The Practical Believer, Table of contents 2
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.
OF the Office, and Natures of Jesus Christ. In what Salvation by Christ consists. Being Christ, notes his being, 1. A Prophet, to teach his Church. We must hear and learn of him in the Holy Scriptures; and at the mouths of his Ministers. 2. A Priest, to Redeem, and Intercede for it. 3. A King, to Govern it by his Laws. And by his Officers, whom we are to submit to in his place. Also to Protect it against all visible and invisible Enemies. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as having receiv'd from the Father the Nature of God. And the Power of God. On both these Accounts, and others, he is our Lord. And to be worshipped. What we learn from his being our Lord. Of Christ's being Conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost, and Born of a Virgin. He was truly Man. And why he was so.
CHAP. II.
OF the Sufferings of Christ. An Account of what Christ suffer'd, and from whom. Both he, and God the Father were consenting to it. What he suffer'd, was for our sins, to save us from suffering for them, when we truly repent of them. Pardon on Repentance, the design of his Satisfaction, and the Merit of his Death. This is a free Grace, which implies that it is not given in Recompence of our Deserts, not that it requires no Conditions. An Account why God would not grant this Grace of Pardon to Penitents, without Christ's dying to satisfie for them. And how his Death serv'd all the designs of God's Justice, full as well, as their own would have done. Christ's Sacrifice but once offered, but daily commemorated. Several useful inferences from Christ's dying for us. Christ's dead Body was Buried. Of his descent into Hell.
CHAP. III.
OF the Resurrection of Christ, and his sitting at God's Right-hand. An Account how Christ may be said to have been three days in the Earth. His Resurrection proved. The necessity of it. He ascended to Heaven. What is meant by his sitting at the Right-Hand of God. There he, 1. Intercedes for us, as our Priest. This intercession not vocal, by Words and formal Pleas, but by presenting himself, and his own meritorious Sacrifice. He intercedes only for Covenant-Mercies, and on Covenant-Terms. He is an Intercessor of absolute Power with God, and truest Affection for us. One part of his intercession, is to hand and present our Prayers to God. Therefore whensoever we pray for any thing, 'tis both our duty, and wisdom to apply by him. 2. Governs his Church, as a King. In what Acts this consists. 3. Instructs his Church, as a Prophet, by sending to it the Holy Ghost. Christ's Body having now taken up its fixt abode at God's Right-Hand, we are not in any Ordinances to expect his Bodily Presence, but only a Presence by his Spirit, which is more to be desired. Some Inferences from Christ's sitting at God's Right-hand.
CHAP. IV.
OF the Future Judgment. The necessity of the Future Judgment. All men are judged, and made happy or miserable, at their Deaths. But not so fully then, as they will be afterwards. The Compleat and General Judgment, is at the end of the World. In that, Jesus Christ is to be the Judge. Who are to be Judged. In that Judgement no Condemnation, but for breaking God's Laws: So not for indifferent things. Men shall be tryed and sentenced for all their sinful Actions, with regard to their lasting Effects. For their most secret ones. And such ill deeds as were disguised under the fairest Pretences. For their sinful Omissions. And Neglecting to employ, and improve their Talents. For sinful Words. And Thoughts and Desires. For all these Men shall be judged impartially, without respect of Persons. But with Equity and Candor, not in Rigor. The Benign Judge will be very ready to observe what makes for us, and make the best of our Performances. And interpret the seemingly Rigorous Expressions of his own Laws, with great condescension to Humane Measures. He will allow for involuntary Failings. And judge Candidly and Favourably of that involuntariness. And for Natural Infirmities. And for Providential disadvantages, as Multiplicity of Business, greatness of Temptations, Bodily Indispositions. For Pitiable Defects of Degrees in Duties. Great Latitude on the side of Bliss, and all not required to be of the same Size. He will Reward Good Things, tho' done with Difficulty and Reluctance, yea, when Pitiably stain'd with impure mixtures. Our Judge will shew all this Candor, and would have us expect it. In Recompencing good Men, he will consider the Difficulties and Oppositions. And the hazard, and cost of their Services. And the hardships of Providence, allotted to exercise good Men in this Life. Of the Condemnation of ill Men. The Fire, which is to torment them, shall burn up and dissolve the World. Practical Inferences from the last judgment. ☞ Through a Mistake there is neither 5th. 6th. nor 7th. Chapters. But tho' in the numbering of the Chapters there is this mistake, yet there is no omission of matter.
CHAP. VIII.
