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. XV.

SECT. 1. Of preparatives to Fasting.

HItherto of duties ordinary; now follow the extraordi∣nary, Fasting and Feasting: but because the Book is swollen bigger then I had purposed it, and that much of the extraordinary is contained in the ordinary du∣ties, I shall therefore deliver in few words what I have to say of these duties.

The first of these is Fasting, in which there is required something

• Antecedent.
• Concomitant.
• Subsequent.

1. The Antecedent, or preparation thereto, consists in these particulars:—

1. Take but a moderate supper the night before; for if a man glut himself over night, he will be more unfit for the duty of hu∣miliation the next day.

2. Immediately after supper, all servile works of our calling laid aside, begin the preparation, and continue so long as we can conveniently sit up, even longer and later then on other days: From even to even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath,* 1.1 saith God; and therefore then set the time allotted apart for that holy work, propounding to our selves the end of our intended Fast, resolving to keep it to God according to his will, adding serious petitions to God in our prayers in that behalf.

3. When we awake that night, let not our thoughts be upon worldly business, much less upon any wicked thing, but let them be holy, such as may tend to the furtherance of the holy actions to be done the next day.

4. Arise early the day of our Fast, this agrees well with a fast∣ing day;* 1.2 it is probable, that for this cause some lay on the ground, others in sackcloath, in the nights of their fasts, not onely to ex∣press, but to further their humiliation, by keeping them from sleeping overmuch or over sweetly.

5. In the morning (after some renewing of our preparation,

and prayer for Gods spiritual grace to enable us to sanctifie a Fast that day) apply we our selves to the main work of the day, of which in the next Section.

SECT. 2. Of the duties required in Fasting.

IN the action of Fasting there are duties

• inward.
• outward.

1. The inward duties are

• general.
• more special.

1. The duties that more generally concern the nature of the day, are such as these:—

1. In the true spiritual Fast, there must be fasting from sin, or the forsaking of all our sins; for whiles we abstain from lawful things, we are admonished much more to abstain from all things that are utterly unlawful at all times: It is the Lords complaint, Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and smite with the fist of wickedness, ye shall not fast as ye do this day. It is plain,* 1.3 the Lord will endure no Fast of those that go on still in their wickedness.

2. The word and prayer must be added:* 1.4 I fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven, said Nehemiah:—And they stood up in their place, and read in the Book of the Law of the Lord their God, one fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they con∣fessed and worshipped the Lord their God: But whereas prayer is a daily and ordinary exercise of the Saints, it is manifest, that by Prayer coupled with Fasting, is understood a special and peer∣less kinde of Prayer, wherein two things are required: 1. Fer∣vency of desire; now we must not onely pray,* 1.5 but cry unto the Lord; yea, as the Ninevites speak, We are to cry mightily unto him: For the use of our outward abstinence, is but the wing of prayer, wherewith it might more easily fly up to heaven. 2. In such a prayer there should be an assurance of faith: The Lord hath made a gracious promise in many places to this Ordinance, 2 Chron. 7.14. Isa. 58.8, 13. Joel 2.18, 19. and let all the Fasts of the Church of Christ, both in the Old and New Testament, be looked at, as Judges 20.23. Ezra 9.6. Esth. 4.16. Acts 13.2, 3. and it will appear, that the end of their fasts (kept in any

measure of truth and sincerity) was a feast, and the issue of their mourning, great rejoycing; all which may serve wonderfully to strengthen our faith in this holy performance.

* 1.63. Works of mercy must be added, Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to deal the bread unto the hungry, to bring the poor that are cast out, into thine house, and when thou seest the naked, to cover them? In all our fasts this must be observed, that the poor may have the gain of our fast∣ing; If their loyns and bowels bless us, the Lord also will bless us abundantly.

4. We must ever in these days of humiliation, renew our Co∣venant with the Lord; and not onely unfeinedly purpose, but faithfully promise amendment of life; this making, renewing and keeping our Covenant, is the life and sum, and the one most necessary thing in this excellent and extraordinary exercise of fasting and prayer.

2. The particular duties, wherein we must seriously exercise our souls on such a day, are these:—

1. In a right survey and full comprehension of all our vileness, iniquities, transgressions and sins.

2. In a right apprehension of Gods dreadful wrath and flaming vengeance against sin.

3. In a feeling sence of our own unspeakable, unconceiveable misery by reason thereof.

4. In a vile and base conceit and esteem of our selves, abhor∣ring our selves in dust and ashes.

5. In an inward sorrow, renting of the heart, bleeding of the soul, accompanied with an outward bewailing, with a plen∣tiful and heart-piercing confession of all our sins before Gods gracious throne.

6. In a resolute hatred, dislike and aversion in the will; in an impregnable resolution and strong reasoning of the minde; in a constant endeavor and watchful opposition against sin.

7. In an hearty grieving, that we cannot perform all these more heartily, sincerely and soundly.

2. The outward duties consist especially in outward absti∣nence: As—

1. From full sleep, whence that exhortation in some sence, Watch unto prayer, Col. 4.2. 1 Pet. 4.7.

2. From costly apparel, from ornaments, and better attire, Exod. 33.4, 5, 6. Jonah 3.6.

3. From matrimonial Benevolence, from that society which God hath sanctified by his word to married persons, 1 Cor. 7.5. Joel 2.16.

