A75287:149
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.
Obj. 1But alas, how should I perform my Duty? by nature I am dead, and except God give me an heart and strength, what can I do? There is no power in my hands, I am nothing in my self, and therefore till God come, or naked Christ come, I will sit down in discouragements; Let God do all, I see I have no ability at all, &c.
Obj. 1BƲt alas, how should I perform my Duty? by nature I am dead, and except God give me an heart and strength, what can I do? There is no power in my hands, I am nothing in my self, and therefore till God come, or naked Christ come, I will sit down in discouragements; Let God do all, I see I have no ability at all, &c.
Ans. What sayest thou (O my soul?) surely this is thine infirmity; these conclusions are ill drawn from a true Principle: It is true, all is of God, and by nature I am dead; but it is ill urged in this case, for that the Regenerate have in them a Seed, a Spiritual Principle, a power to do good: First, because such are living, and all life is a power to act. 2. Else there is no specific difference betwixt a man regenerate and unregenerate, if both were still dead, and without strength. 3. Grace is a renewing of that image of God and Holiness which we lost in Adam; but that was a power to do what God required,1 therefore so far as that image is repaired, so far there is power. 4. Else we should not have as much benefit by the second Adam, as we had by the first: for the first would have communicated his power to do good, and being corrupted, doth communicate power to do sin; therefore much more by Christ have we a life, a power to do good in our measure.