A75287:829
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.
1. Let not the use of graces go before, but follow after an address of Faith first renewed, and acts of Faith first put forth upon Christ himself: Thus whensoever we would go down into our own hearts, and take a view of our graces, let us be sure first to look wholly out of our selves unto Christ, as our Justification, and to close with him immediately, as if we had no present or by-past grace to evidence our being in him; and if then (whiles Faith is thus immediately clasping about Christ) we find either present or forepast graces coming in, as handmaids, to attend and witness to the truth of this adherence unto Christ, this will derogate nothing from Christs honour, or the Doctrine of Free-grace.
1. Let not the use of graces go before, but follow after an address of Faith first renewed, and acts of Faith first put forth upon Christ himself: Thus whensoever we would go down into our own hearts, and take a view of our graces, let us be sure first to look wholly out of our selves unto Christ, as our Justification, and to close with him immediately, as if we had no present or by-past grace to evidence our being in him; and if then (whiles Faith is thus immediately clasping about Christ) we finde either present or forepast graces coming in, as handmaids, to attend and witness to the truth of this adherence unto Christ, this will derogate nothing from Christs honor, or the Doctrine of Free-grace.
2. Let us in the closure of all, begin afresh to act Faith upon Christ immediately, with a redoubled strength; as Faith should give a leading to the use of Graces, so the sight of our Graces should be as a back-door to let Faith in again, to converse with Christ: Even as at the Sacrament, the elements of Bread and Wine, are but outward signs to bring Christ and the heart together, and then Faith lets the outward elements go, and closeth and treats immediately with Christ: So grace is an inward sign; and whiles men make use of it, only as of a bare sign to let them come in to Christ, and their rejoicing is not in it originally, ⟨p. 120⟩