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.

§. 9. Deceits of the heart beguiling.

Experiences.

1641.

FEb. 19. This day one fell upon a re∣ligious work, but too strongly intended himself and his own ends therein. O de∣ceitful heart!

1643.

Jan. 2. A poor soul was this day strongly moved, & ready to drop into evil, which would have been scandal; but by a subtile kinde of dealing, he declined the tempta∣tion, so that it brake not then forth into outward act: yet in this carriage was more policy then piety, O it was devoid of that plain si••plicity which the Gospel requireth.

April 17. A poor soul committed sin, and con∣cealed it; but the Lords eye was upon him, which after he was sensible of.

1644.

July 2. One made a shew of that grace and godliness, which he may well say he had not in that measure as he made shew of.

1645.

March 8. One con∣cealed and smother∣ed the grace & con∣science that was in him, in respect of the place and company, which might have been prejudicial un∣to him. O deceitful heart!

1646.

May 13. One per∣formed indeed a good action, but he exceedingly over∣prized it; which he found afterwards.

May 15. This day a poor soul upon strict ex∣amination of his heart, found that formerly he had judged many sinful actions lawful and good, and had excused many actions though in them∣selves sinful: he felt not such a powerful opera∣tion of his corruptions before, and so through Pride and Ignorance thought better of him∣self then he had cause.

1647.

March 27. A poor soul wofully breaking such Vows as he had for∣merly made, he now saw the unsoundness and un∣setledness of his deceive∣able heart.

1648. May 29. One felt many strivings and contrary workings in his spirit; some∣times in prayer ravished, and sometimes heavy; sometimes full of comfort, and some∣times exceedingly dejected; sometimes patient, and other whiles impatient. O the sic∣kleness and uncertainty of the heart in the course of piety.

Octob. 24. One many times, but now especial∣ly, took notice of the slipperiness of his heart in the very act of per∣formance: Sometimes (said he) it slily steals away after idle and wan∣dering imaginations: sometimes it lets in base thoughts of praise, vain glory, &c. sometimes it raiseth up many good and holy motions, meditations, desires and affections, which yet are nothing to the present performance, and therefore come not from the Spirit of grace, but from Satan. O cheat∣ing cozening heart!

Texts.

Rom. 7.21, 22, 23. I finde a law, that when I would do good, evil is pre∣sent with me. I delight in the law of God after the inner man; but I see an∣other law in my mem∣bers, warring against the law of my minde.

Gal. 6.12. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you—onely lest you should suffer persecu¦tion for the cross of Christ.

Gal. 2.14. But (howsoever I yielded not) I saw that I walked not uprightly accord∣ing to the truth of the Gospel

Psal. 69.5. O God, thou knowest my fool∣ishnes, and my sins are not hid from thee.

Jer. 17.9. The heart is deceitful above things.

2 Cor. 12.11. I am become a fool in glo∣rying, ye have com∣pelled me.

Mat. 26.58, 70. But Peter followed him a∣far off unto the high priests pallace, and went in, and sate with the servants to see the end; —and saying (to the damsel that came unto him) I know not what thou sayest.

2 Cor. 11.7. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly in this confidence of boasting.

2 Cor. 12.11. I am be∣come a fool in glorying.

Gal. 1.13, 14, 15, 16. For ye have heard of my con∣versation in time past, — being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who sepe∣rated me from my mo∣thers womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.

Rom. 7.5. What I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I.

Rom. 7.18, 19. To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I finde not: for the good that I would do, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Gal. 5.17. For the flesh lust∣eth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other.

Rom. 7.22. For I delight in the law of God after the in∣ward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my minde.

Jerem. 17.9. The heart is deceitful a∣bove all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?

Rom. 7.21. I finde then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Dispositions required in this case, and to be prayed for.

Rom. 7.24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who shall de∣liver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Matth. 16.24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.

2 Cor. 1.12. Our rejoycing should be this, The testimony of our Conscience, that in simplici∣ty and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we had our conversation in the world.

2 Cor. 11.3. But I fear lest by any m••ans, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your mindes should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.

Heb. 4.13. All things are na∣ked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

2 Cor. 12.5. Of my self I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2 Cor. 12.6. But now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

Heb. 10.23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faith∣ful that promised.

Psal. 40.10. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart: I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation, I have not concealed thy lo∣ving kindeness.

1 Cor. 4.7. And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?

Jer. 9.23. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom: — 2 Cor. 10.17. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Phil. 3.12, 13, 14, 15. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may ap∣prehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not my self to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behinde, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded, and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.

1 Cor. 16.13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Psal. 76.11. Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God.

Eccles 5.4 When thou vow∣est a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed.

Rom. 7.24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord: So then, with my minde I my self serve the law of God, but with my flesh the law of sin.

Gal. 5.18. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Gal. 5. 24, 25. They that are Christs, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gen. 15.11. And when the fowls came down upon the car∣cases, Abram drove them away.

Mat. 26.41. Watch and pray, that ye en∣ter not into tempta∣tion; the Spirit in∣deed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Pet. 4.7. But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.