A75287:2192
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.
1. In truth, (i.) in sincerity and uprightness of heart:1 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him in sincerity and in truth: Hence two faults are to be avoided.
1. Praying with feigned lips, this is to pray with an heart and an heart, as all hypocrites do: but 'tis otherwise with the Saints: Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, 1give ear to my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2. Praying with wandering thoughts, arising partly from the flesh, and partly from the suggestions of Satan: The speech of the mouth must not go before, but always follow after the conceit of the mind: Many times as a Musicians fingers will run over a song which he hath been used to play, although his mind be otherwise occupied; so many in prayer will run over that form of words they have been used to utter, though their minds be roving about other matters: Such a prayer is called, Lip-labour: O let the absurdity of the fault, breed in us a loathing of it; Do our minds wander in prayer? endeavour we to join into one speech, the prayer of the mouth, and the speech of the heart, both which sound in Gods ears, and then consider whether we would make such a speech (I say not with Malachi,