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.

§. 1. A form of prayer in Scripture-phrase.

IN this form observe,—

1. A description of God.

O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh.* 1.1—

Who hast created the heavens, and stretched them out,* 1.2 who hast spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, who givest breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk there∣in: See Nehem. 1.5. Isa. 37.16. Jer. 23.24. Dan. 9.4. Psal. 65.2. 1 Tim. 1.17. & 6.16, &c.

2. A begging of Audience.

Look down from heaven thy holy habitation:* 1.3—

Have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servants, to hearken to the cry, and to the prayer which thy servants pray before thee:— See Nehem. 1.6. Psal. 102.1, 2. Isa. 37.17. Dan. 9.17, &c.

3. A confession of the sins of our first Parents.

We confess, O Lord,* 1.4 thou createdst our first parents in thine own image, but the Serpent beguiled them, and they did eat of the forbidden fruit:—See Rom. 5.12.

4. Confession of Original pollution.

We are risen up in our fathers stead,* 1.5 an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord towards us:— See Psal. 51.5. Rom. 7.14, 23. Lam. 5.7. Ezek. 16.4, 6, &c.

5. A confession of actual transgressions in thought, word, deed.

The words of our mouth are iniquity and deceit:* 1.6—

We have whet our tongues like swords, and have bent our bows to shoot out arrows, even bitter words.—

We have done deeds unto thee, that ought not to be done:—See Gen. 6.5. Isa. 6.5. Dan. 9.5. Mat. 12.36. and 15.19. Tit. 3.3. Ezek. 16.8, 15, 23, 25, &c.

6. Acted against light of knowledge.

We have trusted in our wickedness, we have said,* 1.7 None seeth us; our wisdom and our knowledge hath perverted us:—See Neh. 9.14, 16. Isa. 47.10. Jer. 6.16. Rom. 1.22. and 2.18. Tit. 1.16, &c.

7. Against checks of Conscience.

* 1.8Our very Consciences have born witness, and our thoughts in the mean while have accused us:—See Rom. 7.15, 18, 19, &c.

8. Against long forbearance of God.

* 1.9Many a year hast thou forborn us, and testified against us by thy Spirit in thy prophets, yet would we not give ear:—See Eccles. 8.11. Rom. 2.4, &c.

9. Against tender mercies.

* 1.10Surely Lord, thy goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our life—

* 1.11But we have observed lying vanities, and forsaken our own mercy:—See Deut. 32.15. Neh. 9.25, 26, 27, 28. Psal. 106.43. Isa. 63.9, 10, &c.

10. Against terrifying judgements.

* 1.12Thou hast caused judgement to be heard from heaven:—

* 1.13But we have not trembled at thy word:—See Deut. 29.19. Psal. 78.31, 32. Jer. 5.3, 5. Rom. 2.5, &c.

11. Against frequent Purposes, Promises, Vows of better Obedience.

* 1.14We have not done according to our promise,—Nor payed that which we have vowed;—Nay Lord, they have been sin unto us:— See Deut. 29.25. 1 Kings 19.10. Psal. 78.10, 37. Jermiah 2.20.

12. Sins of our Age, Sex, Constitution, Relation and Calling.

* 1.15We have found by experience, that foolishness is bound in the heart of a childe:—

* 1.16O remember not the sins of our youth:—See Gen. 42.21. Neh. 9.34, 35, &c.

13. Secret and open sins, our most beloved lusts.

* 1.17We have sitten in the lurking places of the villages, in the se∣cret places have we murthered the innocent, our eyes are privily set against the poor;—Nay, we have sinned openly in the sight of the sun; we have sinned without shame:—

* 1.18We lodge within us many bosom lusts, right hands, and right eyes, and we are loath to cut them off, or pluck them out:—See Psal. 19.12. and 90.8. Jer. 6.15. Isa. 3.9. Mat. 19.22, &c.

14. Sins against the Law of God.

* 1.19We have erred, and not observed all these Commandments, which

the Lord hath spoken:—See Nehem. 1.7. Ezra 9.10. Rom. 7.15, 19, 20, &c.

15. Sins against the Gospel of Christ.

We have not obeyed the Gospel;—How then should we escape,* 1.20 if we neglect so great Salvation: See 1 Pet. 4.17, &c.

16. Our not thirsting after Christ.

Our souls break not for the longings that they should have unto Christ at all times:—See Psal. 42.1, &c.* 1.21

17. Our not relying on Christ his merits and promises.

We have relyed on the King of Syria (outward helps and means) and not on the Lord: See Heb. 3.12, 13.* 1.22

18. Our grieving Gods Spirit.

We have grieved thy holy Spirit,* 1.23 and turned the graces of God into lasciviousness:—See Mark 3.5. Heb. 3.10, 17. Genesis 6.6, &c.

19. Our continual impenitency, notwithstanding all means of Grace.

We have despised the pleasant Land,* 1.24 we have not believed thy word, but murmured in our tents, and hearkned not unto the voyce of the Lord:—See Isaiah 1.6. and 5.4. and 28.13.

20. Aggravations of sin by the person against whom.

Against thee, thee onely, have I sinned,* 1.25 and done this evil in thy sight: See Numb. 21.7. Heb. 6.6. Heb. 10.29, &c.

21. By the number of them, time, place, &c.

Innumerable evils have compassed us about;* 1.26—They are m••e then the hairs of our head:—See Psal. 38.4. Ezra 9.6. Job 9.3. Ifa. 26.10, &c.

22. An accusing, judging, and condemning our selves.

Shouldst thou whet thy glittering sword,* 1.27 and thy hand take hold on judgement,—Thou mightest make thy arrows drunk with blood, and thy sword might devour flesh from the beginning of revenges: See Dan. 9.7, 8, 9. Neh. 9 33. Lam. 5.16. Isa. 28.17. Jer. 5.9.— 50.15, 25. Ezek 5.15.—14.8.—15.7.23, 33.—25.17. Rev. 4.5, &c. Thus for Confession.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Num. 16.22.
• * 1.2

  Isa. 42.5.
• * 1.3

  Deut. 26.15. 1 Kings 8.28
• * 1.4

  Gen. 1.26. and 3.6.
• * 1.5

  Num. 32.14.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 36.3. and 64.3. Gen. 20.9.
• * 1.7

  Isa. 47.10.
• * 1.8

  Rom 2.15.
• * 1.9

  Neh 9.30.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 23.6.
• * 1.11

  Ionah 2.8.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 76.8.
• * 1.13

  Isa. 66 2.
• * 1.14

  Neh. 5.12. Eccles 5 4. Deut. 29.21.
• * 1.15

  Prov. 22.15.
• * 1.16

  Psal. 25.7.
• * 1.17

  Psal. 10.8. 2 Sam. 12.11.
• * 1.18

  Mat. 5.29, 30.
• * 1.19

  Numb. 15 22
• * 1.20

  Rom. 10.16. Heb. 2.3.
• * 1.21

  Psal. 119.20.
• * 1.22

  2 Chro. 16.7.
• * 1.23

  Eph. 4.30. Iude 4.
• * 1.24

  Psal. 106.24, 25.
• * 1.25

  Psal. 51.4.
• * 1.26

  Psal. 40.12.
• * 1.27

  Deut. 32.41, 42.