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. 4. Of the Sanctification of Evidences in their several uses.

THe Sanctification of Evidences is manifested (as we said) by several Dispositions: To inlarge my self; No sooner is the Soul setled in its Scripture-perswasions, and Spirit-perswasions, that God hath translated it unto Christ, but immediately there follows,—

1. A deep admiring of Gods unsearchable grace in the Lord Je∣sus Christ: Hath the Lord assured me that I am his? O my Soul, stand amazed at this endless, boundless love of the Lord; it is of his grace that ever I did bethink my self of the danger of my sinful course I was formerly in; it is of meer grace that the Lord Christ dyed

for my sins, and rose again for my Justification; It is of his spe∣cial grace, that the Spirit of Christ should thus whisper to my Spi∣rit, Thy sins are forgiven thee. O the bountifulness and love of God to man! O I am swallowed up in this depth! It is a mystery which may astonish Angels, an Orient Pearl which out shines all the sparkling Jewels of the whole Creation. When the Jews heard of the Proclamation of King Cyrus, by which they were set free from their long and tedious captivity, they were wrapt with joy, they were like to men that rather dreamed, then possessed the thing that their souls longed after: How much more will Assurance that we are set free from the perpetual bondage of sin, and restored to the everlasting freedom of righteousness and life, make us wonder at the infinite wisdom; and unspeakable good∣ness of our heavenly Father? The Saints considering the good∣ness of God towards man in his creation, brake forth into holy admiration, Lord, what is man, that thou art mindeful of him? The Prophet calling to minde long after, what God had done for his soul, cannot pass it over without servent praise, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? How much more ought and will that man that is assured of Gods fa∣vor and love towards him, for ever admire the mighty power, unspeakable goodness, and rich mercy of God, who hath deli∣vered him from the pit of hell, from the power of Satan, from the curse of the law, and from the waiting for of all the wicked Devils, and damned Spirits, and withal, hath translated him into the kingdom of his dearest Son? O needs must his heart be in∣flamed with love, and inlarged in praises!

2. A sober, moderate, and self-denying use of Evidence-comforts: I speak not herein against the frequent actings of grace, or against the simply looking on them, or comforting our selves in them, especially under sad hours; but against the exces∣sive, overflowing, over-loving way of Evidence-comforts, against the abuses thereof: which may be in these particulars; as 1. When we pore more frequently upon the comforts of our own gracious actings, then upon Jesus Christ and his death; when we live too much on the sight of a new-created birth in our selves, and the image of the second Adam, though indeed we have Christ himself to live on. 2. When we wonder so much at what is done in our selves by the grace of Christ, that we begin to

make a mixture of self therewith, and immediately we sit down and write of our selves an hundred in stead of fifty. 3. When we think graces and comforts so rooted in our selves, that we neg∣lect God and Christ for the upholding, encrease and exercise of them. 4. When we rest upon, and too much confide in the power of inherent grace, former revelations, and witnesses of Gods Spirit, which are all but creatures, acts of God upon us, and in us; and therefore in doing thus, we make an Idol of in∣herent grace, and put that trust in it, which we should repose in the Lord alone: and so, as the Lord speaketh, We go a whoring after our own hearts. Now all these flow from the corruption of our nature, and not from the nature of assurance; the pro∣duct of true Evidences is, a praising of God for them, and a comforting our selves in them, as in the fruit of his eternal and unchangeable love: Our rejoycing is this, even the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, we have had our conversation in the world; but not a making of them the onely or chief grounds of our hope and comforts, for God in this case may leave us to our selves, That no flesh should rejoyce in his presence.

