The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS OF The Treatiſe on Hebr. 11.27.
CHAP. 1. The words Opened; Six Doctrines raiſed.
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Chap. 2. Handling the firſt Doctrine.
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Chap. 3. Handling the ſecond Doctrine; which is.
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Chap. 4. Directions for the ordering our ſelves in our feare of Authority.
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Chap. 5. Some further Directions, how we ſhould order our ſelves, if we ſhould be injoyned unlawful things.
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Chap. 6. The Point proſecuted more ſtrictly.
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Chap. 7. How Faith helpeth againſt the fear of man; Opened in fifteen particulars.
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Chap. 8. Arguments againſt the fear of man, taken from the Conſideration of Man, Firſt, as Man in ſix particulars very obſervable, 1. What he is, 2. The vanity of Man. 3. The dwelling of man. 4. The pomp of man. 5. The foundation of man. 6. The life of man. Secondly, As a wicked man. 1. His baſeneſs. 2. What he is in the greatneſs of his power oppoſing the Godly. 3. How near the enemies of Gods people are to ruine and deſtruction.
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Chap. 9. How Audaciouſneſs and boldneſs of ſpirit differ from Faith. 1. Audaciouſneſs makes us bold to ſin. 2. It appears in cauſes that concern our ſelves, more then in thoſe which concern God. 3. Boldneſs the curing of one paſſion with another, Faith the curing of paſſion by Grace. 4. Natural boldneſs makes men raſh, and hinders conſultation. 5. The cauſe of immodeſty. 6. It is ſudden and violent. 7. It proceeds and lives upon outward encouragements. 8. The iſſue of ignorance. 9. Or deſpair. 10. More outward then inward.
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Chap. 10. Sheweth, How far we may lawfully avoid danger without fear of men. 1. Religion doth not teach men to be fooliſh or deſperate. 2. The care of a Chriſtian ought to be to do his duty, rather than to avoid danger, which may fal out in his duty. 3. When God brings his people into danger, he intends more to exerciſe their graces, then to try their diſcretion. 4. Though danger may be avoided, yet it is more honorable for a Chriſtian to be called to exerciſe Faith Courage, Patience, and in away of ſuffering, then his prudence in avoiding it. 5. Take care of miſtaking diſcretion, which is not wont to abate the vigor of Gods Graces, but to improve and increaſe them. 6. A Chriſtians greateſt endeavor ſhould be to get his will to ſubmit to God.
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Chap. 11. Contains a further Reſolution of the former Caſe in nine particulars. 1. God doth, give leave to his people to fly, and avoid Danger! 2. Such avoiding of Danger (if rightly qualified) argues neither diſtruſt of God, nor defect of Courage. 3. In ſome caſes, Chriſtians not only permitted, but commanded to flee, as 1. When no extraordinary thing depends upon him in that ſtation in which God hath ſet him. 2. When the hand of God looſeth thoſe relations, which would otherwiſe be obligations to him. 3. When God gives him an opportunity elſe where, to bring greater revenues of glory to him. 4. When a Chriſtian is doubtful about his call to ſuffer at the preſent. 4. There are ſome caſes wherin it is utterly unlawful to flee, viz. The contrary to thoſe above named. 5. Miſtakes in flying. 1. To flee upon every ſlight and trival thing. 2. When it tends to their ſpiritual diſadvantage. 3. When having ſecretly denied the Faith, Men flee to prevent the ſhame of Apoſtacie. 4. When they look at their own ſafety alone, without care to fit themſelves for further ſervice of God. 6. How to know when avoiding dangers proceeds from Faith, or Cowardiſe. 1. That which is by Faith is not in a Violent, Raſh, Heady manner. 2. When it proceeds from Faith, it is joined with a reſolution to return and bear wittneſs to the truth, when God cals. 3. When we uſe the liberty we have to get hearts to return. 7 The caſe of publique Officers, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, eſpecially the latter.
