A75287:481
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.
12. When Faith is more and more strengthened, Experiences should be turned into Confidences: Thus David improved his Experiences, 1The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon, and out of the paw of the Bear, he will deliver ⟨p. 93⟩me out of the hand of this Philistine: In like manner should we take notice of Gods dealings, and after we have once tried him and his truth, let us trust him for the future; Tried Truth, and tried Faith unto it, sweetly agree, and answer one another. Hence it is that Experience of Gods love, should refresh our Faith upon any fresh onset;2 So let all thine enemies perish (said Deborah, the heart of that blessed woman was enlarged, as it were Prophetically) when one falls, they shall all fall; there is the like reason, So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord. Experience in our selves or others, will enlarge our faith to look for greater matters still from our gracious powerful God: Hath the Lord given us a victory over the Philistines? then Awake, awake Deborah, awake, and be enlarged, O my faith! Every new Experience is a new knowledge of God, and should fit us for new encounters: I deny not but we ought to trust God upon other grounds, though we had never tried him; but when he helps our faith by former Experiences, this should strengthen our confidence, and shore up our Spirits, and put us on to go more cheerfully to God, as to a tried friend. It was the speech of one eminent in holiness, upon occasion of the accomplishment of a great request made to God by him, I have tried God often, now I will trust him indeed. If we were read in the story of our own lives, we might have a Divinity of our own, drawn out of the observation of Gods particular dealings towards us: we might say, This and this truth I dare venture upon, I have found it true, I dare build all my happiness upon it; as Paul, 3I know whom I have trusted, and I am persuaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day; q. d. I have tried him, he never yet failed me, I am not now to seek how faithful he is to all those that are his.
12. When Faith is more and more strengthened, Experiences should be turned into Confidences: Thus David improved his Experiences,