A69449:113
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.
he quarrels not, saying, Why are not my graces increased, and why am I not thus and thus comforted? No, he looks for mercy, and if he have but a crumb of mercy he is comforted and quieted for ever: And now (you may suppose) the heart is brought very low.
he quarrels not, saying, Why are not my graces increased, and why am I not thus and thus comforted? No, he looks for mercy, and if he have but a crum of mercy he is comforted and quieted for ever: And now (you may suppose) the heart is brought very low.
Hence we collect, 1. That they which have the greatest parts, 1and gifts, and ability, and honour, are (for the most part) hardly brought home to the Lord Jesus Christ; they that are most hardly humbled, are most hardly converted: what is Humiliation, but the emptying of the soul from whatsoever makes it swell? the heart must not joy in any thing, nor rest upon any thing, but only yield to the Lord, to be at his disposing and carving: now these parts, and gifts, and abilities, and means, are great props and pillars for the heart of a carnal man to rest upon, and to quiet it self withal; whence the Apostle, Not many wise men after 2the flesh, not many mighty men, not many noble men are called: Indeed (blessed be God) some are, but not many, few (that have so much of themselves) are brought to renounce themselves; and no wonder for a rich man to become poor, and a noble man to be abased, and a wife man to be nothing in himself, this will cost hot water; and yet this must be in all that belong to the Lord: not that God will take away all these outward things and parts, but that they must loosen their affection from these, if they will have Christ.
Hence we collect, 1. That they which have the greatest parts, 1and gifts, and ability, and honor, are (for the most part) hardly brought home to the Lord Jesus Christ; they that are most hardly humbled, are most hardly converted: what is Humiliation, but the emptying of the soul from whatsoever makes it swell? the heart must not joy in any thing, nor rest upon any thing, but onely yield to the Lord, to be at his disposing and carving: now these parts, and gifts, and abilities, and means, are great props and pillars for the heart of a carnal man to rest upon, and to quiet it self withal; whence the Apostle, Not many wise men after