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Chap. 12. Containing the eighth particular, to wit. Anſwering ſome objections made againſt flying. ob. 1. Men may not leave their country. Anſw. In two particulars. Ob. 2. Should none ſtay to ſuffer. Anſ. ob. 3, God Alſufficient to help in greateſt dangers. Anſ. ob. 4. Fleeing a ceaſing to give teſtimony to the truth of God. Anſw. ob. 5. Many of Gods ſervants had power to fly, and did not. Anſw. ob. 6. What ſhall become of thoſe left behind, if they are forſaken by men of ability. Anſw. ob. 7. If men would maſter their fears, and ſtay a while, the cloud would blow over. Anſw. Ninth particular, Direrections for ordering our ſelves when we do fly. 1. Leave as little guilt behind in the place as you can. 2. Carry your ſelves ſo that the name of God may not ſuffer in the place to which you flee. 3. Behave your ſelves as exiled people, as men mortified to the things of the world. 4. Get a contented frame of heart. 5. When you are delivered keep your ſelves in the fervency of your ſpirits. 6, Let thoſe from whom you flee have your prayers.
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Chap. 13. How the Heart may be taken off from the fear of man. Firſt, it is againſt the ſolemn charge of God. Secondly, It is an Idolizing of the Creature. Thirdly, It becomes not the State and Spirit and profeſſion of a Chriſtian. Fourthly, It diſhonors God, and the Cauſe of God. Fifthly, It mightily heartens the enemies of Gods people. Sixthly, It is threatened as a great judgment of God upon a people. Seventhly, The evil effects of the ſinful fear of man 1. It diſtracts our thoughts. 2. Weakens the heart. 3. Eats out the true fear of God. 4. It indiſpoſeth us to any ſervice. 5. Inſnares a Chriſtian. 6. It. cauſeth other deſperate fears. 7. Procures the judgment of God in our deſtruction.
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Chap. 14. Another Doctrine. Much difference between Gods peoples ſpirits at ſeveral times, Illuſtrated by examples. Reaſons, 1. From the different diſpoſitions their hearts are in to receive truths. Which proceeds from Three Cauſes, Firſt, the abatement of the ſtrength that is oppoſite to that truth. Secondly. The ſtirrings or activity of thoſe habits which are ſutable to truth. Thirdly, The prevalences of ſelf intereſt. Reaſ. 2. From the different repreſentations of Truth. Reaſ. 3. Becauſe the Graces of men do not burn ſo cleerly and purely at al times Reaſ. 4. From the weakneſs of Grace the parts and members of it are not conſolidated. Reaſ. 5. Becauſe our hearts are ſometimes filled with more heavenly conſolations then at other times. Reaſ. 6. From the different breathings of the ſpirit of God. Reaſ. 7. Becauſe men have ſomtimes a more clear and diſtinct ſight of their call to ſuffer then at other times. 3. Particular directions in this Caſe. Reaſ. 8. The different tempers of mans Body. Reaſ. 9. From the difference in the encouraging occurrency of Gods providence.
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Chap. 15. Containing the Firſt Uſe, Which teacheh us to entreat God not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low.
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Chap. 16. Another Ʋſe, to teach us not to be diſcouraged at this different temper of our Spirits, but to be humbled for it. Five Helps againſt diſcouraging thoughts. Two objections.
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Chap. 17. Containing the Third Ʋſe of Direction: branched into four particulars. 1. If couragious, and fit for ſervice, give God the praiſe. Four reaſons for it. 2. Learn to rebuke unbelief. 3. Labor to keep your hearts up. The manner how that may be done, in eight particulars. 4. Improve this gracious working of God.
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Chap. 18. A fourth Ʋſe. To be reſtleſs till we get our ſelves into a good frame.
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Chap. 19. A Fifth Ʋſe: To ſee the miſery of being alwaies unfit for ſervice. A Sixt Ʋſe: To teach us to long for Heaven.
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Chap. 20. Shewing the power of Faith to carry through the moſt difficult work. Queſtion, What is there in Faith which helps the Soul? Anſwered, in four Particulars. 1. It ſettles the Heart on the ſureſt ground, which is Gods call, and Promiſes. 2. It fetches in the greateſt ſtrength. 3. It aſſiſts with the higheſt encouragements. 5. Faith of its own Nature is a mighty ſtrong principle. The moſt illuſtrious work of Faith. Thirteen remarkable things concerning Faith, and the difficulties which it breaks through.
