A75287:966
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.
6. Comparisons.
But to what shall I compare this Eternity? as a drop of water is unto the sea, 1and a gravel stone in comparison of the sand, so are a thousand years to the day of Eternity: Nay, if we multiply a thousand years a thousand times, it would not amount to the least fraction of the numberless number of Eternity. They say, That the eighth Celestial Orb or Sphere, is moved wonderful leisurely, for though it be daily wheeled about by the rapid motion of the Primum mobile, yet it finisheth not its own proper Circuit, but once in Thirty six thousand years; and this space of time they call the Great year, or Plato's year: but compare this with Eternity, and it will appear but as a moment, a very nothing at all; to what then mayest thou compare this Eternity? O my soul, it is like an Orb, every way round, and like it self, or like a wheel, that turns, and turns, and doth never cease turning; or like a year, continually wheeling about, which turns again to the same point whence it began, and still wheels about again; or like an ever-running Fountain, whither the waters after many turnings flow back again, that they may always flow; or like a Snake bowed back unto it self orbicularly, holding the tail in her mouth, which in its end doth again begin, and never ceaseth to begin; or like a Ring, or like a Globe, or like a ⟨p. 157⟩Sphere, or like the circuit of Sun and Moon, without all end.
But to what shall I compare this Eternity? as a drop of water is unto the sea,