A75287:107
Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The…
Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and public, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and publike, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.
London: printed by John Field for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham, 1649London: printed by John Field for Nathanaell Webb and William Grantham, 1649
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.
SECT. 3. Of the healing of Duties.
I Dare not but obey; though all the Duties in the world are insufficient to recompense those bowels of Gods mercies in Christ, I must not therefore cast away Duties. It is true, I cannot but sin in all I do, my best Duties (nakedly and barely considered in themselves) are tainted, poisoned, and mingled with sin: But will it follow, That because I cannot be more clean, therefore I must be more filthy then needs? Nay, O my soul, if thou art married to that Bridegroom Christ, Duties and all things else are clean to thee.1 The whole filth and dung of our works, through faith in Christ, is extracted by Christ, and he presenting the same, purged by himself alone, they are accepted with God: In this respect there is an healing of Duties, if we be in Christ. Certainly, that fruit which cometh from a root of Faith,2 must needs be good fruit: I believe, therefore I speak, saith the Psalmist: O my soul, canst thou say thus? I believe, therefore I pray; I believe, therefore I sanctify the Lords day; I believe, therefore I do all Duties of obedience: Thy obedience then is the fruit of Paradise, for it grows on the very Tree of Life.3 Christ is The Sun of Righteousness, that ariseth with healing in his wings: Christ is that Sun, that by his heat of love extracts all the filth of sin out of thy Duties performed; and so thy Duties are healed, the Spiritual part of them being presented by the intercession of Christ, and the carnal defects covered by the Righteousness of Christ, in whom the Father is always well-pleased.