OF the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is God. What he hath done for our Salvation. Of his extraordinary Gifts bestowed on Apostles and Evangelists, which were for the Planting, and Propagating Christ's Religion. 1. The gift of inspiration, in Revelations. This bestowed upon the Apostles. These Revelations they have fully set down in the Holy Scriptures, after which we are not to look for any others. This Gift, of knowing Religion by immediate Revelation, necessary only in Apostles, and Evangelists. And design'd for the Infancy of the Church. Other Rules, whereby to examine new Lights and Revelations in Religion. As, try them by the Scriptures. Call for their Miracles, wherewith God still empower'd men, when he sent them to reveal new Things. No need of Miracles, when men pretend only to revive old, and acknowledged Revelations. If they shew Miracles, for things plainly against Scripture, they must work more, than were wrought to confirm the Scripture. An account of Joel. 2. 28, 29. Which seems to foretell the commonness of Revelations among Christians. The first Inspirations were not only in Doctrinal Points, but also in Devotions. And about Temporal matters. Subservient to this Gift of Revelations, was the Gift of discerning Spirits. This done afterwards by ordinary Rules. And the Gift of utterance and boldness. Their minds not influenced by this constantly, and at all Times. But ordinarily they were, and especially when they had most need of it. 2. Of the Gift of Miracles. Miracles a Proof of Divine Revelation. How discernible from Lying Wonders, by the Doctrines built on them. By their ends and usefulness, and being wrought on needful Occasions. Of the miraculous Gift of healing Diseases. This sometimes by annointing with Oyl. And Prayers. Of casting out Devils, and other Miracles. Of delivering to Satan, what it was, and why so call'd. Of Joy in Tribulations, and what was extraordinary in that of the Apostles. To the working these Miracles, there was always required Faith in him that wrought them. And sometimes Faith in him that received them. 3. of the Gift of Strange Tongues. The ends of this. And of the Gift of Interpreting such Strange Tongues. What is meant by the Holy Ghost being a Comforter. The Sin against the Holy Ghost, is a Sin against these extraordinary Gifts. Why Blasphemy against him more irremisable, than against the Father or the Son. Extraordinary Gifts no mark of a justified State. Of Offices appointed by the Holy Ghost. Some of these Temporary, others to continue through all Times, the present Officers ordaining Successors of the Holy Ghost's ordinary Graces. By these we may know he dwells in us. Our care required towards these. Of Preventing Grace in outward advantages, and inward good motions. Directions how we are to endeavour after saving Graces, in six Particulars. How God gives them, though we are thus to acquire them. The Holy Ghost works also in us Spiritual Joys and Comforts. This he doth not in all the minds he sanctifies, because some are unfit for them through intrinsick impediments. But they are with-held from none, through his Arbitrary withdrawing, which some count Spiritual Desertion.
CHAP. IX.
OF the Holy Catholick Church, and the Communion of Saints. No assurance of Salvation by Christ, but in his Church. This Church Holy. And Catholick. Admission into it by Baptism; when regularly perform'd in any one, valid in all Churches. Excommunication is so too. This Church is one Body, by external visible unity. Of the Communion of Saints in this Church. Of their visible Union in Faith or Doctrine. And in Prayers and Devotion. Of communicating in Publick Prayers. A Sin to separate without just cause. Imposing Sins, or Errours, as Conditions of Communion is a just cause. Not Lawful to separate for Things indifferent. Nor for better means of edification. Just to separate from a Church, that doth not impose her Corruptions, when her Errors in Faith overthrow the Foundation. That is, when she ceases to own the one true God. Or denys Jesus to be the Christ, or Salvation by his Merits and Mediation. Owning Jesus to be the Christ, implies, owning the Articles of the Apostles Creed, which contains all Fundamentals. Whilst any Churches hold to this Creed, which is the Foundation, Errors in other things do not unchurch them. But such Erroneous are in a worse state, than Orthodox Christians. Nor is her Communion to be deserted meerly for such Errors, tho' very gross, if she doth not impose them. Just to separate from a Church of a corrupt Worship, when sinful things pollute her Publick Offices. Or when good Devotions are put up in a strange Language▪ not for Rites and Customs about indifferent matters. Nor just to separate for scandalous Members, where a Churches constitution is faultless. Nor tho' it neglect Discipline, which should reform them. Of keeping Fellowship with the Apostles, by submitting to our lawful Bishops their Successors. Christians to communicate in Affections, in Alms, and Temporal good Things.
CHAP. X.
OF the Forgiveness of Sins. What Sin is. Of wilful sins. Of sins of Ignorance, Surreption, Passion. Forgiveness of sin, is the Release of its Punishment. When Eternal Punishments are remitted, Present and Temporal are often exacted. What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments. Remission of all Sins, but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. And wilful Apostacy from Christianity. Wilful sins forgiven, when we Repent, and forgive others. Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence, upon our Charity to others. This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism. The Eucharist. And Sacerdotal Absolution. The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving, which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication. What is meant by our Forgiving sins. What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of Sins.
CHAP. XI.
OF the Resurrection of the Body, and the Life Everlasting. The Resurrection not meerly of our Spirits from sin, but of our Bodies from the Grave. This to be brought about by the Almighty Power of God. The Perfections of Glorified Bodies, viz. Immortality, Spirituality, and Glory. The Bodies of the Wicked Immortal. And exquisitely sensible. Some Inferences from the Resurrection of our Bodies. Good Souls carried straight-way into a Place of Bliss. Of Eternal Life, wherein there is Full and unmixed Happiness. Of the satisfaction of their Senses. Their clear and distinct Knowledge. Perfect Holiness. And without Reluctance. Blissful Companions. Perfection of Love and Kindness. Honour, and Eminence of Place. All these to be injoy'd in the Highest Heavens, without satiety, or weariness. For evermore. Of the miseries of the Damned, in Tormenting Passions. The worm of Conscience. Fire and Flames. Disgrace. Under all which, no favour of God. No company, but of Tormenting Devils, and damned Spirits. None to condole, when they cannot relieve. No rest and sleep, for Recruit of Spirits. No end of their miseries. The Use of this.