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.

CHAP. XI.

SECT. 1. Of the necessity of preparation to the Hearing of the Word.

HItherto of Duties in reference to our Spiritual Ethicks and Oeconomicks: Now follow our Divine Politicks; viz. such Duties as have reference to publike or Church Assemblies; and they are either

• ...Hearing the Word Preached.
• ...Receiving the Sacraments.

1. For our right, holy and conscionable importment in and about the Hearing of the Word, we must look to

• Our preparation before we hear.
• Our carriage in hearing.
• Our behavior afterwards.

1. For preparation, it is of such necessity, that the want and neglect of it, is the cause that the word to many becomes the savor of death unto death; and to some professors, even of good hearts and affections, but a dead letter, without any life or power in it. Is it not a general complaint of the best Christians, that they are ordinarily possessed with much deadness of heart, and dulness of spirit at these holy exercises? Alas, their zeal and fer∣vency which should be quickned and inflamed at every Sermon, is dull and benumb'd with senslesness and satiety; they do not tremble at divine Comminations, and denouncements of Gods Judgements against sin; they are not so refreshed with the gra∣cious Promises of life and salvation, as they ought to be; they do not enjoy and reap the thousandth part of that delight, com∣fort and benefit as they well might, by the Ministery of the Word; they do not with that chearfulness receive, with that sweetness taste or relish, with that life and vigour digest the food of life; they do not so clearly see and discern the infinite beauty of the sacred Majesty represented unto them, or that glorious grace, shining unto them in the face of Christ Jesus; their hand of faith doth not with that feeling and fastness lay hold upon,

and clasp about the rich treasures revealed in the Gospel: and why? because their hearts are not purged and prepared for hear∣ing. This duty then is of great necessity, and special use, for all those which look for benefit or blessing by the preaching of the word: Take heed how ye hear (saith Christ;) and Take heed to thy foot (saith the Preacher) when thou goest to the house of God; and be more ready to hear, then to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not that they do evil.

But understand we aright: God would not have us make an Idol of preparation, as if therefore God draws nigh to us, be∣cause we are prepared; No, no: though preparation in ordi∣nary course is a means to finde God, yet doth God sometimes hide himself when his people are prepared? he would have us know, that if he be found of us at all, it is of meer mercy; he is not bound in Justice (setting aside his Promise) to reward this preparation: it's but our duty, and he can espy in it matter enough of displeasure, but ordinarily the godly finde God ac∣cording to their preparation; and hereto the current of the Scripture bears witness, They that seek the Lord, shall praise him: Open your gates, and the King of glory shall come in: — If any man open to me, I will come in to him:— If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thy hands towards him,—then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot.

SECT. 2. Of the maner of preparation to hear the Word.

THe maner of this preparation consists in these particulars: 1. In Prayer. 2. In Meditation. 3. In Examination. 4. In the purging or cleansing our hearts. 5. In a right disposition of our hearts.

1. In Prayer: If thou cryest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voyce for understanding;— then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and finde out the knowledge of God. Christ bids us pray for our daily bread, and a blessing upon it; much more should we pray for a blessing upon our Spiritual food, for Man doth not live by bread onely, but by every word that pro∣ceedeth

out of the mouth of the Lord, doth man live. Now the particulars we are to pray for, are these:

1. For the Minister, that God would open unto him a door of utterance, to speak the mysteries of Christ; — and that he may make it manifest as he ought to speak. Direct him, Lord (should every soul say) that he may speak fitly to me, somewhat for my understanding, somewhat for my affections, somewhat to help me against such or such a temptation.

2. For the Congregation, that Christ may ride with triumph in the midst of them, that some may be converted, others may be confirmed and strengthned in their most holy faith.

3. For our selves, that through Gods assistance we may hear profitably, and be blessed in the hearing; that God would help us in our Preparation, Meditation, Examination, in the purging of our hearts, and putting them into a right disposition and frame: Open thou mine eyes (said David) that I may see the won∣derful things contained in thy law.

