A75287:34
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 Epistle to the Reader.
Good Reader, suffer me to say to thee, as that ancient and famous Orator, Isocrates, in his Oration ad Nicolem, said to his, [Greek or Hebrew]; Aut hisce praeceptis utere, aut ipse tu inveni meliora; Either make use of these wholesome Directions, or else publish better thy self: and if thou beest able to publish such in the future, yet will it much profit thee to make use of these for the present. Neither is it every speculative ability, that can bear such fruit; such as these must arise out of much inward observation of the work of God upon the Soul, and Christian long Experience: Weaker Christians may gain much growth in the diligent perusal of this sweet Composure, and strong ones may hence be instigated to try theirs; that which issues from the heart of an experimental Christian, usually reacheth to the heart of such as labour after the like Experience. Every one that reads this work, perhaps knows not the Author so well as my self, therefore may I the more boldly speak of him: I have long known him of a weak body, but of a precious and strong mind; yet a man qui de se modicè sentit, that judgeth but meanly of himself. These his (Media) nomine, so called in reference to his (Prima & Ultima) long since brought to light, thou shalt not (Christian Reader) find to be Media re, but Remedia to thy sighing soul: He is one that hath much fed upon the Marrow of Practical Divinity, so that he may be ranked in a better kind amongst the Orators wise men, [Greek or Hebrew];1 Sapientes existima, non eos qui de rebus minutis curiosè rixantur, sed qui de rebus maximis egregiè dicunt. Such shalt thou find the Author. No more, but
GOod Reader, suffer me to say to thee, as that ancient and famous Orator, Isocrates, in his Oration ad Nicolem, said to his, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; Aut hisce praeceptis utere, aut ipse tu inveni meliora; Either make use of these wholesom Directions, or else publish better thy self: and if thou beest able to publish such in the future, yet will it much profit thee to make use of these for the present. Neither is it every speculative ability, that can bear such fruit; such as these must arise out of much inward observation of the work of God upon the Soul, and Christian long Experience: Weaker Christians may gain much growth in the diligent perusal of this sweet Composure, and strong ones may hence be instigated to try theirs; that which issues from the heart of an experimental Christian, usually reacheth to the heart of such as labor after the like Experience. Every one that reads this work, perhaps knows not the Author so well as my self, therefore may I the more boldly speak of him: I have long known him of a weak body, but of a precious and strong minde; yet a man qui de se modicè sentit, that judgeth but meanly of himself. These his (Media) nomine, so called in reference to his (Prima & Ʋltima) long since brought to light, thou shalt not (Christian Reader) finde to be Media re, but Remedia to thy sighing soul: He is one that hath much fed upn the Marrow of Practical Divinty, so that he may be ranked in a better kinde amongst the Orators wise men, ;