A Cordial for a Fainting Soul, Table of cases of conscience
A ſhort Table of thoſe ſeverall Caſes of Conſcience which in the following Treatiſe are ſpoken to more fully or Collaterally, the Letter of which are noted with an Aſteriske.
Ser. I. 1. VVHether it be neceſſary that humiliation ſhould in a ſoule goe before faith?
Ser. II. 2. Whether I may refuſe to beleeve, becauſe I thinke I am not enough humbled? Comfort and direction for a ſoul under that affliction.
Ser. III. 3. Whether I may refuſe to beleeve, becauſe I know not whether I am elected or no? How to ſatisfie a Chriſtian under that affliction.
Ser. IV. 4. Whether I may refuſe to beleeve, becauſe I am a great ſinner, and as I thinke too, unworthy of mercy? How to ſatisfie a Chriſtian under that affliction.
Ser. V. 5. Whether I may refuſe to beleeve, upon a conceit that I have ſinned the ſin againſt the Holy-Ghoſt? How to eaſe a spirit under that burthen.
Ib. * 6. Whether every ſin againſt knowledge, every denying of Chriſt, every hating our brethrens goodneſſe, be this ſin or no?
Ser. VI. 7. Whether a Chriſtian may conclude he doth not beleeve, becauſe he cannot act every act of faith?
Ser. VII. 8. Whether true faith may conſiſt with doubting, and how in the ſame ſoule?
Ib. 9. Whether a Chriſtian may conclude he hath not true faith, becauſe for the preſent he is ignorant 1. in circumſtantiall points. 2. in the hiſtory of Scripture. 3. in ſome fundamentals, yea 4. in the neceſſary points of ſalvation, ſo far as that he cannot make the generals out by particulars, nor maintaine them upon diſpute?
Ser. VIII. 10. Whether a Chriſtian may conclude his faith is not true, becauſe he thinks he doth not aſſent to the whole Word of God?
* 11. Whether the true beleever can at any time doubt, whether the Scripture be the Word of God or no?
* 12. Whether a Chriſtian may not be tempted to doubt it, and yet not doubt it, and how to know ſuch a temptation from our owne corruption?
* 13. Whether a Chriſtian can have true faith, and not aſſent to every particular truth in the word of God, nor to the true meaning of this or that portion of Scripture?
Ser. IX. 14. Whether a Chriſtian may truly relye upon Jeſus Chriſt for ſalvation, and yet doubt whether he doth relye or no, and not know he relyes, but be ſtrongly conceited he doth not?
* 15. Whether a Chriſtian may truly relye upon Chriſt, and yet find an abatement ſometimes of the ſtrength of his relyance, and to his owne thoughts, relye ſometimes more ſometimes leſſe?
* 16. Whether a Chriſtian may truly relye upon Chriſt, and the promiſes, and yet not at all times find an equall reliance upon all the promiſes, but that he can at ſomtimes as he thinks, more adhere to ſome promiſes then other, and in generall, better depend upon Gods ſpirituall promiſes for grace and heaven, then his promiſes made to us for ſufficiency for this life?
Ser. X. 17. Whether a beleever may not hang tremblingly upon the promiſes, and yet hang truly upon them, what things may cauſe a trembling faith in the ſoule ſometimes?
18. Whether a Chriſtian may not truly beleeve, and yet not be able at all times, fully and truly to appropriate the promiſes of Jeſus Christ, to himſelfe in particular?
19. Whether the true beleever may apply particular promiſes?
20. Whether the true beleever at ſometimes may not be unable to apply temporall promiſes, when, and why?
21. Whether a true beleever, at ſometimes may not be unable particularly to apply ſpirituall promiſes, if they be conditionall?
22. Whether the true beleever at ſometimes may not be unable to apply spirituall promiſes, though abſolute?
Ser. XI. 23. What things muſt be wrought in that ſoule, that by a particular application of faith layes hold upon any promiſe?
24. Whether, and how a Chriſtian may, and ought to apply all the promiſes, ſo as to bring them as ſalves to his particular ſores.
25. Whether Conditionall promiſes, ſuppoſe that I muſt fulfill the conditions before I apply them?
Ser. XII. 26. Whether a Chriſtian may not have ſaving faith, yet no aſſurance?
27. Whether, and how perſwaſion comes into juſtifying faith, and is neceſſary to every true faith?
28. Whether a Chriſtian may conclude he hath had faith of aſſurance, or hath, if it be weake, and inconſtant in degrees?
* 29. Whether aſſurance, when loſt, may be recovered againe?
Ser. XIII. 30. Whether it be a ſufficient ground for me to conclude I have no faith, if I thinke I doe not feele the ſtrength of God carrying me out to thoſe duties which I ſhould doe, and graces which I ſhould act?
31. Whether any Chriſtian feeles ſtrength alwayes alike, and what cauſes there may be of his not feeling Gods ſtrength alwayes alike acting in his ſoule?
32. What a Chriſtian ought to doe when he doth not feele the ſtrength of God, enlivening him and inabling him to act ſpirituall duties?
Ser. XIV. 33. Whether, and how a Chriſtian may know whether thoſe doubts which ariſe in his ſoule, be ſuch as a true beleever hath, or no, better then ſuch as unbeleevers and reprobates have?
34. Whether the principle of doubting in the beleever, be unbeliefe or infirmity?