2. In Meditation: I thought on my ways (said David) and turned my feet unto thy testimonies; he first looked over his own ways, before he would set his feet into Gods ways.— Now the matter of our Meditation is, 1. Who we are, to hear Gods Word: Alas, poor handfuls of dust and ashes, base and vile; thus Abraham and Job in their converses with God confess: and this consideration will stir-up our humility and repentance in us. 2. Into whose presence we come: Is it not into the presence of an high, and holy, and powerful God? Is it not the Lord, a per∣son both of greatest place, and supreme authority? This conside∣ration will further our reverence and respect of God. When Iobs eye did see God, he abhorred himself in dust and ashes. 3. By whose assistance we come; we have no strength of our own to do any good, nor is there any thing in us, that can procure fa∣vor and acceptance with God, we must therefore by faith de∣pend upon Christ for assistance and acceptance: This considera∣tion will stir up our humility and faith. 4. With what affecti∣ons we come; if we come to purpose, we must come with in∣ward Spiritual affections, with willingness, chearfulness, reve∣rence, repentance, love, humility and faith. 5. To what end we come; whether it be to Gods glory, and our own souls good.

3. In Examination, let us search and try our ways:— Com∣mune with your own hearts; — and then offer to God the sacrifice of righteousness.— Now the matter of Examination is, 1. The general frame and temper of our hearts, whether they be in a better or worse temper then formerly. 2. The special occa∣sions, for which our souls at such or such a time desire to meet God: It is the complaint of some, I am weak in knowledge; of others, I want such and such graces; of others, I am like to en∣counter such and such temptations: of all these we are to exa∣mine our selves, that we may accordingly receive supply. 3. Our sins, that we might have them slain by the sword of the Spirit in the Ministery of the Word. 4. Our graces, that we may have them strengthned and nourished by the Spiritual food of our souls. But the handling of these at large, I shall leave to the Receiving of the Lords Supper.

4. In the purging or cleansing of our hearts, 1. From sin; Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls: with which agrees that parallel place, Wherefore putting away all malice, as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word; as it is with the body, when the stomack is foul and clogged with bad humors, we should first purge it, before we feed it, other∣wise whatsoever we eat, will but nourish and increase the corrupt humors: so when the soul is stuffed or clogged with sin, what∣soever is heard in the Ministery of the word, will but be abused by it, and wrested to the destruction of it. 2. From worldly cares and thoughts, which may draw away the heart: The cares of the world (saith Christ) do choak the seed of the word. When Abraham went up to the Mount to sacrifice, he left his servants in the valley; and when we go up to the Mount where God ap∣pears, we should leave all our servile affections, and worldly thoughts in the valley; or if any enter, we should do by them as Abraham did by the birds that would have eaten up his sacri∣fice, chase them away. It is said, that in the Temple, though there was much flesh for sacrifice, yet there was not one flie ap∣peared stirring. O that it might be so with us, that not one thought might arise upon our hearts, unsuitable to the place or work at hand: But this is the misery, we have not Spiritual hearts in temporal imployments, and therefore we have carnal

hearts in spiritual imployments, the less of the Sabbath in the week, the more of the week we finde in the Sabbath.

5. In a right disposition in our hearts: We must have hearts seasoned, 1. With softness, for if the heart be not soft and flexi∣ble, the power of the Word will not make any print or deep impression upon it; all holy admonitions, reproofs and instructi∣ons will be but as arrows shot against a stone wall. 2. With hu∣mility, For them that be meek will he guide in judgement, and teach the humble his way: The proud heart is so swelled with the wind of vanity and vain-glory, of self-love and over-weening con∣ceit, that there is left no room in it for the precious treasures of saving Grace to enter. 3. With honesty, For honest hearts are the profitable and fruitful hearers, resembled by the good ground; hearts that have no maner of purpose to live and continue in any one known sin; hearts ready and resolved to serve and please God in all the ways of his Commandments, and that sincerely and continually. 4. With faith, for this makes the Word sink and soak into the soul with power and profit. The old Jews heard the Word, but it profited them not, because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it: Faith animates and inspires the promises of the Gospel, with such a soveraign sweetness, that they are able to raise us from the depth of fears, yea, to put us into a Paradice of spiritual pleasures, and possession of Heaven, as it were already. 5. With teachableness: Sacrifice and burnt offerings thou wouldst not (saith David) but mine ears hast thou prepared; q.d. Thou hast boared new ears in my heart, that I can now reverently attend unto, rightly conceive, and with an holy greediness devour (as it were) the mysteries of Grace.

