Sacred Therapy, Table of chapter titles – To the reader
A TABLE of the Titles of the several Chapters.
BOOK I.
Chap. Page.
1.OF Conscience in general. 1
2. Of cases of Conscience in general. 7
3. Of Regeneration what it is; and the regenerat man, who he is. 10
4. Of divine Covenants about the eternal salvation of men; and in special, of the covenant of Redemption; shewing, that there is such a Covenant, and what are the articles thereof. 22
5. Of the covenant of Works. 71
6. Of the covenant of Grace. 86
7. For a further clearing and confirmation of the doctrine about the three Covenants, from Jer. 31. and, Heb. 8. 133
8. Of the prudent application of divine Covenants in general. 148
9. Of the more special application of divine Covenants, for removing the impediments of regeneration. 162
10. Concerning them that are like to despair. 182
11. Concerning them that absolve themselves without warrand. 190
BOOK. II.
1. OF considerations to be premised. 215
2. Wherein the regenerat mans doubt of his being in the state of grace, by reason of his felt unworthiness, is answered. 241
3. Wherein the regenerat mans doubts, arising from the multitude and weight of his sins against the Law and the Gospel, and against the light of his conscience, are answered. 245
4. Wherein is solved the doubt of the regenerat man, raised by his suspicion, whether he be elected or not. 250
5. Wherein the regenerat mans doubting of his regeneration, because he findeth no power in himself to believe in Christ, is answered. 253
6. Wherein the doubt of the regenerat man, concerning his being in the state of grace, arising from his apprehended defect of humiliation and sorrow for sin, is answered. 257
7. Wherein the Christians doubt, whether he be regenerat, because he findeth not his righteousness exceeding the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees, is answered. 263
8. Wherein the regenerat mans doubt, whether he be in the state of grace, arising from his unquietnesse of spirit, is answered. 274
9. Wherein the converts doubt, arising from his uncertainty at what time he was converted, is solved. 292
10. Wherein is solved, the converts doubt of his regeneration, arising from his apprehension, that the beginning of the change of his life was not from the sincere love of God, but either from terrour or self-love, which he conceiveth to be but carnal. 294
11. Wherein the converts doubt of his being in the state of grace, arising from heavy afflictions and grievous tentations, is solved. 298
12. Wherein is solved, the converts doubt of his conversion, arising from the power of his corruption, manifesting it self more after his entry upon the course of new obedience, then it did before he began to repent. 304
13. Wherein is solved the converts doubt, whether he be in the state of grace, arising from his comparing of himself with the hypocrit and unregenerat in those perfections they may attain unto. 311
14. Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert, whether he be in the state of grace, because some godly persons look upon him as an hypocrit. 313
15. Wherein the converts doubting of his being in the state of grace, so oft as he doth not feel the sense of his reconciliation with God, is examined and answered. 316
16. Wherein is solved the true converts doubt of his regeneration, because he seemeth to himself not to grow in grace by the use of the means appointed for his growth. 320
17. Wherein is solved the converts doubt, whether he be regenerat, because he seemeth to himself to follow religion and righteousnesse from the common operation of Gods working by moral swasion, and not from the special operation and impulsion of the holy Spirit. 322
18. Wherein is solved the true converts doubt, whether he be regenerat, because he findeth not self-denyal in the measure which is requisit in converts. 326
19. Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert, whether he be indeed converted, arising from this, that he knoweth no child of God so hardly exercised as he is. 329
20. Wherein is solved the converts doubt, whether he be converted, because he doth not find in himself the infallible marks of regeneration. 331
21. Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert, whether he be indeed converted, because he cannot confidently apply to himself the promises of the Gospel. 335
22. Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert concerning his conversion, arising from the observation in himself of presumption and security in his prosperity, and of his misbelief in adversity. 341
23. Wherein is solved the doubt of a true converts regeneration, arising from some false rule applyed without reason to himself. 344
24. Wherein is solved the converts doubt of his own conversion, because he hath found the deceitfulnesse of his own heart, and dare not trust it any more. 347
25. Wherein is solved the doubt of the true converts conversion, arising from his breach of the covenant of Grace, as he conceiveth. 351
26. Wherein is solved the true converts doubt, whether he be regenerat, because he findeth himself not only far from the measure of holinesse which he observeth to have been in the Saints commended in Scripture; but also short of the measure which some of his acquaintance have attained unto. 355
27. Wherein is solved the true converts doubt, whether he be in the blessed state of grace, because he findeth himself frequently in an evil condition. 358
28. Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert concerning his regeneration, because he findeth the power of the body of death in the pollution of the imaginations of his heart, vigorous and powerfull. 362
29. Shewing how to quench the fiery darts of Sathan, and resist his sinfull suggestions, whether of shorter endurance or of longer continuance. 364
30. Wherein are some mixed cases spoken of, whereunto the true convert is subject, and so may fall to doubt of his conversion or interest in Christ. 369
BOOK. III.
