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.
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Title
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.
Author
Ambrose, Isaac, 1604-1664.
Publication
London :: Printed by John Field for Nathanaell Webb and William Grantham, at the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard,
1650. [i.e. 1649]
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Subject terms
Christian life -- Early works to 1800.
Devotional exercises -- Early works to 1800.
Asceticism -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A75287.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 20, 2024.
Pages
SECT. 2. Of the objects of Self-Examination.
THe object of our Examination, is either
...Evil works, or Sin.
...Good works, or Duties.
1. We must examine our sin in
...General.
...Special.
1. In General, whether of Omission or Commission: For as in the last Judgement, our Lord will not onely give Sentence against Murthers, and Oppressions, but against Uncharitable∣ness, and Unmercifulness, in not feeding the hungry, in not lodging the stranger, in not clothing the naked, in not visiting the sick: So when we judge our selves, we must censure not onely our Robbing the poor, but our not Relieving the poor; not onely our Commissions of evil, but our Omissions of good.
2. In Special, whether of our Calling or Nature: These sins may breed special danger, because we are ready to drop into them of our own dispositions; and therefore in the daily care of our souls, we had need to examine our selves concerning these sins.
2. As we must examine our evil works, so our good works.
1. Because we are many times deceived with shews, thinking that good which is evil: Thus Paul thought he shewed much zeal, when he persecuted the Churches of Christ; and Micah
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thought he highly merited Gods favor, when he kept a Priest for Idolatrous service.
2. Because in the very works which are truly good, we do many times intermingle corruptions of our own; sometimes evil ends, and sometimes evil thoughts, and sometimes we per∣form them in an evil maner; but always in our best devotions there are many imperfections and failings. Indeed this Exami∣nation is a Duty necessary to all Duties: If we believe, we must do it with the heart, Rom. 10.10. If we sing Psalms, we must do it with the Spirit, 1 Cor. 14.15. If we come to the Lords Supper, first Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat, 1 Cor. 11.28. If we pray, we must therein examine: And hence (as some ob∣serve) the same Hebrew word signifies to pray, and to judge a mans self.
But because Duties are of several sorts,
inward
outward
of
...Heart.
...Tongue.
...Action.
In examining these three, we shall inclusively examine all sorts of Duties that are in reference to them.