The Doubting Believer, Table of contents
A Table of the Heads in this TREATISE.
CAP. I.
THe nature of doubtings. page 6
CAP. II.
Foure ſorts of doubtings. 11
Thoſe of inquietation are Either
1. Reall, or
2. Perſonall. 13
CAP. III.
Queſt. Whether doubtings may conſiſt with a true faith.
Sol. They may:
This is 1. explicated. 16
2. Proved. 17
CAP. IV.
The ſprings of doubtings are
1. Originall ſin. 24
2. Imperfection in faith. 26
Which
1. Wants ability to argue. 28
2. Inſiſts moſt on diſcouragements. 29
3. Is unacquainted with our armory. 31
3. The life of ſenſe. pa. 33
What it is. 34
Three demon ſtrations that it is a cauſe of doubtings. 35
4. Reſtraining of faith. 38
5. Special ſins after converſion. 46.
Foure reaſons thereof for doubtings. 47. to 53
6. Spirituall indiſpoſitions. 55
Two knots are made by them.
1. Whether our graces betrue. 56
2. Whether our ſervices can be accepted. 58
7. Fruitleſſe endeavours. 59
8. Imbecillity of judgement. 64
Which 1. wants the ſtrength of truth, becauſe it wants the apprehenſion of it. 66
2. Is eaſily over-maſtered with error. ibid.
9. Ignorance of the doctrine of Juſtification. 70
10. Diſputation againſt the Promiſes. 81
Three arguments confirming that to promote Doubtings.
11. Suſpenſion of divine favour. 89
Foure Grounds for doubting in this
12. Crediting of Satans teſtimony. 94
13. New riſings of old ſins. 98
Now we queſtion,
1. Reality of pardon. 99
2. Sincerity of repentance. 100
14. Silence in conſcience. 102
Foure occaſions to doubt by reaſon thereof. 105. to 107
CAP. V.
The cures of doubtings. 109
1. Mortification, a cure of inherent corruption. 110
What kind of mortifying doth it. 118
Specially of unbeliefe. 121
Three deirections for that. 124
2. Faith is to be perfected. 125
Some rules for that.
3. Keep down the life of ſenſe. 137
Some directions concerning this. 138
4. Scope is to be given unto faith. 146
Three conſiderations about this. 147
5. What to doe concerning ſpeciall ſins after converſion. 160
Three directions, with encouragements, if followed.
6. The caſe of indiſpoſition. 177
The differences twixt a dull heart and a dead heart. 178
All indiſpoſition is not fundamentall. 182
The bent of the heart may be right, notwithſtanding dulneſſes. 186
And a way of acceptance. 190
7. Conſiderations and directions about ſuppoſed ſucceſleſneſſe in duties. 194
8. Knowledge, 1. Diſtinct, 2. Diſtinguiſhing, neceſſary. 210
Derived conjectures are to be reduced to the prime truths. 215
Foure things of which a weake Chriſtian ſhould be more fully informed.
1. Of preparations to grace. 222
2. Of the operations of grace. 227
3. Of the degrees of grace. 231
4. Of the fruits of grace. 235
9. Concerning Juſtification
Five ſingular comforts concerning pardon of ſins in it. 239
Other ſupports from the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe. 262
10. Two kinds of diſpute againſt the Promiſes. 269
Five helps about this. 270
11. Search the cauſes of the ſuspenſion of Gods favour. 286
The wayes of regaining Gods favour. 290
Queſt. How a Chriſtian may ſupport himſelfe in the interim. 302
12. Satans teſtimony of our eſtates is illegall, and not to be admitted. 306
13. Severall times, 312. and cauſes, 316. and ends of reviving of old ſins. 320
Queſt. How to know whether is be Satans work or no. 333
14. How a ſilent conſcience may be made to speak. 343
How to ſupport our ſelves under the ſilence of conſcience. 344
In the Additionall part. 346
1. Ob. Senſe of ſinfull workings.
Sol. Five conſiderations about them. 347. &c.
2. Ob. Senſe of wrath. 353
Sol. Severall kinds of it. 355
The way to cure it. 358
3. Ob. A condemning conſcience. 359
Sol. Difference betwixt condemnation of the ſinne, and of the perſon. 359
4. Ob. A fear of the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt. 363
Sol. What that ſin is not. 364
What the ingredients of is are. 367
A TREATISE OF DOVBTINGS: FROM MATTH. 14. 31.
O thou of little faith, Wherefore didſt thou doubt?
THeſe words containe in them the ſumme of a Chriſtian in this life, which is this: That he is truly, but yet weakly good. Chriſt here ſeeth in Peter (though a Diſciple) a defective faith, and then a defect of faith: Faith he ſaw in him, yet it was defective. It was little faith: There was truth, but there was not ſuch actuall ſtrength in it as might or ſhould be: And beſides this, he eſpies in him a defect of faith; not for the habit of it, but for the act of it Wherefore didſt thou doubt? Which words are a conviction that he did doubt, and likewiſe a correction, Wherefore, Wherefore didſt thou doubt? q. d. Thou didſt doubt, but thou didſt ill ſo to doubt.
There are many excellent points which might be obſerved from the Text, I will name ſome, and inſiſt onelyonly on one of them: Thus then.
1. A true Beleever may be but a weak Beleever, [Thou of little faith!]
2. Chriſt takes notice even of a weak Beleever, [O thou of little faith!]
3. Though Chriſt likes beleeving, yet he diſlikes doubting, [Wherefore didſt thou doubt?
4. A perſon may be truly …eleeving, who nevertheleſſe is …ometimes doubting: In the …me perſon here you ſee a com…endation of the one, and a …ondemnation of the other, …hich ſuppoſe neceſſarily a pre…ence of both.
This being the Subject on which I purpoſe to treat, for the …enefit of weak Chriſtians, I …hall declare five things concer…ing it: Namely,
1. The nature of Doubtings.
2. The kinds and diverſities of them.
3. Their poſſible conſiſtence with true faith.
4. Their grounds, & ſprings, and occaſions.
5. Their cures and remedies.