Two Treatises, Part 1 – Part 2
A briefe of the enſuing TREATISE.
CHAP. I.
Deciphereth the enemy to be encountred from its
I. Nature
1 A ſecret ſinne.
2 Sinne.
3 The luſts of the fleſh.
4 Enmity againſt God.
5 The vanity of the minde.
6 Earthly members.
II. Places of reſidence
1 Fleſh.
2 The deeds of the body.
3 The deſires of the fleſh and of the minde.
III. Time of manifeſtation
1 The evill imagination of mans heart from his youth.
2 The ſince wherein we are conceived and borne.
IV. Continuance
1 Sinne that dwelleth in one.
2 The old man.
V. Power
1 Strong holds.
2 The ſinne which doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and hangeth ſo faſt on us.
VI. Effects
1 An uncleane thing.
2 The body of ſinne.
3 The motions of finne.
4 A warring law in our members.
5 The body of death.
6 The luſts of concupiſcence.
7 The deceitfulneſſe of ſinne.
8 A root of bitterneſſe.
9 Entiſing luſt.
VII. Aime and end
1 The law of ſinne in our members.
2 The body of death.
Thoſe it names profitably ſerving for the diſcovery of the ſame, as by the concluſions deduced therefrom plainly appeareth.
CHAP. II.
Declareth that the fleſh with the inordiluſts and affections thereof is to be encountered:
Where is ſhewed
What it is to encounter it in Scripture phraſe.
How God out of his goodneſſe towards us, anſwerable unto the ſeverall forementioned names of this our enemy, inſtructeth us how to deal with the ſame.
CHAP. III.
… the perſons by whom the fleſh with its luſts and off … encountered, viz.
The children of God
On whom alone God is pleaſed to beſtow the grace of mortification.
VntoUnto whom alone the meanes tending thereunto become effectuall.
Who alone in truth labour for mortification.
CHAP. IV.
Sbeweth the reaſons why the fleſh with its luſts and affections is to be encountered:
There in reſpect of
Its
Nature.
Its Effects
ſhamefull
harmfull for
body.
poſterity.
goods.
good name.
Our ſelves
1 So vowed in Baptiſme.
2 Called with an holy calling.
3 Profeſſe our ſelves Gods children.
4 If we live after the fleſh ſhall die.
5 At the length ſhall ….
6 The more we yeeld, the worſe.
Others
God
Sinne is his enemy.
It grieveth him
He injoyneth this duty.
Chriſts
Others Death.
Others Chriſts Worke of redemption.
Others Chriſts Blood.
Others Chriſts Himſelfe.
Spirit
Tempted.
Others Spirit Grieved.
Others Spirit Quenched.
Others Spirit Abſenteth himſelfe.
The holy Angels.
The Saints
Dead.
Alive.
The wicked
Not fit patterns of imitation.
Others The wicked By our ſinnes are encouraged to ſinne.
The creatures.
The Devill.
CHAP. V.
Diſcovereth after what manner the fleſh with the luſts and affections thereof is to be encountred:
where's
1 How the fleſh warreth againſt us, viz.
1 Covertly.
2 By faining flight.
3 By open force and violence.
2 How we muſt warre againſt the fleſh, viz.
1 Sincerely in quality.
2 Impartially in quantity.
3 Diſcreetly.
4 Cheerfully.
5 Porcibly.
6 Seaſonable.
7 Conſtantly.
CHAP. VI.
Deſcribeth by what meanes the fleſh with the luſts and affections thereof is to be encountered:
They are not
1 To walke careleſly and ſecurely.
2 To connive or wicke thereat.
3 To conſent thereunto.
4 To put in execution any of the deeds thereof.
5 To fulfill the deſires thereof.
But they are
Extraordinary
Faſting.
Vowes.
Ordinary conſiſting in
Things to be avoided.
Ordinary conſiſting in Things to be attained.
Things to be avoided
1 Exceſſe in things lawfull
2 Harbouring the cauſes of our ſinfull luſts
Ignorance.
2 Harbouring the cauſes of our ſinfull luſts Pride.
2 Harbouring the cauſes of our ſinfull luſts Hardneſſe of heart.
2 Harbouring the cauſes of our ſinfull luſts Carnall confidence.
2 Harbouring the cauſes of our ſinfull luſts Infidelity.
3 The occaſions of ſin
Evill company.
Evill places.
Tempting objects.
Want of a calling.
Want of diligence in ones calling.
4 Vnwillingneſſe to fight.
5 Cowardiſe and careleſneſſe.
Things to be attained
Faith.
Love
Feare of
God.
Our ſelves.
Prayer
Dayly renuing of our Covenant.
Holy wiſdome.
Watchſulneſſe.
Meditation of
Gods Nature.
Gods Word.
Chriſts ſufferings.
Heaven.
Yea, we are to deale with our luſts as
Ioſeph with his Miſtreſſe.
Pharaoh with the Iſraelites.
CHAP. VII.
Containeth Motives or encouragements unto this ſpirituall combat.
