The Way to Blessedness, Index
THE TABLE.
A
Page.
AFflictions: How they are a meanes of good vntounto vsus.
Page 163. 164.165.
An examination of our profiting by Afflictions.
p. 167.168
A reproofe of such as vpbraid the Children of God in and for their Afflictions.
169.
Comfort to the Afflicted, in that their estate.
172.
Atheisme: An vnreverend estimation of Scripture, is a sure signe of Atheisme and Infidelitie.
p. 11.
Attention: The words Authour should raise vsus to Attention.
p. 9.
B.
Barrennesse: It cannot be of Spirituall fruit, where there is Delight in, and Meditation on the word.
145.
We ought to consider of our Barrennesse.
194.195.
Basenes: There is nothing but Basenes in wickednes.
221.
Beginnings: The Beginnings of delight in Gods law… is a comfort to Gods servants.
140.
Beautie: The wicked cannot discerne any Beautie in Holines.
185.
Blessednes: Its description, and whence it followes.
1. 2.
No sayling to its Haven without the Word.
p. 2.
This Blessednes, discouered more fully by elegant similitudes.
18. 19. 20.
The word Blessed, yet more fully vnfolded.
20.
That the Elect of God, not onelyonly shall be h…reafter, but are already Blessed.
28.
Repentance is the way to Blessednes.
48.
D…light in Gods law bringeth Blessednes.
89.
That a wicked man is not blessed.
175.
Blessednes: Wherein it consisteth not.
176.
Reasons for it.
178.
C
Chaffe, what and wherein the wicked are resembled thereunto.
219.
Chang…, a reproofe of such as change not, or if they doe it is for the worse.
136.137.
Christ: a complaint, with an answer to that complaint of all discouragements, of following Christ.
10.11.
Christian: how a weake or distressed Christian is to be handled.
34,35.
Companie: vide Fellowship. Whosoever desires to bee happie, must avoid the companie of the wicked.
26.
How farre the companie of the wicked must be necessarily avoided.
ibid & 27.
Congregation: what the word signifies.
2.
Contrite: comfort for the contrite.
Counsell: what it signifieth.
21.
Wicked Counsell will not bee wanting as long as wee liue in this world.
22.
A caveat for such as giuegive ungodly counsell.
34.
The inevitable mischiefe of such as follow the counsell of the wicked.
240.
Curse: nothing but sinne and wickednesse can bring a curse.
179.
D
Darkenesse: what it doth most commonly intend or imply.
129.
Death: how the spirituall death is resembled with bodily.
108.109.
Delight: Delight in Gods Law bringeth blessednes.
89.
And sweetnesse.
96.
We must be so delighted in the law, as by it to be refreshed.
ib.
Reasons to enforce this affection of delight in the Law.
97
What a temporarie delight the wicked hauehave in the word.
99
A pressing to this delight.
106
Where there is delight in, and meditation on the word, there can be no barrennes.
145
Delight in the word brings not onelyonly grace but glory also.
149
And prosperitie.
160.161
Deny: how men deny God in his word, how in their workes.
103
Devill: he is a cunning fowler.
22.23
Doing, that is the fruit of the good seede of Gods word.
114 115
Hearing and doing must goe together.
ibid
E
Edification: wee must so have the word in our selues, as to edifie others also.
113
Elect: the Elect of God not onelyonly shall be hereafter, but are …lready bl…ssed.
28
A reproofe of such as make no good use of the doctrine of Election and Predestination.
259
Estate: A twofold knowledge by which we may judge of our Estate.
54.55
Evill: The heart of man is not onelyonly prone to evill, … resolute in it.
47
F
Faithfull: They can never fall finally.
149
Vide fall.
The faithfull must not limit God his time for the accomplishment of his promises.
155
Fall: The faithfull can never fall finally.
149
This is strongly, sweetly, and soundly maintained.
150
An objection answered.
151.156,157
Comforts against that uncomfortable doctrine of Pelagius.
158
In all the judgements of God the wicked shall fall.
234
Feeling: How sinfull men feele not their miserie, with their woe therein.
181
Fellowship vide Companie.
p. 26.27
Follow: A sweet encouragement to follow such a Leader or Guide as Christ.
