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 maner of this Life of Faith in tempo∣ral blessings.

COncerning temporal blessings, or good things, consider we

• 1. The promises.
• 2. The exercise of faith in those promises.

1. Promises that concern temporal blessings, have reference to those blessings, Either in

• General.
• Special.

1. The general promises are these, and the like, 1 Tim. 4.8. Psal. 34.8, 9. Psal. 84.11. Phil. 4, 19. 1 Cor. 3.21. all things are yours, we are heirs of all the world.

2. The special promises have a relation, some to our name, some to our bodies, some to our estates, some to our cal∣lings.

1. Those promises that have a relation to our good name, are such as these, 1 Sam. 2.30. Prov. 3.16. Prov. 4.8. Prov. 14.19. Isa. 56.3, 4, 5.

2. Those promises that have a relation to our bodies, are either for long life, concerning which, Deut. 5.16, 33. Prov. 3.1, 2. or for health, concerning which, Prov. 3.8. Psal, 103.3, 4, 5. or for safety, concerning which, Prov. 1.33. Job 11.18. Hosea 2.18. Job 5.23. or for peace, concerning which, Levit. 26.6. Psal. 29.11. Psal. 37.11. Prov. 16.16. or for sleep, concerning which, Job 11.19. Prov, 3.24. or for food, concerning which, Psal. 37.3. Psal. 111.5. Joel 2.26. or for raiment, concerning which, Deut. 10.18. Matth. 6.25, 30, 32. or for posterity, the fruit of the body, concerning which, Deut. 7.12, 13, 14.

3. Those promises that have relation to our estates, are these, Job 22.24, 25. Prov. 8.18, 19. Psal. 37.5.

4. Those promises that have a relation to our calling, are either for plenty, concerning which, Prov. 10.4. and 12.11. and 13.4. and 28.19.—or for protection, concerning which, Psal. 91.11.— or for promotion, concerning which, Prov. 12.24. and 22.29. — or for good success, concerning which, Prov. 12.14. Isa. 65.21, 23.

I deny not but the wicked may enjoy all these Temporal bles∣sings by a general Providence, but onely the just have a Spiritunl right to them; they onely have them as rewards of their righ∣teousness, as testimonies of Gods love and care over them, and by vertue of a Promise.

2. For the exercise of faith concerning these Promises, observe that we may live by them, either in the

• want
• enjoyment

of these Temporal mercies.

1. Of the want of them, go we to

• ...Meditation.
• ...Prayer.

1. For Meditation, and the matter of it, consider these things:

1. That faith in this case doth ransack, and fan the soul nar∣rowly to finde out and remove whatsoever doth offend: If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put ini∣quity far from thy tabernacles: then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. This advice faith digests, and labors the reformation of what is amiss, and whatsoever hinders the Promise.

2. That faith is painful, provident and frugal; it shakes off idleness, takes the opportunity, husbands thriftily, and observes Gods providence in all affairs, otherwise we live not by faith, but tempt God, and throw away his Promises and all.

3. That faith preserves from the use of all unlawful means: The believer consults ever what is just, not what is gainful; or what may be compassed by honest courses, not what may be gained by fraud, deceit, cozenage, or the like carnal dealings: Better is a little with righteousness, then great revenues without right.

4. That faith leans upon the providence of God, who will keep back nothing from us, but what is hurtful and pernicious: Here's a sweet act of faith, it submits to Gods wisdom, and rests on his providence, after the use of all lawful means; and this maintains a Christian in some measure of contentment.

2. For Prayer, and the parts or maner of it, observe this method:

1. Confess our sins, especially those sins which upon search we are perswaded hinders prosperity: O Lord, I have thought on

my ways, and I finde (this or that) sin in my bosom, this or that corruption hath gotten head, and hinders thy blessings: O Lord, how should I expect needful things? What have I to do with thy Promises, that have committed such and such sins?