6. With openness, or readiness to receive every truth that God shall teach us: It is said of the Bereans, That they received the Word with all readiness of minde: When there is such an holy disposition in us, as to receive both in judgement and practice whatsoever God shall reveal to us out of his holy Word, this is a precious disposition.

Thus much of preparation, before we hear: what follows, but that we open our hearts and hands? Surely the windows of hea∣ven will be set wide open, that all maner of spiritual comforts, all the blessings of peace and happiness, may in abundance be showered down upon us; the rich treasury of everlasting glory

and mortality, shall be now unlocked to us, and we may row and tumble our selves amidst the mountains of heavenly pearls, and golden pleasures, joys that no heart can comprehend, but that which is weaned from all worldly pleasures, and set apart, and sanctified for all holy services and business of Heaven.

SECT. 3. The duties of the soul in hearing the Word.

OUr Duties in hearing, consists in these particulars:—

1. That we set our selves in Gods presence whiles we are hearing the Word, and that we consider it is God we have to deal withal in this business, and not man, and that it is Gods Word; and not mans: This was the great commendation of the Thessalonians, That they received the Word as the Word of God; and it is the express saying of our Savior, He that heareth you, hear∣eth me: The Lord himself is present in a special maner, where his Word is preached; Surely the Lord is in that place, as Jacob said of Bethel: Now this apprehension of Gods presence in the assemblies of his people, will preserve our hearts from roving and wandring thoughts: I hate vain thoughts, but thy Law do I love; yea, it will keep us in that awful and reverent disposition that is meet for the majesty of Heaven.

2. That we diligently attend to that we hear, thus all the people were very attentive to hear Christ; or (as it is in the Ori∣ginal) They hanged upon him to hear him; they so carried them∣selves, as if their ears and mindes had been tyed to his very tongue: Look as a Prisoner will hearken to the sentence of a Prince, every word he speaks being life or death; or as the ser∣vants of Benhadad, when they were in their enemies power, ob∣served diligently if any word of comfort would come from the King of Israel, and they did hastily catch at it; so should we with all diligence and attention hearken to the good word of God.

3. That we labor to understand what we hear; to this pur∣pose, Christ called to the multitude and said, Hear and under∣stand: Now the means to understand the Word are these: 1. Come

to the Word with a willing minde to learn; though the Eunuch understood not what he read, yet because he had a minde to learn, the Lord provided for him, and we know what a comfortable success Philips sermon had with him: Men love to teach willing Schollars, so doth God when we come with willing and ready mindes to be taught of him. 2. Be well acquainted with the Grounds and Principles of Christianity; it is the want of this that makes men dull in understanding; they that are not first well nourished with milk, will not be fit to receive and digest stronger meat; if the foundation be not well laid, it is in vain to build. 3. Walk according to the light revealed; A good un∣derstanding have all they that do his Commandments: If we im∣ploy well the little knowledge we have, there is a promise to give us more.

4. That we hear the Word with all spiritual subjection, as that Word which hath power to command the soul and consci∣ence: God to this purpose looks into a Congregation, to see what hearts will yield to his Word; the Spirit of God hovers over the Congregation, and here it waits, and there it expects, to this man it comes, and knocks at the door of his heart, to that man and the other man it goes, saying, Open your hearts, you everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in: Surely now should we say, These are Gods testimonies, this is the Word the Minister of God speaks to me in Gods stead, I must give account of it, and therefore I will submit my self to it.

