A75287:830
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.
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⟩but in Christ; their confidence is not upon it, but upon Christ: There is no danger at all in making such use of signs; for thus we make our Graces subordinate and subservient to Faith, whilst it makes Christ its Alpha and Omega, The beginning and the end of all. I know it is strongly objected against Christians, That many forget, and seldom use an entire, immediate close with Christ, whilst in the mean time the stream of their most constant thoughts and deepest intentions, are ever running upon their Graces, and the gracious workings thereof in duties towards Christ: Others on the contrary run all on Christ, despising the Graces of the Spirit, because (say they) Christ is all in all to them; so that if we ask such, Have you any Grace, change of heart? &c. tush, what do you tell them of Repentance, Holiness, &c. they have Christ, and that is sufficient; they have the substance, and what shall they now do with shadows of Ordinances, Duties, Graces? they have all in Christ, what should they look for Evidences, from any Graces inherent in themselves? O let those mourn over themselves, that have with much affection been seeking after Christs benefits, peace of conscience, holiness of heart and life, but have not sought first and last to embrace, and have the person of the Lord Jesus Christ himself; and let such tremble, who in advancing Christ himself, and Free-grace, will needs abolish and despise those heavenly Graces which flow from him unto all the Elect: The Law of God is written on the heart of Christ, Heb. 10.7.1 and if ever he wraps us up in the Covenant of Grace, He will write his Law in our hearts also,