A75287:223
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. Guard we the windows of our soul, the Senses: I made a Covenant with mine eyes (said Job) why then should I think upon a maid? 1Turn mine eyes from beholding vanities (said David) and quicken thou me in thy way. It is incredible, what a deal of pollution and ill the Devil conveys insensibly into the heart, through these floodgates of sin, and therefore we had need to watch over the Senses.
2. Go we down into our hearts, and consider well all our thoughts; these, if good, will bring forth good fruit; and if evil, they are the parents and begetters of all sins, the first plotters and contrivers of all Treasons and Rebellions of our life, the bellows and incendiaries of all inordinate affections, the Panders to all other lusts, that take thought to provide for the satisfying of them, the disturbers in all good Duties, that interrupt, and soil, and fly-blow all our Prayers, that they stink in the nostrils of God; and therefore consider and weigh well all our thoughts, for as our thoughts are, so be our affections, prayers, speeches, actions.
3. Let us make Conscience of our thoughts: By them especially do we sanctify, or sin against God; by them especially do we evidence our selves, to be sincere-hearted Christians, or dissembling hypocrites; by them especially will the Lord judge us at the last day, when he will make manifest the counsels of our hearts;