The Middle Things, Title page – Dedication 2
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, maner 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.
Matth. 12.50.
Whoſoever ſhall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the ſame is my brother, and ſiſter, and mother.
John 13.17.
If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye do them.
John 15.14.
Yea e my friends, if ye do whatſoever I command you.
Luke 17.10.
When ye ſhall have done all thoſe things which are commanded you, ſay, We are unprofitable ſervants, we have done that which was our duty to do.
LONDON: Printed by John Field for Nathanaell Webb and William Grantham, at the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard. 1656.
TO The Right Honorable, truly Religious, and Vertuous Lady, the Lady MARY VERE.
MADAM,
I Took it as a special Providence, that in my troubles at London I got acquaintance with your Honor: Your Contribution at my parting, won much upon my heart; but your fellowſhip and communion at our firſt meeting in Church-Aſſemblies, and eſpecially at that ſweet Ordinance of the Lords Supper, obliged me more, and faſter to you in purer loves. I bleſs God for the Friends I found in my diſtreſs, but for the Communion of Saints, and for the Comforts I found in ſuch Communion, Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, Pſal. 103.1.and all that is within me, bleſs his holy Name. You may wonder, that upon ſo ſmall acquaintance I ſhould lay this Book at your feet; it is not becauſe I wanted other Patrons, but becauſe at that very time, when I left it with the Preſs, I obſerved God ſtirring you up, as a right Patron, to encourage, relieve and comfort the Compoſer of it. I was then (as the Lord ordained it) in ſome trouble, and you encouraged me, and relieved me; but eſpecially you comforted me with your ſociety at that Soul-feaſt, when originally I drew all my comfort out of the wells of Salvation. Iſa. 12.3.I cannot but love and honor you in this laſt reſpect; for indeed I am, and I deſire to be very choyce and careful with whom I joyn in that ſacred Ordinance (yet am no Sectary;) and this increaſeth my affections to the Saints ſo much the more. Madam, I hope you will countenance (for I partly know, and am verily perſwaded, that you are a conſtant practioner of) all Duties, both Secret, Private and Publike: and if this weak Work, Patronized by you, may in any ſort be helpful to you, or to any of the Saints, I have my deſire, and ſhall give God the Glory.
Your Honors in all Chriſtian bonds, I. A.
TO THE READER.
OF many Books there is no end, and much ſtudy is a wearineſs to the fleſh: The Experience of this Truth (eſpecially in theſe latter days) hath ſometimes put me to ſad and ſerious thoughts, How ſhould a Chriſtian furniſh himſelf with a ſufficient Library, to help him on in his way Heaven-ward? Should he buy up all the Ancients, or (in caſe he want the Tongues) ſhould he buy up all our Modern Engliſh Writers, Poſitive and Polemical, they might fill his Cloſet, but he ſhould finde no end of buying, as there is no end of making Books: and if he reſolvedly fell to reading he might conclude with the wiſeman, Much ſtudy is a wearineſs of the fleſh; nay, in in ſuch variety, he would finde the moſt of his ſtudy ſo impertinent, ſo unprofitable, that he might further conclude, Such a ſtudy is a loſs to his Soul, and rather an hinderer, then an helper of it in the way to Heaven. To prevent this, ſome have adviſed Chriſtians to chooſe out, amongſt that world of variety we now enjoy, ſuch Authors as are moſt ſuitable to their Genius and Imployment. The Lord Verulam, with ſome others, give their opinions, That if the choyce and beſt Obſervations, which have been made diſperſedly in our Engliſh Sermons (leaving out the largeneſs of Exhortations and Applications thereupon) were ſet down in a Continuance, it would be the beſt work in Divinity that hath been written ſince the Apoſtles times. And Dr. Hackwith repeats almoſt the ſame words, ſaying, That the Sermons of this latter Age, ſpecially in this Land, have doubtleſs been more exquiſite and effectual, then ordinarily they have been in any precedent Age; inſomuch as it is obſerved, that if there were a choyce Collection made of the moſt accurate ſince the entrance of Queen Elizabeth to theſe preſent times (omiting the large Applications thereupon) it would prove one of the rareſt Pieces that hath been publiſhed ſince the Apostles times: Dr. Hackwiths Apology of the Power and Providence of God in the Government of the World, lib. 3. Cap. 7. Sect. 2. Indeed, had we ſuch a Book extant, I would adviſe the Chriſtians of our Age to buy the Bible, and that Book, and to ſtudy them, and no more, as to their Spiritual good. But alas, this Book is rather wiſhed for, then hoped after; we may expect and wait for it till our eyes ſink in our heads, and be never the nearer. However, it was my deſign to have carried on ſuch a buſineſs as this in the main neceſſary things; not that I would read over all Authors on all ſubjects, but that I would firſt limit my ſelf to ſuch ſubjects, and then upon them cull out the beſt and choyce Obſervations of many godly and learned Authors. In this deſign I have practiſed and obſerved theſe particulars:—
1. I have brought into method the Duties of a Chriſtian, which I call The Middle things, in reference to The Firſt and Laſt things, before Printed: The matter I have for the moſt part drawn from others, onelyonly the method I have framed, as the Lord hath enabled; and wherein all Authors that ever I ſaw were ſilent, I have thereto added, to compleat the work for the matter alſo.
