Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints, Title page – Table of contents
CHRISTS ALARM TO DROWSIE SAINTS: OR, Christs Epiſtle to his Churches.
By WILLIAM FENNER, B. D. ſometimes fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and Miniſter of Rochford in ESSEX.
REVEL. 2. 7. Hee that hath an eare to hear, let him hear what the ſpirit ſaith unto the Churches.
LONDON, Printed by J. D. & R. I. for John Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountain in Pauls Church-yard.
M DC XLVI.
Inſigni Eruditione & Pietate V: THOMAE HILL S. T. D.
Acad: Cantabrigienſs. Digniſsimo Procancellario & Coll: Trin: in eadem Acad: Magiſtro▪ Poſthumum hoc.
GUILLIEL. FENNERI Opuſculum In Debitae obſervantiae Teſtimonium D. D. D.
J. R. Bibliopola.
TO THE READER.
THE Author of theſe enſuing Sermons was a Miniſter of God, famous in his Generation, a burning and ſhining light, one, to whom, if ever to any, God had given the Art of winning of Soules, whom I have often heard Preaching, and alwaies in the demonſtration of the Spirit and power, and not in the inticing words of mans wiſedome. He was (as Nazienzen ſaith of John Baptiſt) Tota Vox, all Voice: A voice in his habite, in his geſtare, and in his life and converſation, as well as his Doctrine; and being now dead, he is ſtill a voice by his Works, which he hath left behinde him. And in particular, by theſe Sermons (Printed according to a Copy written with his own hand) which handle a Subject very neceſſary for theſe times, wherein there are many that have a name to live, but are indeed dead, and many that are ſpiritually alive, but yet full of deadneſſe, and unactiveneſſe to that that is good. Now this Treatiſe will be uſefull (if God give a bleſſing to it) to make the dead Chriſtian, living; and the living Chriſtian more active and lively in all godlineſſe; which that it may effect, is the prayer of
Thy ſoules friend in Jeſus Chriſt, ALAMY.
The Contents.
THE Coherence.
Page. 1
The Diviſion.
Page. 2
1 Obſerv. That Ministers are to be Angels.
Page. 7
1 Vſe, The Miniſtery no baſe office.
Page. 10
2 Vſe, If Angels, they muſt be holy.
Page. 11
3 Vſe, If Angels, they muſt be ready to preach and labor in the word,
Page. 13
4 Vſe, If Angels, they are mainely for Gods Elect.
Page. 17
5 Vſe, If Angels, with what reverence ought wee to hear them?
Page. 19
2 Obſerv. All true Miniſters as one.
ibid.
How.
Page. 21
What unity.
Page. 24
Miniſters ought to preach often.
Page. 32
The reaſons of their unity.
Page. 39
1 Vſe Miniſters not to envy one another for the faithfull diſcharge▪ of their duty.
Page. 41
2 Vſe Miniſters muſt labour to be of one minde.
Page. 42
3 Vſe, Good for Miniſters that they preach one for another,
Page. 44
Miniſters may be in fault the people are no better.
Page. 46
People a cauſe of the Miniſters deadneſſe.
Page. 48
Particular Preaching does good.
Page. 51
Generall preaching hartfull, ſeven Reaſon.
ibid.
Morall preaching does no good.
Page. 57
Not enough to profeſſe onelyonly the name of Chriſt.
Page. 61
The more the word …onvinces, the more ſubtleties the heart aeviſeth.
Page. 63
Cold preaching of the word, is unſutable to the nature of the word.
Page. 64
It is cold two wayes.
Page. 66
Evill life cauſeth th… Preacher ſeem vile.
Page. 67
1 Vſe, A Miniſter may be the cauſe why the people are dead▪
Page. 68
2. Miniſters of all m…n ſhould care to be moſt quickned
ibid.
3. People ſhould pray for their Miniſters.
Page. 69
4. Miniſters ſhould take h…ed of their charge▪ …irable Royalties of Jeſus Chriſt.
ibid.
1 That he hath the Seven Spirits of God.
Page. 72
Gives the ſpirit to whom he pleaſes.
Page. 75
The Reaſons why.
Page. 77
Vſe 1. If Chriſt have the ſpirits, what hath he not?
Page. 80
2. We are without excuſe, if we want the ſpirit, when Chriſt hath him to give.
Page. 81
How we may obtain it.
Page. 86
3. Thoſe that want the ſpirit may have ſupplies from Jeſus Chriſt.
Page. 89
Signes of it.
Page. 93
Second Royalty of Jeſus Chriſt, he hath the ſeven Stars.
Page. 96
Miniſters why Stars.
Page. 97
Every Pariſh ſhould have one.
Page. 98
Vſe 1. A Miſerable thing when a Land is darkned.
Page. 100
2. We are to bleſſe God when the Starres ſhine.
ibid.
3. Take heed thoſe few Stars we have ſet upon us.
Page. 101
Six fignes when they are about to vaniſh.
ibid.
Why God will take away his Stars.
Page. 105
Chriſt hath ſeven Stars in five reſpects.
