Counsel to the Afflicted, Table of contents – Errata
The Contents.
Queſt. 1. How may ſuch as have ſuffered great loſs by the late Fire, bear their loſſes with a contented chearful ſpirit?
NIne Propoſitions premiſed concerning Contentment. pag. 1. to p. 7
Eleven Conſiderations to help ſuch as have been great ſufferers by this Fire, to bear their loſſes contentedly. 8. to 41
Eight Directions by way of practice to help ſuch as are in affliction to bear their afflictions contentedly. 41. to 69 How a man may take up his reſt and ſatisfaction in God in all eſtates and conditions. 57. to 65 When a man may be ſaid to take up his dwelling in God. 63, 64.
Pleas for Diſcontent removed. 69
1. Plea. My loſs is exceeding great. Anſwered four wayes. 69, 70, 71
2. Plea. I have loſt all, and am quite undone. Anſwered ſeven wayes. 71. to 75
3. Plea. I know not how to live, now I have loſt my eſtate. Anſwered four ways. 75, 76
4. Plea. I am afraid I ſhall want before I die. Anſwered five wayes. 77. to 80
5. Plea. I am in debt, and am not able to pay my debts. Anſwered five wayes. 80 to 84. God hath wrought Miracles to help men to pay their debts. 82
6. Plea. I am already under much miſery, and fear I ſhall ſoon meet with more. Anſwered three wayes. 85, 86
7. Plea. My Family is undone by this Fire, and my loſſes are ſo great, that if I die I can leave my Wife and Children nothing. Anſwered five wayes. 86. to 89 A godly man that can leave his Children no viſible Eſtate, leaveth them comfortably provided for in four reſpects. 88
8. Plea. I have lived high, and in good repute, and now muſt fare hardly and be ſlighted. Anſwered ſix wayes. 89. to 93 Four Arguments to perſwade us to be content with courſe dyet. 91, 92
9. Plea. I have loſt a commodious Habitation, and am thereby much unſetled, and know not where to fix my Habitation. Anſwered five wayes. 93, 94, 95
10. Plea. I am diſabled from following my Calling, and am rendered unſerviceable. Anſwered four wayes. 95. to 101 3. Arguments to perſwade us to ſubmit our ſelves to God, when he will not make uſe of us to do him ſervice. 96, 97 What we ſhould do to prevail with God, to make uſe of us to do him ſervice, anſwered 3 wayes. 97, 98 How to know what calling they ſhould make choice of, who are diſabled from following their former Callings, anſwered 5 wayes. 100, 101
11. Plea. I am afraid this Judgment came in wrath, and that God is angry with me, anſwered 4 wayes. 101 to 104 What we ſhould do to pacifie the Lords anger when it is kindled againſt us, anſwered 3 wayes. 102, 103 How may a man know when his Afflictions come in love, anſwered 3 wayes. 104
12. Plea. I am diſabled by my loſſes from giving any thing to the poor, anſwered 4 wayes. 104, to 108
13. Plea. I loſt my goods by my indiſcretion, anſwered 3 wayes. 108, to 110
14. Plea. I have laboured hard many years for what I loſt in one day, anſwered 110, 111
15. Plea. The guilt of my unrighteouſneſs in my dealings troubleth me, anſwered 112, 113, 114 How ſuch as are troubled in Conſcience for their unrighteouſneſs in their dealings may get true peace, anſwered in five particulars, 112, 113, 114
16. Plea. I ſerve God, and have loſt all that I had, many that are regardleſs of God and his Service have loſt nothing, anſwered 4 wayes. 115, to 118
17. Plea. The glory and ſtrength of England is much impaired by this Fire, thouſands of Families are ruined, many poor people that lived comfortably in Hoſpitals, and Alms-Houſes are like to periſh, &c. anſwered in five particulars. 118, to 127
Queſt. 2. What uſe ſhould they make of their affliction, who have loſt their whole, or any part of their Eſtates by this Fire? page 128
Sect. 1. Look upon this affliction as the rod of God, 128, 129
