A75287:137
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.
3. That Duties may be as Evidences of Gods everlasting love to them who are in Christ Jesus: They cannot save, but they let the foul into Christ, and follow, and accompany such a man as shall be saved. We hear of some that boast of joys, feeling, gifts, Spirit, 1and Grace; but if they walk in the commission of any one sin, or in the omission of any one known duty, or in the slovenly ill-favoured performance of Duties, they can have no assurance (say what they please) without flattering of themselves: If these things be in you (saith Peter) and abound, 2they will make you that you shall never be barren, or unfruitful in the knowledge of ⟨p. 21⟩our Lord Jesus Christ; and he that lacketh these things is blind:— Wherefore, Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Duties bring you in to Christ, and are Evidences when you are in Christ, that the Lord and mercy is yours, even as at the Sacrament, the Elements of Bread and Wine are outward signs to bring Christ and the heart together; indeed, the heart must not rest in these signs, but when the soul is let in to Christ, then Faith must let go the outward Elements, and close, and treat immediately with the Lord Jesus Christ. So Grace and Duties are signs inward, and whiles men make use of them only, as bare signs, to let them come in unto Christ, and their rejoicing is not in them, but in Christ, their confidence is not pitched upon them, but upon Christ, there is and will be no danger at all in making such use of signs; especially seeing in nature, the effect is a sign of the cause: Neither is it more derogatory to Free-grace, or to Christs honour, for God to make such effects Signs of our union with him, then it was to make outward Signs of his presence: It's true, these are not full testimonies without the Spirit of Christ.
3. That Duties may be as Evidences of Gods everlasting love to them who are in Christ Jesus: They cannot save, but they let the foul into Christ, and follow, and accompany such a man as shall be saved. We hear of some that boast of joys, feeling, gifts, Spirit, 1and Grace; but if they walk in the commission of any one sin, or in the omission of any one known duty, or in the slovenly illfavored performance of Duties, they can have no assurance (say what they please) without slattering of themselves: If these things be in you (saith Peter) and abound,