10
An answere to such discouragements as may dishearten us herein.
ibid
Fortune: The folly of laying good and evill successe upon the shoulders of Fortune.
170
Fruit: When the word is rightly heard, fruit followes.
144
Reasons of it.
144.145
G
Glory: The wicked shall never enter into Glory.
202
Reasons.
202.203.
God: How he is denyed in his word, how in our workes,
103. 104
Grace: Its resembled with salt.
24
Grace is communicatiue.
39
Growth in Grace is not presently perfected.
154
Grace doth not, neither can spring from Nature.
200
True saving Grace as it is planted, so nourished by the word.
200
The heart of a wicked man so farre as it is wicked, is incapable of the fruits of Grace.
201
Grafting: How used, and what is implyed by it.
131
Signes of being truely engrafted into Christ.
132.133
Growth: A full growth of grace is not gotten as soone as it is planted.
154.
H
Happinesse: Whosoever desires to be happy must avoid the companie of the wicked.
26
Reasons for it.
ibid
Must delight in Gods Law.
97
How to know whether we be entred into that way of happines
98
It is the word of God that makes men happy.
109
The happines of man consists not in any one outward blessing.
176
Reasons for it.
178
Hearing: A reproofe of our negligence in Hearing, in that wee consider not, that God speakes by his Ministers.
15
The danger of not being diligent in hearing.
16
A perswasion to this diligence.
ibid
Hearing and doing must goe together.
114.115
Of our strange neglect of Hearing, with an answer to those frivolous excuses which men make for the same.
118.119. 120
When the word is rightly heard, fruit followes.
144
Holinesse: The wicked cannot discerne any beautie in holinesse.
185
A wicked man so farre forth as he is wicked is incapable of the fruits of holinesse.
200.201
Where true holinesse is, it will not suffer wickednes to dwell in the heart peaceably.
201
I
Ignorance: Wilfull stubbornes is worse then grosse Ignorance
50.51
How hereby a man may judge of a knowing Papist.
52
Ignorance expressed by the word darkenes.
129
Infidelitie: An vnreverend estimation of Scripture is a sure signe of Infidelitie.
11
Iudgements: The cursed securitie of our sluggish nature will never tremble at the judgements of God, vntill they attach us.
227
The vngodly shall not stand in judgement.
229
The signification of the word judgement.
230
The judgement of the wicked.
231
In all the judgements of God the wicked shall fall.
234
The fearefull securitie of such as prepare not for the judgement Day.
235.236.…37
Motives to mind that Day.
239
Iust: Sinners shall not stand in the Congregation of the just.
240
Proved.
241
K
Knowledge: What knowledge is said to be in God.
252
The sweet comfort of Gods knowing vsus.
261
Wee should labour for such wayes as those, by which God may know vsus.
261.262
L
Law: The Law of the Lord how taken.
88.89
Delight therein causeth blessednes.
89
The Lawes sweetnes.
94
A censure of such as find no sweetnesse in the Law.
105
A pressing motive to take delight in the Law.
106
Leafe: The life of the godly is expressed by the never-fading leafe.
143
Learne, Man is ind…cible, till God doth teach.
6
Life: The word is compared to many things tending to life.
110
The Ever-flourishing Life of the godly is expressed by the never-fading leafe.
143
M
Meditation: What it signifieth?
pa, 107
Reasons pressing Meditation on the word.
116
Meanes to make our hearts fit for Meditation.
124. 125
Mercy: Gods mercies, are not disposed according to mans fancies.
193
Mocke: vid: Scorne: How God is mocked both in his word, in his workes, in his Saints.
74 75. &….
Mocking: what a high degree of sinne it is.
77
A sharpe reproofe for mockers.
79. 72
It is devillish profanenes, and how it appeares.
83
The fearefulnes of the sinne of mocking of the meanest of Gods …nisters.
84
Wherein the Papists mocking of God and Religion, appeares.
85. 86
N.
Nature: Grace doth not, neither can spring from nature.
200
Natures cursed securitie, in that it will not tremble at the Iudgements of God till they attach vsus.