5. That we hear the Word, with application of it to our own hearts and lives; Hear this, and know it for thy self: so did Christs Disciples when our Savior told them, that one of them should betray him, They were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say, Lord, is it I? as no plaister can do the Patient any good, unless it be applied; and as no meat is able to do us good, unless it be eaten and digested, no more can the Word preached profit us, unless it be mixed with faith, one prin∣cipal work whereof is to apply those things that are delivered in the Word, and this is the meaning of the Prophet, Hearken di∣ligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good.

6. That in hearing, we look to our affections, that they be rightly exercised: Thus Josiah his heart is said to melt at the reading of the Law: Thus the Jews at Peters Sermon were

pricked in their hearts, and said, Men and brethren what shall we do? Thus the hearts of the two Disciples that went to Emmaus, burned within them, when Christ opened to them the Scriptures: Now the means to stir up these affections, are, 1. A belief of the Word, as that which is undoubtedly true: God cannot lye, Tit. 1.2. Nor will he change his minde, Numb. 23.19. 2. A love of the Word, for it is purity, perfection, usefulness, and wonderful benefits to us. 3. An appropriation of the Word unto our selves, for that which affects us, is that which most nearly concerns us; without this means of quickning our hearts, they remain dead and sensless, and the Word becomes utterly unprofitable. 4. A consideration of the nature of the Word, which ever requires and calls for suitable hearts and affections; it is a pure Word, and therefore we must cleanse and purifie our hearts for the receiving of it; it is spiritual and heavenly, and therefore we must labor for spiritual and heavenly mindes to enter∣tain it; it is a word of power and authority, the very voice of Christ, and therefore our hearts must submit and stoop to re∣ceive it with meekness and trembling of heart: It is a sure word, 2 Pet. 1.19. A faithful word, Tit. 1.9. A vision that will not lye, Heb. 2.3. and therefore we must embrace it with faithful and be∣lieving hearts, without which the Word cannot profit us at all, Heb. 4.2.

7. That above all other affections, we make sure to delight in the Word; it is said of Christs hearers, that they heard him gladly, and it is noted for an especial sign of Grace to hear the Word with delight: I rejoyced at thy Word (said David) as one that findeth great spoils.

[Quest. 1] But whether may not ungenerate men have a delight in Gods Or∣dinances?

[Answ.] I answer, 1. Most of them have no delight at all in Gods Or∣dinances: To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken; behold, the Word of the Lord is to them a reproach, they have no delight in it; and if this be our case, if we can hear sweet Go∣spel-preaching, the free offer of Jesus Christ, with all his glo∣ries and excellencies, to poor sinners, to vile, lost, undone souls, and are no whit taken therewith; wo to our souls, can we sleep away such a sermon? can we slight or neglect such Gospel-offers,

nay, do we attend them coldly? have we not heart-risings? no stirrings and workings? no longings and desires? and thus we pass Sermon after Sermon, and Sabbath after Sabbath: O then we are wholly dead unto the life of grace, Jesus Christ as yet hath not given us his true light, no work of Conversion doth at all appear in us: The end which Jesus Christ had in sending out Preachers, was to discover his love to poor perishing sinners, that so they might be affected with him, and long after him, and if we have no such relish, our condition is sad.

2. Some unregenerate men may have some delight in the word: They seek me daily (said God) and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the Ordi∣nances of their God: they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice, they take delight in approaching to God. The second ground re∣ceived the word with joy, and Herod heard Iohn Baptist gladly. Ungodly men may delight in Gods word, as in these cases:—

1. When the Ordinances are a leading way unto some end that suits with corrupt nature: Thus Jehu shewed abundance of zeal in destroying the house of Ahab, and the Idolatry of Baal, that thereby he might establish the kingdom to his Posterity, and get himself a great name; Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord: he was so full of vain-glory, that he could not hold in, but was forced to burst out.

