden, then Christ invites them, they (whosoever they are) that stand at the staffs end, he desires them to lay aside their weapons and come in; or if they will not do it, he lays his charge on them, for this is his Commandment, 3that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ: nay, he counts it a sin worse then the sin of Sodom, a crying sin, not to come in when the Gospel is proclaimed; and therefore let them never pretend their sins are great and many, but rather (because of his offer, invitation, and command, it being without any restraint of person, or sin, (except that against the holy Ghost) if they will not come in, and cast themselves upon Christ, let them say, it is not the greatness of their sin, but a willingness to be still in their sins, which hinders them; or otherwise let them know, that sins, when men are truly sensible of them, should be the greatest encouragement, (rather then discouragement) to bring them in to our Saviour:4 Those that be whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick: is it not for the honour of a Physician to cure great diseases?