Solid Comfort for Sound Christians, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS.
Section 1. A Generall Hint of ſuch points as have beene handled out of this Text.
D…ing here how to be underſtood▪ Namely, Evangelically and ſons to be extended to Converſion, Faith, and to Gods will, manifeſted by word and worke.
This Will of God made knowne in his word, the onelyonly Rule of our Doing, and of all our Actions.
And not 1. Gods ſecret will. 2. The Will, Command, and Example of others. 3. Our owne will and wiſdome.
Sect. 2. Two maine doubts propounded and anſwered in this Treatiſe. 1. Doubt: whether Gods promiſes of Salvation, &c. be doubtfull, becauſe they are Conditionall. Here concerning the Vallidity of Gods Conditionall promiſes and force of the motives thence to weldoing.
Happines and Salvation promiſed Conditionally: 1: To welding. 2. To Conſtancy therein.
Yet is not the Happines of the Elect uncertaine: Either in it ſelfe, or to them alwayes after Converſion.
How Gods Word ſpeakes differently of the ſame things. Two Conſiderations for the clearing of the firſt doubt.
Sect. 3. Firſt Conſideration: Gods … diſtinguiſhed: Some are are of the End; and theſe are Conditionall; Some are of the Meanes, and they are abſolute.
Sect. 4. A Digreſſion, further clearing, and juſtifying the aforeſaid diſtinction from th'imputation of Libertiniſme.
1. In aſmuch as this life is not promiſed, but upon Condition, neglect of the meanes is excluded.
2. Concerning the abſolute promiſes of the Meanes and Conditions.
1. The Meanes being many muſt not be divided.
2. Yet they may and muſt be compared: and ſo ſome graces are conſidered as Ends and Effects of former and more common graces, ſuch as the Goſpell, &c. is.
3. Yet the promiſes of the End, whether maine End, or meane End, as the End, are ever Conditionall; and the promiſes of the Meanes, as Meanes, ever abſolute, whether they be Meanes more remote or dearer.
4: The Goſpell it ſelfe is abſolutely promiſed, and alſo freely given, both for the outward Ministery, (which is directed by ſpeciāll choyce, and ſent to ſome, not to all,) and for the inward worke and power of it.
Sect. 5. Theſe promiſes concerning the Meanes and Conditions of Life, depend on Gods election.
Gods Election is not conditionall, though his word bee.
Sect. 6. Yet 1. God mocks none in his word.
2. His Word and Decree are not contrary one to another.
Sect. 7. 3. Gods Decree takes not a way the Conſent & Libertie of Mans will.
Sect. 8: Second Conſideration. The Conditions required of us, are alſo part of Gods Covenant and promiſe made unto us.
One maine difference betweene the Law and Goſpell.
Sect. 9. What God requires, he both promiſeth and worketh in the Elect. This is ſhewed in divers graces, as
1. In Faith, which God, 1. Requireth, 2. Promiſeth, 3. Worketh.
Sect. 10. 2. In Remiſſion of ſinne, which God, 1. Requireth, 2. Promiſeth, &c.
Sect. 11. 3. In Repentance, which God, 1. requireth, 2. promiſeth, &c.
Sect. 12. 4. In New obedience, which God, 1. requireth, &c.
Sect. 13. 5. In Perſeverance, which God, 1. requireth, 2. Pro. &c.
Sect. 14. So in other graces, as Feare of God, knowledge and in humilitie and meeknes, which God, 1. requireth, 2. promiſeth, 3. worketh; Yea all graces given us in time, are according to Gods Election of us before time.
Sect. 15. Second Doubt: Whether it be in our power to keep
1. The Conditions, and to doe things required. 2. If not, to what end are ſuch precepts and exhortations.
First Branch. It is ſhewed, that it is not in mans power to doe well; to convert, and as of himſelfe.
Sect. 16. What power man hath in Civill actions.
Of ſeven degres, to be conſidered in the perfecting of every good worke, and not any one of them is in mans power.
Sect. 17. Reaſons hereof. 1. His ignorance. 2. Unbeleefe. 3. Naturall impotencie.