2. When the maner of dispensation of the Ordinances doth suit with their disposition: An understanding judicious man may love preaching that is judicious and understanding; A man of meekness, may delight in a Sermon of Peace, peace; a tempe∣rate man may like a Sermon that is tart and bitter against drun∣kenness, uncleanness; the liberal man may delight in severe preaching against covetousness; as a man musically affected, may delight in singing of Psalms, because these things suit with their dispositions: The gifts of Ministers may have an affecting pleasingness; they may express their mindes in such fit terms, or so pathetically, or they may have such a grace in utterance, as may affect: Lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song, of one that hath a pleasant voyce, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but do them not.

3. When there is a common work of the Spirit of God upon them for a time: They may taste of the heavenly gifts, and be

made partakers of the holy Ghost; they may taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and yet fall away; but this work is rather a work upon them, then in them, a forced work, not natural, rather a flash, then a fire of affection; the affections are lifted up, they cannot be altered and changed, acted onely by an outward principle; the experience that the Spirit hath forcibly and powerfully wrought on them, not by an outward and inward principle also, both by the Spirit of God, and suitableness of affection to that which is good: it was other∣wise with David, I delight to do thy will, O God; yea, thy law is within my heart: and otherwise with Paul, I delight in the law of God after the inward man; till the law of God be within us, we cannot from within taste the sweetness of Gods Ordinan∣ces: In true and solid delight, there must be a suitableness be∣twixt the heart and the Ordinances; therefore saith the wise man, It is joy to the just to do judgement: The Justice that is in him, is suitable to the Judgement to be done by him, and this makes the joy. Hence it follows, that so much grace, so much delight: were we more holy, spiritual, heavenly, as the Ordi∣nances are, we should be more affected therewith. Thus it is not in the wicked, they have no such delight.

[Quest. 2] Why is the word so brim-full of comfort to the dear Saints of God?

[Ans.] Because in the word they have communion with God, who is the God of all Consolation; and with the Spirit of God, who is called the Comforter: Now as a man that walks amongst Perfumes, must needs smell of the Perfume, so they that converse with the God of all joy, must needs be filled with all joy; and therefore David calls God his exceeding joy. The Saints go to the word, as one that goes to hear news of a friend; they look upon the Ordinances, as that whereby they have to do with God, and therefore it is precious and sweet to them. No wonder, can a man who is cold come to the fire and not be warmed? Can he that is in the dark come into the open ayr and not be inlightned? God is the spring of all comfort, and therefore sure their hearts must needs be comforted, that meet with God in the Ordinan∣ces; on the contrary, if they meet not with God, if they miss of their communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, then is comfort afar off: But we must not argue against a general truth, from a

particular temptation. The Position will stand, That Gods word is brim-full of comfort to Gods people, though every ex∣periment comes not up to it.

SECT. 4. The Duties required after hearing.

THe Duties required after hearing the word, are these:—

1. That we carefully remember, and keep that which we have heard: My son, let thine heart retain my words,—keep them in the midst of thine heart. As a man that hath a Jewel will be careful to lock it up in his safest Chest, so should we keep the word in our hearts, in the midst of our hearts. Many hear the word desirously, but (as we say) it goes in at one ear, and out at the other, it stays not for any after-use, but a little present admiration: others hear, and the word smites them a little on their Consciences, and wounds them, and one would think some good thing would be wrought on them, but they go away, and the motion dyes; like unto mettals which are soft and plyable, whilest they are in the fire, but shortly after they become harder then before. Take earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip; or let them run out as a leaking vessel, for so the Original bears it.

