Three Treatises, Title page – Table of contents
THREE TREATISES OF
The Uanity of the Creature.
The Sinfulnesse of Sinne.
The Life of Christ.
BEING THE SVBSTANCE OF SEVERALL SERMONS PREACHED AT LINCOLNS INNE:
BY EDWARD REYNOLDES, PREACHER to that Honourable Society, and late Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford.
GAL. 2. 20.
Not I, but Christ liveth in me.
LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Robert Bostocke, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Kings Head. 1631.
HONORATISSIMO ET CELEBERRIMO DOCTISSIMORVM Iurisprudentium Collegio, Hospitij Lincolniensis Magistris Uenerabilibus, Socijsque universis, Auditoribus suis faventissimis,
EDWARDVS REYNOLDES EIDEM HETAERIAE A SACRIS CONCIONIBVS; Tres hosce Tractatus:
De Rerum Secularium vanitate.
De Peccato supra modum peccante.
De Christi in Renatis vitâ ac vigore:
MINISTERII IBIDEM SVI foreign quaedam, Exile quidem & perexiguum, perpetuae tamen observantiae, Summae que in Christo Dilectionis pignus, Humiliter & Devotè D. D. D.
A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS.
The first Treatise. The Vanity of the Creature. ECCLES. 1. 14.
PRoportion and Proprietie the grounds of satisfaction to the soule. Pag. 3
The Creature insufficient to satisfie the Desires of the soule. 4
The Ground hereof▪ The vast disproportion betweene the soule and the Creature. 7
The Creature vaine, 1. in its nature and worth. 9
Therefore wee should not trust in it, nor swell with it. 11
The Creature vaine, 2. in its deadnesse and inefficacie. 15
Therefore we should not relie on it, nor attribute sufficiency to it. 19
How to use the Creature as a dead Creature:
1. Consider its dependence and subordination to Gods power. 22
2. Sanctifie and reduce it to its primitive goodnesse. 24
How the Creature is sanctified by the word and prayer. 26
3. Love it in its owne order. 34
The Creature vaine, 3 in its duration. 36
The Rootes of Corruption in the Creature. 38
Corrupt mindes are apt to conceive an immortalitie in earthly things. 46
The proceedings of Gods providence in the dispensation of earthlie things wise and iust. 48
Correctives to be observed in the use of the Creature.
1. Keepe the intellectuals sound and untainted. 52
2. By faith looke through and above them. 55
3. Convert them to holy uses. 58
Great disproportion betweene the soule and the Creature. It is vexation of spirit. 59
Caresare Thornes, because, first, they wound the spirit, secondly, they choak and overgrow the heart, thirdly, they deceive, fourthly, they vanish. 59
Degrees of this vexation:
1. In the procuring of them. 62
2. In the multiplying of them, 64
3. In the use of them. Discovered, 67
1. In knowledge, naturall and civill. 68
2. In Pleasures. 70
3. In Riches. 72
4. In the Review of them. 74
5. In the disposing of them. 75
The Grounds of this vexation:
1. Gods Curse. 76
2. The Corruption of nature. 78
3. The deceitfulnesse of the Creature. 80
It is lawfull to labour and pray for the Creature, though it vex the spirit. 84
We should be humbled in the sight of sinne which hath defaced the Creation. 86
Wee should be wise to prevent those cares which the Creatures are apt to breed. 89
Irregular cares are both superfluous, and sinnefull. 90
How to take away or prevent Vexation:
1. Pray for that which is convenient to thy abilities and occasions. 94
2. Take nothing without Christ. 95
3. Throw out every execrable thing. 97
4. Keepe the spirit untouched, and uncorrupted. 98
What it is to set the heart on the Creature. 99
The spirit is the most tender and delicate part of man. 100
A heart set on the world is without strength… Passive or Active:
1. Vnable to beare temptations:
1. Because Satan proportioneth temptations to our lusts. 101
2. Because temptations are edg'd, with promises and threatnings. 105
3. God oftē gives wicked mē over to belieue lies. 107
2. Vnable to beare afflictions. 108
3. Vnable to performe any active obedience with strength 110
How to use the Creature as a vexing Creature. 113
The second Treatise. The sinfulnesse of Sinne.ROM. 7. 9.
NAturall light not sufficient to understand the Scriptures. 118
How the Commandement came to Saint Paul, and how hee was formerly without it. 119
A man may have the Law in the Letter, and be without it in the Power and Spirit. 121
Ignorance doth naturally beget blind zeale, and strong misperswasions. 122
Saving knowledge is not of our owne fetching in. The Spirit by the Commandement convinceth a man to be in the state of sinne. 123
Nature teacheth some things, but it cannot thorowly convince. 125
The Spirit convinceth: first, by opening the Rule, which is the Law. 129
The strength of sinne twofold to
Condemne us.