3. A fiducial pleading of all the precious Promises of the Go∣spel: And hath the Lord indeed given me a kiss of his mouth, a sure sign of his love? Why then, O my soul, arise, and lay hold on all the Promises, which God of his mercy in Christ doth offer in the Gospel: Be not dismaid by reason of thy unworthiness, for the Promise is of grace, freely offered, and freely given to them that be most unworthy in their own eyes: Thou art unworthy of the least crumb of Mercy, but of the riches of his grace God hath given thee the Promises of highest advancement, if thou wilt but embrace them. I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty: — And it shall be in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, that there they shall be called, The children of the living God: —He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son. Surely Lord, I will lay hold on these promises: I will yet draw nigher to thee, and put my trust in thy mercy; I will henceforth flie to the throne of Grace, to get my title made surer and surer unto my conscience. O Lord, I believe, help thou my un∣belief. Thus the soul pleads with God, and God is well pleased

with such pleadings; the soul is assured of salvation, and yet prayeth in the midst of assurance, Who am I, Lord, that thou shouldest make such ample and free promises unto thy poor servant? Of thy free mercy, and according to thine own heart hast thou spo∣ken all these great things, to make thy servant know them; and now O Lord God, establish, I beseech thee, the word that thou hast spo∣ken concerning thy servant.

4. A chearful bearing of crosses: Hence Paul eying that object of assurance, that weight of glory, he counts all his af∣flictions light, momentary; he sung in the dungeon, and reckoned it a special favor to be a sufferer for Christ: The fire of divine love so inflames Christians in this condition, that much water of Persecution cannot quench it; yea, such is the nature of this fire, that it feeds on those waters, and grows more fervent by that which would quench it; no wonder: it is but a light affliction, but it causeth unto us a more excellent and eternal weight of glory; and parts of this glory the Christian now receiveth aforehand, as earnests of the whole: This makes him to rejoyce (even in the midst of crosses and losses) with a joy unspeakable and glorious: And hence it is that a Christian despiseth the sufferings for the joys, yea, the sufferings are so overcome by the joys, that the sufferings do not turn his joys into sadness, but his assurance turns the sadness of his sufferings into joys, for he rejoyceth in his suf∣ferings.

5. An holy contempt of Creature-comforts: This is another fruit of assurance, it will make a man endeavor to rid himself from such feculent matters here, to contemn them, to trample them under his feet, and out of the greatness and goodness of his spirit, ambitiously to long after the presence of the Lamb. Do I speak or write to the denizens of Heaven? tell me then, you that carry the Evidences of Heaven in your hands and hearts, is it not thus with you? hath not God wrought your hearts to this frame and divine disposition? if not, he will do it first or last; for citizens of Heaven set not much by the best things on earth, when they are themselves, and act like their Savior. It was a good speech of an Emperor, whatsoever he himself was, You (said he) gaze on my purple Robes, and golden Crown, but did you know what cares are under them, you would not take them up from the ground for them; but suppose there had been no

cares but pleasures in them, yet Moses when he had this assurance of Faith, He refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sins for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompence of reward.

6. A bold approaching unto the throne of Grace upon all occasions: Because we are assured, therefore we beg any thing of God with greater affiance; Prayer is nothing else but the stream and river of Faith, and an issue of the desire of that which we joyfully believe: Our Savior Christ knew that his sheep should never perish, and yet he prayeth, Holy Father, keep them in thy name: Paul knew assuredly, that the Lord would deliver him from every evil work, yet without ceasing he prayeth to be de∣livered from evil. Assurance addes fervency to prayer; the firmer our Faith, the more free is our access, with boldness and confidence to the throne of Grace, the more fervently and boldly can we pray, Abba Father: Assurance hearkeneth what the Lord speaketh, and speaketh back again in fervent groans and desires; it hath the promise of God, and therefore is bold to pray, and will not keep silence, Thou, O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house, therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee; nay, Assurance puts on the Soul to ask any thing it wants; these be the times when the Spirit moveth the waters, therefore, Now (saith Assurance) cast in your Petition, and whatsoever grief it hath in it, you shall be cured of it: Now the King holds out his golden Scepter, And therefore (saith As∣surance) let the Queen come in boldly with her request, though it be for a Kingdom; yea, this King likes it best, if first we seek a Kingdom, and the Righteousness inseparably annexed to it, for then we shall have all other things with it.

