xiiithe pastoral question of how the forgotten or neglected treasures of Puritan piety can
speak to the contemporary Church, and in particular those of the Reformed tradition.
Additionally, it is important to establish a few style and format issues that will guide
the reading of this thesis.
Isaac Ambrose (1604-1664), a Lancashire Puritan minister, known for his
practical and devotional writings is the subject of this study. In some cases Ambrose
produced various editions of the same work. Prima and Ultima were published in
numerous versions with some minor expansion as well as contraction, whereas
Media, was released in three different editions that varied significantly. Since these
three works appeared in numerous editions or versions a specific date will always be
given in all references. Looking Unto Jesus first issued in 1658 was later combined
with the War with Devils and Communion with Angels without any alteration of text.
Whilst the 1658 version of Looking Unto Jesus was the standard edition it will be
treated as War with Devils, Communion with Angels, and Redeeming the Time which
were issued only once during Ambrose’s life and therefore do not require a date.
This thesis employs many documents from the seventeenth-century. Spelling
had not yet been standardized and it was often common to italicize various phrases or
entire sentences. All spellings in this thesis reflect those of the original documents
and all italicized words of both primary and secondary sources appear in the originals.
Unless otherwise indicated all quotations from the Bible are from the
Authorized Version (1611).