The Christians Two Chief Lessons, Table of contents 1
A Table of the Contents, of the Treatiſe of Selfe-deniall. On MATTH. 16.24.
Doctrine 1.
THe beſt of Gods ſervants need ſpirituall Counſell. pag. 3
Reaſon.
In regard of their weakeneſſe in foure reſpects. 4
Vſes.
1. Reproofe to carnall men that reject counſell as needleſſe. Ibid.
Their cavils againſt it anſwered. 5
2. Exhort. To ſeeke counſell, and willingly ſubmit to it. Ibid.
Doctrine 2.
Then ſpirituall counſell is moſt ſeaſonable, when carnall counſell is ſuggeſted by others. 7
Doctrine 3.
There muſt be ſound reſolution to follow Chriſt before it can be ſoundly practiſed. Ibid.
The nature of this reſolution opened. 9
Reaſon.
Becauſe Reſolution is the roote and poize of all a mans actions. 11
Vſe.
1. To informe us why men fall off, and follow not a Chriſtian courſe ſtoutly, viz. want of ſound reſolution. 12
2. Exhort to labour for it, if we would follow Chriſt. 13
Meanes to get it.
1. Iudge according to the word, not according to the world; nor preſent view; but looke to the end. 15
2. Labour to diſcover to thy heart a greater worth in ſpirituall, then in temporall things. 16
Doctrine 4.
The Lord Ieſus is the Captaine of his Church. p. 17.
Reaſon.
1. He hath moſt right to it. 18
2. He is moſt fit for it. 18
Vſe.
1. Looke to Chriſt for guidance and direction. Ibid.
2. Terrour to ſuch as oppoſe Chriſt, or his followers. 19
3. Comfort to weake Chriſtians,
1. Againſt oppoſition of enemies. 21
2. In temporall afflictions.
3. In ſpirituall temptations. 22
Doctrine 5.
Faithfull ſervice and Obedience is a following or comming after Chriſt. 23
Jn what manner we muſt follow Christ. 24
How wee ſhould follow Chriſt, 1. Ʋniverſally. 2. Sincerely. 3. Conſtantly. 26
Reaſon.
1. Becauſe Chriſtians have the ſame ſpirit, that Chriſt hath. Ibid.
2. They have the ſame law and rule to guide them. 27
Vſe.
1. To inſtruct us how to carry our ſelves, viz. looke to our Leader, and doe as he doth. Ibid.
2. To examine whether we be Chriſtians; by following in the ſteps of Chriſt. 28
Three ſorts excluded.
1. Open oppoſers againſt Chriſt. 29
2. Apostates. 30
3. Secret Conſpiratours (i.) cunning hypocrites. 31
3. To ſhew us, that Chriſtian profeſſion muſt be accompanied with paine and labour. 32
4. Exhort. to follow Chriſt.
Motives.
1. Its Honourable. 32
2. Pleaſant and comfortable.
3. Profitable. 33
Meanes.
1. Deny-Selfe. 35
2. Take up Croſſe. 35
Deny-Selfe.
What ſelfe is. A foure-fold ſelfe.
1. Naturall.
2. Corru…t. Ibid.
3. Civill.
4. Gracious. 36
What it is to Deny-Selfe. 37
Doctrine 6.
A mans ſelfe naturally is a God to his ſoule. 38
Reaſons.
1. Every naturall man ſeekes in and from himſelfe helpe in what ever he doth. 39
2. Hee aimes at himſelfe, and doth all for himſelfe. 40
3. Man naturally being blinde conceives his owne credit and excellency to be the chiefeſt good. 41
Vſe.
1. Inſtruction. Why wicked mens hearts are ſo oppoſite to Gods word, and ſo troubled at it, viz. becauſe it ſeekes to pluck away their Gods from them. 42
2. It teacheth Selfe-ſeekers what to expect from the Lord, viz. the fierceneſſe of his wrath, becauſe he is a God jealous of his honour. 43
Doctrine 7.
Selfe-denyall is a ſpeciall meanes to make us Chriſts Diſciples. 44
Selfe-cenyall is to be expreſsed in three particulars.
1. In renouncing the authority of ſelfe, laying downe all at Chriſts feete. 45
2. In not expecting ſufficiency in any thing, but Chriſt. 46
3. In not ſuffering our affections to hanker after them. 47
Reaſons.
1. Becauſe Chriſt and ſelfes ſervice cannot ſtand together. Ibid.
2. Becauſe we owe Christ chiefeſt ſervice. 48
Vſe.