2. I have purpoſely omitted the many Controverſies, and tedious Diſputes of this Age: For my part, I ſee little edifying in them; nay, is not the fat and marrow of Chriſtian Religion loſt by them? Were I to adviſe againſt any Error, Hereſie, I had rather bid my Adverſaries read ſome Books of Poſitive, Practical Divinity, wherein Truth and Religion is laid out in its life and power, then all the voluminous Controverſies that ever I could write, or ever have been writ by any other of the Sons of men. I deny not but theſe kinde of Books (the Spirit concurring) may convince mens judgements; but the other ſort works both on judgement and Conſcience, on their heads and hearts: The Controverſial way of arguing, pro & contra, I cannot but approve; but the way of the Spirit, in which he leads and convinceth the Soul irreſiſtably, I muſt needs prefer. Hence you ſee the reaſon of the method I have propounded; wherein I dare ſay (yet with a ſpirit of ſubmiſſion) the workings of the Spirit, the breathings of Chriſt, the pantings of a Soul after Chriſt, are more fully manifeſted, then in all the jarring Pamphlets which this Age hath copiouſly afforded: My deſire is both to inform, and to reform; to inform the judgement, and to reform life.
3. I have the rather fallen on this ſubject of Duties, both becauſe neceſſary in their way, and becauſe they are ſo much oppoſed by many of our Age, who ſurely are not acquainted with them (with the workings of the Spirit in them, and by them) for otherwiſe it could not be ſo: If this Error ſpread, it will quickly eat out all Religion, and throw down Souls to Hell. Their pretence is, who are the Abettors of it, That they have found out a near and eaſie way to heaven;Mr. Rutherford in his Survey of Spiritual Antichriſt. but I rather believe Christ (ſaith Rutherford) who tells us it is a way of many miles, ſtrait, narrow and thorny; indeed the Meritorious way to us is eaſie, but the way of a Christian converſation (whether they will or no) lyeth through Duties; Matth 7.21. 1 Cor. 9.24, 25 2 Tim 4.7. Luke 13.24. Rev. 2.7. Acts 14.22. Rev. 1.9. 1 Cor. 15.58. Heb. 12 4. Matth. 16.24 Iames 1.12. Gal. 6.8. Acts 20.19. Matth. 24.42. and 11.29. 1 Iohn 5.3.it is not words, Lord, Lord, but working, ſweating, running, wrestling, fighting, striving, overcoming, bleeding, ſuffering, abounding in the work, denying our ſelves, taking up the croſs, enduring temptations, ſowing to the Spirit, ſerving the Lord with all humility, and with many tears and temptations, watching, praying, taking Chriſts yoke upon us, ſelling all our ſweetest delights, keeping the commandments of Chriſt, which howſoever they are not grievous, yet they are not ſo eaſie, as that the onelyonly bare act of Believing ſhould be the onelyonly Gospel work. Might we ſtill lie in our Ivory Beds, under no Law, no Obligation of doing, no danger of ſinning, no broken bones, no terrors, no ſenſe of ſorrow for ſin, no progreſs in perſonal Repentance, Mortification, Sanctification, no care of watchful walking to perfect holineſs in the fear of God, no abſtaining from worldly luſts, no ſtrictneſs of Converſation, but onelyonly Believe that Chriſt hath Suffered, and Chriſt hath done all Duties for us, Repented for us, Mortified luſts for us, walked ſtrictly and holily for us, this were an eaſie work indeed. For my part, I would not willingly make the way to Heaven longer then Chriſt hath made it; but if we believe the Scriptures, Rom. 12.1, 2, 3 Eph. 5.1, 2, 3, 4 Col. 3 1, 2, 3, 4 1 Theſ 4.1, 2, 3 Iam. 2.13, 14.15. 1 Iohn 3.17.we ſhall finde other Commandments on us under the Goſpel, then Believing onelyonly for Righteouſneſs: There is the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt received by us, and working in us; the firſt is the Righteouſneſs of Juſtification, the ſecond of Sanctification, and our Eſtabliſhment lyes in both.