Operate or stirre in us.
It hath the strength of a
Lord. 129
Husband. 129
How sinne hath its life and strength from the Law by the
Obligation. of it. 130
Irritation. of it. 130
Conviction. of it. 130
The Spirit by the Commandement convinceth us,
1. Of Originall sinne; either imputed, as Adams sin. 134
Or inherent, as the corruption of Nature. 135
In naturall corruption consider,
1. The universalitie of it in
Times. 136
Persons. 136
Parts. 136
Corruption of
the Minde. 139
the Conscience and Heart. 140
the Will. 141
the Memory and whole man. 142
2. The closenesse and adherency of it to nature. 143
How the body of sinne is destroyed in this life. 144
Why God suffereth the remainders of corruption in us. 147
3. The contagion of it on our best workes. 149
4. The fruitfulnesse of it bringing fruit
suddenly. 151
continually. 151
desperately. 151
unexpectedly. 151
5. The temptations of it. 155
6. The warre and rebellion of it. 157
7. The wisedome and policies of it. 161
8. The strength and power of it. 164
9. The madnesse of it, and that twofold:
1. Fiercenesse and rage. 167
2. Inconsideratenesse and inconsistency of reason. 184
10. The indefatigablenesse of it. 185
Being naturall and 186
Unsatisfiable. 188
11. The propagation of it. 193
The great error of those who either mitigate▪ or denie originall sinne. 199
In our humiliations for sinne we should begin with our evill nature. 212
We should be iealous of our selves and our evill hearts. 213
We should hold warre with our corruptions. 215
We should be patient under the weight of our concupiscence. 216
Wherein the strength of lust lies. 218
How to withstand concupiscence in all the wayes thereof. 221
The Spirit by the Commandement convinceth us,
2. Of actuall sin, with the severall aggravations thereof. 226
The Spirit convinceth, 2. by discovering the condition of the state of sinne.
1. It is an estate of extreme impotency to good, 233
because of our naturall
Impuritie. 234
Enmity. 234
Infidelitie. 234
Folly. 234
In the wicked there is a totall impotency. 237
Whether all the workes of naturall men are sinfull. 237
How God rewardeth the good workes of wicked men. 244
How the good workes of wicked men proceed from Gods Spirit. 245
Whether a wicked man ought to omit his almes, prayers, and religious services? 246
In the best there is a partiall impotency. 250
What a man should doe when he finds himselfe disabled and deaded in good workes. 253
2. It is an estate of extreme enmitie against God and his waies. 255
How the spirit by the Commandement doth convince men to be in the state of sinne. 258
The spirit by the commandement convinceth men to bee under the guilt of sinne. 260
There is a naturall conviction of the guilt of sinne: and 260
There is a spirituall and evangelicall conviction of the guilt of sinne. 261
What the guilt and Punishments of sinne are. 262
ROM. 6. 12.
Sinne will abide in the time of this mortall life in the most Holie. 273
Our death with Christ unto sinne is a strong argument against the raigne of it. 275
Difference betweene the regall and tyrannicall power of Sinne. 277
Whether a man belong unto Christ or sinne. 279
Sinne hath much strength
from it selfe. 282
from Satan and the world. 285
from us. 285
What it is to obey sinne in the lusts thereof. 286
Whether sinne may Raigne in a regenerate man? 288
How wicked men may be convinc'd, that sinne doth raigne in them.
Two things make up the raigne of sinne.
1. In sinne power. 290
2. In the sinner a willing and vncontroled subiection. 290
Three exceptions against the evidence of the raigne of sinne in the wicked. 291
1. There may be a raigne of sinne when it is not discerned. 292
Whether small sinnes may raigne? 293
Whether secret sinnes may raigne? 294
Whether sins of ignorance may raigne? 295
Whether naturall concupiscence may raigne? 296
Whether sinnes of omission may raigne? 296
2. Other causes besides the power of Christs Grace may worke a partiall abstinence from sinne, and conformitie in service:
1. The power of restraining grace. 298
Differences between restraining and renewing Grace:
