A69449:105
The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behaviour of a man…The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behavior of a man…
The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behaviour of a man in the act of the new birth A treatise by way of appendix to the former. By Isaac Ambrose, minister of Christ at Preston in Amounderness in Lancashire.The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behavior of a man in the act of the nevv birth A treatise by way of appendix to the former. By Isaac Ambrose, minister of Christ at Preston in Amounderness in Lancashire.
London: printed by J.F. for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham, 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.
Or for a further light, this Contentedness discovers it self in these three following particulars:
First, the Soul reflects on Gods Mercy, which though he begged when he submitted, yet now he seeth so much corruption and unworthiness in himself, that he acknowledgeth himself unfit for Mercy: O Mercy, mercy Lord! What (saith the Lord) I had thought your own Duties would have purchased mercy: O no (saith the Soul) it is only Mercy that must relieve, and succour me; but such is my vileness, that I am not fit for the least mercy and favour; and such is the wickedness of this wretched heart of mine, that whatsoever are the greatest plagues, I am worthy of them all, though never so insupportable: All the Judgements that God hath threatened, and prepared for the Devil and his Angels, they are all due to my wretched soul. O (saith the Soul) had the Devils the like hopes, and means, and patience that I have enjoyed, for ought I know they would have been better then I am: It is that which shames the Soul in all his sorrows, and makes him say, Had they the like Mercy? O those sweet Comforts, and those precious Promises that I have had! How many heavy journeys hath the Lord Jesus made to me? How often hath he knocked at my heart, and said, Come to me, ye rebellious children; turn ye, turn ye, why will ye dye? O that Mercy that hath followed me from my house to my walk, and from thence to my closet; here Mercy hath conferred with me, and there Mercy hath wooed me; yea, in my night-thoughts when I awaked, Mercy kneeled down before me, and besought me to renounce my bad courses, yet I refused Mercy, and would needs have mine own will; had the Devil but such hopes, and such offers of Mercy, they that tremble now for want of Mercy, they would (for ought I know) have given entertainment to it; and what, do I seek for Mercy? shall I talk of Mercy? What, I Mercy? the least of Gods Mercies are ⟨p. 30⟩too good for me, and the heaviest of Gods Plagues are too little for me; I suppose (for so is my opinion) that God cannot do more against me then I have justly deserved, but be sure, God will not lay more upon me then I am justly worthy of: Nay, sure it is, the Soul cannot bear nor suffer so much as he hath deserved, if God should proceed in rigour with him; therefore it reasons thus: I only for one sin deserve eternal condemnation, for the wages of all sin is death, being committed against Divine Justice, and against an Infinite Majesty;