A Divine Cordial, Title page – Table of contents
Divine Cordial Or, the Transcendent PRIVILEDGE OF Those that Love God, And are SAVINGLY CALLED.
Published by THOMAS WATSON, Minister of the Gospel.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good,
Gen. 50.20.
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Three Crowns, over against the great Conduit, at the lower end of Cheapside. 1663.
The EPISTLE to the READER·
CHRISTIAN READER:
THere are two things, which I have alwayes looked upon as difficult: The one is, to make the Wicked sad; they want not cause of sadness, they are taken captive by Satan *2 Tim. 2.2….: This is all that is gotten by fighting on the Devils side; he doth not make his Souldiers Captains, but Captives, he leads them Prisoners before him, and at last will give them damnable pay: Yet so are sinners blinded by the God of this world *2 Cor. 4.4., that they cannot see the chains they are held in, but kiss their fetters, and go laughing to Hell. The other puzling difficulty, is, to make the Godly joyful: Though they have enough to rock their troubled hearts quiet, & may encourage themselvs in the Lord …heir God; yet like the froward child, …hey put away the breast, and refuse to be comforted. Amnon, though a Kings Son, was lean *2 Sam. 13.4.. This dejection in the Godly, ariseth from a double Spring; either because their inward comforts are darkned, or their outward comforts are disturbed: To cure both which troubles, I have put forth this ensuing Piece, hoping by the blessing of God, it will buoy up their disponding hearts, and make them look with a more pleasant as…ect; I would prescribe them to take now & then a little of this Cordial. When the Prophet Eliah's spirits were ready to faint under the Juniper Tree▪ the Angel set before him a Cake, and a Cruse of Water, & when he had eaten he was cheered, and went in the strength of that meat, till he came unto Horeb the Mount of God *1 King 19.8.. Me-thinks this Text, like that sweet repast, may very much corroborate and strengthen the Saints in their journey to Heaven▪ and may be as a sacred feather, to drop the golden Oyl of consolation into thei… hearts: All things shall work togethe… for good, to them that love God. T… knew that nothing shall hurt the god…ly, is matter of comfort*Psal. 91.10.; but to be assured that all things which fall out, shall co-o…erate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, the bloody showrs of affliction shall water the withering root of their Grace, and make it flourish more; here is that may fill their hearts with joy till they run over. It will be no small revivement to me, if these Labours of mine prove advantagious to any. When S. Pauls Prison would not admit him the lib…rty of a Pulpit, he wrote some Epistles, the benefit whereof the Church of God hath reaped in after-ages. When I am at present taken off from my publick employment of preaching, I shall be glad if I may be useful by writing; and while I my self am in a civil sence dead I may make others in a spiritual sence alive: This is the Prayer of him, who is
Thy Friend, in all true Affection & Devotion. THOMAS WATSON.
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.
THe Preface or Introduction.
CHAP. II.
Shewing that all things work for good to the Saints.
CHAP. III.
That the best things work for good.
That the Attributes of God work for good.
That the Promises of God work for good.
That the Mercies of God work for good.
That the Graces work for good.
That the Creatures of God work for good, in particular the good Angels.
That the Communion of Saints works for good.
That Christs Intercession works for good.
That the Saints Prayers, conceived and indited by the blessed Spirit, work for good.
CHAP. IV.
That the worst things work for good to the Go…ly.
That the evil of Affliction works for good.
That the evil of Temptation works for good.
That the evil of Desertion works for good.
That the evil of Sin, by Gods over-ruling Power, works for good to the Godly.
CHAP. V.
Shewing why all things must needs work for good to the Saints.
CHAP. VI.
Several Inferences drawn from the Proposition.
CHAP. VII.
Shewing the Persons interested in this glorious Priviledge, They love God.
The Nature of love.
The Kinds of love.
The Properties of love,
The Degree of love.
CHAP. VIII.
A sharp Reproof to those who do not love God.
CHAP. IX.
Discovering the Prints of love to God.
CHAP. X.
Containing an Exhortation to love God.
Motives to excite love.
Means directing to it.
Preserve love that it doth not fall into a Consumption.
Encrease love to God, and blow it up into a holy flame▪
CHAP XI.
The second Qualification of the Persons interested in the Text, They are effectually called.
Our deplorable condition before we are called.
The Means of our blessed Call.
Gods Method in calling sinners.
The Properties of the Divine Call.
The End of Effectual Calling.
CHAP. XII.
Two Inferences from the Premises.
CHAP. XIII.
Exhorting to labour after the Heavenly Calling
Signs of Effectual Calling.
CHAP▪ XIV.
Several Exhortations to them who are Called.
1. Admire Free-Grace.
2. Pity those who are uncalled.
3. Walk worthy of your High-Calling.
CHAP. XV.
Concerning Gods Purpose.
CHAP. XVI.
Our whole salvation must be resolved into Gods Purpose.
The Saints Comforts are built upon this impregnable Rock.