A75287:2624
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.
The fourth head was, Places containing passages that even melted his heart: The use hereof, is to call such passages to remembrance in times of mourning, only be sure that our affections prove spiritual, and not merely natural: I make no question but Davids longing after God, Psalm 42.1, 21. his panting after the word, Psalm 119.140. his delight in the sweetness of it, Psal. 119.103. his trembling at Gods presence, Psal. 119.120. his grief for the breach of his Law, Psalm 119.136. were spiritual affections; for they were raised by spiritual objects, so it is good for us to see to our affections, that they be raised by spiritual objects, and then they will prove singularly useful; it may be indeed that when a Christian peruseth over again the same Texts, he shall not have the like operation as before; all the godly find by their own experience, that those instructions, reproofs and consolations, which at some times awaken, wound and revive their spirits, at another time move them nothing at all; sometimes the spiritual sense is benumbed,1 and they hear only by the hearing of the ear; but at other times, when those senses are awakened, they taste, and see, and feel the same, and consequently are affected, as Job was in that place, Job 42.5. so if at any time we ⟨p. 382⟩find these meltings stirred in us by a spiritual object, and that they are answerable to Gods dealings with us, then we can rejoice or mourn seasonably, when God calls us to either, Eccles. 7.14 I take this to be an holy and happy use made of those places.
The fourth head was, Places containing passages that even melted his heart: The use hereof, is to call such passages to remembrance in times of mourning, onely be sure that our affections prove spiritual, and not meerly natural: I make no question but Davids longing after God,