A New Years Gift, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS.
Sect. I. OF the changeable State, and ſhort Duration of Earthly things; eſpecially of Man, how little it is conſidered and believed; how neceſſary it ſhould be. p. 1.
Sect. II. Of the change in Mens Inclinations, Opinions, and Actions which one year ſhews; how obſervable it is in Others, how much more diſcernable in our ſelves. Honour and Reputation, &c. how uncertainly preſerved, and how eaſily blaſted. p. 7
Sect. III. Of the Uncertainty of living to the Period of another Year. The Vanity of this Life: The Swiftneſs of Time, and how to be Improved. p. 13.
Sect. IV. Of the ſeeming Difference, between ſo many Years paſt, and the ſame number of Years to come. p. 20
Sect. V. The little Portion of our Time on Earth conſidered, by a Computation of the Life of Man, from the number of Years and Hours. p. 22.
Sect. VI. Of the Redemption of Time, how precious and valuable a Treaſure it is, and will be thought to be when 'tis too late. p. 26.
Sect. VII. Of the Ordinances of Heaven, Day and Night, Summer and Winter, Seed Time and Harveſt; their Order and Succeſſion eſtabliſht by God, is the effect of Infinite Wiſdom and Goodneſs. What they may teach us. p. 30.
Sect. VIII. Of Evils to be expected in this Year; the Wiſdom and Mercy of God, in concealing from us the Knowledge of future Events. p. 36.
Sect. IX. The Suppoſition of dying this Year, ſhould be improved; the conſequence of redeeming Time, and providing for Eternity, farther preſt. The folly of Elder Perſons is condemned, and checkt from the Example of Children. 'Tis adviſable to familiarize the Thoughts of our own Death, and to imagine before-hand, What Apprehenſions of things we ſhall then have. p. 39.
Sect. X. The Brevity of Life conſidered as the fruit of Sin. There are but three ways of leaving this World, as Abel, Adam or Enoch. A diligent Improvement of Time farther preſt, and the neglect of it bewailed. p. 44.
Sect. XI. Of the Expectation of another Life. The Vanity and Miſery of Man in his Beſt Eſtate, if there be none. The ſatisfactory removal of that Suppoſition by the Thoughts of God, and of Eternal Felicity in his Bleſſed Preſence. p. 48.
Sect. XII. The conſideration of the Death of others; eſpecially of Relations, Friends, and Acquaintance, how to be improved. What inſtructions we may learn by the ſight of a dead Carkaſs, or a Deaths-Head, and the uſual Motto on it, and what by the death of Holy Perſons, to quicken our deſires to be as they. p. 55.
Sect. XIII. What Influence the Conſideration of Eternity would have upon our Hearts and Lives, if ſoundly believed, and conſidered; eſpecially if the Suppoſition of dying this Year be annexed to it. p. 62.
Sect. XIV. How a good Man may improve and encourage himſelf under the Suppoſition of dying this Year, even in the moſt uneaſy, and undeſirable Circumſtances. p. 67.
Sect. XV. Of dying in a Foreign Country, and of dying Young, Conſiderations proper to Reconcile the Mind to both. p. 74.
Sect. XVI. The Contemplation of our approaching Chance, may aſſiſt us to mortifie the Luſts of the Fleſh, the Luſts of the Eye, and Pride of Life; to cure Ambition, and promote Contentment. p. 81.
Sect. XVII. The ſame Argument conſidered farther as diſſwaſive from Worldlineſs, and Earthly mindedneſs; and as proper to confute the Vanity of long Projects, and great Deſigns for this World. p. 85
Sect. XVIII. The conſideration of the certain, near approach of an Everlaſting State amplified, and preſt, to inforce an Holy Life. p. 89.
Sect. XIX. The Puniſhments of the Damned conſidered, as Intolerable, and Everlaſting, and as unqueſtionably certain: What the Reflection upon Hell-Torments, may, and ought to teach us. p. 97.
Sect. XX. The Eternal Bleſſedneſs of HEAVEN conſidered, as the Perfection of Holineſs, to quicken our deſires and endeavours after greater Meetneſs to poſſeſs it. p. 112.
Sect. XXI. A devout Meditation upon Pſalm 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee. p. 127
Sect. XXII. The glorious Appearance of J. Chriſt to Judgment conſidered as certain; the Terror, Aſtoniſhment, Confuſion, and Deſpair of Wicked Jews, and Chriſtians, to behold their Judge; and bear his condemning Sentence to EƲERLASTING Deſtruction. p. 141.
Sect. XXIII. Meditations of the Glory of Chriſt in his Glorified Saints, and of the Thankful Admiration of Believers, when He ſhall come again from Heaven, which ſhall be continued to all Eternity. p. 151.
Sect. XXIV. Concerning the Examination of a Man's Heart and Life: the Reaſonableneſs, Advantages, and Neceſſity of it. Some Direction and Advice concerning the Time and Manner. That we may know, in what Preparedneſs we are for ETERNITY. p. 163.
Sect. XXV. How Chriſtians ought to Examine their Decays of Grace, and Piety. The greatneſs of their Sin, and of their Loſs under ſuch Declenſions. Gods Diſpleaſure, and Departure from them, conſidered, to awaken Endeavours of Recovery. In what manner the Faith of Adherence may be acted, by one who hath no Aſſurance. p. 174.
Sect. XXVI. Confeſſion of Sin, Humiliation, and Repentance muſt follow upon Self-Examination. Advice concerning Repentance for ſome particular Backſliding. The great Perplexity, and Diſtreſs of a Penitent Sinner repreſented, as a Caution againſt returning to Folly. p. 187.
Sect. XXVII. The neceſſity of Chriſtian Reſolution, unto Ʋpright, Perſevering Obedience; how full and extenſive it ought to be, and yet humble; by what means we may be aſſiſted to perform, that which we Reſolve. p. 199.
Sect. XXVIII. The Import, and Obligation of our Baptiſmal Covenant. The renewal of it by a ſolemn Dedication of our ſelves to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Exemplified and recommonded. p. 207.
Sect. XXIX. Practical and conſolatory Reflections, on the preceeding Self-dedication, or Covenant with God. p. 214.
Sect. XXX. Thanksgiving to God for his many Benefits and Mercies, particularly in the Year paſt; with ſome Direction and Advice concerning it. p. 224.
The Appendix, from what time the Jews reckoned the Beginning of their Year; of the difference between their Sacred and Civil Account. The Feaſt of Trumpets on the firſt day of the Year, its Inſtitution, Nature and Deſign: The Traditions and Cuſtoms of the Jews reſpecting that Day.
End of the text · John Shower, A New Years Gift (1699)