Other diary entries record Ambrose’s reflections upon the Civil Wars. During
1643 the town of Preston changed hands twice. In both examples Ambrose views this
through the lens of God’s providence.^193 Once more Preston occupied a prominent
place where the decisive battle that concluded the second Civil War was fought. On
August 22, 1648, days after the battle ended, Ambrose reports,
I returned to Preston, and saw the wonderful works of God, and heard of
many miracles of Mercies... That no place (whither the Enemy came)
escaped Plundering, except Preston, which was prevented by the Armies
coming in the very nick of tibelieved that the Lord heard me... Upon meditation of the whole business, I my prayers: 1. In that my heart sympathized: 2.
In that my heart was filled with joy in accomplishment: 3. In that the Mercy
concerned me, in respect of my person, Family, Congregation, as much as any
other.^194
It is noteworthy that Ambrose offers thanksgiving to God for answered prayer only
six weeks after he lamented during a public fast, “[o] when will the Lord return
answers!”^195 Again he recognizes the presence of God through God’s providence.
The second edition of Media included a new spiritual duty called the suffering
of saints. Most likely Ambrose’s struggles during the Civil Wars as a nonconformist
contributed to this addition. This provides another illustration of simultaneity. The
suffering that Ambrose experienced through the Civil War overlaps with the previous
dimension of Intrapersonal Struggles of the Soul. Further, it will soon be clear that
this also relates to the Geo-Environmental dimension since it originates in Preston.
John Spurr summarizes this Puritan practice of ‘sanctifying the suffering’ with the
“assumption that every event contains a divine message, and the conviction that it is
193
194 Ambrose, Media (1650), 72.^
195 Ambrose, Ambrose, MediaMedia (1650), 80, cf. 101. (1650), 79.