The Right Method for a Settled Peace of Conscience, Table of contents – Errata
The CONTENTS.
THE Caſe to be Reſolved. pag. 1.
DIRECTION I. Diſcover the true Cauſe of your Trouble. 4
The continued neceſſity of a ſtanding Miniſtry. 6
DIRECTION II. Diſcover well how much of your trouble is from Melancholy, or from outward Croſſes, and apply the Remedy accordingly. 7
DIRECTION III. Lay firſt in your underſtanding ſound and deep apprehenſions of Gods nature. 17
The Benefits that ariſe from the Apprehenſions of Gods Goodneſs. 18
DIRECTION IV. Get deep Apprehenſions of the Gracious Nature and Office of the Mediator. 28
DIRECTION. V. Believe and conſider the full ſufficiency of Chriſts Sacrifice and Ranſome for all. 32
DIRECTION VI. Apprehend the Freeneſs, Fulneſs and Univerſality of the Law of Grace, or Conditional Grant of Pardon and Salvation to all men, if they will Repent and Believe. 33
DIRECTION VII. Underſtand the difference between General Grace and Special, and between the Poſſibility, Probability, Conditional Certainty, and Abſolute Certainty of your Salvation, and ſo between the ſeveral Degrees of Comfort that theſe Severals may afford▪ 35
How much Comfort the unconverted may receive from General Grace. 39
DIRECTION VIII. Underſtand rightly the true nature of ſaving Faith. 49
DIRECTION IX. Next perform the Condition by Actual Believing. 55
Object. I am not able to Believe: Anſwered 56
Direction how to get Faith. 59
How far the prayers of the wicked are acceptable. 60
DIRECTION X. Next Review your own Believing, and thence gather Aſſurance. 66
The Witneſs of the Spirit, and Spirit of Adoption, what they are. 68, 71
Whether it be a Legal departing from Chriſt, or any ſinful truſting in our own Righteouſneſs, to gather Peace, Comfort or Aſſurance from ſigns within us? 74
Twenty Arguments proving it lawfvl to gather Comfort or Aſſurance from Gods Graces in us▪ 75
DIRECTION XI. Make uſe in Trial of none but infallible ſigns. 86
Five certain ſigns, together comprizing the Deſcription of a true Chriſtian. 88
Twenty obſervable explicatory points for the right underſtanding of theſe ſigns. 91
DIRECTION XII. Know, that Aſſurance of Juſtification, or right to Salvation, cannot be gathered from the leaſt degree of ſaving Grace. 119
Proved from the many exceeding Difficulties that muſt be overcome by all that will have Aſſurance in ordinary ways: and from other Reaſons. 120
DIRECTION XIII. The firſt time of our Receiving or Acting ſaving Grace, and ſo of our Juſtification and Adoption, cannot ordinarily be known. 136
To affirm that ſaving ſincerity of Grace lieth but in a Gradual Natural-difference is no diminution of the Glory of Grace. 142
DIRECTION XIV. Know that Aſſurance is not the lot of the ordinary ſort of true Chriſtians, but onelyonly of a few of the ſtrongeſt, moſt active, watchful and obedient, Proved. 145
The obſervation of the Confeſſions of the Godly in this. 151
DIRECTION XV. Know that even many of the ſtronger and more obedient who have Aſſurance of their Converſion, are yet unaſſured of their Salvation, for want of Aſſurance to perſevere. 160
The Authors free Confeſſion of his own ſtate, and Judgement herein. 162
DIRECTION XVI. There are many grounds to diſcover a Probability of ſaving Grace, where we cannot yet diſcern a Certainty: And you muſt learn, next to the Comforts of General Grace, to receive the Comforts of the Probability of Special Grace, before you expect or are ripe for the Comforts of Aſſurance▪ 170
Proved that a Chriſtian may live a Joyful Life without Aſſurance. 178
DIRECTION XVII. Improve your own and others Experiences to ſtrengthen your Probabilities. 179
DIRECTION XVIII. Know that God hath not commanded you to Believe that you do Believe, nor that you are Juſtified, or ſhall be ſaved (but onelyonly Conditionally) and therefore your Aſſurance is not a Certainty properly of Divine Faith. 189
It is not Unbelief or Deſperation in Chriſtians which is commonly called ſo. 193
DIRECTION XIX. Know that thoſe few that do attain to Aſſurance, have it not conſtantly. 209
DIRECTION XX. Never expect ſo much Aſſurance on Earth as ſhall ſet you above all Poſſibility of the loſs of Heaven, and above all apprehenſions of real danger. 211
The uſefulneſs of Apprehenſion of danger opened. 214
DIRECTION XXI. Be glad of a ſetled Peace, and look not too much after raptures and ſtrong feelings of Comfort: And if you have ſuch, expect not a conſtancy of them. 227
DIRECTION XXII. Spend more time and care about your Duty then your Comforts, and to get and exerciſe and increaſe Grace, then to diſcern the certainty of it. 232
DIRECTION XXIII. Think not that thoſe Doubts and Troubles which are cauſed and continued by wilful Diſobedience, will ever be well healed but by the healing of that Diſobedience, or that ſuch can be cured by the ſame means, as obedient doubting Chriſtians may. 246
How far a Chriſtian can or cannot do the Good he would. 251
Three ſorts of ſins of Infirmity, or ſo called, opened. 256
The ſtate of a Chriſtian under groſs ſin, doubtful. 265
Proved, that Aſſurance dependeth much on careful Obedience; And that when all is done, the moſt obedient Believer will ordinarily have moſt and beſt Aſſurance of his ſincerity and ſalvation. 270
The Uſe of the former Direction. 280
The Doubtings of moſt Chriſtians that have the free uſe of Reaſon, are fed by ſome ſin. ibid.
