The Christians Two Chief Lessons, Table of contents 2 – Errata
The Contents of the Treatiſe of Selfe-triall. On 2 CORINTH. 13.5.
Doctrine 1.
COnverſion of ſoules is a ſure teſtimony of the truth and lawfulneſſe of that miniſtery by which they are converted. 203
Reaſon.
Becauſe there is no promiſe of the Spirits aſſiſtance to accompany any Teachers, but ſuch as God ſends. 204
Vſe.
To confute ſectaries, who reject the miniſterie of the Church of England. Ibid.
Doctrine 2.
It is poſſible for a man to know, whether he be in the ſtate of Grace, or no. 204
Vſe.
1. To confute that tenet, that no man can be aſſured of his ſalvation. 205
2. Exhort. To uſe all meanes to get aſsurance of our being in the ſtate of Grace. Ibid.
Doctrine 3.
Men are naturally apt to miſ-judge themſelves touching their ſpirituall eſtate. 206
Reaſon.
1. Ground is taken from the deceitfulnes of mans heart. …07
2. From Satans continuall endeavour to corrupt the judgement, and make a naturall man well conceited of himſelf. Ibid.
Vſe.
Not to beleeve our owne deceitfull hearts, and perverted judgements in the matter of our ſalvation. Ibid.
Doctrine 4
A mans ſpirituall eſtate is not alway diſcernable to himſelfe. 208
Reaſons.
1. God orders it ſo, to keepe the heart humble, &c. 209
2. To puniſh our former careleſse reſpect of his mercy to us. 210
Vſe.
Comfort to Chriſtians that are dejected for want of aſsurance, that they belong to the election of grace. Ibid.
Doctrine 5.
Every one is bound carefully to examine his owne eſtate to Godward, (i.) whether he be in the ſtate of Grace, or no. 211
Reaſon.
1. Becauſe the heart is ſo deceitfull, that it is difficult truly to know a mans owne estate. 212
2. Becauſe the ſtate of glory depends upon our being in the ſtate of grace here. Ibid.
Three ſorts of men thinke themſelves in the ſtate of Grace, who are deceived with the falſe ſhadowes of it.
1. The Civill man.
2. The Formaliſt.
3. The Temporary Profeſsour.
213
What Civill Righteouſneſſe is. Ibid.
What the Grounds of Civill Righteouſneſſe are. 214
What the Deceits are▪ whereby the Civill man beguiles himſelfe. Ibid.
The Civill mans firſt Self-beguiling Deceit: viz. applauding himſelfe in his good dealings and good meaning, diſcovered 3. wayes. Ibid.
2. Deceit, In a comparative Righteouſneſse, diſcovered 4. wayes. 216
3. Deceit, In a reſtraint from the outward act of ſinne, anſwered 3 wayes. 218
4. Deceit, In out-ſtripping many Profeſsours in his Practice, diſcovered three wayes. 219
5. Deceit, In his harmeleſse converſation, diſcovered 2. wayes. 221
6. Deceit, In being well eſteemed and reported of among his neighbours, diſcovered 3. wayes. 222
The ſecond falſe Shadow.
Formall Righteouſneſse. 223
What it is. 224
Formaliſts may performe 6. ſorts of duties of the firſt Table. Ibid.
What the Grounds of Formall Righteouſneſse are, and of reſting in it. 3. 225
The Formaliſts firſt Deceit, whereby he gathers confidence that his courſes are approved of God: viz. In that he endures ſcoffes and troubles for the duties he performes, diſcovered 3. wayes. 227
2. Deceit, In good mens applauding him in his courſes, diſcovered 3. wayes. 229
3. Deceit, In the ſeeming agreement betwixt him and the moſt forward Profeſsours in Religious duties, diſcovered 2. wayes. 230
Vſe.
Exhort. To beware of reſting in Formall Righteouſneſse, … preſsed by 4. Mo…ives. 231, 232
The 3. falſe Harbour wherein the ſoule reſts it ſelfe: viz. Temporary Righteouſneſse. 233
What it is. Ibid.
What the Grounds of it are. 234
The Temporaries firſt Deceit; Jn that he can rejoyce in the Word. 235
A fivefold difference betwixt the joy of the Temporary and the Elect, in hearing the Word. Ibid.
2. Deceit, Jn his inward ſorrow for ſinne, diſcovered 4. wayes. 238
A twofold difference betwixt the Temporaries ſorrow for ſin, and the true Chriſtians. 239
3. Deceit, In his good motions, deſires, and purpoſes. 240
A threefold difference betweene the Temporaries deſires, and thoſe in true Converts. Ibid.
