A69449:107
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.
and then what do all these my sins deserve, committed and continued in, against all checks of Conscience, and Corrections, and the light of Gods Word? Hell is too good, and ten thousand hells too little to torment such a wretch as I am: What, I mercy? I am ashamed to expect it; With what heart (I pray you) can I beg this Mercy, which I have trodden under my feet? The Lord hath often wooed me, and when his wounds were bleeding, and his side gored, and his hideous cries coming into mine ears, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? then, even then this Christ have I slighted, and made nothing of his Blood; and can this blood of Christ do me now any service? Indeed I crave grace, but how do I think to receive any? All the Pillars of the Church can testify, how often Grace and Mercy have been offered and offered, but I have ever refused; How then can I beg any grace? O this stubbornness and villainy, and this wretchedness of mine! What, I mercy? it is more then I can expect, I am not worthy of any; Oh no, I am only worthy to be cast out for ever.
and then what do all these my sins deserve, committed and continued in, against all checks of Conscience, and Corrections, and the light of Gods Word? Hell is too good, and ten thousand hells too little to torment such a wretch as I am: What, I mercy? I am ashamed to expect it; With what heart (I pray you) can I beg this Mercy, which I have trodden under my feet? The Lord hath often wooed me, and when his wounds were bleeding, and his side gored, and his hideous cryes coming into mine ears, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? then, even then this Christ have I slighted, and made nothing of his Blood; and can this blood of Christ do me now any service? Indeed I crave grace, but how do I think to receive any? All the Pillars of the Church can testifie, how often Grace and Mercy have been offered and offered, but I have ever refused; How then can I beg any grace? O this stubbornness and villany, and this wretchedness of mine! What, I mercy? it is more then I can expect, I am not worthy of any; Oh no, I am onely worthy to be cast out for ever.
Secondly, the Soul reflects on Justice, and now it acknowledgeth the Equity of Gods dealings, be they never so harsh; he confesseth that he is as clay in the hands of the Potter, and the Lord may deal with him as he will: yea, the Soul is driven to an amazement at the Lords patience, and that he hath been pleased to reprieve him so long, that God hath not cast him out of his presence, and sent him down to hell long ago: It is the frame of the Spirit which the poor lamenting Church had, It is the Lords mercy that we are not confounded, because his compassions