The Body of Death, Table of contents
The CONTENTS.
Doct. THe beſt of men are not freed from ſin in this life, but that in many things they offend all. page 3
The Doctrine is proved by Scripture. p. 4
How beleevers are freed from ſin in this life, viz.
1. In reſpect of its dominion. p. 6
2. In reſpect of its guilt. p. 7
3. In reſpect of its condemning power. p. 13
How beleevers are not freed from ſin in this life. viz.
1. Not in reſpect of its inherence. p. 14
2. Not in reſpect of its infectious property. p. 16
3. Not in reſpect of its ſeducing and deceiving power. p. 18
Reaſons, why God hath not wholly freed his people from ſin in this life, but ſuffereth them to carry about with them the remainders of corruption unpurged out, while they abide in the fleſh. p. 19
1. That the power of his grace might be the more perſpicuous in their perſeverance. ib.
2. That the people of God might have matter of humiliation. p. 20
3. That Saints might be brought into a love with, and deſire after that eſtate, wherein they ſhall be wholly freed from ſin. ib.
Reaſons, why the Lord ſuffers this corruption of nature ſo farre to prevail even in godly men, as to lead them into the wayes of ſin; in ſo much that it is true even of the beſt of men, that in many things they offend all. 21
Theſe Reaſons are of two ſorts, viz.
1. Some reſpecting God and Chriſt. p. 22. viz.
1. God permits it for the glory of his power and faithfullneſs. p. 22
2. God permits it for the glory of his juſtifying grace by the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt. p. 23
Other Reaſons reſpecting the Saints. p. 24. viz.
1. Such as fall; and they are two,
1. Gods permits it to preſerve them from, or to cure them of carnall confidence. 24
2. By this means God is ſometimes pleaſed to weaken ſin, and to ſtrengthen grace in them. p. 25, 26
2. Reaſons reſpecting thoſe that ſtand, viz.
1. God would hereby commend his love to them in preſerving them, and givs them ſome taſt and comfortable experience of his goodneſs in upholding them when others fall. p. 27
2. God would hereby quicken them to prayer. p. 28
Queſt. What is the difference between the Infirmities of the Saints, and the falls of wicked men? p. 28, 29
Differ. 1. A godly man doth not make a trade of ſin. p. 30
Differ. 2. A godly man doth not ſin with a full conſent of his will. p. 32, 33
Differ. 3. A godly man doth not ſin with a full purpoſe of heart. p. 36
Differ. 4. The falls of a gedly man do not ſpring from propenſions of nature, but from the ſtrength and violence of temptation. 39
Differ. 5. A godly man cannot ſin with delight, but ſin is a burden to him. p. 42
Differ. 6. A godly man doth not perſevere in ſin. p. 44
Uſe 1. Refutation; to give check to the errour of thoſe, that aſſert a poſsibility of an abſolute and perfect freedom from ſin in this life. p. 47
This opinion is proved to be contrary,
1. To the Scripture. p. 48, 49, &c.
2. To Experience. p. 54
3. To the nature of grace and ſanctification. p. 54, 55
4. To the plentifull ſuffrage of Antiquity, yea to the conceſsions of ſome of our Popiſh adverſaries. p. 55, 56
Uſe 2. Caution both to ſinners and Saints. 61 Caution to ſinners. viz.
Caution 1. Let them take heed how they imbolden themſelves to ſin by the falls of Saints, which are recorded in the Scripture. p. 62
1. In ſo doing they wreſt and pervert the Scriptures to a quite contrary end, than ever the Holy Ghoſt intended them. ib. 63
The ends why God hath permitted the falls of Saints to be recorded in Scripture. viz.
1. To preſerve others from fainting under the burden of their ſins. p. 63
2. That their falls might be warnings to others, to preſerve them from falling. ibid.
2. Sinners will ſee but little reaſon to imbolden themſelves in ſin, by the examples of the infirmities of Saints recorded in the Scripture, if they conſider, how deeply they have ſmarted for their ſins. p. 66
3. The Scripture records other things of Saints more worthy of imitation, than their ſins. p. 69
Caution 2. Let ſinners alſo take heed, how they inſult over the godly, becauſe of their failings. p. 70
2. The children of God are ſanctified but in part in this life. ib.
2. If ſinners did reflect upon themſelves, they would find more juſt cauſe to condemn themſelves than them. p. 71
3. In judging the children of God they condemn themſelves. p. 72
Caution to Saints;
Caution 1. Let them take heed and beware of pride. p. 73
The ſins of Saints are
1. Of the ſame nature with the ſins of wicked men. p. 75
2. Of the ſame deſert with the ſins of wicked men. p. 76
3. In ſome reſpects more hainous than the ſins of wicked men. ib.
1. God is more diſhonoured by their ſins. ib.
2. Religion ſuffereth more reproach by their ſins. p. 77
3. There is more unkindneſs in their ſins. ib.
4. There is more unfaithfullneſs in their ſins. p. 79
5. Saints are advanced to a more excelcellent ſtate than others are. p. 80
Caution 2. Let them that ſtand take heed lest they fall. p. 81
Directions to preſerve Saints from falling.
Direct. 1. Let them be watchfull. ib.
Direct. 2. Let them carefully ſhun the occaſions of ſin. p. 84
Direct. 3. Let them look well to their company. p. 88
Direct. 4. Let them look well to their ſenſes. p. 90.
Direct. 5. Obſerve the firſt riſings of corruption, and reſiſt them. p. 92
1. It is to no purpoſe to fly. p. 93
2. It is to as little purpoſe to yeeld. p. 94
3. It is to as little purpoſe to compound. ib.
4. It is then the beſt way to make reſiſtance. p. 95
Rules for reſiſting.
1. Reſist ſpeedily. p. 95
2. Reſiſt univerſally. p. 97
3. Enter not into a parley or treaty with ſin. ib.
4. Reſiſt in the ſtrength of Chriſt. ib.
Direct. 6. Poſſeſs your hearts alwayes with apprehenſions of Gods preſence. 98
Direct. 7. Labour to poſſeſs your hearts always with the fear of God. p. 99
Direct. 8. Look up to Jeſus Chriſt with faith flaming out in prayer. p. 100
Uſe 3. Exhortation. p. 101
1. Bleſs God that you are delivered from a ſinfull ſtate. ib.
2. Admire the juſtifying grace of God by the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt. p. 102
3. Bleſs God for eſtabliſhing grace. p. 104
4. Bleſs God for any diſappointments in the way of ſin. p. 106
5. Every day labour for further degrees of mortification. p. 108
Uſe 4. Conſolation. ib.
1. Sin cannot ſeparate Saints from the love of God. p. 109
2. God taketh notice of and accepts that good which is in his Saints, notwithſtanding their ſins. p. 110, 111
3. Jeſus Chriſt, the High Prieſt of Saints, is now in Heaven at Gods right hand making interceſsion for them. p. 114
4. There is a time approaching, and not far off, when Beleevers ſhall be freed from the very being of ſin. p. 116