A Tossed Ship Making to Safe Harbor, Table of contents – Scriptural reference
A Table of the moſt materiall things in this following Treatiſe.
THE inducement to, and Introduction into this hiſtory with the Analyſis of it. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Doct. Gods refreſhments muſt quicken us to Gods imployments. 5
D. Men that have once taſted the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt, are hardly drawn away from Chriſt. 6, 7.
D. Where God hath a will to command, man muſt have a will to obey. 8
D. It is good to get a warrant from Heaven in all our undertaking. 89
D. When God hath a work to doe, he will provide neceſſaries. 11
D. Chriſts care to preſerve his Diſciples above himſelf, ſuggeſts to us, our care to preſerve his glory above our own ſafety. 14
D: God doth often condeſcend to give a reaſon of his commands. 18
D. None come to Chriſt, and have to do with him, but he ſends them better away. 18
Vſe. This ſpeaks incouragement, to have much to do with Chriſt. 19
D. Chriſt will not put us to exerciſes above our ſtrength. 21, 22
D. It is our duty to add meditation to hearing of the word. 23
D. The duties of our generall, are to help us in thoſe of our particu-Calling. 24
D. Helps to duty, muſt be ſought and embraced. 26, 27
but theſe muſt be ſuch as are inſtituted or countenanced of God, not deviſed of men. 27, 28
D. A good heart will ſeek occaſions and meanes of converſes with God. 30
D. It is good when you converſe with God, to get into Chriſt. 31
D. When wicked men ſtretch forth their hands againſt the Church, it is high time to betake our ſelves to Prayer. 33
D. In all our difficulties, Chriſt is praying for us. 36
D. Gods Providence ſhould furniſh us with matter of Prayer. 37
In what reſpects, Chriſt was ſaid to be alone. 39, 40
D. Chriſtians are to ſeek and take occaſions to be alone. 41
D. A man may have Gods warrant for the doing of a work, and goe on in Gods way, and yet meet with oppreſſing difficulties. 45. 47
Vſe. Judge not of any cauſe, either by difficulties, or preſent ſucceſtes. 48
V. Let not difficulties ſlacken our indeavours, or weaken faith. 49
U. I… thoſe who walk in juſt wayes meet with ſtormes, what may thoſe expect, who walk in wayes of ſinne. 51
D. That comfortable and promiſing beginnings, may yet afterwards meet with ſad and ſorrowfull Proceedings. 52
V. It is our Caſe. What muſt be the Cure. 53, 54
1. Something muſt not be done. Firſt we muſt not be diſcouraged. Second, we muſt not forgoe the Cauſe. Thirdly, wee muſt not flack our indeavours. 55, 56
2. Something muſt be done. Theſe four. Firſt, Search out the cauſe. Secondly, be humbled for it. Thirdly, Reform of it. 4. Supplicate Fift, Covenant. 58. to 61
D. God ſpares to exerciſe young beginners with difficulties. 62
V. To comfort the Saints, your exerciſes ſhall not be above ſtrength. 63
d. That when Chriſt intends to exerciſe the graces of his people, he brings them into the deep. 65
Reaſ. 1. To declare his wonders. 2 To try your graces. 3 To exerciſe them.
