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. I.

SECT. 1. The Proeme, or Entrance into the Book.

YOu have heard in my first things the Doctrine, Pre∣cepts, and the Patern of a man in his second, or New birth: Now remains what follows all his life; and therein is considerable

• 1. His Priviledges.
• 2. His Duties.

1. His Priviledges, as he is now a Believer in Christ, are

• Justification.
• Reconciliation.
• Adoption.
• Sanctification.
• Glorification.

Of these some of our Worthies have written largely; and amongst the rest, that watchful Soul-rowzing, Soul-searching Shepherd: I shall not therefore dwell on them, but sum what he hath delivered, in these following Sections.

SECT. 2. Of the first Priviledge, viz. Justification.

THe first Priviledge which immediately follows our Ʋnion with Christ, is Justification; which consists in these parti∣culars, Imputation of Christs Righteousness, and Remission of sin.

To prevent erroneous misconceits, which spring from the confounding of things that differ, understand, That a man may be said to be justified either intentionally, or virtually, or actually;

either in God, or in Christ, or in himself.

1. Intentionally in God (i.) in Gods Purpose and Decree: This is from all eternity, but this Decree and Intention doth not put any thing into a state of actual being, but in the fulness of time.

2. Virtually in Christ: And this is from the day of Christs Passion, and in the vertue of his Satisfaction; yet this intendeth no more, but that Satisfaction is made, and Remission purchased by the Blood of Christ.

3. Actually in himself: When a man hath the possession of Justification, immediately after his Ʋnion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now this Justification considered as it is a state of fa∣vor, a Covenant state with God, which a man at his first be∣lieving is put into, is not reiterated, no more then a wife, after that first entrance into the relation, is frequently made a wife; yet the particular acts of Pardon, and Imputation of Christs Righteousness, are continually by God communicated unto the Believer. In this respect this actual Justification (or particular acts of pardon) hath its degrees of progression: The beginning thereof is laid in our first Union and Incorporation into Christ; the consummation of it is not till the Judge at the latter day hath solemnly pronounced the Sentence of final Absolution, and so set us in full possession of entire Remission: Between both these, there is a progressive work of Justification, by the constant actings of the Spirit, applying the blood of Christ by the hand of Faith, to the quiet and comfort of the soul: The first we may term initial Justification, the second progressive, the last perfective; the second is the fruit of the first, and the preludial assurance of the last: The first is wrought and sealed in the first Sacrament, the second is wrought and sealed in the second Sacrament; and both these branches of Sacramental Justification, are to us the preassurance of that complemental and perfective Justification, the sentence whereof putteth an end to all fears, changing our Faith and Hope into fruition and full possession.

It hath been commonly said by some of our best Divines, That Justification is transacted in our first Union and Incorpo∣ration into Christ; at which time it is conceived, That the pardon of all sin is sealed to the Believer at once. But I fear the mis∣understanding

of this point (not untrue in it self, if not mistaken and misapprehended) hath laid the ground upon which some build that unhappy Structure which turneth the grace of God into wantonness: who knoweth not that Justification in the proper acceptation of thew ord, according to the Scripture phrase, is the act of a Judge pronouncing a judicial sentence, wherein he absolveth the person of the sinner from all sin and punishment due to him for sin, and that for the alone Righteousness of the surety Christ freely imputed, and by Faith received of him. And according to this, I suppose we shall not erre from the truth, if we say, 1. That the main work of Justification, is even as yet to us future, viz. at the great and last day of Judgement, when we shall receive a final Quietus est, and discharge, and when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes: And yet 2. That in our first Union with Christ there is a work of Justification, viz. actual Imputation of Christs Righteousness, and actual Remission of what sin for the present the soul stands guilty of, at that time when it is first united to Christ. I dare not say that Justification, quatenus it compre∣hends Imputation, and Remission of sin, is one individual act; or that all sins, past, present, and to come, are remitted to the Be∣liever at once; but this I say, That in our first Union, all our sins past and present, are actually pardoned; and this favor recei∣ved, is a pledge of assurance, That in future also, by applying our selves to Christ, we may and shall receive the forgiveness of our daily sins, and that at the last day we shall at once be absolved from all Accusations and Charges laid in against us; and that Justification (besides those particular acts of pardon, and Imputation of Christs Righteousness) doth connote a state that the subject at his first believing is put into, viz. A state of grace, and favor, and reconciliation with God for the imputed Righ∣teousness of Christ, without Apostacy from it, either total or final.