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Chap. 21. Ʋſes of the Doctrine, Uſe, Firſt, Let none think God an hard Maſter, when he puts them upon ſervice, becauſe he affords them a principle to carry them through. Uſe. Secondly, To Beleevers that they ſhould expect to be put upon difficult things. 1. Four conſiderations againſt diſcouragements. It is not to be accounted an affliction to be put upon difficult things for 4. Reaſons. Uſe, Thirdly, Shewing it can be no concluding argument againſt a work becauſe there are hindrances. Uſe, Fourthly, When you have been carried through difficult ſervices conſider, what it was which ſupported you.
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Chap. 22. Queſt. How to know whether Faith wil carry us through difficult works, Anſwered in ſeveral particulars, 1. Faith Goes upon ſpiritual grounds motives, and ends. 2. Makes men ſollicitous and careful for the enjoyment of Gods preſence with them 3. Cauſes men to carry themſelves in a Gracious manner. 4. To have an high eſteem of the name of God. 5 Makes them careful, that they may not be fruſtrated of their end. 6. It makes men ſatisfied with God Alone. 7. Faith is a continued work. That Faith, which brought you out, will carry you through.
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Chap. 23. Containing other uſes of the point. Uſe, 5. Shews the reaſon why we faile in any thing we do; it is for want of Faith. Uſe, 6. Labor to riſe in indignation againſt your unbelief. Uſe, 7. Conſider what it is to faile in that work which concernes thy eternal eſtate.
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Chap. 24. Helps to put on Faith in any undertaking. 1. Set before you the example of our great Captain Jeſus Chriſt. 2. Make preparation for the work of Faith by Humiliation. 3. Renew your Faith in the Covenant of Grace. 4. In difficult times, ſet Faith on work to purifie the heart. 5. Take heed of ſhifting waies and dependances. 6. Set looſe from your own ends. 7. Caſt your ſelves upon the word of God. 8. Plead the word with God in Prayer. 9. Refuſe no meanes that God puts into your hands. 10. Do nothing with a ſlaviſh ſpirit. 11. Be not diſcouraged by miſcarriages that are paſt. 12. Take heed of the diſturbance of paſſion in your work. 13. Obſerve the dependances one work hath upon another. 14. Liſſon not to Temptations. 15. Take heed of perverſe reaſonings. 16. Take heed of diſorderly working, in four caſes. 17. Ʋſe reſolution and courage. 18. Look on your ſelves as Gods Inſtruments. 19. Be conſtant though you find nothing come of it. 20. Encreaſe not the difficulty by your carriage. 21. Look moſt at your Encouragements. 22. Ʋſe not the difficulty in the way to reaſon againſt the work. 23. Labor to harden your ſelves by Faith againſt al difficulties.
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Chap. 25. Containing a ſecond conſideration of the Text, to wit, and Allegoricall interpretation of Moſes forſaking Egypt by Faith. Warrant for Allegoricall interpretations. Forſaking this world, renouncing our naturall eſtate, a difficult work▪ Fourteen reaſons of it.
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Chap. 26. How Faith carries the Soul through the Difficult work of forſaking Egypt. Their Works of Faith. 1. The diſcovering work, in two particulars. 2. The relying Work. 3. The Surrendring work. Queſtion Reſolved concerning the force of Natural Conſcience, in three Particulars, ſhewing the great difference between the actings of Faith and Natural Conſcience. Application, 1. Hence ſee the Ground of Miſcarriages. 2. A Rule of Direction; Incouragements to Faith and Beleeving. 3. Let delivered Perſons ſee what delivered them. Faith which acts by a power without us. Twelve Conſiderable and uſeful Directions in this matter.
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Chap. 26. Containing the ſecond Allegoricall ſence of the words, viz. Concerning Antichriſt. The wickedneſs of Sodom and Egypt, compared with the wickedneſs of Antichriſt. 1. Idolatry. 2. Cruelty. The bondage of Chriſtians under Antichriſt. 1. Outward, in Eſtates, and lives. 2. Inward, a Soul bondage. The baſeneſs of this ſhewed in ſeveral particulars, concerning Ceremonies worſe then Egyptian bondage. Faith muſt deliver us, Deliverance difficult in ſeveral particulars. The work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage, in 6. or 7. Conſiderations Queſt. Whether men may not reject the yoke of Antichriſt upon other grounds beſides Faith? Anſ. In 10. Particulars.
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THE EXCELLENCY OF HOLY COURAGE IN EVIL TIMES.
Hebrews, 11.27.
By faith he forſook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King, for he endured, as ſeeing him who is inviſible.