Sect. 2. This affliction muſt be laid to heart, where is ſhewed how this affliction muſt be laid to heart in 6 partilars. 129, to 132
Sect. 3. Minde the teachings of God in this affliction. 132 What they that have been ſufferers ſhould learn by this affliction? anſwered in 7 particulars. 133, 134, 135 What the vanity of worldly things ſhould teach us, anſwered in 4 particulars. 135, to 138
Sect. 4. Search out the ſin for which God ſent this affliction. 138 How to find out the ſin for which God correcteth us? Anſwered four wayes. 139, 145 For what ſins God is wont to ſend this Judgment of Fire. 140, 141, 142 For what ſins God is wont to impoveriſh men. 143, 144
Sect. 5. Look upon this affliction as a loud call to Repentance. 145, 146 Reaſons why we ſhould repent and turn unto God when we are under affliction. 147 Six Directions about Repentance. 147 to 150 Very few are brought to Repentance by their afflictions, though they be great. 150, 151 What we ſhould do that we may be brought to Repentance when we are under afflictions, Anſwered ſix wayes. 152 to 158
Sect. 6. Comply with Gods ends in afflicting you. 158 where are mentioned five ends of God on ſending this affliction. 159. to 164
Sect. 7. God is to be glorified in the fires. 164, 165 How to glorifie God in our afflictions. Anſwered ſix wayes. 165. to 168
Sect. 8. Lay up Treaſure in Heaven, where is ſhewed what that Treaſure is which we muſt lay up in Heaven. 168, 169
Sect. 9. Be mindful of and careful to avoid four other fires more dreadful then the late fire. 170. to 173
Sect. 10. Truſt in God for a livelyhood, though all your Eſtates be gone and you have nothing left to live upon. 173, 174 What conſiderations may encourage ſuch as have nothing to live upon, to truſt in God for a livelyhood. Anſwered. 174, 175
Object. 1. I cannot ſee or think of any way how I ſhould do to live, anſwered ſix wayes, 176, to 179
Oject. 2. I am ſhiftleſs and friendleſs, and therefore I ſhall not be able to live now my Eſtate is gone, and my Calling faileth, anſwered, 179, to 181.
Object. 3. I cannot work, therefore I am afraid I ſhall periſh by want, anſwered, 181, 182
Object. 4. I begin to be in want already, I and my family are pinched with hunger, and I am afraid we ſhall be ſtarved, anſwered, 183, to 186 How ſuch as are in danger, or under fear of being ſtarved to death, may be encouraged to truſt in God to relieve them, anſwered, 186. to 192
Object. I am afraid my unbelief will hinder God from taking care of me, anſwered, 192, 193
Sect. 11. Be not diſmayed if God bring you into great ſtraits, 193, 194 How they that are in ſuch great ſtraits that they know not what to do, may be encouraged to truſt in God, anſwered, 194, to 198 Though we are brought into our ſtraits by our ſins, this ſhould not hinder us from truſting in God, 198, 199
Sect. 13. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, where ſeveral temptations are inſtanced in, that perſons under great afflictions had need to watch againſt, 200, to 251
1. Tempt. Satan is wont to tempt ſuch as are under great afflictions to have hard thoughts of God, and of his wayes, 200, 201 How to keep up good thoughts of God in our greateſt afflictions, anſwered in 6 particulars, 201, to 205 How to keep up good thoughts of the wayes of God in our greateſt afflictions, anſwered, 206, 207
2. Tempt. Satan is wont to tempt ſuch as are in great afflictions to forſake God, 207 How a man may be kept from forſaking God when he is under affliction, anſwered, 207, to 213
3. Tempt. Satan often tempts ſuch as are in affliction to change their Religion, 213, 214 Eight Arguments to perſwade us not to forſake the Proteſtant Religion, becauſe of Afflictions that we may meet with for adhering to it, 214, 215.
