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.

1648.

January 24. I was troubled in minde to hear, and consider of the many oppositions I found in my Ministery; at night I read a feeling passage in Rogers on Judges 13. thus: — I have often thought it Gods mercy, to keep the knowledge of such dis∣couragements from them that are to enter into the Ministery, lest they should be deterred wholly from it, till by experience they be armed against it.

March 17. I had news of a Justice of Peace who took of∣fence at some passages in my Sermon before the Judges; and after a Messenger came to me from the Judges themselves, to give me an account of the Assizes, and especially of the Tryal of the Jesuit S. concerning whom was the exception taken.

May 3. We had sudden news of some Cavaliers driven out of Scotland, and drawing towards us: At morning, in order of our Family-duty, we read Psal. 124. and at night 1 Pet. 5.7. both which places refreshed and cheared my soul.

May 5. We had blessed news from London, of an happy accord betwixt the Parliament, City and Army; a strange al∣teration on a sudden: Thus God, when he pleaseth, wheels things about, and is that Spirit in the wheels.

May 7. I administred the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; wherein I found much sweetness, and blessed impressions of the Spirit of Christ, and Spiritual inlargements above my self, and a return of Prayers, in that the Lord hedged his Sacrament, that some such came not in, whom I desired to keep out. Halleluiah. Blessed be God.

May 16. I came to Weddicre, to renew my engagements and loves with my Lord and my God this Spring also: My ground is

that of Cant. 2.11, 12. Come my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, &c. there will I give thee my loves. The bridegroom of our souls (said Bernard) is bashful, and more frequently visits his bride in the solitary places.

May 17. I went into the solitary Woods, to practise the se∣cret Duties of a Christian: No sooner stepped in, but the green Trees, and Herbs, and the sweet singing of Birds, stirred up my soul to praise God. After, I begun my work, and continued it during that moneth: At several times I ran through the Duties of Watchfulness, Self-Examination, Experiences, Meditation, the Life of Faith; and many a time I felt many sweet stirrings of Christs Spirit: The Lord Jesus appeared to my soul, gave me the kisses of his mouth, especially in my Prayers to, and praises of his Majesty. Surely thou art my Lord, and I will praise thee: Thou art my God, and I will exalt thee. Halleluiah. Iune 19. I returned home again.

Iune 20. I observed this day an experimental truth, That it is the nature of Mortification to press forwards to have more vertue from Christ: So a Christian should 1. Prevail against the outward act of lust: 2. Against the rising and rowling of it in his fancy: 3. He should then come to hate it, and the thought of it. O Lord write this Law in my heart.

Iuly 3. I observed with some Christians a private Fast, for the removal of Gods hand in immoderate Showers, Sword, Pesti∣lence, &c. and the next day we observed a publike Fast to the same purpose. O when will the Lord return answers!

Iuly 12. We had news that the Scots had invaded this King∣dom.

August 1. In the morning, a little before day, I dreamed fearfully of Satans being busie with me about my bed, and in terror I awaked; the night was rough: Hereupon I meditated on Gods Judgements now abroad on the earth. After in my Family-duty was read Psal. 103. and from ver. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. whence I drew some Spiritual comfort.

Aug. 5. I read the Story of Mistris Sarah Wight; I found many a sweet passage in it, that exceedingly affected me, and melted my heart. Now the Lord Christ be magnified and ex∣alted, whom I desire to be my All in All.

Aug. 6. I read a Story of the Indians receiving the Gospel

in New-England, written by Mr. T. Shepherd, wherein was ex∣pressed many gracious impressions of God upon them, as the precious first-fruits of America to Jesus Christ, it much affected my heart to read it. All glory to God.

Aug. 9. Upon further advance, and near approach of D. Hamilton and the Scots, I was forced to remove; and pre∣sently after I heard the enemy was come into Preston.

Aug. 16. A Fast was upon the occasion observed in Man∣chester. In my preparation unto it (reading in the Bible) I light upon Isa. 49.17.—51.12, 13. After the Duty begun, the Lord kept my heart up as in a flame: The day was sweetly observed, but the Conclusion of it (when Mr. Angier prayed) was ex∣ceeding sweet; his Prayer was so working, that I believe it melted all hearts: and for my own, it pleased the Lord so to soften it, and break it, that (so far as I can remember) it was never in such a melting frame in any publike Ordinance be∣fore.

Aug. 22. I returned to Preston, and saw the wonderful works of God, and heard of many miracles of Mercies; — as 1. That the Infantry of the Scots was ruined, 150 Colours taken from them, 36 Barrels of Powder, 100 Barrels of Match, 6000 weight of Bullet, 5000 Muskets, 2000 Pikes, the Enemy being above 30000, and the Parliament forces not above 9000.— 2. That no place (whither the Enemy came) escaped Plunder∣ing, except Preston, which was prevented by the Armies coming in the very nick of time.— 3. That provision of meat was brought into the Town-Hall for the Scots, to the value of a thousand pounds at least, but the Armies seasonable march saved that provision for themselves.—4. That some of the Scots in the pangs of death cryed out, They had broken the Covenant, notwithstanding that the word COVENANT was inter∣woven in their Colours. Upon meditation of the whole busi∣ness, I believed that the Lord heard my Prayers: 1. In that my heart sympathized: 2. In that my heart was filled with joy in the accomplishment: 3. In that the Mercy concerned me, in respect of my person, Family, Congregation, as much as any other.

