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.

SECT. 8. Of the essential Requisites in Duties.

BUt what are they we call Duties? or what are those essen∣tial Requisites (O my soul) in Duties? Many by Duties in∣tend nothing but that which is external and sensible, as Coming to the Church, and receiving of Sacraments, &c.

I answer, These are like clothes upon a dead man, that cannot warm him, because there is no life within: The soul of all Du∣ties is that which is internal, or essential; In which respect three ingredients are necessary, viz.

That they be

• From God.
• Through God.
• To God.

1. From God: It is of the very essence of a Duty, that it be commanded by God. Hence in one Chapter we read thirteen several times, I am the Lord; q. d. such and such Commands I injoyn you: Would you know the grounds? I am the Lord, a God of soveraign Power and Authority, and my Will it is that such Duties be done. Look to this (O my soul) in thy Duties, know the Commands, and do them, because they are command∣ed: If thou dost them, and yet knowest not that God com∣mands them, this is no true obedience; or if thou knowest they are commanded, but yet dost them not because they are com∣manded, or in Conscience to his Command, neither is this obe∣dience to God. In all Duties rightly performed, there must be a knowledge of, and an eye to the will of our God, Rom. 12.2. Eph. 5.17.

2. Through God (i.)

• Through the Spirit, who doth Spi∣ritualize them.
• Through Christ, who presents them, and makes them acceptable to God.

1. Through the Spirit of God: Now the Spirit works on our Spirits, stirs up the regenerate part to the performance of our Duties; and therefore look how much there is of the Inner man, of the regenerate part, of the holy Spirit in Duty, so far it is sanctified, so far it is accepted, and no further. God is my witness (saith Paul) whom I serve with my Spirit in the Gospel of his Son: In every service we perform, our Spirit stirred up by Gods Spirit, must needs have a hand in it, or it is but the body and carcase of a right service: The soul, will, and affection, must go together with our Duties (that I mean by our Spirit) or the vitals are wanting. Ex. gr. If a man come to confess his sins, and yet slights them inwardly in his heart; if a man pray for reconciliation with God, and yet have no longing, and sighing in his heart after it; if he earnestly ask grace, or the Spirit of Mortification, and yet his heart doth not inwardly seek it, Now he prays not in the Spirit, and therefore God will not accept it; For God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth: In Spirit (i.) not onely in the under∣standing and minde (Prayer is not a work of wit, or of memo∣ry) but also in will and affection: When all within us is opened, and explicate, and exposed to the view of the Lord; when we call in all our thoughts and affections, and recollect them toge∣ther, as the lines in the Centre, or as the Sun-beams in a Burning-glass, That makes Prayer to be hot and fervent; whereas other∣wise it is but a cold and dissipated thing, that hath no strength or efficacy in it.

[Quest.] If this spiritualness in Duties be so necessary, how is it that the Saints have so much of earth and flesh ordinarily in their Duties?

[Ans.] I answer, In every regenerate man there is both Flesh and Spirit; It may be the Flesh lies uppermost, and the Spirit lies in the bottom, so that a man, though a Saint, may hear carnally, receive carnally, pray carnally, that is, when the flesh hath gotten the upper hand, as in some fits it may, when the minde is filled with worldly sorrow, worldly rejoycing, and worldly desires; such Duties the Lord regards not, be the man never so holy: But if the regenerate part be acted and stirred up by Gods Spirit, and the Flesh that always hinders, be removed by the same Spirit, then are the Saints able to do their Duties to God in Christ Jesus Spiritually.

2. Through Christ: For Christ perfects, perfumes, and pre∣sents our Duties to his heavenly Father; as Duties come from us, they savor of flesh, but the Angel of the Covenant mingleth much Incense with them, and so he offers them upon the golden Altar, which is before the Throne. Here is sweet comfort (O my soul) What though thy Duties are weak, and cold, and con∣fused, full of distempers, and damps? yet through Christ they are fortified, and enlivened, with his pacifying perfection, and inter∣cessory Spirit: Through Christ they are perfumed with the pre∣cious odours of his fresh-bleeding Merits, and blessed Mediation, and so they are made acceptable to God, that he may receive them, that he may not refuse and reject them.

Observe here a double Intercessor:

• One is the Spirit, that helps our in∣firmities.
• The other is Christ, that makes them acceptable to God.

3. To God: (i.) to set forth his Glory, and Free-grace; for as his Name is blasphemed when we walk in wickedness, so it is glorified in doing our Duties: This is the end of all our Duties, indeed of all our doings; Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God: One Duty sancti∣fying Christ and Free-grace in the heart, is more then a thousand. Yong Christians it may be do more works, but not as works of grace; the more Evangelical our works are, and the more to God (for that is the end of the Gospel, to honor Christ and Free-grace) the better they are: We are of the Circumcision, who rejoyce in the Lord Jesus, worship God in the Spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Notes

• Lev. 19.
• Rom. 12.2. Eph. 5.17.
• Rom. 1.9.
• Iohn 4.24.
• Rev. 8.3.
• 1 Cor. 10.31.
• Phil. 3.3.