4. Tempt. Satan is wont to tempt perſons under great afflictions to ſelf-murther, 219, 220 How ſuch as are tempted to ſelf-murther upon the account of their ſins, or their afflictions, may overcome this temptation, 220, to 227 Five Arguments to prove that ſelf-murther is a damnable ſin, 220, 221 Three wayes of reſiſting Satan 222, 223 Three encouragements for tempted Souls to flee to Chriſt, 223, 224 Pleas for ſelf-murther anſwered,
1. Plea. My troubles are ſo great that I am not able to bear them, anſwered 3 wayes, 227, 228
2. Plea. I have loſt, or at leaſt I am likely to loſe my reputation, and I had better dye than be ſlighted and fall under diſgrace, 229, 230
3. Plea. I ſhall come to want, or be driven to beg, or live upon, and be a burden to others, anſwered, 230, to 233 Conſiderations to perſwade ſuch as are brought from an high condition to live upon Alms, and beg their bread, to comply with this condition, 231, 232
4. Plea. My ſins are greater then can be forgiven, and are ſuch an heavy burden that I cannot bear them, anſwered, 233, 234 The caſe of ſuch as are ready to deſpair of the pardon of their ſins, becauſe they cannot repent, conſiſidered, 235, 236
5. Plea. I have committed a ſhameful ſin, which if it come to lighe, I ſhall be weary of my life, 236, 237
6. Plea. I am tempted to ſteal, to kill my Children and to commit other foul ſins, and I had better make away my ſelf then fall into any ſcandalous ſin, anſwered, 237, 238
7. Plea. God hath caſt me off, and I am ſure to go to Hell when I dye; yea, I feel the beginnings of Hell already: and the longer I live here, the more I ſhall encreaſe my torments in the other world; anſwered 5 wayes, 239, 240, 241.
8. Plea. I will confeſs my ſins, and repent before I murther my ſelf; and if I do ſo, I hope I may go to heaven when I dye, anſwered, 241
Four propoſitions concerning ſelf-murther, which conduce much to the helping of the tempted to withſtand this temptation, 242, to 248 Five Arguments to prove there is hope of ſalvation for a man as long as he liveth, though his caſe ſeem very deſperate, 244, to 247
5. Tempt. In time of diſtreſs Satan is wont to tempt us to uſe ſinful and indirect means to help our ſelves, 248, 249 Three Argument to diſſwade ſuch as have loſt their Eſtates, from uſing unrighteous caurſes to help themſelves, 249, 250
Sect. 13. Temporal loſſes ſhould put us upon making ſure of ſpiritual and eternal bleſſings, 251, 252
Sect. 14. God is to be ſought unto to make up our loſſes, 252 Four motives to ſuch as have loſt their Eſtates, to ſeek them of God, 253, 254 What is the beſt and ſureſt way to get riches, anſwered in 10 particulars, 254, 255, 256
Sect. 15. We ſhould get our loſſes made up in better bleſſings, 256 How to get our loſſes made up in better bleſſings, 257, 258
Sect. 16. They that have loſt their Houſes and Eſtates, ſhould make ſure of a better houſe, and better ſubſtance in heaven, 259 How to make ſure of an houſe in heaven, 260, 261, 262
Sect. 17. This affliction ſhould be a warning to prepare for other afflictions, 262, 263
Sect. 18. They that have been ſufferers by this Fire, ſhould comfort and encourage themſelves in God, 264 Five grounds of comfort and encouragement to the ſervants of God, that have ſuffered great loſſes by the late Fire, 265, to 370 Great calamities are often followed with great mercies, 270, to 274
Sect. 19. Such as purpoſe to build, ſhould ſo carry on the work of building, as to proſper in it, 274 How to proſper in Building, anſwered, 274, to 292 Four reaſons why ſuch as ſet upon building ſhould give themſelves unto prayer, 275, 276 Three encouragements to ſet upon the work of Building in Faith, 277, to 282 Building of deſolate Cities is a good work proved by ſeveral arguments, 277, 278 Several promiſes to encourage Building, 280, 281 How we may be built up a ſpiritual houſe unto the Lord, anſwered in 6 particulars 288, to 291
Queſt. 3. What ſhall they render unto the Lord for his mercy, whoſe Houſes and Goods were preſerved from being conſumed by the late dreadful Fire? page 293
Several propoſitions premiſed in order to the anſwering of this queſtion, 293, to 296