4. From bodily labors and worldly business, Lev. 16.29, 31.— 23.32. Joel 1.14.—2.15.

5. From food wholly; and yet this total abstinence from meat and drink is not so strictly required, but that they whose health cannot bear it, may in case of true necessity, take some little refreshing, lest otherwise they hazard or hurt their health, and unfit themselves for the spiritual exercise and duty; indeed we have no example of this case propounded in Scripture, yet we have a sufficient ground for it, Hosea 6.6. Mat. 12.7.

6. From all carnal delights and pleasures of this life, Joel 2.16. David and Daniel would. not anoint themselves at such a time, 1 Sam. 12.20. Dan. 10.3. And all these outward duties are to be observed, 1. Partly as helps to our humiliation, in renouncing the hindrances thereof. 2. Partly as signs of our humiliation, whereby we acknowledge our selves unworthy of these delights. 3. Partly as evidences of our repentance, in that by way of god∣ly revenge, we deprive our senses (which have all sinned) of their several delights.

SECT. 3. Of the Duties after Fasting.

VVHen all is done and performed, observe these parti∣culars:—

1. Take heed of inward pride, and resting in the performance: spiritual pride is that worm that wil breed in the best fruits of the Spirit, that poison which the Divel (that hellish spider) will suck out of the best flowers in Gods Garden; and if he can but pre∣vail over us to be self conceited with our inlargements, or to trust to that service we have done, he hath what he looks for, and deprives us of all the comfort of our humiliation: Labor therefore as much as we can, to humble our selves with a through view of our failings in the best of our performances; and for our inlargements, consider we the fountain of them, which is not any 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

power, goodness, fatherly providence and bounty towards us, Psal. 16.5, 6. Mark 7.37. Rom. 8.28. and this acknowledge∣ment, if it be effectual, will work affection in the heart, a sense of Gods goodness and bounty towards us, causing us to love God, and to be obsequious towards God in all the duties of Thankfulness.

2. Chearfulness and alacrity of Spirit; as the Lord loves a chearful given, so a chearful Thanksgiver, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thanks, comes of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to rejoyce 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with joy, Phil. 1.4. James 5.13. The Holy Ghost in many places hath joyned them together:* 1.7 I will be glad and rejoyce in thee, I will sing praise unto thy name, O thou most high:—Rejoyce in the Lord, O ye Righ∣teous, for praise is comely for the upright:—It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,* 1.8 and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high;—For thou Lord hast made me glad through thy work, I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

2. The outwatd duty, is to express our inward Thankfulness and Chearfulness: Our Thankfulness, by celebrating and praising the name of God, by extolling his goodness, by recounting his mercies, and by exciting others to praise the Lord: Our Chear∣fulness, by making a joyful noise and singing unto God: Sing aloud unto God our strength,* 1.9 make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob:—Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye Lands, serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing: To this purpose we may sing the Psalms in the end of this Book, or some such other.

SECT. 3. Of the Duties after Thanksgiving.

THe Duty after, consists in these particulars:—

1. In referring the benefits and gifts received, to the glo∣ry of God the giver, in the good of his Church.

* 1.102. In seeking to glorifie God, who hath been so gracious un∣to us, by bringing forth the fruits of a godly life: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.

3. In honoring the Lord with our substance, and acknow∣ledging him to be the chief Lord of all we possess:* 1.11 Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruit of all thy increase.

SECT. 4. Of Psalms suitable to this duty, translated by Mr. W. B.

Psalm 100.

to the tune, Have mercy, &c.

ALl men of mortal birth, that dwell in all the earth, 2. O make a noise to God with joys,Line 2 and serve the Lord with mirth. O come before his throne with singing, every one; 3. For certainly the Lord most high,Line 3 even he is God alone.

He made us, and not we; not we our selves, but he. His folk, and flock, and pasture stock he made us for to be: 4. With praise come to his gate,Line 4 and to his Courts relate His land and fame, and bless his name: his honor celebrate.

5. For God is good for ever,Line 5 his mercy faileth never. His truth doth last all ages past, and constant doth persever.

Psalm 108. 1 part.

O God I fix my heart, my glory bears a part, And as my tongue, so shall my song praise thee with musicks art. 2. Wake Harp and Psaltery,Line 2 right early wake will I: 3. Thy praises, Lord, will I record,Line 3 the people standing by. Ile praise thee with my song, the nations all among: 4. To heavens high, to clouds of sky,Line 4 his truth and mercies throng. 5. Exalted be thy nameLine 5 above the heavens frame, Let earth below the trumpet blow of thy renowned fame.

Psalm 150.

PRaise, praise the Lord most high, within his sanctuary, In topmost tower of his great power, with praise him magnifie. 2. Praise him for acts renown'd,Line 2 with excellency crown'd; According to his greatness, do praise him with trumpet sound.

3. O praise him chearfully,Line 3 with Harp and Psaltery: 4. And let the dance his praise advance,Line 4 and Timbrels melody. Praise him with joynt consents of stringed instruments. 5. The Organs bring, loud Cymbals ring,Line 5 each one his praise presents.

6. High sounding Cymbals ring,Line 6 let every breathing thing The praise record of this great Lord, and Halleluiah sing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lev. 23.32.
• * 1.2

  2 Sam. 12.16. Ioel 1.13.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 58.4.
• * 1.4

  N••h. 1.4. N••h. 9.3.
• * 1.5

  Ioel 1.14. Ionah 3.8.
• * 1.6

  Isa 58.6, 7.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 9.2. Psal. 33.1.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 92.1, 4.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 82.1. Psal. 100.1, 2.
• * 1.10

  Iohn 15.8.
• * 1.11

  Prov. 3.9.