The intelligence of this awful presentiment reaching his absent friends, many, particularly from among his hearers at Garstang, came to visit him. These he received with his usual cheerfulness, and after giving them pious counsel, and converging freely on the things of God, he informed them that he was now ready to depart whenever his Lord should think fit to summons him to appear before his fLice, as he had finished all that he ever intended to write, and on the preceding evening had sent away his Discourse concerning Angels to the press. When his friends were about to take their leave, he accompanied them to the door, and waited until they had mounted their horses, and having taken his leave, he came back, shutting himself in his parlour, the place of his soliloquy, meditation, and prayer. Being
thought to tarry longer than usual, the door was opened, and he was found just expiring. The state in which he was discovered rendered all assistance unavailing, his mortal course being brought
to an end. This took place in the year 1664, in the 72d year of his age.
His character may be comprised in a few expressions :— He was holy in life, happy in his death, honoured of God, and held in high estimation by all good men.
His works, which are numerous, are still read with much
respect and profit, and no doubt they will long continue in request, among the pious of all denominations. Of these works the following are the titles : Prima, Media, et Ultima; or Regeneration, Sanctitication, and Meditations on Man's Misery and God's Mercy.—Looking unto Jesus.—War with devils.—Ministration of, and communion with, Angels, &c.—These works, though they had previously appeared, were all collected and printed together in folio in the year 1689. Since that time several of them have repeatedly been published in various forms, and
in some few instances, from the liberty which has been taken with them, they have been made to speak a language which their author never intended. To this edition, these charges cannot
apply.
On the amiable spirit which these writings breathe, the important doctrines which they inculcate, and the practical godliness which they invariably enforce, but one opinion can be entertained. Like the writings of Baxter, they have a vigorous pulse beating in every page ; and it will be difficult to select a paragraph in which the author does not appear in earnest for the salvation of his readers. It is this sacred principle, rather than the learning (though even of this they are by no means destitute) which they display, that has brought them downward on the stream of time to the present hour ; while many that could boast of more splendid diction and outward decorations, have sunk to rise no more. In his treatise on Communion with Angels, he has collected together a mass of evidence in favour of his positions, much stronger than might have been expected. His conclusions he has also attempted to fortify by making an appeal to recorded incidents. Many of these, however, being taken from the dark ages and others being of doubtful authority, it is very probable, that in the eyes of several judicious readers, he will appear to have injured the cause he intended to promote. This work displays strong powers of mind, an acuteness of mvestigation, and much learning; but notwithstanding its numerous excellencies, it must be acknowledged, that fancy appears predominant in many parts, and, in its wild exuberances, attributes to supernatural agency, various phenomena which might be traced to natural causes. Many of the incidents which he has recorded are, of a very remarkable character, but by no means improbable. But there are others which are of such a nature, as to stagger eyen credulity itself.
These blemishes are however, of little moment, when compared with the life and power that he has infused into the various subjects of which he treats. These are so strong and so influential, that the most insensible can scarcely read without catching something of his pious spirit, and admiring that devotional feeling which ammates every sentence.
On the amiable spirit which these writings breathe, the important doctrines which they inculcate, and the practical godliness which they invariably enforce, but one opinion can be entertained. Like the writings of Baxter, they have a vigorous pulse beating in every page ; and it will be difficult to select a paragraph in which the author does not appear in earnest for the salvation of his readers. It is this sacred principle, rather than the learning (though even of this they are by no means destitute) which they display, that has brought them downward on the stream of time to the present hour ; while many that could boast of more splendid diction and outward decorations, have sunk to rise no more. In his treatise on Communion with Angels, he has collected together a mass of evidence in favour of his positions, much stronger than might have been expected. His conclusions he has also attempted to fortify by making an appeal to recorded incidents. Many of these, however, being taken from the dark ages and others being of doubtful authority, it is very probable, that in the eyes of several judicious readers, he will appear to have injured the cause he intended to promote. This work displays strong powers of mind, an acuteness of mvestigation, and much learning; but notwithstanding its numerous excellencies, it must be acknowledged, that fancy appears predominant in many parts, and, in its wild exuberances, attributes to supernatural agency, various phenomena which might be traced to natural causes. Many of the incidents which he has recorded are, of a very remarkable character, but by no means improbable. But there are others which are of such a nature, as to stagger eyen credulity itself.
These blemishes are however, of little moment, when compared with the life and power that he has infused into the various subjects of which he treats. These are so strong and so influential, that the most insensible can scarcely read without catching something of his pious spirit, and admiring that devotional feeling which ammates every sentence.
Mr. Ambrose was one of those excellent divines, by which the turbulent age in which he lived was distinguished. These, in their combined effulgence, irradiated the gloom of moral darkness which then prevailed, and it is to their indefatigable exertions that we are indebted for many blessings which we now enjoy. He was a star of no common magnitude, in that bright constellation of worthies, who have enriched the world by their writings, and bequeathed their example to posterity.
