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. 7. Of the maner of this Life of Faith in Spiritual Graces.

THe operation of the Spirit in general, we told you was Sanctification; now the operation of the Spirit in special, appears. in

• Spiritual Graces.
• Spiritual Duties.

1. Spiritual Graces we shall consider in their

• Kindes.
• Degrees.

And of them both give

• 1. The Promises.
• 2. The exercise of Faith in respect of those Promises.

1. The kindes of Graces are these, Knowledge, and Faith, and Hope, and Joy, and Love, and Fear, and Obedience, and Repentance, and Humility, and Meekness, and Patience, and Righteousness, and Uprightness, and Peace of Conscience, and Zeal, and Perseverance; sixteen Graces in number: concerning which the Lord hath made gracious Promises.

• 1. Of them, to give them.
• 2. To them, to reward them.

The first Grace is Knowledge, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, Psal. 25.14. Jer. 31.34. Isa. 2.2, 3. Micah 4.1, 2. Ephes. 3.5. Rev. 21.23. 2. To it, as Prov. 3.14. Psal. 91.14. 2 Pet. 1.2. Prov. 3.18.

The second Grace is Faith, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Ephes. 2.8. Joh: 6.37. observe here these promises of assurance, the highest measure of faith, Psal. 50.23. Ezek. 34.30. Isa 60.16. Psal. 97.11. 2. To it, as 2 Chron. 10.20. Prov. 29.25. Isa. 26.3. Acts 10.43. Rom. 18.4. Acts 13.39. John 1.12. and 7.38. and 3.16, 36. and 5.24. and 6.47.

The third Grace is Hope, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Psal. 65.5. Prov. 14.32. Job 13.15. 2. To it, as Psal. 40.4. Rom. 4.18, 22. Rom. 8.24.

The fourth Grace is Joy, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, Psal. 36.8, 9. and 64.10. and 68.3. and 97.11. and 118.15. Isa. 12.2, 3. Isa. 35. throughout, Isa. 56.7. and 66.13, 14. John 16.22. Rom. 14.17. 2. To it, Psal. 89.15, 16.

The fifth Grace is Love, especially of God, and we may finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Cant. 1.4. Deut. 30.6. 2. To it, as Psal. 91.14. and 145.20. Prov. 8.21. Deut. 7.9. 1 Cor. 8.3. and 2.9, 10. James 1.12. and 2.5.

The sixth Grace is Fear, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Jer. 32.39, 40. Hosea 3.5. 2. To it, as Psal. 103.11. and 31.19. and 147.11. Mal. 3.16, 17.

The seventh Grace is Obedience, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Ezek. 11.19, 20. and 36.26, 27. 2. To it, as Deut. 28.1, 2. to 14.

The eighth Grace is Repentance, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Acts 5.30, 31. Exek. 11.19. and 20.43. and 36.31. 2. To it, as Mal. 3.7. Isaiah 55.7. 2 Chron. 7.14. Isaiah 1.16, 17, 18. Job 3.27, 28. Jer. 4.14.

The ninth Grace is Humility, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Gal. 5.22. 2. To it, as Prov. 15.33. and 22.4. James 4.6. 1 Peter 5.5. Isaiah 57.15. Matthew 5.3.

The tenth Grace is Meekness, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Isa. 11.6, 7, 8. Gal. 5.22, 23. 2. To it, as Psal. 37.11. and 147.6. Isa. 29.19. Psal. 25.9. Zeph. 2.3. Matth. 5.5. and 11.29. Psal. 149.4.

The eleventh Grace is Patience, and we finde some pro∣mises, 1. Of it, as James 1.5. 2. To it, as Hebrews 10.36. James 5.11.

The twelfth Grace is Righteousness, and we finde some pro∣mises, 1. Of it, as Rev. 19.7, 8. 2. To it, as Psal. 11.7. Isa. 32.17, 18. Prov. 14.32. Psal. 112.2, 6. Mat. 25.46.

The thirteenth Grace is Ʋprightness, or Sincerity of heart, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Jer. 31.33. Jer. 50.5. 2. To it, as Psal. 84.11. Prov. 14.11. Psal. 112.2. 2 Chron. 16.9. Psal. 112.4. and 84.11. Gen. 17.1, 2. 1 Chron. 29.17. Prov. 12.22. Psal. 37.37. Prov. 28.18. Psal. 15.1, 2.

The fourteenth Grace is Peace of Conscience, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as John 14.27. Gal. 6.16. Isa. 57.19. Isa. 54.10. 2. To it, as Phil. 4.7.