2. That we meditate, and seriously think of that we have heard: Meditate upon these things (said Paul to Timothy) give thy self wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all: Thus Mary pondred the words of the Angel in her heart, and David meditated all the day on Gods law: Meditation is as the bel∣lows of the soul, that doth kindle and inflame holy affections: Meditation is of a seperating and setling nature, it seperates hea∣venly thoughts from earthly, for it often goes over with thoughts, and at last settles the heart on such thoughts as these, O this is the word of God, this is the law, the proclamation of the great King, whereby I must be judged: This may be the last Ser∣mon that ever I shall hear whiles I live, such a gale of Gods Spi∣rit may never be offered to me again: I will be wise therefore, and give way to the Spirit of God, I will not beat it back again, but

yield to the blessed motions of Gods Spirit, that this day have been made.

3. That we repeat what we have heard, and confer of it, and examine the Scriptures about the truth of it: My tongue (saith David) shall speak of thy word, for all thy Commandments are righteousness: and, You shall lay up these my words in your hearts (saith God) and you shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thy house. This is it for which the no∣ble Bereans are commended to us, They searched the Scriptures daily, concerning the things that were delivered by Paul: A man that comes into a pleasant garden, will not content himself with the present scent onely, but will carry some of the flowers away with him: So after we have been in the Garden of spices, and have felt the savor of Christs oyntments in Church-Assemblies, let us take some of the flowers away with us, and smell of them again and again. Repeating, conferring, examining the word, is as the pounding of spices, that will make them smell more.

4. That we put in practice whatsoever we hear: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers onely, deceiving your own souls; we must do it, we must bring it nearer to us, that it may be an ingrafted word in our understanding and affections, that it may be written in our souls, and in the tables of our hearts; that it may be incor∣porated and naturalized into our inward man, that so we may speak and think, and do nothing but that which is divine: and in doing, observe we this frame of Spirit, to be quick and speedy about it: I made haste, and prolonged not the time to keep thy com∣mandments; This speedy, this immediate putting of the word into practice, is much advantage to the hearer; the affections of the heart are then lively and quick, which with delays dye and decay suddenly.

5. That (when the word is heard, and we are returned home) that we pray again for a blessing on that we have heard, and as our memories will bear, let us turn the word into prayer, espe∣cially the heads or principal parts of it: Prayer must be the Al∣pha and Omega, the beginning and ending of this Spiritual duty; we must pray in preparation, and pray in conclusion, and pray always. And thus much concerning our Duties before, in, and after the Hearing the Word.

Notes

• Luke 8.18.
• Eccles. 5.1.
• Psal. 22.26. Psal. 24 7.
• Rev. 3.20.
• Iob 11.13, 14, 15.
• Prov. 2.3, 5.
• Deut. 8.3. Mat. 4 4.
• Col. 4.3, 4.
• Psal. 119.18.
• Psal. 119.59.
• Iob 4••.16.
• Lam. 3 40.
• Psal. 4.4, 5.
• Iames 1.21.
• 1 Pet 2.1, 2.
• Mat. 13.22.
• Psal. 25.9.
• Luke 8.15.
• Heb. 4.2.
• Psal. 40.6.
• Acts 17.11.
• 1 Thess 2.13. Luke 10.16.
• Gen. 28.16.
• Psal. 119.113
• Luke 19 48.
• Matth. 15 10.
• Psal. 111.10.
• Iob 5.27.
• Mat. 26.21, 22.
• Isa. 55.2.
• 2 Chro. 34.27
• Acts 2.37.
• Luke 24.32.
• Psal. 119.140
• Rom. 7 14. Iam••s 3.17.
• Iames 1.21. Isa. 66.2.
• Mark 12 37.
• Psal. 119.162
• Ier. 6.10.
• Isa. 58.2.
• Mat. 13.20. Mark 6.20.
• 2 King. 10.16
• Ezek. 33.32.
• Heb. 6 4, 5.
• Psal. 40.8. Rom. 7.22.
• Prov. 21.15.
• Psal. 43.4.
• Prov. 4.4, 21.
• Heb. 2.1.
• 1 Tim. 4.15.
• Luke 2.19. Psal. 119.97.
• Psa. 119.172.
• Deut. 11.18, 19.
• Act. 17.11, 12
• Iames 1.22.
• Psal. 119.60.
• Luke 21.36.