The Last things, Title page – To the reader
ULTIMA, The laſt things, in reference to the Firſt and Middle things: OR CERTAIN MEDITATIONS on Life, Death, Judgement, Hell, Right Purgatory, and Heaven: Delivered by ISAAC AMBROSE, Miniſter of the Goſpel at PRESTON in AMOUNDERNES in LANCASHIRE.
Deut. 32.29
O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they would conſider their latter end.
Ecclus. 7.36.
Whatſoever thou takeſt in hand, remember the end, and thou ſhalt never do amiſs.
LONDON: Printed for J. A. and are to be ſold by Nathanael Webb, and William Grantham, at the Grey-hound in Pauls Church-yard. 1650.
To the Reader.
READER,
NOt to ſtay thee too long at the doore, come in, and thou mayſt in this fabrick ſee theſe ſeverall partitions.
Here is
Mans miſery in his
Life, Ser. 1.
Death, Ser. 2.
Judgement, Ser. 3.
The Execution, Ser. 4.
Gods merciemercy in our
Redemption, Ser. 5.
Salvation, Ser. 6.
The firſt part may bring thee to a ſight, and ſenſe, and ſorrow for ſin; the ſecond to a ſight of Christ, and a comfort in Chriſt: and theſe are the principall means of converſion. Nor is the work unprofitable, if thou beeſt converted; uſe them as daily Meditations, and they will keep thee from ſin, and help thee towards heaven. One of our Worthies can tell thee, that Nothing more ſtrongly bends men to ſin then ſecuritie, or incogitancie of theſe things. If thou ask what things? he anſwers, The end of our creation and redemption, the certaintie of death, the uncertaintie of life, the ſevere account we muſt give, the juſt retribution we ſhall have, the miſerie of the damned in hell, the bleſſedneſs of the Saints in heaven, theſe things being ſadly and frequently thought upon, would quench our burnings and luſtings after ſinne. And true thou mayeſt find it, that ſuch good thoughts, and an inordinate life, are ſcarce conſiſtible: Will you hear another? A ſerious and fruitfull meditation on theſe things (ſo bleſſed M. Bolton) hath ever been holden very materiall, and of ſpeciall moment to make us (by Gods bleſſing) more humble, unworldly, provident and prepared for the evil day. And I take it, every one of theſe following ſubjects would be an excellent theam, or matter for our deliberate meditation. See the Middle things, Chap. 7. Sect. 4. Read then and practiſe theſe Meditations, and I truſt by theſe means, thy end will be Heavens happineſs. So ends this work, and to that end ſolely, next to Gods glory, I built it for thee. Farewell.
Thine in all ſervices I may, for thy ſouls ſalvation, I. A.