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.

§. 3. The third part of Prayer, is Thanksgiving for blessings

• Spiritual.
• Temporal.

1. VVE bless God for our election, with all the golden chain of Graces hanging on it.

We give thanks to God,* 1.1 and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby we are beloved for the Fathers sake, and for that golden chain of Graces hanging thereon, having predesti∣nated us to the adoption of Children, by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will;* 1.2 — Having accepted us in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood;— Having given us the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace;* 1.3 — Having quickned us who were dead in trespasses and sins: — Walking in times past according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the power

of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobe∣dience:* 1.4— But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickned us together with Christ:* 1.5—And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,* 1.6—That in ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace unto us:—See Col. 1.12, 21. Rom. 11.7, 28. 1 Thes. 1.4.* 1.7 Rom. 8.15, 23. Gal. 4.5. Ephes. 1.5. Psal. 111.9.— 130.7. Rom. 3.24. Heb. 9.12, 15. Col. 1.14. Rom. 4.7. Eph. 4.32. 1 John 2.12, &c.

2. We bless God for his Word, Sacraments, Sabbaths, labors of the learned, &c.

* 1.8Thou hast shewed thy word unto Jacob, thy statutes and thy judgements unto Israel: Thou hast not dealt so with all nations, and as for thy judgements, they have not known them:—Thou hast been pleased by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe, by preaching at the first or second rebound, by lively voyce, or printed Sermons:—See Acts 2.41. Tit. 1.3. 1 Pet. 1.25. Jer. 15.16. Ezek. 20.46.—21.2. 2 Cor. 5.19. Phil. 2.16. Col. 1.5. 2 Pet. 1.19. &c.

3. We bless God for any power over sin, Satan, or our own corruptions.

* 1.9We acknowledge, Lord, to thy glory, that all our strength is in thee, and in the power of thy might: See Hosea 10.8. — 12.8. Rom. 5.20. and 6.6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Acts 26.18. Rom. 16.20, &c.

4. We bless God for our creation, preservation, life, health, peace, deliverance, victories.

* 1.10We bless thee for our creation after thine own image;—for our preservation, by thy loving kindeness and truth;—for our life once and again redeemed from destruction;—for our health once again restored;—for our liberty, prosperity, peace in our walls and pallaces;—for our food and raiment convenient for us;—for deliverance from judgements national and personal, for a little moment didst thou forsake us, but with great mercies hast thou gathered us:* 1.11—For all the victories over thine and thy Churches enemies, well may we sing, The Lord is our strength and our song, and he is become our salvation; he is our God, and we will prepare him an habitation, our fathers God, and we will

exalt him:—Awake, awake, O my soul, awake, awake,* 1.12 utter a song:—Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people; sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, and talk of all his wondrous works; glory in his name, let the heart of them rejoyce that seek the Lord:—Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoyce, and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mer∣cy endureth for ever:—Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever, and let all the people say Amen, praised be God: See Psal. 22.9, 10.—71.14, 15, &c. Isa. 12.1, 2.—42.10, 11, 12.—44.26, 27, &c. Thus much of Prayer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  C••l. 1.3. Rom. 11.••8.
• * 1.2

  Eph 1.5. and 1.6, 7.
• * 1.3

  Ephes. 2.1.
• * 1.4

  2.
• * 1.5

  4,
• * 1.6

  5, 6,
• * 1.7

  7.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 147.19, 20. 1. Cor. 1.21.
• * 1.9

  Eph. 6.10.
• * 1.10

  Gen. 1.27. Psal. 40.11. and 103.4. Ier. 30.17. Psal. 122.7. Prov. 30.8. Isa. 54.7. Exod. 15.2.
• * 1.11

  Iudges 5.12.
• * 1.12

  1 Chro. 16.8, 9.10, 31, 34, 36.