V. Think it not much to goe down into the deep. 76, 77
The Diſciples ſad condition at Sea, imployed in that word Toſſed. 79
d. There is not ſo much evill in the greateſt trouble, as there is good in the leaſt exerciſe of grace. 79, 80
d. God puts his people to a leſſer trouble for their greater good. 80
V. It ſpeaks patience under afflictions. 82, 83
d. The Church may be toſſed, not ſwallowed up of waves. 84
V. Let wicked men ceaſe to attempt againſt the Church, &c. 85. 86
d. Contrary ſpirits, cauſe tempeſts. 87, 88, 89
d. God may be working our preſervation, when we think he is working our deſtruction. 92, 93
d. Stormes are to be expected, where Chriſt is not in the ſhip. 94
V. As ever you deſire Peace, get Chriſt into the ſhip. 95
V. Chriſt abſence in trouble, makes ſufferings inſufferable. 96
V. Get Chriſts preſence in all your ſad conditions. 96, 97
d. Chriſt is preſent to faith, when abſent to ſence. 97
V: Learn to ſee him by Faith, when you cannot by ſence: 98, 99
d. Gods heighten the troubles of his people, before he doth deliver them. Five Reaſons of it. 99, 100
Reaſ. 1. To heighten our graces. 2 Or Duties. 3 Or Deliverance. 4 His Glory. 5 Or Praiſes. 101. to the 109
Vſe. Not to be caſt down, though God heighten our troubles. 110
d. Chriſt takes notice of us in our greateſt afflictions. 111
V To comfort: and 2. to counſell us how to behave our ſelves. 112
d. When Chriſt ſees our trouble on the ſhore, he will come to us on the ſea. 112
V. Be ſpeak God to look down and ſee our trouble. 113
d. Means cannot be wanting, if God purpoſe helpe. 114
V. It ſpeaks incouragement in our loweſt condition. 114
d. Nothing ſhall part Chriſt and us in trouble, &c. 115, to 117
d. What ever Chriſt purpoſeth to doe for his people, is as good as done. 119
V. It ſpeaks comfort in reſpect of promiſes to the Saints. 120
And terrour in reſpect of threatnings toward the wicked. 121
Chriſt in his loweſt abaſements, did ever diſcover ſomething of his D…itie. 123
d. To know or deliver ours, is the beſt part of deliverance. 126
d. God ſometimes goeth ſtrange wayes to deliver his people. 127
V. Let us not diſtruſt in this wiſdome and power, never to be poſed. never non-pluſt. 129
1. What is ment by the fourth Watch. 130
d. God takes a fulneſſe of time for the accompliſhment of his Promiſe. 132
V. It ſpeaks, Patient waiting, 1. In Deferrs. 2. Denyalls. 3. In the incomes, and receits of mercy. 134
But yet ſo wait, as to doe our duty. Some Promiſes God will effect by his own immediate hand, ſome by means. 135
Three things to be done for the downfall of Antichriſt 1. Cleare Preaching, 2 Spirituall walking. 3 Joynt Praying. 136, 137
d. When the fulneſſe of time is come, then will God performe his Promiſe. 198
u. Blame us, wee cannot wait. 3. Grounds of it. 139, 140, 141 1 Pride. 2 Ignorance. 3 Impatience.
d. Mans extremity is Gods opportunity. 142
1. Why God ſuffers us to be brought to extremities before he help.
2. Why he helps in extremities.
1. God ſuffers it for Four Reaſons. 145
1. That Mercy might be more conſpicuous. 2. That Mercy might be more advanced. 3 To quicken to Prayer. 4 To inlarge us in Prayſes.
2. God doth help us in our Extremities. Three Reaſons of it. 146
Firſt, Becauſe God is ingaged. Four Ingagements. 146, to 149
2. That both we our ſelves, and the generations to come might truſt.
3. For the torture and diſappointment of wicked men. 151
u. Not to be too much caſt cown, though God bring us into extremities before he help. 152