The eſtate of each man before his Converſion: Shewing how unable he is to doe good.
Sect. 18. Vſe: To teach us humility, and to aſcribe all to Gods power, which ſubdues our rebellion. Though we will yet both power and act are from God.
Sect. 19. Gods grace is more then a gentle perſwaſion, or common influence.
The power of Gods grace in giving Faith, and working Converſion, ſhewed out of Scripture.
Sect. 20. Foure abſurdities: Enſuing out of the Doctrine of common grace.
1. O…r benefitt by Chriſt ſhould be be no more certaine then that which wee had and loſt in Adam.
2. God ſhould bee no more effectuall in good then in Evill.
3. Mans goodneſſe ſhould bee aſcribed to himſelfe more then God.
4. The difference betweene the good and bad ſhould bee made by himſelfe, and by nature, and man converted ſhould have cauſe to glory in Gods ſight.
Sect. 21. Whence mans converſion is? it is from Gods ſpeciall grace, who removes the aforeſaid impediments, 1. Of ignorance, 2, Unbeleefe, 3. Inability.
Sect. 22. What may be aſcribed to man; What muſt bee aſcribed to God.
What our Churches Doctrine is herein.
Sect. 23. Ʋſe hereof: 1. To give all glory to God, and not any to our ſelves. Thus to doe is truely Chriſtian.
To glory in our ſelves is, 1. Heatheniſh, 2. Pop…ſh, 3. Jewiſh, 4. Prophane. Such can neither pray aright, nor be truely thankfull.
Sect. 24. Ʋſe 2. To Comfort us, from the immutability of Gods purpoſe and promiſes; On which, and not on our ſelves, his grace and our Salvation depends.
To aſcribe all to God the ſafeſt.
Sect. 25. Second Branch, of the ſecond maine doubt.
To what end then are Gods precepts and exhortations? The needfulnes of this queſtion.
The anſwer in three things:
1. Our ſtrength is now not to be meaſured by God Commaundments.
Sect. 26. 2. Gods precepts and Exhortations are grounded on his promiſe.
Sect. 27. 3. Theſe Exhortations are not in vaine.
1. Not in regard of the reprobate, who thus:
1. Told what they could have done.
2. Are,Convinced: and ſo the Commandment in regard of God, not in vaine; Yet is not …od unjuſt in ſo doing. Why?
3. Reſtrained: So that the Godly live more peaceably by them.
Sect. 28. 2. Such are not in vaine, in regard of the Elect. 1. Ʋnconverted who thus:
1. Are taught to deny themſelves, to …ly to Chriſt, and to ſeeke helpe where onelyonly it may be had.
Sect. 29. 2. Are indeed converted, ſuch precepts and Exhortations are ſanctified of God as Meanes of Converſion.
Gods Word is operative.
Sect. 30. 2. Converted, who thus are put in minde:
1. To ſtirre up Gods grace in them.
2. To ſeeke after perfection, and to bee thankfull.
Sect. 31. Theſe Exhortations expell Security, notwithſtanding that Gods grace worke all.
1. Miniſters muſt exhort, &c.
Sect. 32. The certainty of Election, and of Gods grace, ſhould whet our diligence to all good duties,
1. Such as know their election, muſt not neglect meanes.
2. Much leſſe ſhould ſuch as know it not as yet.
3. All muſt ſtrive to doe well, and expect an End, anſwerable to their Doings.
Sect. 33. A Generall Inference, teaching how, from the foregoing Diſcourſe to conceive of other controverted points, as praedeſtination, &c.
Sect. 3. All other points are framed according to the Doctrine of Gods praedeſtination, though the Remonstrants (pretending ſo much) make Free-will and the power of nature the cheefe matter of their intention, and accordingly frame other points.
Sect. 35. The Doctrine taught, concerning Gods Free and effectuall grace, lets us ſee:
1. That his Election is abſolute and independant.
2. That Grace and Redemption are not univerſall.
3. That the Salvation and perſeverance of the Saints is certaine.
4. That the Faithfull may be aſſured of their Election and Salvation.