The fifteenth Grace is Zeal, and we finde some promises, 1. Of it, as Jeremiah 20.9. 2 Cor. 7.11. 2. To it, as Numbers 25.12, 13. Revel. 3.19, 20.

The sixteenth Grace is Perseverance; and we finde some pro∣mises, 1. Of it, as Psal. 89.28. Prov. 12.3. Isaiah 46.4. 2. To it, as Mat. 10.22. Revel. 2.26.

2. The degrees of Graces follow; and we finde some promises 1. Thereof, as Isaiah 44.3, 4. Mal. 4.2. Psal. 84.7. Prov. 4.18. 2. Thereto, as Rom. 13.11. 2 Pet. 1.8.

2. For the exercise of faith concerning these 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 of our selves we have no ability to attain any of these Graces: Every one can say, I purpose well, but the question is, whether they build not on their own strength: Many a man (especially in time of his sickness, danger, disgrace) will make fair promises of amendment, but when the rod is removed, all is forgotten: What may be the reason? he stands on his own feet, he presumes to go alone of himself, and by his own strength, and then no marvel if he falls and catcheth many a knock: If we will have any of these Graces, then deny we our selves: I will keep thy statutes (said David) but immediately upon his resolution he cries, O forsake me not utterly: Purposes thus grounded, bring forth holy performances, but of our selves we can expect no∣thing.

2. That Gods Spirit will infuse these Graces, and the increase of these Graces into them that believe: Many would fain have Knowledge, and Faith, and Hope, and Joy, &c. but they exercise not their Faith to believe God and his promises: I knew a man in Christ (could Paul say) concerning his Revelation; so, I know a man in Christ off and on, unstayed, dismayed at his manifold slips, strong corruptions, little prevailings against them, and (when all came to all) he could finde no help till he went to a promise, and by faith believed that God would ayd and assist, and do the whole work for him; it is good to believe that (ac∣cording to his promise) God will sanctifie our natures, inable us to holiness, and bestow all his graces on us.

3. That for the degrees of these Graces, it is necessary to im∣prove them; graces improved, are the ready way to have them in∣creased:

God ever bestows the greatest measure, where he findes a care to put them forth to advantage: Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; as men increase their substance by labor, and learning by diligence, so he that im∣proves graces, shall more and more abound in them.

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

1. Confess and acknowledge our inabilities: O Lord, I have no grace by nature, I have no power to cleanse my own heart: O Lord, I have defaced thine image, but I cannot repair it; I may say with the Apostle, When I would do well, evil is present with me, but I finde no means to perfect what I desire: I am not able to crawl about the doing of that which is good: O when shall I be set at liberty, that I might do the work of God, and run the race of his Commandments: O that I had Knowledge, and Faith, and Hope, and Joy, and Love!

2. Look we up to the Power, and Grace, and Truth of God, and press him therewith: Lord, I have heard of thy power, thou art God Almighty, who callest the things that are not, as if they were; thou canst if thou wilt, work in me these Graces, and create them in me, as thou didst gloriously create them in Adam, the first man: Lord, I have heard also of thy grace and truth, thou art as faithful to keep, as free to make these sweet precious promises; Thy grace is unsearchable, thy word purer then silver seven times refined: O then make good thy promises, I press thee with thy Power, Grace and Truth: O replenish me with thy Graces, give me Knowledge, and Faith, and Hope, &c.

3. Look we on the promises, and pray by them, or turn them into prayers: Faith hearkeneth what the Lord speaketh, and speaketh back again in fervent groans and desires to whatsoever it hearkeneth: Hence we can make no prayer in boldness, faith or comfort, but for things promised, and in that maner as they are promised. Thus Jacob (Gen. 32.9.) and David (2 Sam. 7.27, 28, 29.) prayed by a promise; and thus should we pray by a pro∣mise, and then we may be sure we pray according to his will. In want of other Rhetorick and Oratory, let us urge God with this repetition: Lord, thou hast promised, Lord, thou hast promised, thou hast made many sweet precious promises of Graces, and of de∣grees of Graces: Thou hast said, The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and, All that the Father giveth me, shall

come unto me; and, The Righteous hath hope in his death; and, The Righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and, They shall go from strength every one of them in Zion, ap∣pearing before God: O make these promises effectual to me, blow on my garden, that the spices (these graces) may flow out.

Notes

• Psal. 119 8.
• 2 Cor. 12.2.
• Mat. 13.12.
• Rom. 7.21.
• Gen. 32.9.
• 2 Sam 7.27, 28, 29.
• Psal. 25.14. Iohn 6.37.
• Prov. 14.32. Psal. 84.7.