There are Five times when God will help. 153. to the 155
1. When we know not what to doe. 153
2. When we know not what God will doe.
3. When we ſhall ſin fouly, or ſuffer ſadly.
4. When the enemie is at the top of his rage. 155
5. When God holds up a mighty Spirit of Prayer.
d. Chriſt may come to ſave his people, & they not diſcerne him. 159
d. Men may ſometimes look upon their deliverers as deſtroyers. 162
Three times Chriſt appears as a Ghoſt to his people In times
1. Of Humiliation. 163
2. Of Temptation. 165
3. Of Deſertion. 165, 166
Four times Chriſt appears as a Ghoſt to wicked men. 168 the 171
1 When he comes to Reform his Church.
2 When he comes to reform their Perſons.
3 At the houre of death,
4 At the day of Judgement.
u. As you deſire Ceriſt ſhould not be as a Ghoſt to you hereafter, terrible at death, &c. Let him not be a Ghoſt to you now. 172
d. Chriſt may come to helpe his people in ſuch a way, as yet the means of help may be a terrour to them. 173
u. Not to be dsſcouraged, though the means of help carry the face of deſtruction. 176
u. Yet to be humbled, that God takes ſuch ſad wayes to doe us good. 177
u. Though the means be terrible, let not the ſalvation be a terrour. 178
d. God doth often increaſe, when he comes to remove our trouble. 179
Reaſ. 1. To diſcover our hearts. 183
2. To leſſen our ſins. 183
3. To increaſe our Duties. 195
4. To increaſe our deliverance. 197
5. To increaſe our thankfulneſſe. 199
u Judge not of Gods purpoſe, by his proceedings of Providence. 201
u. Lift up your heads under the greateſt preſſures. 202
Some Rules to know when troubles are at the height. 207
1. When we are at the height of our graces. 207
2. When we are brought to the loweſt. Firſt in Paſſive, Second in active Humiliation. 208
d. Mens fears may be increaſed, when deliverance is neereſt. 210
Fear is not the way to drive away a Ghoſt, &c. 210
d. Men cry out, becauſe they cry not up, act fear, becauſe not faith. 212
d. Chriſtians to be carefull of bringing ill reports upon Religion. 214
u. Take heed the ſins of Profeſſors breed diſlike of Profeſſion. 215
d. The ſame Word ſpoken to the hearing of all, the comfort of a few. 222
d. It is good to be in the ſhip with the Diſciples, though on a ſtormy Sea. 222
d. God hath mercy upon many for the ſake of a few. 223
d. A Word from Chriſt can raiſe a Spirit ſunk in trouble. 224
u. To direct us whither to ſly for comfort in our times of trouble. 227
1. Obj. Did Chriſt ſpeak to us as to them, we might be comforted.
Anſ. Chriſt ſaith as much to us now, as he did to them. 228
2. Ob. But we want a particular word for Englands, Deliverance.
Anſ. We have as much word for Englands, Deliverance, as they had for the preſervation of the ſhip. 229.
1. There may be a reſting on Gods Neme, though you want a particular Promiſe. 229
Unto this Five other incouragements in the Generall are laid down. 1. From our relations to God. 2. His generall Promiſes. 3. Certain experiences, to others, To our ſelves. 4. From the Cauſe. 5. From thoſe who are our enemies. 232, 233
3. Ob. But theſe afford only probable conjectures, where is the particular word. 223
Anſ. We have ſomething comes neer a particular word. Two Rules
1. What God hath done to others of his people, is equivalent to Promiſe to us, if we be in the ſame condition. 222
2. What God promiſeth to any, he promiſeth to all his people 14 equall ſtate.
Two things God will not diſappoint,
1. Faith.
2. Prayer. 239, 246
3. We have a particular word for the deſtruction of Antichriſto 239, 241
4. We have a particular word, that before the end of all things, God will make his Churches glorious, 240, 242
u. Let us upon theſe conſiderations be raiſed up to beleeve and expect mercy.
d. The reliefes of Chriſt are proportionable to the neceſsities of his Saines. 245
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe they are the helps of God. 2. The fruits of his mercy. 246, &c.
u. To direct us whither to turne our eyes in trouble, 247 to 249
u. To exhort us to reſt in Gods helpe alo e. 251
d. The ſpirits of Chriſtians may even ſink under their troubles, 253
Reaſ. It ariſeth from the lowneſſe of their ſpirits, not greatneſſe of trouble. 254
d. All comfort in God in troubles, at ſeth from confidence in God in troubles. 255
Some reaſons why Chriſt allaid the ſtorme in their hearts, before the ſtorme in the ſea. 256, 257
d. God would not have our hearts ſink under the greateſt trouble, 260
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe this is offenſive to God,
2 It is unſuitable to Chriſtians,
3 It diſcovers weakneſſe of ſpirit,
1 To your calling, 262
2 To your cauſe, 263
3 To your relations, 266
4 To your expectations, 266
4 It diſcourageth others of our brethren,
5 It betrayes all the ſuccours God tenders, 268
6 t… doth gratifie the enemy. Its
our weakning, 271
their ſtrengthning, 272
7 It doth expoſe the heart to dangerous ſnares, 273
There are four ſnares theſe ſinking fears expoſe us too.
1 They will make a man ſhie to acknowlege the cauſe of God, 273
2 They will make a man bauk and decline the cauſe of God, 274
3 They will blind the underſtanding, it ſhall not diſcerne truth 274
4 They will make us to deny and forſake the cauſe of God, 275
Four ſorts of men will not hold to any cauſe
1 Ignorant,
2 Vnſound hearted
3 Worldly,
4 Fearfull men, 276
u. Baniſh theſe ſinfull fears, 278, 279
d. Chriſtians ſhould learne to know Chriſt by voice, 281
d. The ſame word may be a terror to ſome, a comfort to others, 284
d. The preſence and appearance of Chriſt to the ſoule in trouble, is to the ſoule as a reſurrection from the dead, 284
Inſtanced in four ſad conditions.