O glorious Priviledge! especially in these respects:

1. By this a sinner is righteous; a wonder that may astonish Angels, for a man accursed and sinful in himself, to be at that very instant blessed and righteous in another: Our own Duties, Works, and Reformation may make us at the best but less sinful, but this Righteousness makes a sinner sinless.

2. By this a sinner is righteous before the Judgement Seat of

God: It is God that justifies, who shall condemn? not Christ, he is our Advocate; not Sin, for Christ was made sin for us; not the Law, for Christ hath fulfilled the Law for us; not Satan, for God is his Judge, and if he have acquitted us, what can the Jaylor do?

3. By this we have perfect Righteousness: we are as per∣fectly righteous, as Christ the Righteous. Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. Indeed our own righteousness, though it be the fruit of the Spirit of grace, is a blotted, stained righteous∣ness, very imperfect, and very little; but by this, the Faith of David, Peter, Paul, was not more precious then ours is, because we have the same righteousness as they had: what sincere soul but esteems of perfect holiness, more then of heaven it self? O consider, we have it (in this sence I now speak of) in the Lord Jesus.

4. By this we have continual righteousness: Do we com∣plain because we feel new sin, or old sins confessed, lamented, subdued, returning upon us again, and the springs in the bottom filling our souls again, that we are weary of our selves? O but remember, this is not a Cistern, but a Fountain opened for us to wash in; as sin abounds, so grace in this gift of righteousness abounds much more: The Lord hath changes of garments for us, by means whereof there shall never enter into the Lords heart one hard thought towards us, of casting us off, or of taking re∣venge upon any new occasion, or fall unto sin, so as for final de∣struction.

5. By this we have eternal righteousness, that never can be lost: If the Lord should make us as perfectly righteous as once Adam was, or as the Angels in heaven are, we might be in dan∣ger of losing this; but now the Lord hath put our righteousness into a safer hand, which never shall be lost: Christ hath obtained an eternal Redemption for us, he hath made an end of sin, and brought in an everlasting righteousness.

6. By this we please God more, then if we had a perfect

righteousness in our selves: Do not say, This is a poor righteous∣ness, which is out of my self in another: Suppose it were in our selves, such a righteousness at best would be nothing but mans righteousness, but this is called The Righteousness of God; Now what is Angelical righteousness, to the righteousness of God? 'tis but a Glow-worm before the Sun; the smell of Esau's gar∣ments (the Robes of this righteousness of the Son of God) are of sweeter odour then ours can be, or ever shall be.

7. By this we glorifie God exceedingly: Abraham believed, and gave glory unto God; so when we believe, we glorifie God, we advance his Mercy and Free-grace, and triumph in it.

8. By this we have Peace in our Consciences: For Christs blood is sprinkled on them, and that cools the burning torments of them: None of our duties can pacifie Conscience, but as they carry us hither to this righteousness; onely if this Rainbow appear over our heads, it is a certain sign of fair weather, and that there shall be no more deluge of Wrath to over∣whelm us.

9. By this all miseries are removed: When our sins are par∣doned, there is something like sickness, shame, and death, but they are not; The inhabitants of Zion shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity; 'tis no sickness in a maner, nor sorrow, nor affliction, if the venom, sting, and curse be taken away by pardon of sin, this is the bles∣sedness of all Believers. Blessed is he whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sin is covered: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord im∣puteth not iniquity. Here's a blessing pronounced, what should we do but believe it, and rejoyce in it?

SECT. 3. Of the second Priviledge, viz. Reconciliation.

THe second Priviledge is Reconciliation: This I called the state or condition which a Believer in his Justification is put into; and here I consider it as a Priviledge, which in order of nature follows pardon of sin, as pardon of sin in order of na∣ture follows Imputation of Christs righteousness: Being justi∣fied by faith, we have peace with God; (i.) Christs righteousness

being imputed, and sins pardoned, we have peace with God; not onely peace from God in our Consciences, but peace with God in our reconcilement to him, and in his favor towards us; in our Imputation and Pardon the Lord accounts us just, in our Reconciliation the Lord accounts us friends: Indeed our meri∣torious Reconciliation is by Christs death; as the Kings Son, who procures his Fathers favor towards a Malefactor, who yet lies in cold Irons, and knows it not; and this is before actual pardon, or actual being: But actual and efficacious Reconcilia∣tion, whereby we come to the fruition and possession of it, is (to my weak conception) after pardon of sin. Now this Re∣conciliation consists in two things: 1. In our peace with God, whereby the Lord lays by all acts of hostility against us. 2. In the love and favor of God: he now loves us not onely with a love of good will, as in our Election, but with a love of com∣placency and delight. O consider what a blessed state is this!

