Modern Reprints
The Christian Warrior: Wrestling with Sin, Satan, the World, and the Flesh (SDG;
150 pages; 1997). In this work on spiritual warfare, originally written
in 1661 but apparently first published
with the Works in 1674, Ambrose presents three key truths: (1) all
God’s people must be warriors, (2) we have powerful and malicious
enemies to contend with, and (3) we must wrestle and strive against
these enemies.
Basing his work on Ephesians 6:12, Ambrose explains how a Christian
must wage spiritual battle against sin, the world, the flesh, and Satan.
He shows how Satan attacks us at different times and under different
conditions in life, and how we can prepare to withstand his assaults.
His ten ways to cope with sinful anger are extremely helpful (pp.
110-116).
Ambrose’s directives are insightful, probing, and succinct. For
instance, Ambrose advises, “Be not satisfied with sudden pangs of
affection, but labor to preserve those impressions which the Spirit has
made on your soul” (pp. 64-65).
Looking Unto Jesus (SPR; 694 pages; 1986).
After a serious illness in the early 1650s, Ambrose wrote a devotional
on what the Lord had done for his soul, titled Looking unto Jesus, or
the Soul’s Eyeing of Jesus as Carrying on the Great Work of Man’s
Salvation (1658). The book, which stresses experiential identification
with Jesus in thought and behavior, soon became a classic of
Christ-centered divinity. Its readers feel they are standing on holy
ground.
Ambrose describes numerous aspects of Christ’s ministry. For example,
he presents Jesus’ ministry from eternity and during His life from a
nine-point perspective: knowing Jesus, considering Jesus, desiring
Jesus, hoping in Jesus, believing in Jesus, loving Jesus, rejoicing in
Jesus, calling on Jesus, and conforming to Jesus in a particular aspect
of His ministry. Regarding
conformity to Christ in His resurrection, Ambrose writes, “Look much
at Christ raised, Christ glorified. [Let us] see our own personal
vivification linked inseparably unto, and bottomed immovably upon the
resurrection of Christ. When we can by faith get a sight of this, how
courageously and successfully the soul will grapple in the controversies
of the Lord against the devil, and our own deceitful hearts…. O that I
could set my faith more frequently on Christ’s resurrection, so that at
last I could see it by the light of God to be a destinated principle of
my vivification in particular!” (pp. 490-91).
This book has been reprinted many times, influencing many Christians
over the centuries to pursue a closer walk with God. It equals Samuel
Rutherford’s Letters in its Christcenteredness.
(From Beeke and Pederson)
