The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behavior of a man in the act of the nevv birth A treatise by way of appendix to the former. By Isaac Ambrose, minister of Christ at Preston in Amounderness in Lancashire.

CHAP. I. The Souls Preparation.

BEfore the Soul can share in Christs Merits (to speak in the Authors stile or language, without any alteration) two things are required:

• 1. A preparation to receive and entertain Christ.
• 2. An implantation of the Soul into Christ.

That there must be a Preparation, is the first ground we lay; and herein observe we The

• Matter
• Maner
• Means

of this Preparation.

1. For Matter: The soul of a sinner must be prepared for Christ, before he can entertain him. When Kings go to any place, they send (to make readiness) their Harbengers afore them; if Christ (the King of Saints) come into a Soul, there must be a Preparation before he enter; and good Reason, he is not a meer man, an ordinary person, but a King, a King of Glo∣ry. David in this case could call upon his Soul (so we may ex∣pound his Gates and Doors) Lift up your heads, O ye Gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting Doors, and the King of Glory shall * 1.1

come in; as who should say, Be enlarged Love, Joy, Hope; set open, give way, for the Lord is coming: But who is the Lord? it is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in Battel: And with that he knocks again, Lift up your heads, O ye Gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting Doors, and the King of Glory shall come in; as if he should say, What, shall the Lord knock? shall the King of Glory stand? open sud∣denly, and make all preparation.

2. The Maner of this Preparation consists in these three pas∣sages: First, the Soul breaks that League which formerly it hath had with Corruptions, and reserves it self for Christ: And se∣condly, the Soul is most willing to give way to Christ Jesus, and to let him overthrow whatsoever shall oppose him: Thirdly, the Soul is content that God should rule all, not onely the eye, or hand, or tongue, or heart, but the whole man; it opens all the Gates, and desires Christ to come, and take all the Keys of the house upon him.

3. The Means of this Preparation is the powerful Ministery, which God hath appointed for this work; and it is discovered in three particulars: First, in a particular Application of the Truth to the Souls of men with courage: Secondly, in a con∣firmation of the Truth by soundness of Argument, and plain evidence of Scriptures: Thirdly, in a kinde of Spiritual heat in the heart and affections of the Minister, answerable to that which he communicates to the people. And this powerful Mi∣nistery works on the soul, 1. By discovering what is in a mans heart, so that the soul seeth that it never saw before, and so is driven to a stand. 2. By driving the soul into an awe of sin, so that it dares not now meddle with sin, as formerly it hath done.

If any soul that hath enjoyed these Means any while, is not yet fitted and prepared, it is a fearful suspition, that God will * 1.2 never confer any good to that soul: Go home then (if there be any such) and reason with your own souls, and plead with your own hearts, saying, Lord, why not yet am I humbled and pre∣pared? will Exhortations never prevail with me? will Terrors and Reproofs never break my heart into pieces? I have heard Ser∣mons that would have shaken the very stones I trod on, that would have moved the very seat I sate on; the very fire of Hell hath

flashed in my face; I have seen even the plagues of Hell, and if any thing can do me any good, why not then those. Exhortations, Instructions, Admonitions and Reproofs that I have often had? I have had as powerful means as may be, which never yet did me good. The Lord be merciful to such a poor soul; the Lord turn the heart of such a poor sinner, that he may lay hold of mercy in due time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 24. 7.
• * 1.2

  Ʋse.