Sect. 1. They muſt render to God their love, 297 How to expreſs our love to God, anſwered three wayes. 298
Sect. 2. They muſt render praiſe to God, 299, 300 Two motives to praiſe God, for ſparing us from this Fire, 301, 302
Sect. 3. Gods mercies ſhould lead us to repentance, 302, 303 Three reaſons why Gods mercies ſhould lead us to repentance, 304, 305
Sect. 4. We muſt not judge them to be the greateſt ſinners, that are the greateſt ſufferers, 305 Four reaſons againſt judging of mens ſins by their ſufferings, 306
Sect. 5. They that have eſcaped this Fire, ſhould put on bowels of Compaſſion towards ſuch as be in miſery, and do all the good they can for them, 307, to 310 Lending is a duty as well as giving, 308
Sect. 6. They muſt not deal injuriouſly or cruelly with thoſe that are ſuffererers, 310, to 313
Sect. 7. They whoſe Houſes have been ſpared ſhould dedicate their houſes unto God, 313, 314 How we ſhould dedicate our Houſes to God, anſwered 5 wayes, 314, to 318 Who are Gods gueſts and friends that we muſt entertain in our houſes, anſwered, 317, 318
Sect. 8. God is to be honoured with our ſubſtance, 318 How to glorifie God with our Eſtates, anſwered 3 wayes, 318, 319 How to know whom we ſhould relieve when we have many objects of charity before us, and are not able to relieve all, anſwered 5 wayes, 320, 321
Sect. 9. We muſt render our ſelves to God, 323 Three Arguments to perſwade us to give our bodies and ſouls unto God, 326, 327
Sect. 10. The ſacrifice of righteouſneſs is to be rendered unto God, 328
Sect. 11. They that have eſcaped this Fire, ſhould truſt in God for deliverance from other troubles, and alſo for ſpiritual bleſſings, 329 Four ſorts of ſpiritual bleſſings for which temporal deliverances ſhould encourage us to truſt in God, 330, 331, 332 Two grounds why temporal deliverances ſhould cauſe us to truſt in God for ſpiritual mercies, 333
Sect. 12. All men ſhould prepare for all ſorts of Afflictions, 334 Six Reaſons why all men had need to be prepared for all ſorts of afflictions, 334, to 339 What we ſhould do that we may ſtand prepared for all ſorts of afflictions, anſwered in 12 particulars, 339, to 360 What we ſhould do to get Gods ſtrength to carry us through the troubles of this world, anſwered 7 wayes, 345, to 351 Six ſorts of promiſes very uſeful for them that are in affliction, 360, to 363
Sect. 13. Such as have eſcaped this Fire ſhould ſo demean themſelves towards God, as that he may continue to protect their perſons and ſubſtance, 363 What we ſhould do that we may have Gods protection continued, anſwered 5 wayes, 363, to 365 Four Arguments to encourage us to depend upon God for the preſervation of our perſons, ſubſtance, and habitation, 365, to 368
Sect. 14. We ſhould ſeek unto God that there may be no more ſuch dreadful Fires, 368 What we ſhould do that there may be no more ſuch dreadful Fires, anſwered, 369, to 371
ERRATA.
PAge 3. l. ult, dele all. p. 32. l. 15. put in, we. p. 47. l. 29. r. immoderately. p. 53. l. 1. dele, may. p. 67. l. 3. r. Hananiah. p. 71. l. 2. r. your. p. 81. l. 1. put out, man. l. 22. r. defined. p. 88. l. 21. r. fareth. p. 92. l. 16. put out, better. p. 93 l. 13. after ſervants, put in, of God. p. 101. l. 2. r. miniſter. p. 103. l. 14. r. is, p. 104. l. ult. r. ſtill. p. 106. l. 17. r. what. l. 20. r. God. p. 119. l. 18. put in, the. l. 28. r. had been. p. 122. l. 10. r. among men. p. 131. l. 16. r. affliction. p. 140. l. 19. r. ſervile. p. 143. l. 16. r. ſubſiſtance. p. 144. l. 4. r. alway. p. 153. l. 26. after of, put out, this. p. 157. l. 15. for his, r. their. p. 160. l. 16. r. ſlothful. p. 179. l. 20. for but, r. yet. p. 188. l. 13. for ſo prov, r. ſee prove. p. 192. l. 15. r. endured. p. 196. l. 22. for they, r. the. p. 207. l 9. r. Lord. p. 221. l. 21. r. the Lord. p. 251. l. 29. r. clean. p. 252. l. ult. put in, and. p. 266. l. 31. r. lot. p. 277. l. 22. put in, as. p. 303. l. 10. put out, not. p. 284. l. 27. put in after if, it be. p. 309. l. 8. for wages, r. wayes. p. 366. l. 9. r. him. p. 371. l. 32. after upon, r. us. p. 372. l. 9. put in, him. p. 313. l. 28. r. tear. p. 325. l. 14. for above, r. alive. p. 350. l. 6. r. intereſt. p. 352. l. 34. put in, him. p. 356. l. 12. for him, r. a man.