The ſins which Troubled Chriſtians ſhould moſt ſearch after, are
1. Contrary carnal Intereſt encroaching on Chriſts Intereſt.
1. In the Underſtanding, enumerated as againſt each Perſon in the Trinity.
2. In the Will and Affections.
1. Pride.
2. Covetouſneſs.
3. Voluptuouſneſs.
Theſe are conſidered here as againſt God himſelf, and ſo as againſt the firſt Commandment. 286
2. Actual ſins againſt the other Commandments. Eſpecially ſuſpect
1. Unmercifulneſs and rigid cenſoriouſneſs of others.
2. Unpeaceableneſs in Family, Neighbourhood, Church, &c. 301
DIRECTION XXIV. Content not your ſelf with a cheap Religiouſneſs, and to ſerve God with that which coſt you little or nothing: And take every Call to coſtly duty or ſuffering for Chriſt as a prize put into your hand for advancing your Comforts. 313
Remember this;
1. In preventing ſin.
2. In riſing from ſin.
3. In performance of Duty. 325
DIRECTION XXV. Study the great art of Doing Good, and let it be your every-days contrivance, care and buſineſs, how to lay out all your Talents to the greateſt advantage. 332
Applyed to our Rulers, and to Rich men. 337
DIRECTION XXVI. Trouble not your ſoul with needleſs ſcruples: Nor make your ſelf more work then God hath made you, by feigning that unlawful which God hath not forbidden; or by placing your Religion in Will-worſhip, or overmuch rigour to your body, &c. 346
What it is to be Righteous Over-much? The Queſtion Anſwered, Whether all Virtue be in the middle? And Whether we can love or ſerve God too much? 347
All Over-doing in Gods work is Un-doing. The Devil is moſt zealous in Over-doing. A ſad inſtance how much the Devil hath got by Over-doing.
1. In Doctrine, againſt Hereticks, by adding to the Creed, and forſaking Scripture-phraſe.
2. In Diſcipline.
3. In Government or Church-power.
4. In Worſhip.
5. In Reformation, eſpecially of late.
The Devil goes beyond Chriſt in all theſe, when he once fals to work. 354
DIRECTION XXVII. When God hath diſcovered your ſincerity to you, fix it in your Memory that it may be uſeful for the time to come; and leave not your ſoul open to new Apprehenſions: Except in caſe of notable declinings, or groſs ſinning. 376
Proved, that in theſe excepted caſes even the Juſtified may queſtion their ſincerity and Juſtification. 377
DIRECTION XXVIII. Beware of perplexing miſ-interpretations of
1. Scriptures.
2. Providences.
3. Sermons.
And be willing that Miniſters ſhould preach moſt ſearchingly and rouzingly for the good of others, without miſ-applying it to your ſelf. 387
DIRECTION XXIX. Diſtinguiſh carefully between cauſes of Doubting, and cauſes of meer Humiliation and Amendment: God calleth you very often to Humiliation when he calleth you not to Doubting. 403
Twenty ordinary DOUBTS Reſolved.
1. About knowing the time and manner of Converſion. 406
2. About Humiliation. 411
3. Of receiving Religion by Education. 417
4. About Deadneſs, Hard-heartedneſs, and not weeping for ſin. 423
5. About Backwardneſs to Duty, and not Delighting in it. 434
6. About doing all out of ſlaviſh fear. 439
7. Not able to Believe. 443
8. Strangeneſs to the Witneſs of the Spirit, Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and Communion with God. 444.