1. That God should be pacified with us after anger, after provocation by sin, after such wrath, which like fire hath con∣sumed thousand thousands, and burnt down to the bottom of Hell, and is now, and ever shall be burning upon them in Hell.

2. That God should be pacified wholly and throughly, that there should be no consuming fury left for us to feel: Fury is not in me, saith God; indeed bryars and thorns (i.) obstinate sinners, that prick and cut him to the very heart by their impe∣nitency, he will burn them together: God out of Christ is a consuming fire, but in Christ he is Love; and though there may be fatherly frowns, chastisements, reproofs, and rods, though he may for a time hide his face, shut out our Prayers, defer to fulfil Promises, yet all these are out of love to us in some sort, and we shall see it, and feel it so in the latter end.

3. That the Lord should be pacified eternally, never to cast us off again for any sins or miseries that we fall into: This is wonderful. Those whom men love, if their love be abused, or if their friends be in affliction, they many times forsake, but the Lords love and favor is everlasting: The mountains may de∣part, and the hills be removed, but my kindeness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Co••enant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee: Nay, that which is some∣thing

more, the abounding of our sin, is now the occasion of the abounding of his grace; our very wants and miseries, are the very objects and occasions of his bowels and tender mercies: O what a Priviledge is this! Did the Lord ever shew mercy to the Angels that sinned? Did not one sin cast them out of favor utterly? and yet that so many thousand thousand of sins should gush out of my heart, and thy heart that readest, against the mercy, love and kindeness of our good God, and for all this he not be incensed; that the Lord who poured out all his anger upon his own Son for us, cannot now pour out, nay hath not one drop left (though he would) to pour out upon us for any one of our sins! Stand amazed ye Angels, and all the Host of Heaven at this!

4. That the Lord should be thus pacified with enemies: A man may be easily pacified with one that offends him but a little, but with an enemy that strikes at his life (as by every sin we do at the living God) what can we say to this?

5. That he should be pacified by such a wonderful way as the blood of Jesus Christ: This is such a love, as one would think the infinite wisdom of a blessed God could have devised no greater: It is enough to burst the heart with astonishment and amazement, to think that the party offended (who therefore had no cause to seek peace with us again) should finde out such a way of peace as this: Wo to the world that despise this peace.

6. That being thus pacified, we may come into Gods presence with boldness at any time, and ask what we will; I wonder what he can deny us, if he love us: This is the confidence that we have in him, That if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

7. That all Creatures should be at peace with us: Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee: As when the Captain of the Army is pacified, none of the Soldiers must hurt or strike that man; so no Creature must hurt us, nay all the Creatures that seem our enemies, shall be forced to do us good: O Death, where is now thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? All our wants will make us pray the more, our sorrows humble us the more, our temptations make us exercise our graces, our Spiritual desertions make us long for heaven, and to be with Christ; not

onely Paul, and Apollos, and the world, and life, but death it self is ours, to do us good: We may now sleep, and none shall make us afraid; we shall not be afraid of evil tidings, our hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord.

SECT. 4. Of the third Priviledge, viz. Adoption.

THe third Priviledge is Adoption, which in order of nature follows Reconciliation; whereby the Lord accounts us Sons, and gives us the Spirit and Priviledge of Sons: Behold what maner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God: The Lord accounts us just in our Justi∣fication, friends in our Reconciliation, Sons in our Adoption: Now this Adoption is either begun here in this life, or perfected in the world to come, when we shall receive all the Priviledges of Sons, not one excepted. For this latter Adoption, to wit, The Redem∣ption of our Bodies, we wait; but of the former we speak, the maner of which is thus:

1. God loves Jesus Christ with an unspeakable love, as his onely Son, and our elder Brother.

2. Hence when we are in Christ his Son, he loves us with the same love as he doth his Son.

3. Hence the Lord accounts us Sons, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. O the excellency of this Privi∣ledge! It appears in these respects:

1. That the Lord should prize us as his Sons: A man that hath Sons, esteems them more then all his goods and Servants; so the Lord esteems of the poorest, unworthiest Believer, more then of all his houshold-stuff, more then of Heaven, Earth, and all the glory of it, more then of all the Kings and great men in the world.