4. I have in every Duty, preſcribed the maner of performing it; not that I would tye every ſpirit to this particular way or method: thoſe who are accuſtomed to theſe exerciſes of Devotion, may perhaps deviſe other more fitting courſes, or ways of proceeding, then theſe are; and it is reaſon, and a point of wiſdom, for every man to make uſe of thoſe Rules which in his own Experience he findeth moſt proper to his own diſpoſition, and moſt powerful for his own Reformation: OnelyOnly the Reader that is not better furniſhed, may pleaſe to make uſe of theſe, and I truſt (by Gods Bleſſing) he will finde them profitable; which if he do in any meaſure, it ſhall be to me ſufficient joy, contentment, recompence.
5. I have made uſe in this Treatiſe, not of one, or two, but of many precious men; as, Angier, Aſh, Ball, Bolton, Byfield, Downham, Dyke, Goodwyn, Gouge, Hooker, Leigh, Maſon, Rogers, Shepherd, Torſhel, White, &c. that the Adverſaries of Duties may ſee what a Cloud of ſuch Witneſſes are for Duties. It was ſometimes Eliah's trouble,1 Kings 19.10, 18. The children of Iſrael have forſaken thy Covenant, thrown down thine Altars, and I, even I onelyonly am left: but 'twas the Lords encouragement of Eliah, I have left me Seven thouſand in Iſrael which have not bowed the knee to Baal. I bleſs God it hath encouraged me, and me thinks it might trouble the Oppoſites, that not onelyonly many thouſands of Gods people, but many Eliahs amongſt thoſe thouſands, ſhould appear with me, and againſt them. This is one Reaſon, why I choſe rather to bring in the Authors,Gal. 2.9. Rev 3.12. who ſeem to be, and indeed are Pillars in the Temple of our God, then to ſpeak onelyonly in my own Dialect, or altogether from my own invention.
6. I have writ nothing, but in ſome meaſure I have, by the Lords aſſiſtance, practiced the ſame, and felt the comfort of it in my own heart and ſoul; yet by way of caution I deſire the Reader to remember, if at any time in the exerciſe of any of the Duties within written, he alſo feels his heart warmed, or ſavingly affected (which is the very Spirit, Power, Grace, Comfort, Preſence and Sweetneſs of Chriſt) that he conſider, it is not the Duty, it is not the bare Ordinance that elicites ſuch divine and noble acts in the heart and affection, but it is the Blood of Chriſt, the Interceſſion of Chriſt, ſprinkling thoſe Duties, that makes them work ſuch Graces in the Soul. In this caſe, the Blood of Chriſt is as the ſalve, and Duty is as the cloth or leather to which it ſticks, and by which it is applyed: Now from the cloth (the Duty) comes no vertue; no, no, it is onelyonly the Blood of Chriſt which by Duty heals, and chears the Soul. Many have wondred, why ſometimes they are ſo lifted up in Duties, and ſometimes again they are no more moved by them, then a Mountain of Braſs is moved by the winds; Why ſhould the ſame Truth, the ſame Scripture, the ſame Meditation affect me at one time, and not at another, when I am as fitly diſpoſed to be affected as at the firſt? Why ſhould the ſame Inſtruction, the ſame Reproof, the ſame Conſolation, awaken, wound and revive my Spirit at one time, and move me no more at another, then a charm doth a deaf Adder, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks? I grant,Pſal. 58.4, 5. in reſpect of the ſubject, the Spiritual ſenſe is ſometimes benumb'd, and ſometimes it is awakened; but in reſpect of the Efficient, it is onelyonly Chriſts Blood, Chriſts Interceſſion that doth all by an admirable and ſecret operation. I have no more to ſay of this Book, onelyonly, The Lord give a Bleſſing to it, and to the Reader of it: So prays
Thy Servant in Chriſt Jeſus, I. A.
FOR The Reverend, his worthily much eſteemed Friend, Mr. Iſaac Ambroſe, Miniſter of the WORD at Preſton.
Reverend Sir,
I Crave your pardon for keeping your Papers ſo long: I have at length peruſed them, and returned them. I wonder at, and could almoſt envy you, that can finde ſo much leiſure, and imploy it ſo well, in theſe hurryings and clatterings of the Times. I am yet, by Ordinance of both Houſes, a Licenſer of Books to the Preſs, and have made uſe of that Authority, by Subſcribing my Name at the end of your Papers. I pray God bleſs you, and them, and all the reſt of your labors, to the good of his Church, and the praiſe of the glory of his Grace: So reſts
Winwick, March 29. 1649. Your true Friend, Brother and Servant, Charles Herle.