7. A valiant adventuring for Christ: Is a man assured of Gods love in Christ? such a one fears not any troubles, he knows all comes through his Fathers hands, and that man and Devil cannot do what they would, and therefore he goes on comfort∣ably to day, to morrow, and to the end; he is like one of Davids Worthies, or like David himself, that having got experience, fears nothing; he walks up and down the world like a Gyant,

higher by head and shoulders then most men, he holds in his hand a strong shield, that the Devil himself cannot peirce, but it quench∣eth his fiery darts: He gets a victory against the world by his Faith, and Samson-like, breaks all bands of temptation as straw, he leaps over a wall, breaks a bow of steel, lays heaps upon heaps.

8. An earnest longing for the appearing of the Lord Jesus: As he adventures and conquers in life, so he can think of death, without any prevailing fear; he can say with Paul, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ; and with Stephen, Lord Jesus re∣ceive my spirit; and with the Spouse in the Canticles, Come away, my Beloved, and be thou like a Roe, or to a yong Hart upon the Mountains of spices. It is the voyce of Assurance, My life is hid with thee, O Christ, and therefore appear quickly, my Life, my Jesus, that I may quickly appear with thee in glory; let the day of gladness quickly come, wherein both soul and body, even my whole self, may eternally enjoy thee: I cannot be still put off with these tastes and earnests, my love and longing is rather inflamed by them to the fruition of thee: The very voyce of these earnests is, Come; yea, they scarce know any other language but Come, therefore again and again they s••y, Come; yea, after they have said, Come, as if that were not enough, they say, Come quickly; and now, what can the Soul say more to her Lord? onely as be∣fore she still said, Come, so now will she still say, Amen; even so, Amen and Amen.

9. A loathing of sin, indignation for sin, contest with sin, and a continual watch against the baits and allurement of sin: How can it be conceived that a man should be assured of the par∣don and forgiveness of many sins, but it will work a greater loathing and detestation of sin, unfeined abasement for former weakness, and continual watchfulness, to keep himself pure for the future, that he lose not his comfort, nor dishonor God, who hath done so great things for him? It is Satans cavil against the Saints, That Assurance begets security: Assuredly, if it be true Assurance, it will through Christ mortifie our lusts, and quicken us to more sincere, setled and constant obedience; nor is it possible that a Christian should hold his assurance any longer, then whiles he follows, cherishes and feeds in himself this heavenly af∣fection.

[Obj.] But some may object, If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves:—Who can say his heart is clean?—There is no man just, that sinneth not: — And how can these two stand together, Sin and Assurance?

[Sol.] I Answer, Gross sins, grievous sins, are not compatible with the hope and assurance of a Christian, especially reigning sins committed with delight, or indulgence: This spot is not the spot of Gods children, and yet such sins as we call infirmities, blemishes, remainders of Original corruption, under which the Regenerate must labor so long as they live: These are not alto∣gether incompatible with Assurance, nor do they hinder the lively workings of faith, in receiving the promises; it is good therefore to distinguish betwixt sins, which administer matter of humiliation, and such as may give occasion to the Soul to question its Regenerate estate: As — 1. There are sins of simple ignorance, unavoidable infirmity, sins of forgetfulness, in∣consideration, passion, pettishness, inordinate fear, whereto there is no advised consent, and these may stand with Assurance. But 2. There are foul sins, enormous crimes (not to speak of sins wilfully committed with full consent, delight and contentment, to the utter exstinguishing of the Spirit of Grace, which shall never befal them that are called according to the purpose of God) and those sins hinder Assurance, so that the sinner cannot for the present lay actual claim to any one priviledge of Grace formerly enjoyed; I deny not but he may still retain his right and title to eternal life, but he is in this condition suspended from actual claim, until he rise again by Repentance, and so recover not a new right and title, but a new claim by vertue of the old title.

10. A couragious resisting of doubts, scruples, temptations; not but that doubts will come after assurance: We see the Sun is one day bright, and the next day is covered; Evidences may be lost, though interest be continued: yet Assurance and Evi∣dences rightly improved and sanctified to us, may help us against all the shakings, and shiverings, and doubtings of the Soul, and of their own nature they do resist them: Hence the best cure and remedy of doubtings, is to perfect and strengthen our assurance; the more purely the fire burns, the less smoke it hath; when the light and heat of the Sun are greatest, then the clouds and

misty vapors are fewest: Assurance and Doubting are like a pair of scales, where the weight of the one bears away the other.

