The True Convert, Table of contents
A SVMMARY OF ALL THE DOCTRINES COLlected out of the ſeuerall verſes of the Parable of the Prodigall. Luke 15.
Verſe 11.
Doct. 1. COnuiction is the ready way to conuerſion. pag. 8.
2. It is now no eaſie matter to bring a ſinner to a true ſight of his ſinne. p. 10.
3. It is lawfull for a Miniſter to vſe ſimilies and parables, for the illuſtration and preſsing of their poynts. pag. 12.
4. God is content in Scripture, to make himſelfe knowne to man, as a man, to this end that man might know him in ſome meaſure. pag. 15.
5. The Church viſible is a mixt companie. pag. 18.
Verſe 12.
Doct. 1. Sinners are childiſh and fooliſh. p. 27.
2. All that call God Father, are not obedient children. p. 33.
3. Nothing is more greeuous to the wicked, then to be vnderunder Gods gouernment. p. 35.
4. Wicked men eſteeme of Gods bleſsings, but as due debts. p. 38.
5. God is kinde and gracious, euen to the wicked and rebellious. p. 40.
6. God oftentimes leaueth man to himſelfe, & ſuffereth him to take his courſe. p. 42.
Verſe 13.
Doct. 1. Wicked men are euer worſt to God, when God is beſt to them. p. 51.
2. Man being left to himſelfe, cannot long ſtand. p. 55.
3. Sinners cannot abide Gods preſence. p. 59.
4. To follow ſin, is to forſake the Lord. p. 60.
5. Wicked men proceede from euill to worſe. p. 63.
6. Sinners are great waſters & ſpend-thrifts. p. 68.
7. Vngodly men ſpend Gods gifts in ſinnes ſeruice. p. 70.
Verſe 14.
Doct. 1. Common gifts are of a waſting nature. p, 73.
2. The Land of ſin is a Land of famin. p. 75.
3. God doth often puniſh ſinne in it owne kinde. p. 77.
Verſe 15.
Doct. 1. Sinfull man being in miſery, trieth all other meanes, before he will ſeeke to the Lord for helpe. p. 81.
2. Thoſe that refuſe to ſerue God, ſhall bee enforced to ſerue a harder maſter. p. 85.
3. Sinners are brutiſh and ſwiniſh. p. 87.
4. The ſeruice of Satan is a moſt baſe ſeruice. p. 89.
Verſe 16.
Doct. 1. No earthly thing can content the ſoule. p. 91
2. Mans doctrin is but a frothy doctrin p. 94.
3. The Lord doth vſually take from thoſe whom he meanes to ſaue, thoſe ſinnefull meanes whereon they reſt, p. 97.
Verſe 17.
Doct. 1. EueryEvery wicked man is a mad man. p. 98.
2. Examination of our hearts, the firſt ſtep to repentance. p. 101.
3. Croſſes & afflictions, are excellent means to make vsus looke home. p. 105.
4. Senſe of Gods mercy cauſeth repentance. p. 110.
5. In Gods houſe are many hirelings. p. 115.
6. God prouideth a large diet for his houſhold. p. 116.
Verſe 18.
Doct. 1. Sound Reſolution neceſſary for the leading of a godly life. p. 125.
2. Serious conſideration, bringeth forth ſound determination. p. 127.
3. Repentance from ſinne is tho firſt reſurrection. p. 130.
4. Good motions are not to bee quenched, but to be nouriſhed and cheriſhed. p. 131.
5. Grace groweth by degrees. p. 133.
6. The boſome of the Lord is the beſt ſhelter. p. 136.
7. Preparation needfull before wee come into Gods preſence. p. 138.
8. Sin is the godly mans greateſt ſorrow. p. 142
9. All men ſinne, God looking on. p. 150.
10. The forgetting of Gods all-ſeeing eye, doth increaſe the ſin, and aggrauate the ſame. p. 154.
Verſe 19.
Doct. 1. Where there is true repentance, there is a ſight & ſence of a mans owne vnworthineſſe. p. 157.
2. Gods bleſsings are better knowne by their want, then by their enioyment. p. 165.
Verſe 20.
Doct. 1. Where there is true repentance, there is not onelyonly a purpoſe in the heart, but a practice in the life. p. 166.
2. True repentance conſiſts of two parts. p. 172
3. Where true repentance is, there is a turning from ſinne. p. 173.
4. In true repentance, there is not onelyonly a riſing from ſinne, but there is alſo a turning to the Lord. p. 176.
5. Repentance is not to be delayed, but preſentlently to be ſet vponupon. p. 178.
Verſe 21.
Doct. 1. True Grace will manifeſt it ſelfe, both by deed and word. p. 192.
2. Confeſsion neceſſary before remiſsion. p. 195.
3. Confeſsion of ſinne is to bee made onelyonly to God. p. 207.
4. It is the propertie of a true Penitent, to aggrauate his ſinne, and ſet it out to the vttermoſt, p. 211.
5. The only way to obtaine Gods fauour, is with an humble heart to ſeeke it. p. 215.
Verſe 20.
Doct. 1. Our couerſion is from Gods free grace. p. 222
2. True repentance bringeth vsus into Gods fauour. p. 227.
3. The firſt motion to repentance (if true) is highly pleaſing to God, and is accepted of him. p. 229.
4. God is ready to ſhew mercy to eueryevery one that ſeekes it. p. 231.
5. God is more ready to ſhew mercy then we are to ſeeke it. p. 236.
6. God doth not onelyonly louelove his children, but hee will manifeſt it vntounto them, by ſignes and tokens, that they may not doubt of it. p. 239.
Verſe 22.23.
Doct. 1. God will neuer vpbrayd any with their former courſes, that doe truly repent. p. 250.
2. God giueth his gifts, not immediately by himſelfe, but mediately by the hands of his ſeruants. p. 254.
3. God is larger in his gifts, then wee are in our requeſts. p. 256.
4. Nothing that is needefull ſhall bee wanting, where Gods fauor is not wanting. p. 258.
5. God giueth to his children, as for neceſsitie, ſo for delight and ornament. p. 263.
6. The Conuerſion of any doth bring great ioy to the Saints and ſeruants of God. p. 279.
Verſe 24.
Doct. 1. EueryEvery wicked man is a dead man. p. 283.
2. He onelyonly may bee ſayd to liue, that liues the life of grace. p. 289.
3. Wicked men are Strayes. p. 301.
4. Our conuerſion and calling is from Gods mercy and grace. p. 302.
5. Regeneration doth not aboliſh ioy, nor any other naturall affection. p. 303.
6. It is pardon of ſinne and aſſurance thereof, that bringeth ioy and comfort to the ſoule. p. 307.
7. The godly mans ioy in this life, is but the beginning of ioy. p. 308.
Verſe 25, 26, 27. &c.
Doct. 1. The wicked repine at others preferments in Gods fauours. p. 310.
2. It is the propertie of the wicked, to expoſtulate the cauſe with God. p. 317.
3. Wicked men hauehave faire pretences for ſoule ſinnes. p. 323.
4 When God hath to deale with ſinners, hee dealeth with them in a milde manner, and not in fury and rage. p. 328.
Verſe 31, 32.
Doct. 1. Wee may not exaſperate the wicked when they are incenſed, but giuegive way vntounto their fury. p. 335.
2. It is lawfull for a man to ſpeake in his owne defence. p. 336.
God will maintaine the righteous cauſe of his children. p. 340.
The end of all the Doctrines.