The Usefulness and Excellency of Christ, Table of contents – Errata
The Contents.
SECTION. I.
THat Christ is like a Rose in Sharon Field, is manifested by sixe grounds drawn from his.
1. Operation or hidden vertues.
2. Blood-shed.
3. Fragrancie.
4. Suffering in the field.
5. Opennesse.
6. Intention to draw his Spouse into the field to fight.
7. Excellencie in generall.
8. Pleasantnesse in speciall.
9. Fervency of Love.
Two Queries resolved.
SECTION. II.
Informes us of Christs,
1. Fairenesse.
2. Vsefulnesse.
3. Desireablenesse.
SECTION. III.
Satisfaction for the consciences of Christs people, who may know that Christ is in them;
1. By the mightinesse of his Rose-like purging 3 where
1. An objection is answered.
2. Two Questions resolved.
1. Q. In what sense Christs people is said to be purged from sin:
2 Q. How one may know that his evill thoughts are so purged, as that they do not reign; Cleered By six Evidences.
2. By the sweet Saviour of Christ.
SECTION. IIII.
Conviction for the consciences of such as want Christ, who may know it by the ill savour of their
1. Works.
2. Words.
3. Thoughts.
SECTION. V.
Matter of feare for such as reject Christ, having no cloake for their sin, seeing Christ is so faire, where is shewed
1. What Christ may say to them on that day.
2. What they are like to say of him again.
SECTION. VI.
Matter of shame for carelesse and loose Christians, who are so foule, whereas Christ is so faire manifesting it both:
1. At home.
2 Abroad bringing most foule.
1. Mouthes.
2. Hands.
3. Hearts into Gods own house.
SECTION. VII.
Comfort for Christs people set forth.
1. By two resemblances.
2. By five disproportions, shewing how farre more comfortable Christ is then any Rose.
4. Objections answered by severall very needfull distinctions and Solutions.
SECTION. VIII.
An exhortation to such as want Christ to seeke him:
1. In the Law.
2. In the Gospel.
SECTION. IX.
Faith must be gotten as a hand for the taking of Christ, who himself must work it.
1. By his Word.
2. By his Spirit.
SECTION. X.
Christ must be sought speedily, as Roses in the Summer, whey they may be had before,
Either you may be taken from the means, or the means from you.
SECTION. XI.
Foure grounds which should draw men to Christ to take him.
1. His Rose like sweetnesse.
2. Delightfulnesse appearing.
1. In his person.
2. Titles, being called
1. Light.
2. A Saviour.
3. Salvation.
4. A Bridegroome.
5. A Friend.
3. Lovingnesse, manifested by the effusion of his precious blood, which makes him as red as a Rose.
4. Needfulnesse in regard of the life.
1. Naturall.
2. Spirituall for
1. Mortification.
2. Sanctification.
3. Consolation.
3. Eternall.
SECTION. XII.
Sixe Impediments that keep men from Christs are to be removed:
1. Blindnesse.
2. Blockishnesse.
3. Basenesse.
4. Brutishnesse.
5. Bitternesse.
6. Businesse.
All founded and grounded upon the Rosie Metaphor or simile used in the Text.
Of Blindnesse in speciall, for the remove all whereof men are called upon.
1. To pray to Christ for illumination.
2. Christ is compared with those things which vain men do so preferre before Christ, who is set forth by nine properties. For,
Nine properties of Christ.
1. He is most comely.
2. Most valiant and strong.
3. Most Rich.
4. Most Wise.
5. Most Harmlesse.
6. Most Pleasant▪
7. Most Sure.
8. Most Sublime.
9. Most Concupiscible and contentative: all drawn out of Cant. 5. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Whereas those things which are so valued above Christ are:
Nine Differences.
1. Most Foule.
2. Most weake.
3. Most Poore.
4. Most Foolish.
5. Most Hurtfull.
6. Most Bitter.
7. Most Vncertaine.
8. Most Low and Base.
9. Most Vnsatisfiable.
SECTION. XIII.
Of Blockishnesse to be removed by a
1. Frequent.
2. Serious consideration of our last sicknesse, when this Rose of Sharon, will stand us more insteed then all Rose waters, or Cordials whatsoever.
