A Familiar Treatise Laying Down Cases of Conscience, Table of contents
PARTICVLAR OBSERVATIons, and Caſes, and Conſcience treated herein.
1. The ſupplie of a powerfull Miniſtery, is a gratious meanes of reformation.
1. Caſe. How to diſcerne our eſtate in the acceptance of God, by the vſe of the word.
2. The beſt hauehave their infirmities, and are ſubiect to grieuous ſinnes.
1. Why infirmities abide in the Saints.
2. Caſo. How nie our eſtate in ſanctification by infirmities.
3. Sinne to be ſtriuen againſt, though we cannot poſsibly ſubdue it wholly in this life.
3. Sinne is to be reprooued.
Caſe 1. How to reprooue ſinne.
2. Triall of our estates by enduring reproofe.
4. The leaſt ſinne in the Saints is ſufficient to make the Lord to come againſt them.
Caſe 1. Why God chasteneth ſinne in this life.
2. How God puniſheth ſinne in his children, which he hath puniſhed in his Sonne.
3. How to make peace with God in our corrections and try our eſtate in grace thereby.
5. Queſt. How the Church may be ſaid to leaue her first louelove, ſeeing ſhe is commended before, that ſhe fainted not.
6. Sinne of omiſsion to be ſeuerely reprooued.
7. The Elect muſt goe forward, and perſeuere in grace.
Caſe 1. Why perſeuerance and growth in grace is neceſſary.
2. How to grow in grace:
1. By auoiding Apoſtaſie.
2. What are the meanee of Apoſtaſie, namely,
1. Corrupt iudgement. It markes on the left hand, and on the right.
2. Corrupt practiſe. It manner and ſignes, and that on the left hand, and on the right.
Motiues to prouoke vsus to conſtancy in well-doing.
Meanes to enable vsus to grow and encreaſe.
Meanes to preuent Apoſtaſie in the ſenſe of our failings.
Markes of triall, that we hauehave thriuen in grace.
Doct. 8. EueryEvery true conuert hath a firſt louelove.
Caſe. The markes of firſt louelove.
The reaſons why God vouchſafeth his firſt louelove vntounto thoſe that are conuerted vponupon their firſt calling.
Doct. 8. The Saints may leaue their firſt louelove.
Caſe. Meanes whereby firſt louelove is loſt twofold.
1. Withdrawing that which may cheriſh: what this is:
2. Adding that which may coole. What theſe are.
Namely 1. Spirituall Pride, how this cooleth and decayeth louelove, and how to remedy it: what is falſly reputed ſpiritual pride, & the remedy.
2. Carnall policie, by what meanes this abateth firſt louelove:
1. How a friend to Religion.
2. How our enemie.
3. Proſperitie, how firſt louelove is hereby decayed, and it remedie.
4. Abuſe of Chriſtian libertie, how this decayes this louelove, with the remedie.
5. A corrupt and dead miniſterie, that this alſo cooleth firſt louelove, and by what meanes, together with the remedie. Here obſerue
Falſe imputations of leauing firſt louelove.
Caſe 1. In the right vſe of their Christian libertie.
2. By enioying proſperitie.
3. By vſe of ſpiritual wiſdome in auoiding of trobles.
4. Faith how and when to be giuen account of, and to whom.
5. How to diſcerne inward ſufficiencie, to make open profeſsion of faith in the time of trouble.
6. How to diſcerne an outward calling to witneſſe to the truth in perilous times.
7. Wherein we may be ſilent, and how.
8. Names & habits, whether in affliction they may be changed in times of perſecution, and how far. That
9. Apparell may be changed, and how farre. Other imputations of leauing firſt louelove, as
4. Diſcretion in reproouing ſinne.
5. Outward and inward afflictions.
6. Honeſt prouiſion for the familie.
7. Libertie in the vſe of things indifferent.
8. Whether want of former feelings of ioy, may be an imputation.
Caſe That we hauehave left our firſt louelove.
Gods prouidence and reſolution of iudgement herein.
Iuſt occaſions of this want of feeling of comfort from our ſelues.
Caſe. How to behaue our ſelues in this want of ioy.
Meanes to reſiſt tentations that ariſe from this want of comfort.
1. To remember the ſuffering of Chriſt.
2. And his glorious conqueſts.
3. That this is an argument of the ſoundnes of conuerſion.
4. That theſe inward buffetings preuent outward baites of pleaſure.
5. That God is able to deliuer vsus, proued by many reaſons.
6. That he will deliuer vsus.
7. That the time is not paſt.
8. That the ſtronger tentations, the ſhorter and and more comfortable iſſue.
9. This is a means to try & renue ſound repentance.
10. God knoweth what is fitteſt for vsus.
11. Satans tentations preuented by accuſing of our ſelues.
12. That we are not the greateſt ſinners yet.
13. It is not vnpofitable to conceiue our ſelues to bee the greateſt ſinners. To this end,
14. Call to mind former mercies.
15. That God differs our refreſhing in great mercy.
16. That we muſt not iudge our ſelues by our tentations, or condition therein.
17. That al the ſaints hauehave drunk of this cup vntounto thee
Doct. 9. That the Saints may leaue their firſt louelove.
Caſe. The ſymptoms therof: And effects of the ſame.
Meanes of recouery.
How farre they ſhall recouer.
Doct. 10. That the Saints ſhall not fall finally.
Caſe. How farre they may fall.
Difference between lukewarmnes, & leauing firſt louelove And betweene leauing of firſt louelove, and looſing it altogether.