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. 6. Of the maner of this life of faith in spiritual blessings, as derived to us from God and Christ, and the Spirit of Christ.

COncerning spiritual blessings, or good things, consider we

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

1. The Promises are of such blessings as arise either from

• God.
• Christ.
• The Spirit of Christ.

1. From God proceeds his

• Love of us.
• Presence with us.
• Providence over us.

1. Concerning his love of us, we have these promises, Deut. 7.7, 8, 13. Isa. 54.8. Jer. 31.3. Hosea 2.19. and 14.4. John 3.16. Ephe. 2.4. 1 John 4.19.

2. Concerning his presence with us, we have these promises, Gen. 26.24. and 28.15. Exod. 3.12. Joshua 1.5. Jer. 1.8. 1 Chron. 28.20. Isaiah 41.10. Math. 28.20. Rev. 2.1.

3. Concerning his providence over us, we have these pro∣mises, Psal. 34.7. and 91.11, 12. Job 36.7. Zech. 2.8. whence (He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye) observe, That the Lord to express the tenderness of his love, names the tenderest part of the body, nay the tenderest piece of the ten∣derest part, The Christal humor, as the Philosophers call it.

2. From Christ we have promises

• 1. Of the person of Christ.
• 2. Of the benefits that flow from Christ.

1. Of the person of Christ, in Genesis 3.15. where was the first promise, and the foundation of all other promises, because God intended to make good every promise in Christ.

2. Of the benefits that flow from Christ, whether

• ...Redemption.
• ...Vocation.
• ...Justification.
• ...Reconciliation.
• ...Adoption.

1. Concerning Redemption, we have these promises, Tit. 2.14. Ephe. 1.7. Gal. 3.13. Heb. 9.12.

2. Concerning Vocation, we have these promises, Acts 2.39. Rom. 8.30.

3. Concerning Justification, we have these promises, Isaiah 53.11. Acts 13.39. Rom. 8.33.

Now this Justification consists of two parts, in

• 1. Not impu∣ting sin.
• 2. Imputing righteousness.

1. For not imputing (or forgiving) sin, we have these pro∣mises, Psal. 32.2. Jer. 31.34. Isaiah 55.7. Jer. 33.8. hither tend all those Metaphors, Isa. 43.25. and 44.22. and 38.17. Micah 7.19.

2. For imputing Righteousness, we have these promises, Rom. 5.19. 1 Cor. 1.30. Rom. 10.4. Isaiah 61.10. Gal. 3.6. this phrase is used ten times in one Chapter, Rom. 4.3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 23, 24.

4. Concerning Reconciliation, we have these promises, 2 Cor. 5.18, 19. Ephe. 2.14, 16. Col. 1.21, 22.

5. Concerning Adoption, we have these promises, Gal. 3.26. John 1.12. Rom. 9.26. Gal. 4.4, 5, 7.

3. From the Spirit of Christ, we have promises,—

• 1. Of the Spirit himself.
• 2. Of the operation of the Spirit.

1. Of the Spirit himself, in Joel 2.28, 29. Acts 2.17, 18. John 14.16, 17. Ephe. 1.13. Gal. 3.14.

2. Of the operation of the Spirit, and that

• 1. In general, as Sanctification.
• 2. In special, as
  • ...Spiritual Graces.
  • ...Spiritual duties.

1. Concerning Sanctification, we have these promises, Micah 7.19. Jer. 31.33, 34. Heb. 8.10. and 10.16. 1 Thess. 5.23. 1 John 1.7. Revel. 1.5.—

Concerning Graces and Duties, we shall handle them anon.

2. For the exercise of faith concerning the promises, that we may live by them, go we to

• ...Meditation.
• ...Prayer.

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

1. That faith (considering the priviledges of Gods children) admires and adores, O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men?—How excellent is thy loving kindeness, O Lord; therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

2. That faith (in consideration hereof) rests upon God, and Christ, and the Spirit of Christ, to receive whatsoever may be good and profitable to the Soul: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want:—He shall lead his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gent∣ly lead those that are with yong. What can they want, who have God for their Father, Christ for their Savior, the Spirit for their Sanctifier? Thou Israel art my servant, Jacob whom I have cho∣sen, the seed of Abraham my friend: Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men therof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away: Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dis∣maid, for I am thy God, I will strenghthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righte∣ousness.