SECTION. XIIII.
Of Basenesse the third lett, which is to be removed by an exact
1. Ransacking of our hearts.
2. Ripping up of our lives, words, and actions.
SECTION. XV.
Of Brutishnesse the fourth lett, which must be removed by
1. A retiring of our selves from all meat and drink, and other pleasant things for a season.
2. By reasoning.
SECTION. XVI.
Of Bitternesse the fift lett, which we may remove by comparing the bitternesses, which are said to attend Christ and those that chuse and take Christ with the sweetnesses and comforts of Christ.
SECTION. XVII.
Of Businesse the sixt lett, which concerneth worldly men and women, who must
1. Leave all businesse for a time.
2. Think seriously of that maine businesse, which doth so neerely concerne them, even the chusing and taking of this most delicious and needfull Rose of Sharon.
A Finall exhortation to a serious removing of all these six Impediments, and an earnest and painfull labouring for, and seeking after Christ the Rose of Sharon.
SECTION. XVIII.
An exhortation to Gods people to be more for Christ (who like a Rose is so delightfull, usefull, and desireable) then ever they were;
1. By a happy under-valuing of all earthly things in comparison of Christ; for
3 Respects.
2. By a holy willingnesse to be with Christ.
1. Here.
1. In the Word preached.
2. At and in the mysterious administration and participation of the blessed Sacrament of his Sacred Supper.
3. In Prayer.
4 In the reading of his own Sacred Book.
5. In the reading of such good books, as are written of him by holy men.
6. In his best beloved people, conversing with them as with Christ, whose Image they beare, and members they are:
2. Hereafter.
3. By a mightie care to keep him still,
1. By a holy and perpetuall recordation and mindfulnesse of him.
2. By a sweet and comfortable feeling of his gracious presence in their blessed souls.
Quest. What if he will be gone can we keep him.
Answ. You may keep him, as you keep Roses with sugar.
1. With sugared and sweet thoughts.
2. Words.
3. Works.
SECTION. XIX.
Christs people should be willing to make more use of Christ, (who is so usefull being like a Rose) then ever they did.
SECTION. XX.
Christ is to be made use of, in 25. Cases set down in order.
SECTION. XXI.
Eight Physicall Rules to be observed, in and about the taking of Christ, as the onelyonly most Soverain Rose or medicine, ordained of God for sin-sick Souls.
FINIS.
Errata.
PAg. …0. l. 14. Cant. 1. 10. read. Cant. 5. 10. p. 13. l. 8. next. r. text. p. 24. l. 14. I now not. r. I know not. r. p. 29. l. 26. rather to be farther. r. rather to be wished farther, p. 34. l. 25 notwithstanding, is, r. which notwithstanding it is, p. 48. l. 18. in all eternitie, r. to all eternitie, p. 53. l. 10. degree. r. decree. p. 58. l. 1. he speaks, r. he spake. p. 79. l. 11. for them. r. for that. p. 83. l. 22. after Christ. r. after Christ may speed, p. 94. l. 18. you. r. yea. p. 124. l. 24. He most. r. he is most. p. 150. l. 9. combine. r. combined. p. 151. l. 4. breath. r. breach. p. 153. l. 24. remaine. r. remove. p. 156. l. 24. Lot. r. let. p. 173. l. 17. returne. r. returnes, p. 175. l. 1. …floweth, r. bloweth. p. 189. l. 13. and him. r. of him. p. 192. l. 18. for himselfe, r. for he himselfe. p. 193. l. 11. runs. r. is. p. 198. l 22. are to be. r. is to be. p. 200. l. 2. cannot. r. nor cannot ibid. l. 4. breathes. r. panteth. p. 203. l▪ 16. r. Deitie p. 218. l. 2. r. to be observed. p. 223. l. 12. another of, r. another matter of. p. 225. l. 20. admired, r. admireth. ibid 22. he cryeth, r. and cryeth. p. 230. l. 25. in the, r. in that p. 248. l. 7. mans, r. man.
End of the text · Christopher Jelinger, The Usefulness and Excellency of Christ (1647)