The True Gain More in Worth Than All the Goods in the World, Title page – Table of contents
The TRVE GAINE: more in worth then all the goods in the world.
Philip. c. 3. v. 7.
Printed by Iohn Legat, Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge. 1601.
To the Right worshipfull, Sir Edward Denny Knight.
IT is a Conclusion of our religiō worthy to be cō sidered: That Christ alone is our Mediator, Iustifier, Propitiatour, Sauiour, by workes and merits which he himselfe wrought within himselfe, and not by any works or merits which he worketh in vsus by his spirit. The scripture saith thus much in expresse wordes. Iustified freely by the redēption THAT IS IN CHRIST IESVS. Ro. 3. 24. He hath by HIMSELFE purged our sinnes. Hebr. 1. 3. He was made sinne for vsus that we should be made the righteousnesse of God IN HIM. 2. Cor. 5. 21. IN HIM are yee complete. Coloss. 3. 10. By his OWNE BLOOD he entred once into the holy place, and obtained eternall redemption. Heb. 9. 12. Againe Christ is said to purge our consciences from dead workes by his blood: because he offered himselfe by his eternall spirit without spot to his father. v. 14. And cō mon reason tels vsus as much. For if men be mystically vnited to Christ, and by this vnion receiue the spirit of Christ, and by the spirit doe good workes, and consequently merit eternal life, they are thē becom partners with Christ, and are receiued into fellowship with him in the worke of mans redemption: whereas he in the Act of our reconciliation with God, admits neither deputie nor partner.
This conclusion beeing thus of infallible trueth, it serues greatly to exalt the grace of God, to abase nature, and to beate downe the pride of all Iustitiarie persons and religions. And for the further explaning of it, serues this Treatise following: which I present to your Worship. And the reason of my doing is this. I remember, almost two yeares agoe, in speech you entred into commendatiōs of that golden text, Phil. 3. v. 7. and withall gaue signification of your desire, that some thing might be set downe, whereby you might be brought to a further vnderstanding of that place of scripture. Therfore to satisfie your desire, I hauehave here penned a short exposition of it. And I hauehave further presumed to publish it in your name desiring it may be a testimonie of a thankefull minde, for your louelove & fauour towards me.
Thus wishing to your Worship continuance and increase of louelove to the holy worde of God, I take my leaue. Anno. 1601. Ian. 20.
Your Worships in all dutie to command W. Perkins.
The text, Phil. 3. 7. containes a comparison of Vnequalls.
Protasis, the first part. I count all things Dung for Christ. Here consider
What things are doung. All things.
Vertues and works before his conuersion. pag. 5.
Vertues and works after his conuersion. pag. 12.
How they are dung, shewed by a gradation. pag. 22.
1. I account all things losse.
2. I depriue my selfe of them.
3. I account them doung.
Apodosis, the second part. Christ is my gaine pag. 33. Here consider
the amplification by a Gradation.
1. I esteeme the knowledge of Christ an exlent thing. pag. 46.
2. I desire to gaine Christ. pag. 57.
3. I desire to be found in Christ in the day of iudgement pag. 61.
the degrees of Gaine in Christ.
1. Iustice by the faith of Christ. pag. 67.
2. Fellowship with Crist in the vertue of his
Resurrection p. 92.
Death. p. 106.
3. Attainment to the resurrection of the dead.