2. Affectation of the credit of godlinesse. 302
3. The Power of pious education. 304
4. The legall power of the word. 305
5. The power of a naturall illightned Conscience. 305
6. Selfe love and particular ends. 307
7. The antipathy and contradiction of sinnes. 309
3. Differences betweene the conflicts of a naturall and spirituall conscience:
1. In the Principles of them. 310
2. In their seates and stations. 313
3. In the manner and qualities of the conflict. 314
4. In their effects. 316
5. In their ends. 317
Why every sinne doth not raigne in every wicked man. 317
2. COR. 7. 1.
The Apostles reasons against Idolatrous communion. 321
The doctrine of the pollution of sinne. 322
The best workes of the best men mingled whith pollution. 325
The best workes of wicked men full of pollution. 237
What the pollution of sinne is. 328
The properties of the pollution of sinne:
1. It is a deepe pollution. 329
2. It is an universall Pollution. 330
3. It is a spreading Pollution. 330
4. It is a mortall Pollution. 332
Why God requireth that of us which he worketh in us. 335
How promises tend to the dutie of cleansing ourselves:
1. Promises containe the matter of rewards, and so presuppose services. 337
2. Promises are efficient causes of purification:
1. As tokens of Gods love. Love the ground of making, fidelity of performing Promises. 338
2. As the grounds of our hope and expectations. 340
3. As obiects of our faith. 342
4. As the raies of Christ to whom they lead us. 345
5. As exemplars, patterns, and seeds of puritie. 346
3. Many promises are made of purification itselfe. 347
Rules directing how to use the Promises:
1. Generall Promises are particularly, and particulars generally appliable. 350
2. Promises are certaine, performances secret. 352
3. Promises are subordinated, and are performed with dependence. 357
4. Promises most usefull in extremities. 359
5. Experience of God in some promises confirmeth faith in others. 360
6. The same temporall blessing may belong to one man onelyonly out of providence, to another out of promise. 361
7. Gods promises to us must be the ground of our prayers to him. 364
ROM. 7. 13.
The Law is neither sinne nor death. 368
The Law was promulgated on Mount Sina by Moses onelyonly with Evangelicall purposes. 371
God will doe more for the salvation, then for the damnation of men. 372
The Law is not given ex primaria intentione to condemne men. 385
The Law is not given to iustifie or save men. 386
The Law by accident doth irritate, and punish or curse sinne. 386
The Law by itselfe doth discover and restraine sinne. 387
Preaching of the Law necessary. 388
Acquaintance with the Law strengthens Humility, Faith, Comfort, Obedience. 392
The third Treatise. The Life of Christ. 1. IOH. 5. 12.
ALL a Christians excellencies are from Christ. 400
1. From Christ wee have our life of righteousnesse. 401
Three Offices of Christs mediatorship. His
Payment of our debt. 401
Purchase of our inheritance. 401
Intercession. 401
Righteousnesse consisteth in remission and adoption. 402
By this Life of righteousnesse we are delivered from
1. Sinne. 403
2. Law, as a
Covenant of righteousnesse.
Law full of
Rigor.
Curses.
Bondage.
2. From Christ we have our life of holinesse. 407
Discoveries of a vitall operation. 407
Christ is the Principle of our holinesse. 409
Christ is the patterne of holinesse. 410
Some workes of Christ imitable, others unimitable. 410
Holinesse beares conformity to Christs active obedience. 412
How we are said to be holy, as Christ is holy. 413
Holinesse consists in a conformitie unto Christ. Proved from
1. The ends of Christs comming. 415
2. The nature of holinesse. 416
3. The quality of the mysticall body of Christ. 418
4. The vnction of the Spirit. 418
5. The summe of the Scriptures. 419
The proportions betweene our holinesse and Christs must be,
1. In the seeds and principles. 419
2. In the ends, Gods glory, the Churches good. 420
3. In the parts.
4. In the manner of it.
Selfe-deniall. 421
Obedience. 422
Proficiencie. 423
What Christ hath done to the Law for us. 423
We must take heed of will-holinesse, or being our owne Rule. 425
Christs life the Rule of ours. 427
3. From Christ wee have our life of glorie. 429
The attributes or properties of our Life in Christ:
1. It is a hidden life. 432
2. It is an abounding life. 437
3. It is an abiding life. 438
No forrsigne assult is too hard for the life of Christ▪ 439
Arguments to reestablish the heart of a repenting sinner against the terror of some great fall, from
1. The strength of Faith. 442
2. The love and free grace of God. 446
3. Gods Promise and covenant. 448
4. The obsignation of the spirit. 449
5. The nature and effects of Faith. 449
THE VANITIE OF THE CREATVRE, AND VEXATION OF THE SPIRIT:
By EDWARD REYNOLDS, Preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inne.
PAX OPVLENTIAM. SAPIENTIA PACEM.
FK
LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Robert Bostock. 1631.
Christian Reader, Importunitie of Friends hath over-rul'd me to this Publication; and importunitie of businesse crossing me in the putting of these pieces together, hath made the whole savour of my distractions, and caused more escapes in the Print, then otherwise should have been. The principall I have here corrected; those which are smaller may in the reading be easily discerned.
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