A75287:316
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. We may change the kind of our bosom-sin, in respect of the matter, form, object, every way; and yet upon the matter it self, it is but the exchange of one foul fiend for another: For instance, Wantonness may be our sweet sin in youth, and Worldliness in old age; Hypocrisy may reign at one time, Apostasy at another; Furious Zeal for one while, Profane Irreligiousness for another.
3. We may change the kinde of our bosom-sin, in respect of the matter, form, object, every way; and yet upon the matter it self, it is but the exchange of one foul fiend for another: For instance, Wantonness may be our sweet sin in youth, and Worldliness in old age; Hypocrisie may reign at one time, Apostacy at another; Furious Zeal for one while, Prophane Irreligiousness for another.
4. We may for a time pull our necks out of this strong yoke of Satan (out of a melancholic pang of slavish terror, serious fore-thought of death, lying everlastingly in Hell) but because it is not the work of the word, humbling us soundly under Gods mighty hand, planting Faith, and infusing mortifying power, anon will this unclean Spirit return, and rule in us again far more imperiously then before.— I know it is not impossible, but that a man after his conversion, by the sudden surprisal of some violent temptation, and cunning train of Satan, may be haled back to commit his sweet sin again (though it be an heavy case, and to be lamented, if it were possible, with tears of blood) yet he never doth, nor never can return to wallow in it again, or to allow it: Here is the difference, The temporary man, after his formal enforced forbearance, engulfs himself again with more greediness into the sensuality and pleasures of his bosom-sin, he lies in it, and delights in it, and hardens himself more obstinately in it: but the sound convert after a relapse, his heart bleeds afresh with extraordinary bitterness, and he cries more mightily to God, for the return of his pleased countenance, and he prays, and fortifies the breach with stronger resolution, and more invincible watchfulness against future assaults; observe then, if our change be but formal, outward, mistaken, temporary, we are utterly deceived, and therefore we had need to be jealous of our selves.