Page. 107
Vſe 1. They have their Miſſion from him, therefore tis comfort to true Miniſters.
ibid▪
2. They muſt doe his Meſſage.
Page. 108
3. They muſt give him account.
Page. 109
4. A great mercy Chriſt ſhould ſend unto them.
ibid.
The heads of their Commiſsion, their Authority.
Page. 120
Vſe 1. If their Commiſsion be from Chriſt, they are the greateſt Embaſſadors that are or can be.
Page. 121
2. They muſt take heed how they diſcharge their Function.
Page. 122
3. To condemn them that obey not the Miniſtery.
Page. 124
4. God takes it not well at our hands that Miniſters ſhould be vilipended.
Page. 126
5. They muſt preach no mercy at all to them that ſtand out wilfully.
Page. 129
6. They that fear God muſt obey the voyce of his Servants.
Page. 131
Miniſters had need of many rare gifts.
Page. 133
1. To open the Scriptures.
ibid.
2. To deduce from them.
Page. 134
3. To Convince.
Page. 135
4. To move affections.
ibid.
5. To ſpeak Pro Re Nata▪
Page. 136
6. To chuſe ſpeciall Texts for ſpeciall occaſions.
Page. 137
Vſe 1. A Miniſter had not need to be a foole.
Page. 139
2. They are not Chriſts Miniſters that are not gifted.
ibid.
3. They muſt goe to Chriſt for gifts.
Page. 140
4. Stir up thoſe he gives them.
Page. 141
5. They muſt rely on Chriſt.
ibid.
6. People ſhould pray for their Miniſter.
Page. 142
Meanes to enlarge the Miniſters hearts and gifts to the people.
ibid.
Chriſt hath the proſpering of his Miniſters.
Page. 149
The Reaſons, 1. Becauſe Miniſters are nothing in the World.
Page. 151
2. Converſion is ſupernaturall.
Page. 152
Vſe 1. The Miniſters can onelyonly make try all whether they can convert the people or no.
Page. 153
2. They muſt waite; though they have not ſucceſſe preſently.
Page. 154
3. It may condemn the World that lets not Miniſters have ſucceſſe.
ibid:
A Miniſter hath all good ſucceſſe from Chriſt.
Page. 156
Vſe 1. Why ſome Miniſters now adayes have ſo little ſucceſſe.
Page. 157
Carnall Miniſters may ſometimes convert.
Page. 159
2. Chriſt doth bleſſe true Miniſters.
Page. 161
3. If they have not ſucceſſe, they ought not to be diſcouraged.
Page. 162
4. The greateſt hurt to Ministers is, to deprive them of the joy of their labors.
ibid.
Chriſt diſpoſeth, continueth, or removeth them.
Page. 163
Reaſon 1. Becauſe no man is a Paſtour that entereth not at the doore.
Page. 164
2. None can be placed in a Pariſh but by this Biſhop Chriſt, the Archbiſhop of our Soules.
Page. 165
3. He payes them their wages; therefore muſt ſet them on work.
ibid.
4. They cannot otherwiſe look for his aſſiſtance.
Page. 166
5. Nor have peace of Conſcience.
ibid.
6. The people can have no pleaſure under ſuch a Miniſtery.
Page. 167
Vſe 1. Ministers ought to look for Chriſts placing.
ibid.
2. It condemnes intruders.
Page. 168
3. Uſe to them that have Miniſters of Chriſts placing among them.
ibid.
4. Never complain of graceleſſe Miniſters.
Page. 168
2. What is the reaſon there is no more able Miniſters every where?
Page. 169
5. God hath the placing of Miniſters, then we know whether to goe for good Ministers.
Page. 170
The Reaſons.
Page. 171
Vſe 1. Miniſters ſhould not feare to bee deprived of their liberty.
Page. 173
2. A Reaſon why the Goſpel continues any where, when the world cannot abide it.
Page. 174
3. Chriſt hath the continuing of his Miniſters.
Page. 175
4. Reaſon, to be earneſt with God to have his Goſpell continued.
Page. 176
Chriſt hath the removing of Miniſters. And how.
Page. 177
Vſe 1. If Chriſt remove Miniſters, we ought to mourne before him.
Page. 178
2. Look to the meritorious cauſe, our sins.
Page. 179
3. Chriſt takes away Miniſters, we ought to repent of our ſinne.
Page. 180
Doct. 1. The Lord knows every mans ill courſes.
Page. 185
How.
Page. 186
Why.
Page. 188
Vſe 1. If God knows all mens ſinfull courſes, then men cannot dawb before him.
Page. 192
2. To condemn thoſe that doe not conſider of this truth.
Page. 194
3. A terrour to all that goe on with a ſelfe-condemning heart.
Page. 195
4. Comfort to good people, that if he ſee ſins, he ſees goodneſſe much rather.
Page. 196
5. It ſhould make us affraid at any time or place, even the ſecreteſt.
Page. 198
Doct. 2. The knowing that God knows our works, ▪is the powerfull meanes to all Gods Elect to quicken them.
Page. 199
Reaſons 1. Gods knowing our works is not a meer knowing, but a marking.