9. Want of the Spirit of Prayer. 446
10. Unprofitableneſs through want of Gifts. 450
11. Greatneſs of ſin and unworthineſs. 452
A twofold Worthineſs and Righteouſneſs. 453
12. Want of a deep Hatred to ſin: Fear leſt ſtronger Temptation would overthrow us. 456
13. Fear of committing the unpardonable ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt. 459
14. Leſt it be too late, and the time of Grace be paſt▪ Time of Grace paſt in a double ſenſe. 461
15. Sinning ſince Profeſſion againſt Conſcience, on Deliberation. 465
16. Not overcoming Corruptions, and not Growing in Grace. 469
17. Blaſphemous and Unbelieving thoughts. 476
18. Fears of Death. 481
19. Heavy Afflictions. 483
20. Not being Afflicted. 484
DIRECTION XXX. Carefully diſcern whether your Doubts are ſuch as muſt be cured by the conſideration of General or of Special Grace▪ And be ſure that when you loſe the ſight of Certain Evidence, that you let not go Probabilities: Or at the worſt when you are beaten from both, and judge your ſelf. Graceleſs, yet loſe not the Comforts of General Grace. 489
DIRECTION XXXI. In all preſſing Neceſſities take the advice of your Paſtors.
1. Keep it not ſecret.
2. In what Caſes to ſeek advice.
3. To what Ends.
4. Of what ſort of Miniſters, and whom to avoyd.
5. In what manner to open your Caſe. Objections anſwered againſt confeſſing ſin to Paſtors. Reaſons why Miniſters have not fully acquainted their People with the great duty of confeſſing and opening their Caſe to them. 499
DIRECTION XXXII. Underſtand that the height of Chriſtian Life, and the greateſt part of your Duty, lyeth in A loving Delight in God, and a Thankful and Chearful Obedience to his Will: which you muſt be ſtill endeavouring; and ſubordinate all other duties to theſe. 523
Miniſters and Chriſtians ſhould keep the Lords day as a day of Thankſgiving for the work of Redemption, and ſpend more of it in Praiſes, Pſalms, Hymns, &c. and leſs in Confeſſing, &c. 533
How Chriſtians wrong Chriſt and Religion, and contradict the main deſign of Grace by their ſad dejected lives. 536
Stand not Complaining and Doubting, but Chearfully Amend and Obey. 537
ERRATA.
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THE RIGHT METHOD For a ſetled PEACE OF CONSCIENCE and Spirituall COMFORT. In XXXII. DIRECTIONS.
IT muſt be underſtood, that the Caſe here to be reſolved is not, How an unhumbled prophane ſinner that never was Convinced of Sin and Miſery, ſhould be brought to a ſetled Peace of Conſcience. Their Carnall Peace muſt firſt be broken, and they muſt be ſo far humbled, as to finde the want and worth of Mercy, that Chriſt and his Conſolations may not ſeem contemptible in their eyes. It is none of my buſineſs now, to give any advice for the furthering of this Conviction or Humiliation. But the Caſe in hand is; How a Sinner may attain to a ſetled Peace of Conſcience, and ſome competent meaſure of the Joy of the holy Ghoſt, who hath been convinced of Sin and Miſery, and long made a Profeſſion of Holineſs, but liveth in continuall doubtings of their ſincerity, and fears of Gods wrath, becauſe of an exceeding Deadneſs of ſpirit, and a want of that Love to God, and Delight in him, and ſweetneſs in Duty, and witneſs of the Spirit, and Communion with God, and other the like Evidences which are found in the Saints. How far the party is right or wrong in the Diſcovery of theſe Wants, I now meddle not. Whether they Judge rightly or wrongly the Directions may be Uſefull to them. And though I purpoſely meddle not with the unhumbled that feel not the want of Chriſt and Mercy, yet moſt that falls may be uſefull to all that profeſs the Chriſtian faith. For I ſhall ſtudy ſo to avoid the extreames in my doctrinall Directions, as may conduce to your eſcaping the deſperate extremes, of Ʋngrounded Comforts, and Cauſleſs Terrours, in your own ſpirit.
Of my Directions the firſt ſhall be only Generall, and the reſt more particular▪ And in all of them I muſt intreat you 1. To obſerve the Order and Method as well as the Matter; and that you would practiſe them in the ſame order as I place them. 2. And to remember that it is not only Comfortable words, but it is Directions for your own practice which here I preſcribe you: And therefore that it is not the bare Reading of them that will Cure you; but if you mean to have the benefit of them, you muſt beſtow more time in Practiſing them then I have done in Penning them: yea you muſt make it the work of your life. And let not that ſtartle you or ſeem tedious to you; for it will be no more grievous a work to a well tempered ſoul, then eating, or drinking, or ſleep, or recreation is to a healthfull Body; and then it is to an honeſt woman to Love and Delight in her Husband and her Children: which is no grievous task.