The Promises, Title page – Table of contents
The Promises: OR, A TREATISE Shewing how a godly Christian may support his heart with Comfort, AGAINST ALL THE distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in this life.
Containing al the most comfortable places through the whole Bible, orderly digested
By N. Bifield Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.
LONDON, Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite. 1619.
TO THE MVCH Honoured and right worthy, Sir William Throgmorton, Knight and Baronet: and Sir Francis Darcie, Knight, N. Bifield wisheth the increase of all Grace and happinesse that accompanieth the louelove of the Lord Iesus in sinceritie.
IF the many crosses & temptations with which the life of all men, euen the most godly is distressed, be seriously weighed, and withall the great disconsolation that too often surpriseth the hearts of most Christians, be compassionately thought on: and if with all the singular glory of a godly mind framed vntounto vnmoueable rest, and stedfast contentment, be throughly conceiued of; it cannot but bee manifest, that if a way can bee shewed how a Christian may fill his heart with comfort in any condition hee can fall into, in respect of affliction, that such a course is profitable, and all ought to take notice of it, and with all care and paines imploy themselues about it. This by Gods assistance vponupon apparent groūds of Scripture I hauehave indeuoured to shew in this Treatise; and doubt not but by experience humble and godly Christians will finde much refreshing and establishment of heart, if they apply themselues distinctly & diligently to draw of the water of life, out of those wells of saluation, opened for them eueryevery where in this roule of Gods Promises.
This Treatise I present to your Worships, and vnderunder the countenance of your names, desire to commend it vntounto the Church of God: and this I am induced to doe for diuers reasons: your forwardnesse in the profession of sincere Religion for many yeares, the publike seruice you hauehave done in your Country in the administration of Iustice, for the incouragement of the good, and reformation of abuses, your great care from time to time to plant painfull and profitable teachers in the places of your abode, together with the excellent gifts with which God hath furnished your mindes, deserue to be freely and publikely acknowledged in the Church of God; and in mine owne particular I hauehave beene so many waies obliged, that with much gladnesse I embrace this occasion, to let the world know my desire to bee thankfull for the many helps & furtherances my ministry hath receiued from the countenance & endeuours of both your Worships, as occasion hath at any time bin offered. Desiring your acceptance hereof, and praying God to preserue you in his fear without offence, till the Day of Christ, and to inlarge in you the desire & power of wel-doing in all things, I end and rest, Isleworth, Octo. 1618.
Your Worships in the seruice of Iesus Christ, to be commanded, N. Bifield.
The chiefe Contents of this Booke.
Chap. 1.
THE drift of the whole booke is, to shew aboundant comfort against any distresse. pag. 1.
Two things taken for granted, viz. both that godly men shall be distressed, & also that comfort may bee had in any distresse, p. 2. 3
The worth of those promises. p. 4. 5.
To whom the promises belong. p. 6. 7.
The vse they will serue for, being learned. p. 7. 8. 9. 10
The infallibility of those promises proued by 13. Arguments. p. 11. 12. to 20.
The promises sealed 4. waies. p. 17.
Sixe rules to bee obserued, if we will profit by the promises. p. 20. 21. 22. 23
Chap. 2.
3. Sorts of promises. p. 24. 25
Sorts of afflictions, in which we need comfort, p. 26. 27. 28. 29.
Chap. 3.
12. Priuiledges of the godly. p. 32. to 47.
Chap. 4.
What meant by outward afflictions. p. 48.
10. Arguments of consolation to support vsus against outward afflictions. p. 48. to 64
Chap. 5.
Men neede comfort against reproches. p. 65.
12. Arguments of consolation against reproches. p. 66. to 78
Chap. 6.
Many principall obiections of the godly about reproches answered. pag. 78. to 90.
Chap. 7.
Directions in the case of reproches. p. 90. 91. 92
Chap. 8.
How the godly may comfort themselues in the case of aduersaries. p. 93. to 104.
Chap. 9.
3. Things taken for granted, about temptations. p. 104. 106.
Sathan tempts vsus fiue waies, p. 106. 107.
3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion. p. 109. 110.
9. Occasions of temptation. p. 111. to 118.
Chap. 10.
How many waies a godly man may comfort himselfe against temptations. p. 118. to 126.
6. Things in Christ comfort vsus against temptations. p. 121. 122.
How farre forth we may pray against temptations. pag. 125. 126.
How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptations. p. 126. 127.
Chap. 11.
Two sorts of promises about infirmities. p. 131.
What is meant by infirmities. p. 132.
9. Arguments of consolation against our daily infirmities. p. 132. to 149.
The goodnes of Gods nature shewed in 4. things. p. 135. 136.
Many things comfortable in Christ. p. 137. 138. 139.
9. Priuiledges about infirmities assured vsus in the word. p. 141. to 147
Chap. 12.
Diuers obiections about our infirmities answered. pag. 149. to 175.
About ignorance diuers comfortable meditations. pag. 154. to 158.
The explication of two excellent places of Scripture, with the sundry answers of many obiections met withall in those places, from p. 159. to 174.
Chap. 13.
Many consolations to support vsus against the feare of falling away, taken from the consideration
1 Of God. p. 176. to 184
2 Of Christ. p. 184. 185
3 Of our own estate in Grace, p. 186.
Chap. 14.
Three sorts of most comfortable promises about prayer, p. 187. to the end of the booke.