A75287:2145
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.
2. For Sacramental offers, in the words, Take, eat, drink,] Christ himself is offered with all his benefits: Here then must faith actuate it self, and set it self on work, striving with all its might to take Christ, to eat and drink Christ offered: When Christ is offered to us, the act of faith then is that of the Psalmist, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, 1ye everlasting doors; and why must these gates and doors be lift up? that the King of glory may come in: Christ makes offer to come into our hearts, and therefore we must open the gates, we must lift them up, even from off the hooks, that fair and foul way may be made for ready entrance. If a great man, especially a King, comes to a mans house, he will not only open the small wicket, his little door, but he sets open his great gates, he throws them wide open, to make spacious way for his entrance; so if thus it be, that Christ in the Sacrament offers himself to come to us, let our faith busily bestir it self in widening the passage, and opening our hearts to make Christ way, let us strive with might and […] ⟨p. 298⟩so that Christ is full, and ever shall be full to the brim; there is in him a fullness of merit, for our justification, and a fullness of spirit, and habitual Graces for our sanctification: In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (i.) vast heaps,2 for some pieces of silver and gold, are not treasures; all the treasures, all the heaps of Knowledge and wisdom that are in the world, all are in him; he is all in all.
2. For Sacramental offers, in the words, Take, eat, drink,] Christ himself is offered with all his benefits: Here then must faith actuate it self, and set it self on work, striving with all its might to take Christ, to eat and drink Christ offered: When Christ is offered to us, the act of faith then is that of the Psalmist, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, 1ye everlasting doors; and why must these gates and doors be lift up? that the King of glory may come in: Christ makes offer to come into our hearts, and therefore we must open the gates, we must lift them up, even from off the hooks, that fair and foul way may be made for ready entrance. If a great man, especially a King, comes to a mans house, he will not onely open the small wicket, his little door, but he sets open his great gates, he throws them wide open, to make spacious way for his entrance; so if thus it be, that Christ in the Sacrament offers himself to come to us, let our faith busily bestir it self in widening the passage, and opening our hearts to make Christ way, let us strive with might and