Aug. 30. and 31. we observed as days of publike Thanks∣giving to God.

Septemb. 25. R.H. dyed: In his life he was incontinent, and run away with a Journeymans wife that wrought with him; he was a frequenter of Alehouses, and kept in his Shop a Jugge, which he called Jack of Newberry, of large size, which he would have sent to the Alehouse sometimes about, and some∣times above twenty times in one day: He was a great Propha∣ner of the Lords day, and ordinarily would have wrought in the way of his Calling on it: Once being demanded to pay Layes, he answered, How could they honestly demand moneys of him, that would not suffer him to work; there were but seven days in the week, and one day he must watch, and another day he must Fast, and a third day he must rest from his work, because it was the Lords day. But this wicked life had a miserable end: for some weeks together he consumed away; at which time of his weakness, Mr. T.A. advised him to repent, to whom he answer∣ed in loud language, Let me alone, let me alone: Another ad∣vised him to call upon God; to whom he answered, I care not for God, and God cares not for me: A Gentlewoman advised him to send for the Minister to pray for him; to whom he an∣swered, Yes, when I have need: and the party then going from him, he bade, The Devil go with her. Upon remembrance of that Text (which he often repeated) No unclean person hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ; he concluded, That then he should never see Gods face in his Kingdom. One whole night (which was terrible to the hearers) he spent in cursing himself and others, bidding often, The Devil take thee, and the Devil fetch me: Sometimes he was heard to say to the by-standers, See, do you not see that black grim fellow that stands there? there will be whisking even now: The very day before he dyed, he drank eighteen Cans of Ale, and (without any visible repen∣tance) the day after, he dyed, without any man or woman in presence, to the amazement of them who first found him dead. O Preston take warning!

Octob. 23. I had this Relation, That one Sir G.C. of an an∣cient Family, sprung from many Knights, was much addicted to the sin of Uncleanness: An ancient Hall he had, which for the statelyness he Idolized; he left behinde him one Son, and two Daughters: His on Sir H. C. followed his Fathers steps, and had onely two Sons lawfully begotten, whereof his yonger dyed

first, together with his Lady; and the other Son having a Maid to wait upon him, she brought the Pestilence into the family, of which his Son and Heir dyed also: He himself (now being in a Consum∣ption) said, That he knew his house was come to its period. About this time his fair house was made a Garison, by which means all his Barns and buildings about it were pulled down; but the storm being over, he began to repair the house, and two Workmen being lately come out of Ireland, having the bloody Flux, brought that disease into the Family; hereupon he removed: And when the house was clear, he returned, and began again to repair the Building; but then the Pestilence by some means or other was brought into the Family, and so he was forced to re∣move again: The house once again cleansed, he (being now far spent in his Consumption) desired two days before his death to be carried to it, saying, He must be the last of that house, and he would dye where his Father dyed before him; accordingly his Ser∣vants conveyed him thither in a Chair. His great affliction was the want of an Heir, and especially that he knew none of his own Name in England (except Bastards) to whom he might convey his Estate: But after much enquiry, he was resolved that there was a Gentleman near his Name (it being but a syllable longer) who lived near the City of Y. This pleased him so well, that he made him (though a stranger) the Heir of all his Lands: In the mean while one of his Sisters dyed, and he himself (be∣ing conveyed as aforesaid) dyed in the same place he so much desired. There was none now alive of that Family, except one Sister, and she not long after his death, dyed also; at whose very time of death (as it was observed by strict calculation) a fire (not known certainly how) seized on that stately Hall, which was so vehement, that none could quench it, till at least two parts of it were burnt to the very ground. Here's a Looking-glass for all unclean persons, and vain-glorious world∣lings.

November 6. At night in my sleep I was exceedingly trou∣bled with fearful dreams of the Kings danger in reference to his person, and of great Commotions in the Kingdom, and Uproars every where; and that I was got into the throng, and could not avoid: At my waking I was exceedingly trou∣bled.

Novemb. 8. Some Christians with me joyned in a day of Hu∣miliation, and sought God for a blessing on our Conferences the beginning of this Winter season.

Novemb 14. A publike Fast was observed in Preston, for a blessing on the Provincial Meeting. Mr. A. and Mr. H. undertook the Burthen, and performed it very ably and sweetly.

Decemb. 6. The Army (as I heard) turned the City Guard back, as they were going to the Parliament House, and under∣took the Guard themselves; after, forty one Members were seized on, and carried away, and the next day they turned all others back, whom they judged not expedient to sit in the House.

Decemb. 25. was a day of jollity to all about us; but some Christians considering the evil days we lived in, joyned with me in humbling our selves, and we found by sweet experience, that It is better to be in the house of mourning, then in the house of mirth.

Notes

• Cant. 2.11, 12