2. Importune the Lord for his Temporal blessings, at least so far as he seeth them to be for our good, and for the glory of his great name: Thus Bildad tells Job, If thou wouldst seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty, surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righ∣teousnes prosperous: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly encrease. Thus Jabez prayed, O that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and inlarge my coasts, &c. and God granted him that which he requested. In like maner was Jacobs prayer, If God wil be with me, and wil keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my fathers house in peace, Then shall the Lord be my God: And thus may we importune the Lord, and make our supplica∣tion to the Almighty.

3. Then press the Lord with his Promises, as with so many Argu∣ments: Lord, thou hast said, Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as that which is to come: Thou hast said, Fear the Lord, ye his saints, for there is no want to them that fear him, &c. O these are thy Promises, make them good to us as it stands best with thy wisdom.

2. In the enjoyment of these Temporal blessings, go we to—

• ...Meditation.
• ...Prayer.

1. For Meditation, and the matter of it, consider these things:

1. Faith in prosperity, keeps the heart in a holy temper and disposition (i.) in humility, meekness, tenderness and compassion towards others, in thankfulness, obedience, and in the fear of the Lord: Satan himself could reply to the Lord, Doth Job fear God for nought? hast thou not made a hedge about him? in this case faith will remember man of his duty, and perswade him to be so much the more serviceable, as Gods mercies are more plentiful upon him.

2. That faith makes a man heavenly-minded in the use and possession of a prosperous estate; as it receives all earthly bles∣sings

from God, so it windes and pulls up the soul to God again: and if it be rightly considered, prosperity is the fittest season for heavenly contemplation; the less trouble lies upon our estate, the more liberty we have to think of heavenly things: howsoever, faith considers these things as pledges of Gods love, as parts of our childes-portion, and so it makes us look at the better part, those never-fading riches which God hath reserved in heaven for all that fear him.

3. That faith breeds a godly jealousie and suspition, lest the heart should be drawn away with the pleasing delights of things transitory, for by grace it is that we are made conscious of our own weakness, and of the snare that is in every creature, to take and intangle us: Prosperity is pleasing, but dangerous; a man may quickly surfet of sweet meats. This makes the waking be∣liever circumspect and watchful, and jealous, and suspitious of his own heart, lest he miscarry in prosperity, considering there is a snare in it.

4. That faith mindes a change, even when our mountain seems strongest: The thing I greatly feared (saith Job) is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of, is come unto me; by this it appears, that Job always thought upon a change: There is no wind (saith the Proverb) which may not blow rain, if God so please. Riches have their wings, and take their flight like an Eagle: now faith mindes this, and prepares for this; The prudent man foreseeth evil, and hideth himself.

2. For Prayer, and the maner of it, observe this method:

1. Confess and acknowledge Gods mercy both in his Promi∣ses and performances: say, Lord, thou hast promised, That no good thing wilt thou withhold from them that walk uprightly; and surely thou art true in thy sayings, I believe by vertue of thy promise I enjoy this land, and those goods, &c. I have nothing, Lord, but meerly of Free-grace, and by vertue of a promise.

2. Pray, importune the Lord for sanctification of prospe∣rity, and for Gods blessings upon the means: the more we pro∣sper, the more earnest should the prayers of faith be; for of our selves we have no power to wield a good estate well, no ability to preserve or keep it: in greatest wealth we lie open to many temptations, and if we pray not earnestly that God may san∣ctifie all his Temporal blessings to us, we shall cool in grace.

3. Praise God for his mercies, and devote our selves unto him from whom we have received all: What shall I render unto the Lord (saith David) for all his mercies towards me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Men look for thanks, for a small kindeness, and shall not we magnifie God for all his favors and loving kindeness towards us? O praise the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul!

Notes

• Iob 22.23, 24
• Prov 16.8.
• Iob 8.5, 6, 7.
• 1 Chro. 4.10.
• Gen. 28.20, 21.
• Iob 1.10.
• Iob 3.25.
• Prov. 23.5. Prov. 27.12.
• Psa. 116.12, 13.
• Psa. 103.1.