A Rebuke to Backsliders and a Spur for Loiterers, Table of contents
The Contents.
THE opening of the Text.
Doct. 1. The Churches complaints are especially of the Churches ſins.
Doct. 2. It is the property of the people of God, in the confeſſion of their ſins, to give them their due aggravations.
Doct. 3. Conſumption in Religion, where it is epidemical, is a Forerunner of Confuſion. Where,
1. What Conſumption in Religion is. There is,
1. A partial or gradual decay: Profeſſors of Religion may grow to a decay,
1. Inwardly, in their Faith, in their ſenſe of Eternity, in all their graces, and inward vital operations.
2. Outwardly, in their outward duties and converſations.
2. A total decay, or Apoſtacy from Chriſt and Christianity.
2. That a general conſumption in Religion is a Forerunner of Confuſion.
The chief Doctrines inſiſted on are,
Doct. 4. It's the duty of the people of God to ſtir up themſelves in the matters of Religion.
Doct. 5. Stirring Religion will take hold of God. Both theſe handled together in theſe 5 following generals.
I. What it is to ſtir up our ſelves in the matters of Religion.
1. There is a ſtirring up [to] Religion, which is the duty of thoſe that are yet ſhort of true Religion; and this ſtirring ſtands,
1. In mens Bethinking themſelves of their miſerable ſtate.
2. In their crying out for help out of this wretched ſtate.
3. In their taking the Alarm from the Watchmen.
4. In their forcing themſelves back from their ſins, and onwards towards Chriſt
2. There is a ſtirring up our ſelves [in] Religion, which is the duty of thoſe that have ſomething of Religion in them. Where,
1. By what acts we ſhould ſtir up our ſelves.
2. To what pitch of Religion we ſhould ſtir up our ſelves.
Anſwered.
1. In general.
2. In particular.
1. To an hunger and thirſt after more of Religion.
2. To a ſavour and reliſh of Religion.
3. To ſolidity in Religion. To a confirmed, eſtabliſhed ſtate of ſoul; ſtanding,
1. In a firm reſolution for Chriſt.
2. In a firm truſt in Chriſt.
3. In a firm adherence to Chriſt.
4. In a confirmed habit of Religion.
4. To fruitfulneſs in Religion.
5. To ſteddineſs and evenneſs in Religion.
II. What need there is of stirring up our ſelves to, and in Religion. This made appear from 2 Particulars:
1. Thoſe that fall ſhort of Religion, and thoſe that carefully maintain not the Religion they have, are like to be lost at last.
2. Without ſtirring up themſelves, men are never like to attain to Religion, or to maintain that Religion they have.
The neceſſity of ſtirring up our ſelves upon both theſe accounts, evidenced:
1. From the diſtance we are at from what we ſhould be.
2. From the difficulty of recovering thoſe that are fallen, evidenced:
1. From the difficulty of diſcerning their decays in the beginning.
2. From their ind…ſpoſition and unwillingneſs to ſeek out after a cure.
3. From the oppoſition that is made againſt their recovery: By
1. A stirring Devil.
2. Their ſtirring Luſts.
3. From the difficulty of holding on, for thoſe that stand.
III. What it is to take hold of God. Here 3 things:
1. Our happineſs lies in this, That the Lord is within us.
2. Our happineſs lies in this, That the Lord is among us.
Our taking hold of God, is our continuing his Preſence with us. Where,
1. God may depart from thoſe with whom he hath been preſent, both
1. From particular perſons; and how he may depart from them, ſhewed in 5 Particulars.
2. From a People or Nation; and how he may be ſaid to depart from them.
2. It's wo with thoſe people from whom the Lord departs.
3. Our taking hold of God is our taking an effectual courſe to continue his Preſence with us. And this,
1. By caſting away our Idols.
2. By taking hold of the Covenant of God.
3. by recovering our Communion with him.
IV. Stirring Religion will take hold of God.
1. What's meant by ſtirring Religion.
2. Stirring Religion will take hold of God and continue his Preſence with us. For,
1. 'Twill work out thoſe evils which provoke him to depart.
2. 'Twill work up and increaſe thoſe good things in us, which he will not loſe or forſake.
V. How we ſhould ſtir up our ſelves; anſwered in the following Directions.
1. Make an advantage of ſtirring Providences.
2. Put upon ſtirring Thoughts.
3. Get ſtirring Affections: In ſpecial ſtir up,
Godly Sorrow,
Fear,
Deſire,
Hope.
4. Get a ſtirring Conſcience.
5. Be much converſant with stirring Society, where are directions for the exerciſe of that neglected duty, holy and quickning diſcourſe.
6. Be much exerciſed in ſtirring Duties; eſpecially in
1. Prayer.
2. Faſting and Prayer.
The Concuſion.