fairly unique to him.^41 One wonders whether he first began this spiritual discipline by
following the practice of his biblical namesake. Genesis 24:63 records, “and Isaac
went out in the fields at night to meditate.”^42 The first recorded experience of these
retreats was May 1641. This coincided with the beginning of his diary.^43 The
complete entry from May 20, 1646 provides both an example of the framework
Ambrose followed during his retreat as well as some of the ways in which he
experienced God:
I came to Weddicre, which I did upon mature resolution, every year about that
pleasant Spring time (if the Lord pleased) to retire my self, and in some
solitary and silent place to practice especially the secret Duties of a Christian:
In this place are sweet silent Woods, and therein this moneth, and part of the
next, the Lord by his Spirit wrought in me Evangelical Repentance for sin,
gave me sweet comforts, and Spiritual refreshings in my commerce, and
intercourse with him, by Prayer, and Meditation, and Self-Examination, &
discovered to me the causeMinistry: whereupon I prayed more fervently, pressed the Lord with his s of my many troubles and discouragements in my
promises, set his Power, and Wisdom, and Mercy on work; and so waited and
believed, till the Lord answered every Petition, and I could not but observe his
hand in it. This was a comfortable time to my soul.^44
Through his vivid and highly descriptive language Ambrose provides a number of
insights to this particular retreat experience. He was both conscious of and dependent
upon the Spirit to lead him to a greater awareness of his sins and to experience the
accompanying refreshment that brought him into a deeper personal communion with
God. As he broadened his use of spiritual practices he again gained personal insight
(^41) Joseph Alleine also withdrew in solitude for retreats but they were shorter in
duration than those of Ambrose. Theodosia Alleine, Life and Death, 43-4.
Additionally, John Lightfoot of Ashley “built a study in his garden, in which he
devoted all his spare time to researches in Hebrew.” spent much time in contemplation in her garden or “wilderness”. Fraser, “Mary Rich, DNB, 11:1108. Mary Rich
Countess of Warwick,” 49. Thomas Shepard also used his garden for his meditations.
McGiffert, 42 God’s Plot, 122, 126.
Elsewhere Ambrose draws upon this text to indicate that evening might be the best
time for some people to practice their spiritual duties. 43 Media (1657), 217.
Ambrose, Media (1657), 87. I assume that the first retreat was in 1641; though it is
possible it began earlier. I believe it was closely connected with Ambrose’s practice
to keep a diary. (^44) Ambrose, Media (^) (1650), 74.