Family Lessons 74: Preaching Ambrosia

Clapham village in North Yorkshire was once served by a most godly and erudite man of God. The puritan Isaac Ambrose was here for the years 1629 to 1631. He would have ministered to my ancestors, Christopher and Agnes Foster, my 10x great-grandparents. I do not know if they were godly folk who relished a great sermon, or parish deadwood who knew the forms but not the Spirit of Christ.

Ambrose wrote:

Oh! how should all hearts be taken with this Christ? Christians! turn your eyes upon the Lord: 'Look, and look again unto Jesus.' Why stand ye gazing on the toys of this world, when such a Christ is offered to you in the gospel? Can the world die for you? Can the world reconcile you to the Father? Can the world advance you to the kingdom of heaven? As Christ is all in all, so let him be the full and complete subject of our desire, and hope, and faith, and love, and joy; let him be in your thoughts the first in the morning, and the last at night.

(Looking Unto Jesus: A View of the Everlasting Gospel, Or, the Soul's Eyeing of Jesus, as Carrying on the Great Work of Man's Salvation, from First to Last)

To have had 2-3 years of this gospel preaching would have moved many hearts to Christ, my ancestors, I hope, among them. 

O Christian, never be proud of things that are so transient, injurious, and uncertain as the riches of this evil world! But set your heart on the true and durable riches of grace in Christ Jesus.

-Ambrose, in The Christian Warrior