A75287:482
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.
13. When scruples and doubts are removed, O (cries the soul) I have many Experiences, but no Comfort as yet. Thus David, after the remembrance of his songs in the night, left his soul still in doubt; and he goes on to say,1 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? In this case it is the duty of Christians, to call to mind their former Experiences of Faith and Joy again and again: for though they comfort not at one time, yet they may at another. Have we found a Promise (which is a breast of Consolation) milkless? yet again suck, Comfort ⟨p. 94⟩may come in the end: If after we have impanelled a Jury and Grand Inquest to search, and our first Verdict condemns us, or they bring in an Ignoramus; yet do, as wise Judges often do, send them about it again, they may find it the next time: Jonah 2looked once, it seems, and found no comfort, for he said, I will look again towards thine holy Temple: So some have looked over their hearts by signs at one time, and have to their thinking found nothing but Hypocrisy, Unbelief, Hardness, Self-seeking, &c. but not long after, examining their hearts again by the same signs, they have espied the Image of God drawn fairly upon the Tables of their hearts, and so found a world of comfort.
13. When scruples and doubts are removed, O (cryes the soul) I have many Experiences, but no Comfort as yet. Thus David, after the remembrance of his songs in the night, left his soul still in doubt; and he goes on to say,1 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more? In this case it is the duty of Christians, to call to minde their former Experiences of Faith and Joy again and again: for though they comfort not at one time, yet they may at another. Have we found a Promise (which is a breast of Consolation) milkless? yet again suck, Comfort ⟨p. 94⟩may come in the end: If after we have impanell'd a Jury and Grand Inquest to search, and our first Verdict condemns us, or they bring in an Ignormus; yet do, as wise Judges often do, send them about it again, they may finde it the next time: Jonah