3. That faith hereupon sets an high price upon Christ, upon God in Christ, upon the Spirit of Christ: These promises are more worth then Kingdoms, Empires, the whole world, which made holy David say, In the multitudes of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul; q. d. I have multitudes of thoughts, some running this way, some running that way, some on this pleasure, some on that profit, but my soul is onely com∣forted in the thoughts of thee: Pleasures, profits, honors, all are vain and empty, and nothing is to be rested on, to be de∣lighted in, but Jesus Christ; yea, there's a full content in Jesus Christ; let the world be filled with trouble and sorrow, even now faith carries a merry heart.

4. Faith in these promises doth greatly inlarge the heart to∣wards God, and stirreth up to earnest study of holiness; if a Christian be much in the Meditation of Gods singular goodness in Christ, it will even constrain him to yield up himself wholly to God, in all manner of godly conversation: Examine, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart, for thy loving kindeness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth.

5. Faith ever runs to these promises in all straits, and here it findes comforts: Nature teacheth man and beast in troubles and storms to make to a shelter; the childe runs to the arms of the mother, the birds to their nests, the conies to the rock, so must the soul have a sanctuary, an hiding place, when danger and trouble comes; now where can it take up a surer and safer re∣fuge, then with God and Christ, and the Spirit of Christ? indeed God it dares not look at, but in Christ; and the Spirit proceeds not but from Christ, to Christ therefore it runs immediately; it is Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: Come (saith faith) let us out to Christ, and if he receive us not presently, let us stay a little; he is full of bowels and tenderness towards poor sinners, h•• keeps open house for all comers, he invites all, entertains all, old sinners, yong sinners, great sinners, less sinners, his promise is sure to: him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out: Thus faith takes the Believer off from self, civil life, estate, friends, and hangs the soul alone upon that true friend, the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath manifested the greatness of his love to poor sinners, by dying for them, and sending his Spirit to sanctifie and comfort them.

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

1. Confess and acknowledge Gods mercies both in his pro∣mises and performances: Say, Lord, thou hast said, I will love thee freely:—And I will be with thee, even to the end of the world:—He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye:— And all is yours, and ye are Christs, and Christ is Gods:—And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, &c. Surely Lord thou art true in thy sayings; I believe by vertue of this and that promise, I have the love, and promise, and providence of God, I am redeemed, called, justified, reconciled, adopted by Christ; I have the Spirit of Christ, I am sanctified in some measure by that Spirit, I have all this of free grace, and by vertue of a promise.

2. Pray for this increase of faith, and for a further and further sight of this belief: Give me, gracious Father, to believe as thou hast promised; create in me the hand of faith, and make it stronger and stronger, that I may effectually receive, what in mercy thou reach∣est forth; and then give me the Spirit of Revelation, that I may discern truly what thou hast given me, that my lips may sing of thy praise all the day long.

3. Praise God for his mercies, and quietly rest in the promises: O Lord, thou hast freely loved, and redeemed, and sanctified my soul; O how should I praise thee, how should I advance and set thee up on high? Salvation, and Glory, and Honor, and Praise be given to thy name, &c. I praise thee for my Election, Vocation, Justification, Sanctification, &c. but above all, for the fountain of all, the Lord Jesus Christ; It is my Christ justifies, and my Christ sanctifies: Lord, thou hast given Christ for my Wisdom and Sanctification, as well as for Righteousness and Redemption: Lord, thou hast appointed Christ to be the beginner and finisher of my holiness, and surely he will not leave that work imperfect, whereunto he is ordained of the Father; were the progress of this building committed to my care and oversight, there might be cause of fear, but since thou hast laid all upon Christ, my one∣ly and all-sufficient Redeemer; Lord increase my faith, that I may hold him fast and be safe, and so at last I may sing Hallelu∣jahs to thee in Heaven for ever and ever.

Notes

• Psal. 31.19.
• Psal. 36.7.
• Psal. 23 1. Isa. 40.11.
• Isa. 41.8.
• 9.
• 10.
• Psal. 94 19.
• Psal 26.2, 3.
• Prov. 30.26.
• 1 Cor. 1.30.
• Iohn 7.37.
• Iohn 15.13.
• Hosea 14.4.
• Mat. 28.20.
• 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. Iohn 14.16.