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 3. Of occasional Meditation.

OCcasional Meditation ariseth from such things as God by his providence offers to our eyes, ears or senses: Examples of this sort are infinite, for a taste take these few:

1. Upon our first waking in the morning, meditate how the Lord can at the last day as easily raise up our dead bodies from the dust, as he hath now awaked us out of sleep; and as now we rise from the grave our bed, so then we must arise from that bed our grave.

2. Upon sight of the morning sky, meditate, That if one Sun make so bright a morning, what a shining morning will that be when Christ (the Son of Righteousness) shall appear, attended with all his bright Angels, Archangels, Cherubims, Seraphims, Bodies and Souls of Saints? When there shall be as many Suns on a day, as there are stars on a bright winters night.

3. Upon the occasions of the day, meditate, how the Lord seeth us, and understands all our thoughts, and is acquainted with all our ways: The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in behalf of them, whose heart is perfect towards him, and therefore we should do all things as in the awful presence of God.

4. Upon our particular callings we may accordingly medi∣tate; as—

1. A Magistrate, thus, As I judge others, so will the Lord judge me; it will not be long ere death arrest, and I must go

without bail: Me thinks I hear that sound in mine ears, I have said ye are gods; but ye shall dye like men.

A Minister, thus, The time I have to spend is not mine, but the peoples: Me thinks whiles I idle it away, I hear them crying af∣ter me, To your closet, and there pray for us that we perish not; study for us, that we may learn of you how to walk in his paths; for if we perish, and you will not give warning, then must our blood be required at your hands.

3. A Tradesman, thus, What is that ballance in my shop, but a memento of distributive and commutative Justice? if my deal∣ings be not just to a point or pin, I shall then be weighed in Gods ballance, and be found too light: A false ballance is an abomi∣nation to the Lord, and so is a true ballance, without true deal∣ing with all men.

4. An Husbandman, thus, As I sow in spring, so I reap in har∣vest, and God hath said, He that soweth iniquity, shall reap va∣nity, but they that sow in tears, shall reap in joy: Lord, whiles I sow in tears, give me April showers of Repentance, that when the harvest comes, and the Angels must reap, they may gather me into thy barn of Heaven.

5. A Soldier, thus, What trade is this I follow? what de∣vices are these I carry about me to murther afar off? whose image do I bear in this killing disposition, but his whose true title is, The Destroyer? I had need look about me that I be in a righteous cause; I am sure, all the titles of God sound of mer∣cy and gracious respects to man, God the Father is his Maker and Preserver, God the Son his Savior and Redeemer, God the Ho∣ly Ghost his Sanctifier and Comforter: O Lord, that my ene∣mies may be thy enemies, and my cause, thy cause, or that I may leave this calling.

5. Upon night approaching, meditate, That seeing our days are determined, and the number of our moneths are with the Lord, and our bounds are appointed, which we cannot pass, that one day more of our limited time is gone and past, and we are now nearer to our end by a day, then we were in the morning.

6. Upon occasion of lights brought in, meditate, If the light of a poor candle be so comfortable, which is nothing but a little inflamed ayr, gathered about a moistened snuff, What is

the light of that glorious Sun, the great Lamp of Heaven? but much more, what if the light of that infinitely resplendent Son of Righteousness, who gave that light to the Sun, and that Sun to the world?

4. Upon the sight of a bright sky full of stars, meditate, How worthy a Science it is to see and observe those goodly spangles of light above our heads, their places, qualities, motions: But the imployment of a Christian is far more noble, Heaven is open unto him, and he can look beyond the vail, and see further above those stars, then it is thither, and there discern those glories that may answer to so rich a pavement: I see indeed those glittering glorious stars, with my bodily eyes; but I see withall by the eyes of my faith, that this is but the floor of that goodly fabrick, the outward curtain of that glorious tabernable: I see within that incomprehensible light, which none can see and not be blessed: How many are these stars before my eyes? but Oh! what millons of pure and majestical Angels? what millions of happy and glorified Souls? how many mansions of my Father (one of them being my own) do I see by Faith? Come down no more (O my soul) after thou hast once pitched upon this heavenly glory; or if this flesh force thy descent, be unquiet till thou art let loose to immortality.

Thus from our uprising to our down-lying, we may upon every object presented to our senses, frame a sudden or occasional Me∣ditation.

Notes

• 2 Chro. 16.9.
• Psal. 82.6.
• Ezek. 3.18.
• Prov. 11.1.
• Prov. 22.8. Psal. 126.5.
• Iob 14.5.