1. COncerning some premises. 376
2. Wherein is handled, the case of such as are fallen from their first love, and are well pleased in this case. 383
3. Concerning the converts sinfull conniving at, and tolerating of, the errors and transgressions of others. 387
4. Concerning the case of the true convert, falling asleep in carnal security under guiltinesse of fleshly pollutions, and dreaming himself to be in no ill condition. 390
5. Concerning the converts pleasing himself in his luke-warm condition. 393
6. Concerning such converts as lean unto the props of carnal confidence and please themselves in this condition. 395
7. Concerning the case of the convert in some point of doctrine deluded, and pleasing himself in this condition. 410
8. Concerning the converts conscience, mistaking vice for vertue, and pleasing himself in this condition. 425
9. Of the case of conscience, dealing treacherously under pre…ense of liberty of conscience. 431
10. Of such as do please themselves in a condition not pleasing God, because they conceive they can pray well under any condition. 439
11. Of the converts esteeming the peace of God to be but a carnal security. 442
12. Of the case of a convert, taking some acts of justifying faith to be high presumption in his person. 445
13. Of the condition of the convert, fearing that the joy of the holy Ghost which he hath felt, be found only to be either the joy of speculation, common to temporal believers, or a meer delusion. 449
14. Of the converts suspecting, that his zeal for God and against the sins of others hath been fleshly severity and imprudent temerity. 454
15. Of the converts suspecting his aiming at circumspect walking, shall be found in him scrupulosity. 456
16. Concerning the converts suspicion, that his softness of heart is nothing but a natural disposition to weep upon any occasion, 459
17. Concerning the converts suspicion, that all his devotion is but lip-labour which is not joyned with a tender and melting heart, and with Gods sensible approbation. 461
18. Concerning the converts looking upon the fight of his faith, as if it were the failing of his fai…h. 466
19. Concerning the converts straitning his charity toward others, more then he did at the first time of his conversion, conceiving his former larger charity, was unwarrantable folly. 469
20. Concerning the converts mistaking his condition, because of f…lt in-lake in his charity, and love to God and men. 474
21. Concerning the converts despising of his own exercises of religion, because of his felt vanity of mind therein. 476
22. Corcerning the converts discouragement for felt want of ability to do the duties commanded, whereunto his renewed will is very beut. 479
23. Concerning the converts imprudent censure of himself for felt ingratitude. 480
24. Concerning the converts imprudent censure of himself, for his felt impatiency in bearing lesser troubles, after his patient bearing of greater troubles. 484
25. Concerning the converts mistaking his case, for want of such a submission unto Gods exercising of him, as he would have. 485
26. Concerning the converts mistaking of his condition, because of temptations. 487
27. Coucerning the converts mistaking his condition, when he doth observe some degrees of Gods deserting him. 491
28. Concerning cases, wherein the convert is in doubt what to determine about his condition. 493
To the Reader.
BE pleased to take notice, that, Book 3. Chap. 2. Page 383. these words, The first rank shall be of some Cases, wherein the Conscience, &c. should be joyned with the words following, and of the same Character with them, as being the beginning of the said Chapter, and no part of the title thereof.
Likewise, in numbering the Pages, thou wilt find after 256. in the next Page, 235 for 257. Any other mistakes that occur, as in the mis-placing, changing, defect or superfluity of Letters, Figures or Notes of distinction, be pleased to pardon, seing there will be few or none of any moment.
FINIS.
End of the text · David Dickson, Sacred Therapy (1664)