A75287:360
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.
4. Other times may be as occasion requires: When the Church of Israel was in distress, and sighed to God, then they encouraged each other, Let us search and try our ways, 1and turn again to the Lord. When Christians purpose to receive the Lords Supper, then Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat: 2When we observe days of Fast for humiliation of our souls; or when we observe a Sabbath of Feasts, or especially when we are cast down upon our sick beds, and in expectation of our dissolution, then it's time to examine, and to judge our selves, 3that we be not judged.
5. Besides those daily and casual times, it is convenient also, ⟨p. 70⟩after some good space of time, to examine our selves over again, ex. gr. after a month or a year, to consider our selves for the month or year past, that we may see how we have profited or decayed for that space of time; for as our members grow, and our shape every day changeth, and our black hairs turn grey, while we perceive it not, yet after some space of time, we may easily discern; so it is in our souls, besides the manifest changes which sometimes appear at the instant, there are certain insensible alterations, which are not to be discerned, but after some continuance of time: And for rectifying of these, it is necessary to take a more general view of our souls, in a monthly or yearly examination; by this means we shall see wherein we are better or worse, how our zeal is increased or decreased; if we are bettered since our last general account, we shall have occasion to praise God; if otherwise, we must therefore be humbled, and blow the coals of zeal, and stir up the grace of God in us, that we may strengthen the things which remain,