[Quest. 1] But how should assurance be strengthned?

[Answ.] 1. Go we to God, for God who gave it can strengthen it: Every grace depends upon him, not onely for birth, but also for complement; his strength must lead us on from strength to strength, and therefore if we would have strong assurance, we must go to a strong God, and beg of him for it: O Lord (say) my knowledge is dim, lighten that candle, open mine eyes yet more and more, that I may see thy truth; my assents many times shake, but do thou establish and confirm my heart in thy truths; my em∣bracings, applications, are very trembling, and broken, and inter∣rupted, but do thou guide my eye to look upon my Savior, and do thou guide my hand to lay hold on him, do thou enable my will and affections, to embrace all the goodness of thy self, of thy Christ, of thy Word; my faith is but weak, but Lord, I would have more faith, even full assurance of faith, and thou canst work it, O do it for thy weak servant.

2. Be in the way of strength: There are ways in which God doth reveal his arm (i.) his Ordinances; he that is too good for the Ordinances, will ever be too weak in his faith. One thing (could David say) have I desired of the Lord, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life: and to what end? that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and visit his Temple: what this beauty is, he himself expounds, We thought of thy loving kindeness in the midst of thy Temple: The loving kindeness of God, his mercy and countenance upon his own servants, that is the Lords beauty, that is it which makes him amiable in his own people.

3. Let assurance know its priviledges, & then it wil grow strong∣er. Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a pe∣culiar people: they who descended from the blood of Abra∣ham had more priviledges then others, and have not they greater who come of the blood of Christ? The Priests of the Law had singular exemptions, and Kings of all men are most highly pri∣viledged; and do Believers come short, who are not prophane, civil, typical Priests, but royal Priests? who are not Priests onely, nor Kings onely, but both Kings and Priests: A royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. If we did once throughly know our

priviledges, the grants of favor, the free access, the singular acce∣ptance we have with God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, how might we keep down our fears, and our doubtings, and with fullest eagerness embrace our God, our Christ, our Promises.

4. Observe, and call to minde our former Experiences of Gods favor and love: I will remember (saith David) the years of the right hand of the most High (i.) the years and times of my life, wherein I had sweet experiences of Gods mercies and love: why, what of that? he tells you, Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce. But of this point in the last Chapter.

[Quest. 2] But what if after all these means used, no Sun appears, our E∣vidences are quite lost, God suspends all comforts?

[Answ.] In such a case we must endeavor to live above Evidences, by working the soul to close with, and depend upon an absolute Pro∣mise: To this purpose it pleaseth the Father of Mercies; some∣times to convince and perswade the soul, that he will supply what is wanting, heal backslidings freely, work both will and deed ful∣ly, whereby he sustains the soul in life, and raiseth it up as it were from the grave of despair and dismal distress. Thus David ex∣pected to receive his Assurance, when he cryed, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? — Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance: And if at our first conversion, when we had nothing but the offer of Free-grace to look upon, we cast our selves on God, why not now, when our Assurances wholly fail?

Notes

• Psal. 126.1.
• Psal. 8 4, 5.
• Psal. 116.12.
• Num 15.39.
• 2 Cor. 1.12.
• 1 Cor. 1.19.
• 2 Cor. 6.18.
• Rom 9.26.
• Rev. 21.7.
• 2 Sam. 7.25.
• 2 Cor. 4.17.
• Phil. 2.17.
• Heb. 24.25, 26.
• Iohn 10.28. and 17.11.
• 2 Tim. 4.18.
• 2 Sam. 7.2••.
• Mat. 6.33.
• Phil. 1.23. Acts 7.59. Can. 8.14.
• 1 Iohn 1.8. Prov. 20.9. Eccles. 7.20.
• Psal. 27.4.
• Psal. 48.9.
• 1. Pet. 2.3.
• Psal. 77.10.
• Psal. 63.7.
• Psal. 42.5, 12.