1 In times of humiliation for ſin, 285
2 In times of temptation, 285
3 In times of deſertion, 287
4 In times of outward trouble, 288
u. Incouragement to Chriſtians in their ſaddeſt condition, Chriſt is preſent, 289
u. Beg his preſence now, &c. 290
d. So full of bowels is Chriſt to his Church, that he cannot long brook them in trouble when they cry. 291
Reaſ. 1 Becauſe he loves us. 2 He intends our exerciſe, not our ruine. 3 He intends our prayſes.
God may ſtay long for many reaſons, 293
u. To rejoyce the Church in her ſaddeſt conditions, 293
u. To incourage her to wait upon God, 294
READER,
I am here drawn forth to acknowledge thoſe faults, which all my care could not prevent; I have diſtinguiſhed thoſe in the Margin from thoſe in the Leaf, and muſt begge either thy patience in reading, or thy paines in correcting of them.
THE ERRATA.
Pag. 2. lin. 6. r. followers. p. 5. l. 28. r. externall. p. 6. l. 4. r. perſwaſion. p. 13. l. 28. r. yet in his glory we. 26. p. l. 18. r. this. p. 39. l. 12. r. never. p. 67. l. penult. r. 43. Iſay. p. 84. l. 17. r. Elijah. p. 107. l. 3. Let our eye look on Ston. p. 120. l. 6. foreign. 206. p. l. 21. rooting. p. 227. l. 5. r. An. 230. l. 5. r. a. 240. p. l. penult. …e. 241. p. l. 10. r. it. 243. p. l. 2. to. 251. p. 1. 5. r. helped his. 263. p. l. 14. himſelf. 288. p. l. 10. r. 42. Iob. 279. p. l. 8. Sup. more.
Marginall Faults.
P. 6. l. 8. compulit. l. 17. r. refructarios. 14. p. l. penult. r. quam. 27 p. l. 3. r. ardentiores. 31. p. r. foreign. 38. p. l. 20. r. horam. 48. p. r. foreign 49. p. l. 13. r. aciem. l. 29. r. cogantur. l. 32. r. Wormatiae. 55. p. l. 1. r. perge. l. 8. r. Chriſtum l. 16. r. vincit. 65. p. l. 3. r. hoc eſt. 78. p. l. 31. r. ſecuritatem. 79. p, r: foreign 83. p. l. 17. r. malleus. 85. p. 1. 5. r. cruore: 95. p. l. ult. Ames. 100. p. l. 3. 1. ſalus l. 5. ſinet. …01. p. l. 12. agimus. 111. p. l. 1. penitus. 117. p. l. 2. mecum. 122. p. r proſunt. 142. p. l. 1. …. extremam: 153. p. l. 3. r. vehementiores. 155. p. l. 5. conjunctis. 158. p. l. 2. meſerendi. 162. p. foreign 165. foreign 186. p. l. 6. r, fulgentius. 187, p, l, 1, r, mos. 189, p, aeternitati, 196, p, l, 5, r, Chriſt, 200, p, r, merces, 223, p, l. 1, credite. l. 4, Sacra, l. 23, averteba…, 225. p, l, 1, r, vis, 236, l, 8, pollicebuntur, 245, l, 9, Salutis. 252, l, 10, r, relique, 265, l, 11, r, hominem, 271, p, l, 2, r, debemus, 277, p, l, 9, ſup: te.
The Scripture diſcourſed on, in the following Treatiſe on Matth. 14.
Verſe 22.
And ſtraightway Ieſus. conſtrained his Diſciples to get into a ſhip, and to go before him unto the other ſide, while he ſent the multitudes away.
23.
And when he had ſent the multitudes away, he went up into a Mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24.
But the ſhip was now in the midſt of the ſea, toſſed with waves: for the winde was contrary.
25.
And in the fourth watch of the night: Ieſus went unto them, walking on the ſea.
26.
And when the Diſciples ſaw him walking on the ſea, they were troubled, ſaying, It is a ſpirit, and they cryed out ſor fear.
27.
But ſtraightway Ieſus ſpake unto them, ſaying, Be …f good cheer: it is I, be not afraid.