Of Christian Prudence, Title page – Table of contents
OF CHRISTIAN PRUDENCE, OR RELIGIOUS WISDOM; Not Degenerating into IRRELIGIOUS CRAFTINESS, IN Trying Times.
LONDON, Printed for Jo. Hindmarsh, at the Golden Ball, over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil. 1691.
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I. Christian Prudence seen in chusing Right Ends.
ITS Ends are: 1. In every Particular to do our Duty. 2. In every Point, to make us see what is our Duty. Both these are contrary in Fleshly Wisdom. 3. It is alike for taking care of both Tables. And as ready to suffer for any Point of Morality and Justice, as for Purity of Worship, and Orthodoxy of Faith.
CHAP. II. Other Ends of Christian Prudence.
4. A Fourth End is, as to perform the Duties, so to promote the Honour of Religion. Of honouring it externally in our Carriage. Of Confession. Of not changing Doctrines, as we change Interests. Nor being glad of any Temporal Advantage by ill things.
CHAP. III. Christian Prudence, for Pleasing God and a good Conscience. Against Popularity.
A Fifth End is to please God. This will take us of… from Popularity. And to please our own good Conscience. Of the contrary ways of worldly Wisdom. Greatness of Numbers should not draw to an… ill thing, nor want of Number drive from a good one.
CHAP. IV. Of not Doing Evil, that Good may come.
This not justifiable, by Pretence of Serviceableness, to God. To the Publick. To our selves. As accomplishing by these ways some approved Predictions.
CHAP. V. Of the Plea of Necessity, Providence, or Prophecies, for doing ill.
Spiritual Prudence allows not of setting aside any Duty. 1. On Plea of Necessity. 2. Nor justifies it, by Plea of Providence. 3. Nor by Plea of Prophecy.
CHAP. VI. SECT. I. Of Christian Simplicity and Sincerity. And of not Deceiving by Actions.
Simplicity sometimes notes Unwariness, which is no Virtue. The difference between the Wariness of the Virtuously simple, and of the Fleshly wise. Virtuous Simplicity implies, 1. Veracity, in opposition to Falshood and Lyes. Against telling a Lye in Words. Or in Actions. Of Profession by Observance of instituted Days for Religious Purposes. Of Breach of Simplicity herein, and in other Actions, and by the Libellatici in the Primitive Church. 2. A double Tongue. A double Practice. 3. Openness, opposite to Concealment and close Reserves, and Plainness, opposite to misleading Dress. 4. Harmlesness, opposite to Dolus Malus. The Ground of this Simplicity, Preservation of Equality. In what Things especially to be shewn, and by whom. Of the contrary Method of worldly Wisdom.
CHAP. VI. SECT. II. Of Christian Simplicity and Sincerity.
A second thing implied in Simplicity, is Singleness, opposite to double Dealing. Against a double Mind, and Heart.
CHAP. VII. Of not discharging Relative Duties, for Ends of Religion, or of our own Ease.
No Discharge of Relative Duties when they grow burdensom, for Ends of Religion, or of our own Ease. No such Discharge towards Relatives of different Religions. Or that perform not their part towards us. Instead of putting by, 'tis wont to accomplish Fears. This proved from remarkable Instances, and Rules of Scripture. A Rule to prevent being intangled therein.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Imprudence of pursuing our Ends by unlawful Means.
The Prudence, as well as Religion, of not betaking our selves to unlawful Means.
CHAP. IX. Of partaking in the Sins of others.
He partakes in an unlawful thing: 1. That Orders and Commands it. 2. Who, when in place and station for it, doth not duly shew himself to stop and prevent it. Thus Magistrates, and Parents partake. And Ministers, when they fail to warn against a Sin, or mislead people therein, or teach it by corrupt Doctrine, or inventing Salvo's for Sin. Instances of these among the Jews. The great Guilt, and sad Consequences hereof. 3. Who under another, ministers in an unlawful business. 4. Who as an Equal helps it forward. Several ways of doing this. 5. Or, who approves it afterwards; which set off in sundry particulars. 6. Who caused others to sin, or gave Scandal by ill Example.
CHAP. X. Of Relyance on Providence, and the Benefit Religion makes by outward Sufferings.
A third Rule of Christian Prudence about Means, is in compassing Effects, to look more at Providence, than at Humane Appearances. A Fourth, is to see how well it may compass the Ends of Christianity, by Sufferings. Christianity is a passive Religion, and Christians are to have passive Spirits. Some Rules to ingenerate passive Spirits.
CHAP. XI. Of Spiritual Prudence chusing Seasons, and tempering to Circumstances.
1. It is for taking the most advantageous Seasons in its Prusuit. Three Rules to prevent setting aside any Duties as out of Season, in compliance with carnal Wisdom. 2. It is for tempering what we do to Circumstances. Three Rules to prevent such tempering thereof, as would impair, or give it up, for our external Quiet. 3. Of flight in Persecutions. Of Flight of Pastors. Some Rules to keep off from doing harm to our Duty, in Caution to avoid harm to our selves.
CHAP. XII. Of Caution in preventing Harm by any Duties. and of Flight in Persecutions.
3. It is for shewing Caution to prevent ill Consequences. Of staying for a Call, in persecuted Duties.
CHAP. XIII. Of Spiritual Prudence in Worldly Matters, or as over-ruling all other inferior Prudence about things of this Life. And of Solicitude.
The Rules of Religion, are the truest Wisdom for the Ends of this Life. When worldly Wisdom thwarts these Rules in pursuit of any Ends of this Life, it over-rules it in such Motions. Thus, when it is apt to transgress about Ends, or about Means. Some Rules for this. The point of Solicitude stated. Of fleshly Wisdom, are all so many Branches of Jesuits Morals, which are not to be taken up to drive out Popist Superstitions.
CHAP. XIV. A Recommendation of Christian Prudence.
The Prudence and Simplicity hitherto described, recommended from St. Paul's Practice, 2 Cor. 1.12. The contrary Rules.