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.

1. Relish.

O Eternity, whether of joys or woes! O that thou wert writ∣ten in a book, that thou wert graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! O that my heart were the book! that my Meditation were the iron pen and lead! and that this word Eter∣nity were so imprinted and ingraven in my heart, that I might still have it in my minde, when Pleasure fawneth, when Lust pro∣voketh, when the Flesh rebelleth, when the Spirit faileth! O Eternity, how is it I forgot thee! O my soul, be established, and say with David, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: Set thy self in a sure place, and stand awhile; and standing, ad∣mire at this Eternity, which always stands, and never passeth away; and that thou mayest taste and relish, that thou mayest be affected and moved with this Eternity.

1. Consider the never-dying worm, and the everlasting fire: O the bitterness of this Eternity! there's a man in fire, and a worm at his heart; the fire burns him, and the worm bites him, yet neither of these make an end of him; there he roars, and yells, and howls, and cryes, O wo is me for ever! A man said I! alas, Broad is the way, and many there are that walk hell-ward: It were enough indeed to make all tremble, though there were but one amongst all the sons of Adam to suffer eternally, but

that Hell should enlarge her self, and open her mouth without mea∣sure, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp should descend into it; that there should be millions of men of the same flesh and blood that I am, chained together in hell, where one roars, and another answers, and all bear the Burthen, Wo and alas for ever. In one nook of Hell there's a lamentable shreek, Wo for ever: in another corner far remote there's an∣other fearful shreek, Wo for ever; in all the corners of those smoky Vaults there's a cry, or an echo of this cry, For ever, for ever, for ever, for ever.—O my soul, how is it thou canst sleep in the night, or be merry in the day, whilest thou thinkest atten∣tively, or considerest throughly of this Meditation? less matters have sometimes bestraught men of their wits, and bereaved them of their lives.

2. Consider the Eternity of joys. O the sweetness of this Eternity! O blessed estate of Saints in the kingdom of heaven! O glory, not to be expressed, even by those who are glorified! there is that perpetual spring, which through the fresh and sweet breathings of the Spirit of God, shall flourish ever; there is time (if it be time) always after one sort, not distinguished into evening and morning, but continued with a simple Eternity. O Eternity of joys, worthy of continual songs of Saints and An∣gels to celebrate thy praise! O Eternity of joys! how should I extol thee, desire thee, love thee, and hate all this world for thee?

Notes

• Iob 19.23, 24.
• Psal. 57.7.
• Isa. 5.14.