2. That the Lord should take care for us as for Sons: In times of want we are ready to question, What we shall eat or drink? how we shall live? O consider, are we the Sons of God? then he that feeds the Ravens, and clothes the Lillies, will provide for us; or suppose we continue in the want of temporal things,

why the Lord is therein plotting our eternal good: No chasten∣ing for the present seemeth joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby.

3. That the Lord should love us as his Sons: Sometimes we think that the Lord loves us not, because we do not feel his love, or know his love; but do not we love our Sons, because whiles they are yong, they know not their Fathers, or because their Fathers are sometimes out of sight, and have not them always in their arms? Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me: Can a woman forget her sucking childe, that she should not have compassion on the Son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee. We may think, be∣cause we have so many sins, or so many afflictions, that therefore the Lord loves us not; but judge we righteously? have our chil∣dren no love from us, because they are sick, and we keep them un∣der a spare dyet? God knows our mold, and that we are but dust: He hath freely chosen us to be his Sons, and therefore (notwith∣standing all our sins and sufferings) he loves us still: If he sees Ephraim bemoaning his stubbornness, as well as sickness, the Lord cryes out, and cannot hold, Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant childe? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly re∣member him still; therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

4. That the Lord should make us heirs and co-heirs with Christ: Sons by Nature are not always heirs, but all Sons by Adoption are: We are heirs 1. Of the visible world, 1 Cor. 3.22. 2. Of the other world, 1 Pet. 1.4. 3. Of all the Promises, Heb. 6.17. And herein Jehovah himself comes to be our Inheri∣tance and Portion for ever: O that such vessels of wrath, fire-brands of Hell by nature, should thus become the children of God by grace, and heirs of heaven!

5. That the Lord should give us the Spirit of Sons, The Spi∣rit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father, The Spirit of As∣surance, witnessing with our Spirit, that we are the children of God: It doth not onely witness to our Spirits, but with our Spirits, (i.) with our renewed Consciences, thus, All Believers are Sons, but I am a Believer, therefore I am a Son: Herein the Spirit bears witness with us in every part, premises, and conclusion; onely

it testifies more clearly, certainly, comfortably, sweetly, ravish∣ing the soul with unspeakable joy, and peace, in the conclusion: Sometimes indeed it may be suspended, and sometimes we may not hear it; or if we do, we may object against it, through the unbelief in part remaining in us: yet if we want it in the wit∣ness and comfort of it, we have it in the holiness of it: Hence it is called, The holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed unto the day of Redemption.

SECT. 5. Of the fourth Priviledge, viz. Sanctification.

THe fourth Priviledge is Sanctification, which in order of nature follows Adoption: No sooner are we Sons, but we receive the image of our heavenly Father in Sanctification; The maner of it is thus:

1. The Spirit works in us a Principle of Spiritual life: The Scripture sometimes calls it a Seed, sometimes a Spring, or Foun∣tain, sometimes The life of Christ, because it is conveyed unto us by the Spirit of Christ, by means of our inseparable union with Christ. What name soever we give it, we may not conceive it to be a new faculty added unto those which are in men by na∣ture, but an improvement of those abilities to work Spiritually, as they did naturally before Regeneration: Hence it is that a regenerate man in Scripture is said To walk after the Spirit, — To be led by the Spirit, — To walk in the Spirit.

2. From this Fountain springs all those habits of Spiritual grace, which are severally distinguished by the names of Faith, Hope, Love, &c. although to speak properly, they are but the di∣versifications of that Spiritual Principle within us, distinguished by these names.

3. From these habits of grace abiding in us, ordinarily pro∣ceeds Spiritual motions and operations according to those ha∣bits. And as it is with Natural habits, so it is with Spiritual, they are much increased and strengthned by their motions, opera∣tions (i.) by the use and exercise of them, and are as much weakned by disuse, and neglect of such an exercise. I deny not but for all this, there is within us a woful, sinful nature, cross,

and contrary unto holiness, and leading us daily into Captivity: yet here's our Priviledge, even Sanctification in part; surely the Lord hath given us another Nature, a new Nature: there is some∣thing else within us, which makes us wrestle against sin, and shall in time prevail over all sin: A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgement unto victory.