227
Neglect: Of our neglect in hearing the word, with all the frivolous excuses made for the same.
118.119.120
O.
Outward: The happines of man consisteth not in any one outward blessing.
176
P.
Palme-tree: what, and why the godly are compared to it.
page 128.129.
As the fruit of the Palme-tree is long in growing: so the fruites of the Spirit, come not presently to maturitie.
147
The wicked are in nothing, like the Palme-tree.
189
Confir…ed by Reason.
190
Papists: Their abhominable abuse of Scripture.
11.12.13
A rule whereby to judge of a knowing Papist.
52
Wherein the Papists mocking of God and Religion appeares.
85.86
A layi…g open of the hypocrisie of that false Church of Papists.
145
How they subvert the inward and outward parts of Gods worship.
245.246.247.
Perseverance: Stubborne perseverance in a wilfull course after warning from Gods word, is a state farre worse then grosse ignorance.
50
A refutation of the opinion of them that denie the perseverance of the Saints.
155
Objections thereof answered.
156.157.&c.
Plant: The examination of our plantation & transplantation in Gods Garden.
135.152
Policie: No Policie can prosper without counsell from the word.
212
Reasons.
213
Practice: It is the fruit of that good seede of Gods word.
114
115
Reasons why hearing and practice must goe together,
115
Preaching: It being true and sound, ought to bee received with reverence and subjection, aboue any word or Law of any creature.
91,92, &c.
Promise: The faithfull must not limit God his time for the accomplishment of his promises.
155
Prosperitie: what it is.
159
Whom it shall follow.
160 161
Objections on instances against the prosperitie of the godly.
162.163
How the wicked prosper.
166
The ungodly doe not alwayes prosper.
198.199
Reasons.
200
The wicked are but woefull in their most prosperous condition.
209
Reasons to confirme it.
210.211
What prosperitie it i… which evill men so hunt after.
214
A reproofe of such as desire prosperitie, and yet take the way that leads to destruction.
215
An Exhortation to take the right path-way to prosper.
216
Psalme: This first Psalmes Summe.
3
With its division into generall parts.
ibid
David, and in him the Holy Ghost is the Authour of this first Psalme.
4
Proved by reasons.
5
R
Repentance: It is the onelyonly way to blessednes.
48
Repentance defined.
49
The manifold change that is in it.
49.50
A sweet comfort to sinners in their penitent estate.
86
Resist: Two kinds of Resisters of God and his word, one open, another private.
56
Divers instances of stout Resist…rs of Gods word,
60.61.
Their wickednes that resist the word.
117
Resolution: That the heart of man is not onelyonly prone to sin, but resolut… in it.
47
Righteous: what is meant by the way of the righteous.
251
The Lord chuseth out the righteous for himselfe, and their paths for them.
255
Reasons for it.
ibid, &c.
The Lord loveth not onelyonly the persons of the righteous, but their wayes also.
256
Their infallible happines.
256
The endlesse comfort which the righteous have of this, that God kn…weth them.
261
We should labour that he might so know us.
ibid
S
Sabbath: Sabbath-breakers reproved.
138
Saints: A Saints estate bless…d even in his rebukes.
29
His estate at the worst is most happie.
29 30
He is all glorious within.
ibi…
The tryall of being a Saint.
32.33
Salt: Grace fitly resembled to Salt.
24
Salvation: the words power to Salvation.
108.109
Scripture: An vnreverend estimation of it, is a sure argument of Infidelitie and Atheisme.
11
The particulars wherein Papists despitefully speake against the Scriptur….
11.12.13
Scorne: Scorner: What is meant by these two words.
69
How God is scorned in his word, in his workes, and in his Saints.
74.75.76
Scorning, what a high degree of sinne it is.
77
Seat: what is meant by the word seat, and phrase of sitting.
68
Securitie: It must be shaken off.
249
The meanes how.
250
Selfe: a gentle reproof of such as are strangers to themsel:
13
How Pharisaicall most men are herein.
14
Sicknesse: It and sinne resembled.
71
Sinne vide wickednesse.
Sinners, the divers acceptation of the word.
45
The heart of man is not only prone to sin, but resolute in it.
47
Degrees of sinnes and sinners.
