A75287:964
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.
5. Opposites.
Why then, O my soul, dost thou set up thy rest on this side Jordan? what are those few short pleasures thou here enjoyest? what is this brittle life, on which depends eternal bliss or woe? what is earth to heaven? what a minute to eternity? if any thing be contrary to eternity, what is it but this punctilio of time we have here to spend? this little brittle life, what is it but an ell, a span, an inch, a point? O dear pennyworth, to buy the merry madness of one hour, with ages of pangs, infinite and eternal! O dearest bargain that ever was, to sell away Heaven, (our everlasting inheritance) with Esau, for a sip of momentany pleasure. I see this world and the other are mere opposites; my life is so little, and eternity so long, that I cannot tell what is more contrary then these two: My life is nothing but a Now, this instant is properly my own, I cannot promise to my self any thing future, and therefore my life and eternity are as contrary as may be.
Why then, O my soul, dost thou set up thy rest on this side Jordan? what are those few short pleasures thou here enjoyest? what is this brittle life, on which depends eternal bliss or wo? what is earth to heaven? what a minute to eternity? if any thing be contrary to eternity, what is it but this punctilio of time we have here to spend? this little brittle life, what is it but an ell, a span, an inch, a point? O dear penyworth, to buy the merry madness of one hour, with ages of pangs, infinite and eternal! O dearest bargain that ever was, to sell away Heaven, (our everlasting inheritance) with Esau, for a sip of momentany pleasure. I see this world and the other are meer opposites; my life is so little, and eternity so long, that I cannot tell what is more contrary then these two: My life is nothing but a Now, this instant is properly my own, I cannot promise to my self any thing future, and therefore my life and eternity are as contrary as may be.