By warring againſt our luſts, wee purchaſe
1 Peace of conſcience.
2 Daily experience of Gods powerfull reſence.
3 Glory to God.
4 Continuall feare through the ſenſe of continuall weakneſſe in our part.
5 A paſſage to ſlay outward actuall ſinnes.
6 Eaſe in the end of our isurney.
7 A higher deteſtation of ſin.
8 Hatred of ſinne for ſinne.
CHAP. VIII.
Propoundeth neceſſary Caveats to be obſerved in this ſpirituall encounter.
A Chriſtian muſt be carefull
1 Not to be an hindrance unto himſelfe in vanquiſhing his ….
2 Not to caſt away his Armour, or in any ſort yeeld.
3 To be wiſe in the application of Scripture.
4 To prepare for new contrary winds.
5 To cry out againſt our luſts, being overmaſtered by them.
6 To beware of the falſe bed of ſecurity.
7 To conſider that all ſinnes have not the like proportion of labour in mortifying.
8 Neither to be too curious, nor altogether careleſſe of the firſt motions unto ſinne.
9 To aske pardon for ſecret ſinnes.
10 Not to beleeve that the fleſh is always mortified when it ſeemeth ſo to be.
11 To continue in the practice of mortification.
12 To be perſwaded that faith in Chriſt muſt precede mortification.
13 To diſtinguiſh betweene naturall ſpirituall, and carnall luſts.
14 Not to give over but fight even to the end.
CHAP. IX.
Explaineth the ſignes whereby to diſcerne when we prevaile againſt the fleſh with its inordinate luſts and affections.
They that are indeed mortified, or doe in ſome meaſure prevaile againſt their luſts
1 Are Chriſts, or in him.
2 Walke after the Spirit.
3 Are alive unto God.
4 Are freed from ſinne.
5 Are new creatures.
6 Set themſelves againſt every ſinne.
7 Grow in grace.
8 Hate ſinne.
9 Are carefull to avoid relapſes.
10 Have a true ſight and ſenſe of their ſins.
11 Are truly humbled, &c.
12 Cannot be withdrawne from God.
CHAP. X.
Hath the concluſion of the Treatiſe or application of the foregoing matter in an
Exhortation unto the duty of mortification, urged from
Neceſſity.
Equity.
Ʋtility.
Credit.
Vndoubted furtherance.
Certaine victory.
Heaven it ſelfe.
Beſides the forementioned particulars
There are alſo ſundry
Objections anſwered.
Queſtions reſolved.
Depths of Satan diſcovered.
Formes of retired ſecret-ſelfetriall preſcribed.
Places of Scripture compared and explained.
Scripture-ſimilitudes (eſpecially) inferred.
Differences betweene the godly and the ungodly manifeſted.
Neceſſary truths made knowne.
THE DESTRVCTION of in-bred Corruption OR, AN ANTIDOTE againſt Fleſhly Lusts.
SUch is the dangerous eſtate of GODS children here upon earth; ſo many the tribulations of the Righteous: that as they themſelves are compared to warriours, 2 Tim. 2.3.their Life termed a war-fare: Iob. 7.1.So at what time ſoever, which way ſoever conſidered, they have need to bee watchfull; ſtill armed:Phil. 2.12. alwayes working out their Salvation with feare and trembling. Above them, below them, behind them, before them, within them, without them, round about them, on their right hand, on their left hand, in proſperity, in adverſity, well or ill, at home, or abroad,Gods children alwayes in danger of their ſpirituall adverſaries. do their many cruell, malicious, ſubtile, and inceſſant enemies lay Stratagems to worke their confuſion.
Of thoſe,Who bee their chief enemies. the Divell, the World, and the Fleſh, are the principall agents.
The Devill, 1 Pet. 5.8.who as a roaring Lyon continually goeth about ſeeking whom hee may devoure.
The World, Pet. 4.4.which doth even think it ſtrange that we run not with them to the ſame exceſſe of ryot, ſpeaking evill of us.
The Fleſh which luſteth againſt the Spirit; Gal. 5.17.and is ſo contrary thereunto, that we cannot doe the things that we would.
Every of thoſe ſeverally, all of them jointly have ſworne our deſtruction. Them therfore are we ſo to oppoſe, reſiſt, ſtrive againſt, Iam. 4.7.that the firſt may flie from us,1 Ioh. 5.4. the ſecond be overcome of us,Gal. 5.24. and the third crucified by us.
With this laſt as our domeſticke enemy,The Fleſh our moſt dangerous enemie. our boſome traitor; yea, without whoſe aſſiſtance, neither the Devill could ſeduce us, nor World intrap us, do we in the ſtrength of the Almightie; in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; in the grace and comfort of his holy Spirit; and in the light and direction of his Sacred Word cope at this time; confining our ſelves (for our further profit, and more orderly proceeding in this combate) unto the proſecution of theſe ten particulars.The order and method of the enſuing Treatiſe.
1. The enemy to bee encountred.
2. That it is to bee encountred.
3. By whom it is to bee encountred.
4. Why it is to bee encountred.
5. After what manner it is to bee encountred.
6. By what means it is to bee encountred.
7. Motives or encouragements hereunto.
8. Neceſſary Caveats to bee obſerved herein.
9. How to diſcerne when wee prevaile againſt it.
10. The Application of the whole.
Of every of which ſeverally and in order, at the pleaſure of God.