Page. 200
2. God ſees our ſins with a pure eye.
ibid.
3. He records them in a book.
Page. 201
4. If God ſee them, all one, as if the world ſhould ſee them too.
ibid.
5. Our diſpoſition, we cannot indure any ſhould know of our Wickedneſſes, that cannot indure them.
Page. 202
Vſe 1. They that this point cannot work on, are graceleſſe.
Page. 203
2. If ſuch meanes can work on our hearts, let us not harden them.
ibid.
The Reaſons why God knows all our works.
Page. 210
What is meant by dead.
Page. 214
A horrible thing to reſt in the name of being Religious.
Page. 215
The Reaſons.
Page. 216
An unexcuſable thing, not to be alive.
Page. 217
The Uſes.
Page. 218
2. What is meant by dead.
Page. 219
Doct. 1. A dead Miniſtery none at all.
Page. 222
2. The Scripture calleth it no Miniſtery in effect.
Page. 223
3. It doth little or no good.
ibid.
4. God ſeldome goes along with it.
Page. 224
5. It prophanes the word of God.
ibid.
Vſe 1. We ſee a reaſon why a dead Ministery is applauded in the world.
Page. 225
2. To reprove Miniſters, that are no more lively in the Miniſtery.
Page. 226
3. Of Exhortation, to labour for a quickning Miniſtery▪
Page. 228
Motives.
ibid.
4. How to get a Miniſtery to be quickning.
Page. 240
What meant by deadneſſe of guilt.
Page. 245
What by deadneſſe of minde.
Page. 246
What by deadneſſe of heart.
ibid.
What by deadneſſe of conſcience.
ibid.
What by deadneſſe of affection.
Page. 247
Doct. 1. A dead Chriſtian as good as none at all.
ibid.
2. All duties of Religion, muſt be done with life.
Page. 250
Reaſons why a dead Chriſtian none at all.
Page. 253
Vſe 1. If dead Chriſtians be none, what then that are not Chriſtians in name.
Page. 255
2. How dangerous to be a dead-hearted Chriſtian.
Page. 267
For, 1. All we doe with a dead heart is nothing.
ibid.
2. It does not pleaſe God.
Page. 269
3. It cannot yeeld us any true comfort.
Page. 271
4. Though it comfort us in time of proſperity, it cannot in adverſity.
Page. 272
5. We can never bleſſe God with a dead heart.
Page. 273
6. So long Religion is irkeſome to us.
Page. 274
7. If a dead heart take it up, it will ſoon be weary of it.
Page. 276
Cauſes of living Chriſtianly, 1. Efficient, God.
Page. 278
2. Inſtrumentall, Faith.
Page. 280
The parts of it. 1. Juſtification.
Page. 281
2. Sanctification.
ibid.
3. Joy and Comfort.
Page. 282
2. What is the life of man?
Page. 283
Six ſtirring acts in the mindes of men.
Page. 289
1. Application.
ibid.
2. Meditation.
Page. 291
3. Conſidering.
Page. 292
4. Remembring.
Page. 294
5. The Inventing of the heart.
Page. 295
6. The judgeing of the minde.
Page. 296
Vſe 1. How rude, or profane wicked Chriſtians, are rejected for deadneſſe.
Page. 297
2. Condemnation of the ſins wherein moſt part of the people are dead.
Page. 298
3. What to be a living Chriſtian.
ibid.
Every act of an heart, not an argument of the life of it.
Page. 304
No not her wouldings.
Page. 306
When wiſhing is an argument.
Page. 308
The ſame proved.
Page. 310
The acts of the heart living, if converted to God.
Page. 312
Five other acts of life in the heart towards God.
Page. 319
What the life of a Conſcience.
Page. 327
1. A Conſcience ſome what awakt may like of God and his wayes.
Page. 328
2. It may oblige a man to all manner of good things.
Page. 329
3. It may be troubled about his ſins.
Page. 330
4. It may urge one to good things.
Page. 332
5. It may be very eager in urging.
Page. 333
6. It may prevaile far by its cagerneſſe.
Page. 334
7. It may make one look a great way as it prevaile.
ibid.
But theſe cannot be the life of conſcience, and why
Page. 335
Signes of a living conſcience
Page. 341
Two kindes of Conſcience in a godly man.
Page. 346
Foure effects of a lively Conſcience.
Page. 351
Effects of a good conſcience.
Page. 355
What is an humbled Conſcience
Page. 356
How to know quicknings of Conſcience.
Page. 358
Arguments of a live conſcience.
Page. 360
Vſe 1. How few have live Conſciences.
Page. 362
When the memory is dead.
Page. 363
When the memory is alive.
Page. 364
Memory a great bleſsing,
Page. 367
And that for 8 Reaſons.
Page. 368
There muſt needs be the office of the memory.
Page. 370
Vſe 1. The onelyonly living memory that remembers God.
Page. 378
2. We can never retain Gods Commandements without ſome memory.
ibid.
3. The want of this, cauſe of ſin.
ibid.
Seven cauſes of an alive memory.
Page. 379