The excellency of this Priviledge appears in these particulars:

1. This is our glory, and beauty, even Glorification be∣gun: What greater glory then to be like unto God? We are changed into the same image, from glory to glory; every degree of grace is glory, and the perfection of glory in heaven, con∣sists chiefly in the perfection of grace.

2. This will give us abundance of sweet peace: For whence comes troubles, and doubts of Gods favor and love? Is it not some guile or decay here? Is it not some boldness to sin? Is it not our secret dalliance with some known sin, continued in with secret impenitency? On the other side, what was Pauls re∣joycing? Hezekiahs peace? the one cryed, that In all sincerity and simplicity he had his conversation amongst men; the other, Lord remember, I have walked before thee uprightly: not that this was the ground of their peace, for that onely is Free-grace in Christ, but the means of their peace: That is a cursed peace, that is kept by looking to Christ, and yet loving our lusts.

3. This will make us fit for Gods use: A filthy unclean vessel is good for nothing, till cleansed; a man must first purge him∣self, and then he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work.

4. By this we have a most sweet and comfortable evidence of our Justification: Nor is this a running upon the Covenant of Works; Is not Sanctification (the writing of the Law in our hearts) a priviledge of the Covenant of Grace, as well as Ju∣stification? and can the evidencing of one Priviledge by another, be a running upon the Covenant of Works? O consider, how many Evangelical Promises are made to persons invested with such and such graces! as of Poverty, Mourning, Meekness, &c. and to what end? but that every one may take, and be assured of his portion manifested particularly therein? surely none are justi∣fied, but they are sanctified; or if not sanctified, they are not justi∣fied.

SECT. 6. Of the fifth Priviledge, viz. Glorification.

THe fifth Priviledge is Glorification, which is the last in exe∣cution of Gods eternal Purpose towards all his beloved and chosen ones: And hereby we are made partakers of those endless and unutterable joys, which neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor the heart of any man conceived: But of this you have several Sermons in my Last things, enough to chear up all those precious hearts that have any title to, or interest in the Lord Jesus Christ: My meaning therefore is to pass by these Priviledges, and secondly to come to the Duties, which gracious Spirits, in all faithful and thankful obedience unto him that hath called them, are ready to fall upon.

Notes

• Shepherds Sound Be∣liever.
• Quoad rea∣tum.
• Rom. 8.32.
• 1 Ioh 3.7.
• Non formali & intrinseca justitia, sed re∣lativá, non quoad quanti∣tatem, sed veri∣tatem, fit enim finita applicatio infinita justi¦tiae. Si aliter ae{que} justi essemus ut Christus, possimus alios salvare ut Christus; at non. Justitia Christi sit nostra non quoad universalem valorem, sed particularem necessitatem, & imputatur nobis non ut causis salvationis, sed ut sub∣jectis salvandis, justitia Christi est verè meritoria, nostra autem ex mera gratia. Justitia Chri∣sti est subjectivè inhaesiva, nobis tantum communicativa quoad virtutem & efficaciam.
• Zech. 13.1.
• Z••ch. 3.4.
• Heb. 9.12. Dan. 9 24.
• 2 Cor. 5.21.
• Rom. 4.20.
• Rom. 5.1.
• Isa. 33.24.
• Psa. 32.1, 2.
• Rom. 5.1.
• Isa. 27 4.
• 1 Iohn 4.16.
• Isa. 54.10.
• Rom. 5.20.
• 1 Ioh. 5.14.
• Iob 5.23.
• 1 Cor. 15.55.
• Iob 11.19. Psa. 112.7.
• 1 Ioh. 3.1.
• Rom. 8.23.
• Ephes. 1.5.
• Mat. 6.31.
• Heb. 12.11.
• Isa. 49.14, 15.
• Ier. 31.20.
• Rom. 8.17.
• Rom. 8.15.
• Quando actus intermittitur, habitus non amittitur. Eph. 4.30.
• 1 Ioh 3.9. Ioh 4.14. 2 Cor. 4.10, 11
• Rom 8.1. Gal. 5.18. Gal 5.25.
• Mat. 12.20.
• 2 Cor. 3.18.
• 1 Cor. 1.12. Isa. 38.2, 3.
• 2 Tim. 2.21.
• Mat. 5.3, 4, 5, 6.