70
Sinne and sickenes resembled.
71
Heinous sinnes doe heavily infect.
ibid
One sinne is a steppe to another.
72
Examples of this.
73.74
A sweet comfort to sinners in their returne by repentance.
86
Nothing but sinne brings a curse.
179
The wofull senselesne sof such as feele no burden in the waight of sinne.
187
Stand: what is signifies.
45
Subtiltie: The Devils subtiltie described.
22.23
Successe: The folly of such as lay good and evill successe on the shoulders of Fortu…e.
170
Sweetnesse: The Lawes sweetnesse.
94
A censure of such as find no sweetnes in the Law.
105
T
Teach: Man is indocible till God doth teach.
6
How God doth tutor us in his Teaching.
8
A sound and sweet method of Teaching.
31
Temptation: A prettie description of the Devils subtilties in his Temptations.
22.23
Tree: the Godly that delight in, and meditate on Gods Law are compared to a tree planted by the Rivers side.
127.128
What Tree is there meant by the Psalmist.
128
How, and why the Godly are compared to the Palme-tree.
128.129.
V
Vnderstanding: What our Vnderstanding is by the word, and what without it.
6.7
Vngodly: vide wicked.
That they are not blessed.
175
They doe not alwayes prosper.
198.199
Vnprofitablenesse: It ought to bee acknowledged even in the best.
194
W
Walking: the metaphorical word walke, what it signifies,
20.
Water the word compared not onelyonly to water, but to Rivers of water.
134
Wickednesse vide sinne.
Wicked: Whosoever desires happinesse, must eschew the companie of the wicked.
26
How farre the companie of the wicked must necessarily be avoided.
ibid
The inevitable mischiefe of such as follow the counsell of the wicked.
43.44
That the wicked are not blessed.
175
Every wick: man is a cursed creature, & a wretched man.
182
Though their condition seeme altogether contrary.
183
The wicked can discerne no beautie in holinesse.
185
The wicked are nothing like the Palme-tree.
189
The word profits not the wicked.
191
Reasons of it.
192
The wicked shall never enter into glorie.
202
Reasons.
202.203
A faithlesse perswasion of the wicked, that they hauehave faith,
205.207
The wicked woefull in their prosperous condition.
209
Wherein the wicked are likened to chaffe.
219
They are good for nothing.
220
Base in the eyes of God.
221
Though the wicked prosper, yet Gods judgements will find them out, and so fall on them.
222.223
A reproofe of such as will not be winnowed by the wind of Gods word from their wickednesse.
222.223
The wicked enjoy good things, but not for their good.
233
In all the judgements of God the wicked shall fall.
234
They a…e despised of God in what ever belongs to them, or is done by them.
263.264
Notable grounds and reasons for it.
264 265
The Vses of it.
266
Wisedome: All the wisedome of the world without the word cannot prosper.
212
A reproofe of such as prefer their owne wits before Gods wi… edome.
215
Word: It is the way to blessednes.
2
A confutation of Poperie, for making the Law no perfect rule or direction.
100
How God is denied in his word.
103.104
The word is sharpe.
ibid
A reproofe of such as find no sweetnesse in the word.
105
The words power to salvation.
108.109
It onelyonly makes men happy.
ibid
The word is compared to every thing tending to life:
110
Of our studie that should be in the word.
111
It is the most excellent object that is.
112
We must so hauehave the word in our selues, as thereby to edifie others also.
113
A reproofe of our neglect in reading and hearing of Gods word.
118.119.
The word is not onelyonly as water, but as River of water: with the meaning of it.
134
When the word is rightly heard, fruit followes.
144.145
The word profits not the wicked.
191
Reasons of it.
192
A due censure of such as converse not so much in the word, as to feele the sweetnesse thereof.
196
The rejecting therof by any person or people consumes thē.
197
Motiues to make us clea…e to the word.
198
All wisedome without the word cannot prosper.
212
World: The vanitie of worldly minded men.
268
The way to get out of worldly mindednesse.
269
Worship: A reproofe of that common sinne of devised worship.
102
FINIS.
End of the text · Phineas Fletcher, The Way to Blessedness (1632)