A69449:202
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.
Fifthly, Faith leaves the soul with the Promise; yea, notwithstanding all delays, denials, discouragements from God, faith brings on the heart still, it will be sure to lie at the gate, and keep the soul with the promise, whatever befalls it. Excellent is that passage, Gen. 32. 26. when the Lord and Jacob were wrestling, Let me go, saith the Lord, I will leave thee to thy self, 1I care not what becomes of thee; No, I will not let thee go, until thou hast blessed me, saith Jacob: So the faithful soul lays hold upon the Lord for Mercy, Pardon, Power and Grace, and though the Lord seem to give him up to the torment of Sin and Corruption, yet the soul saith, Though my soul go down to hell, I will hold here for Mercy, till the Lord comfort and pardon, and subdue graciously these cursed corruptions, which I am not able to master my self. As it is with a Sun-dial, the needle is ever moving, and a man may jog it this way and that way, yet it will never stand still, till it come to the North-point: So when the Lord leaves ⟨p. 63⟩off a believing heart with frowns, and with the expression of displeasure, and the soul turns to the Lord Christ, and will never leave till it go God-ward, and Christ-ward, and Graceward, and saith, Let the Lord do what he please, I will go no further, till he be pleased to show Mercy. Thus the soul once come to Christ, it will never away, but ever cleaves to the Promise, and is towards God and Christ, whatsoever befalls it.
Fifthly, Faith leaves the soul with the Promise; yea, notwithstanding all delays, denyals, discouragements from God, faith brings on the heart still, it will be sure to lie at the gate, and keep the soul with the promise, whatever befalls it. Excellent is that passage, Gen. 32. 26. when the Lord and Jacob were wrestling, Let me go, saith the Lord, I will leave thee to thy self, 1I care not what becomes of thee; No, I will not let thee go, until thou hast blessed me, saith Jacob: So the faithful soul lays hold upon the Lord for Mercy, Pardon, Power and Grace, and though the Lord seem to give him up to the torment of Sin and Corruption, yet the soul saith, Though my soul go down to hell, I will hold here for Mercy, till the Lord comfort and pardon, and subdue graciously these cursed corruptions, which I am not able to master my self. As it is with a Sun-dyal, the needle is ever moving, and a man may jog it this way and that way, yet it will never stand still, till it come to the North-point: So when the Lord leaves