A75287:20
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. I have the rather fallen on this subject of Duties, both because necessary in their way, and because they are so much opposed by many of our Age, who surely are not acquainted with them (with the workings of the Spirit in them, and by them) for otherwise it could not be so: If this Error spread, it will quickly eat out all Religion, and throw down Souls to Hell. Their pretence is, who are the Abettors of it, That they have found out a near and easy ⟨image 5⟩way to heaven;1 but I rather believe Christ (saith Rutherford) who tells us it is a way of many miles, strait, narrow and thorny; indeed the Meritorious way to us is easy, but the way of a Christian conversation (whether they will or no) lieth through Duties; 2it is not words, Lord, Lord, but working, sweating, running, wrestling, fighting, striving, overcoming, bleeding, suffering, abounding in the work, denying our selves, taking up the cross, enduring temptations, sowing to the Spirit, serving the Lord with all humility, and with many tears and temptations, watching, praying, taking Christs yoke upon us, selling all our sweetest delights, keeping the commandments of Christ, which howsoever they are not grievous, yet they are not so easy, as that the only bare act of Believing should be the only Gospel work. Might we still lie in our Ivory Beds, under no Law, no Obligation of doing, no danger of sinning, no broken bones, no terrors, no sense of sorrow for sin, no progress in personal Repentance, Mortification, Sanctification, no care of watchful walking to perfect holiness in the fear of God, no abstaining from worldly lusts, no strictness of Conversation, but only Believe that Christ hath Suffered, and Christ hath done all Duties for us, Repented for us, Mortified lusts for us, walked strictly and holily for us, this were an easy work indeed. For my part, I would not willingly make the way to Heaven longer then Christ hath made it; but if we ⟨image 5⟩believe the Scriptures, 3we shall find other Commandments on us under the Gospel, then Believing only for Righteousness: There is the Righteousness of Christ received by us, and working in us; the first is the Righteousness of Justification, the second of Sanctification, and our Establishment lies in both.