A75287:186
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. 9. Of the kinds of Duties in several divisions.
SECT. 9. Of the kindes of Duties in several divisions.
These Duties some have distributed according to their several objects, God, our Neighbour, and our selves: 1. The Lord claims our Love, Fear, Honour, and Obedience. 2. Our Neighbour claims our Duty, Courtesy, Bounty: And for our selves, we must 1. Instruct the Understanding: 2. Bridle the Will: 3. Moderate the Affections. Others in retribution to Christ, give us another scheme of such Duties, as they call mere Gospel-Duties. So it is our Duty, 1. To think and muse much on Christ, and upon his loves towards us. 2. To speak much of Christ, and to commend him to others: When the Spouse was asked,1 What her beloved was above others? she sets him forth in every part of him, and concludes with this, He is altogether lovely. 3. To be oft in the company of Christ, and to grow up thereby into a familiar acquaintance with him. Now Christ is with us here but two these ways, Either in his Ordinances, or Providences, by his holy Spirit: So that to be oft in Christs company, is to be much in his Word, in Prayer, in Sacraments, in Christian communion, in Meditation, in examination of our hearts, in his Providences of mercies, Crosses and Trials. 4. To do much for Christ, and that willingly: This is love indeed, To keep his Commandments, 2and those are not grievous. 5. To suffer and endure any evil for Christ: What tell you me (saith Paul) of bonds and imprisonments? 3I am ready, not only to be bound, but to dye for the sake of Christ at Jerusalem. My life is not dear to me, 4that I may finish my course with joy: For thy sake we are killed all the day long. No question these Heads will include all sorts of Duties: But the method I shall prosecute (wherein I desire to confound Duties, Ordinances, and Means, whereby a Christian walks on in the holy path) I have otherwise digested thus: