Psal. 124. and at night 1 Pet. 5.7. both which places refreshed and cheered my
soul.”^165 Later that same year on August 1, Ambrose wrote, “[i]n the morning, a little
while before day, I dreamed fearfully of Satans being busie with me about my bed,
and in terror I awaked; the night was rough: Hereupon I meditated on Gods
Judgements now abroad on the earth. After in my Family-duty was read Psal. 103.
and from ver. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. whence I drew some Spiritual comfort.”^166 A
number of themes converge with this second incident. First, it reflects the principle of
simultaneity. While this event began in his dreams and could readily be placed in the
Intrapersonal Struggles of the Soul dimension, he found resolution and peace from
God as he read Scripture to his family. Second, this dream was just two weeks before
the Battle of Preston. Third, the means towards granting Ambrose comfort in both of
these troubling situations was the public reading and meditating on Scripture with his
family.
The Lord’s Supper was a significant aspect of Puritan public worship.^167 The
evidence from Ambrose’s diary confirms this truth for him. On May 2, 1646 he
records “[t[his day (after three years want) we administered and received the
Sacrament of the Lords Supper; it was the most heavenly heart-breaking day
(especially at the time of the Ordinance) that of a long time we enjoyed: Many souls
were raised, many hearts melted. Blessed be God.”^168 Obviously both Ambrose and
his congregation were deeply moved by this experience. The infrequency of
(^165) Ambrose, Media (^) (1650), 78. (^)
(^166) Ambrose, Media (1650), 79.
(^167) For an overview to the Puritan understanding of the Lord’s Supper see Wakefield,
Puritan Devotion, 42-54; Horton Davies, Worship of English Puritans, esp. 22, 119,
150, 204-16; Hambrick-Stowe, Practice of Piety, 32-3, 123-6, 206-18; and Holifield,
Covenant Sealed (^168) Ambrose, Media, esp. 109 (1650), 76.-38. (^)