4. Deceit, In his forwardneſse to good duties, diſcovered 3. wayes. 241
5. Deceit, In that he findes the Lord rewarding him for what he doth, diſcovered 2. wayes. 243
Vſe.
Exhort. Not to reſt in theſe imperfect motions that are common to the Temporary. 244
Motives to perſeverance. 3. Ibid.
Foure particulars diſcuſſed for direction in the duty of Selfe-triall. 246
1. What Graces are of the Eſſence of a Chriſtian.
2. What their nature is. Ibid.
3. What is the leaſt meaſure of them.
4. What be the ſeverall markes of them.
1. Faith, what it is, and what is the leaſt meaſure of it. 248
Markes of true faith. 6. 250
1. It purifies the heart.
2. Spirit of Prayer.
3. It followes legall humiliation. 251
4. It is aſsaulted with doubtings. 252
5. It is wrought and increaſed by the Word.
6. It breeds conteniment in all eſtates. 253
Vſe.
To diſcover the faith of moſt to be counterfeit. 254
2. Godly ſorrow, what it is, and the leaſt meaſure of it. 256
Markes of it.
1. Jt ſprings from ſenſe of Gods mercies. 258
2. It is laſting.
3. Of generall extent.
4. Cured onelyonly by conſolations of the Scriptures. 260
5. Attended with a traine of other graces. 261
Vſe.
Not to reſt in legall affrightments, or worldly griefe in ſtead of godly ſorrow. 262
3, Change of minde, what it is. 263
The leaſt meaſure of it. 264
Markes of it.
1. It is totall.
2. It makes a man victorious. 265
3. It is wrought by the word. 266
4. It cauſeth to differ from naturall men in divers properties. 267
5. Jt cauſeth difference in the manner of ſinning. 269
Vſe.
To diſcover divers living in the Church not to be living members of it. 270
4. New obedience, what it is, the leaſt meaſure of it. 271
Markes of it in generall.
1. It is grounded on the Word. 273
2. It is univerſall. Ibid.
3. It is conſtant. 275
4. It is of a growing nature. 278
Markes of it in particular.
1. Love to good men for goodneſſe ſake. 279
2. Meekneſſe of ſpirit. Ibid.
3. Mercifulneſſe. 280
Vſe.
To diſcover the obedience of 5. ſorts to be unſound. Ibid.
Vſe.
Exhort. To the practice of the duty propounded in the former Doctrine: viz. exactly to try our ſelves whether in the ſtate of Nature, or of Grace. 281
Motives.
1. No ſound comfort to be had, till we know our ſelves to be in the ſtate of Grace. Ibid.
2. We are many wayes ſubject to be miſtaken in judging our eſtate. 282
3. The irrecoverableneſſe of the danger of being miſtaken herein. 283
4. In other things men count it wiſdome to try before they truſt. Ibid.
5. It is a maine end of our time allowed us, to gaine the aſſurance of a better life. 284
The Contents of the Treatiſe of ADOPTION. On IOHN 1.12, 13.
Doctrine 1.
All the faithfull are the adopted children of God. 287
Reaſons.
1. Ground of it is our union with Chriſt. 288
2. End of it. To entitle us to the heavenly inheritance. Ibid.
Doctrine 2.
None are the children of God by Adoption but ſuch as are ſo by Regeneration. 289
Reaſons.
1. Ground of Regneration is our union with Chriſt, wrought by faith and Gods ſpirit. 290
2. End of it, To prepare and fit us for our heavenly Inheritance. 291
Vſes.
1. Inform. The great Dignity of Beleevers. 292
2. It ſhould ſtirre us up to believe in Chriſt. 294
3. Examination. Try our Adoption by our Regeneration. 295
Queſt. How to know that we are regenerated. Ibid.
4. The Duty of Regenerate, to live as becomes the ſonnes of God. 297
5. Comfort.
1. Againſt ſenſe of our unworthineſſe. 2. Poverty. 299
3. Againſt contempt of worldlings. 300
4. Againſt feare of want. 301
5. Againſt ſpirituall infirmities. 302
6. Againſt Afflictions. 7. Injuries. Ibid.
8. Againſt dangers and diſtreſſes. 303
Errata.
PAge 12. lin. 3. for ſtorme, read ſterne, p. 20. l. 26. for ſell, r. ſet, p. 27. l. 1. for will to judge, r. rule to guide, p. 36. l. 3. for it. r. is p. 49. l. 8. for gare, r. gate, p. 67. l. 4. for end, r. and, p. 9…. l. 25. for one, ſaith he, reſolved r. one ſaith, he reſolved, p. 9…. l. 8. for perſon, r. priſon, p. 204. l. 21. for inforced, r. inferred, p. 220. l. 5. for by fall to, r. to fall by, p. 235. l. 23. for threefold, r. fivefold.