1. Inſtruction. Its not an eaſie thing to bee a Diſciple of Chriſt. 49
2. It ſhewes the reaſon why many deny Chriſt in times of tryall, viz. want of Selfe-denyall. Ibid.
Queſt. How farre ſelfe is in the children of God. 51
Queſt. Who they be that deny ſelfe.
4. Tryals of it. 53
3. Exhort. Begin with Selfe-denyall, if you will perſevere in following Chriſt. 57
Meanes to attaine it three. 58
1. Conſider the baſeneſse of ſelfe-ſeeking.
1. In the nature of it. Its baſe ſlavery to,
1. Sinne.
2. Sathan.
3. A corrupt mind.
59
2. The evill that comes by it in 3. things. 60
2. Conſider the good that comes by Self-denyal in 2. things 61
1. Selfe-denyall is the only way to preſerue all. Ibid.
2. If we deny our ſelves, God will not deny us. 62
3. Maintaine in thy ſoule the authority of the Word. 63
Take up his Croſſe.
The words explained. 64
Doctrine 8.
Every follower of Chriſt hath affliction allotted to him as a childs part. 65
Vſe.
1. Inſtruct. Afflictions are no arguments,
Of Gods diſpleaſure.
Of a mans bad condition.
Ibid.
2. Terrour to the wicked. Their Portion will be destruction. 66
Doctrine 9.
The followers of Chriſt muſt cheerefully undergoe what ever afflictions are allotted unto them. 68
This duty conſiſts in three things. 70
Reaſons
1. Becauſe of Gods wiſedome, and fatherly love, who ſends them. 71
2. Becauſe of the benefit of them. 72
3. Becauſe we have deſerved them. Ibid.
Queſt When is a man called to ſuffer.
Anſw. 1. When God ſtops all meanes of avoyding it. 73
2. When by withdrawing wee ſhould diſhonour the Truth, omit duty, or hurt other. 74
Vſes.
Firſt, It reproves 1. ſuch as would be Chriſtians, but would have no croſſes. 75
2. Such as ſtoope, and lift as the Croſſe, but will not beare if heavie. 76
All grounds of ſoundneſse referred to two heads.
1. Hatred to ſinne. 78
2. Love of Chriſt. 78
Secondly, Comfort to ſuch as cheerefully undergoe the Croſse.
It is a note of the ſincerity and truth of grace in them. Ibid.
Three Rules to diſcover an hypocrite from a Saint in ſuffering. 79
Thirdly, Exhort. Take up your Croſse cheerefully if you will be Chriſts followers. 80
Meanes to fit a man to take up his Croſse, 5. 81
1. When we enter upon a Chriſtian courſe, looke for croſſes.
2. Conclude, what ever croſse betide us, will be
1. Small in reſpect of time and ſubſtance. 82
2. The iſsue of it will be good. 83
3. Every day croſse thy corruptions.
4. Looke to Chriſt, when thou ſeeſt the Croſse comming. Ibid.
Looking to Chriſt affords ſuccour under croſses 3. wayes. 84
Fourthly, Inſtruct. If they be Chriſts ſervants that beare the Croſse, they are Satans ſlaves who make it. 85
Doctrine 10.
Selfe-deniall is a ſpeciall meanes to fit the ſoule for ſuffering. 86
Reaſons.
1. It takes away the ſharpneſse of the Croſse, and keepes it from pinching, and that 3. wayes. 87
2. It takes away the weakneſse that is in us to beare the Croſse, and that 2. wayes. 90
Vſes.
1. Inſtruct. It lets us ſee the reaſon, why men flie off from Chriſt in times of trouble: viz. Selfe-fulneſse. Ibid.
2. Examin. How fitted to ſtand for Chriſt if ſuffering times ſhould come, by our skill in this Leſson of Selfe-deniall. 91
3. Direct. How to prepare our ſelves for the fiery triall. viz. Learne this Leſson of Selfe-deniall. 92
Doctrine 11.
Afflictions ſhould not, nay cannot hinder the obedience of the faithfull. 93
An objections againſt it, anſwered. 94
Reaſons
1. Becauſe God allowes not of ſtarting at any time. 96
2. The more oppoſed, the more …ſolute and conſtant … Chriſtian ſhould be: the more love is oppoſed, the more violent and reſolute it is. 97
3. Afflictions (through Christs power over-powering them) doe further obedience, and that 2. wayes.
1. Weaning the ſoule from love of the world, and ſcowring off corruption. Ibid.
2. Stirring up, and ſetting an edge on Grace. 98
Vſe.
Inſtruct No affliction can …cuſe us for not following Chriſt. 99