A Vindication of Godliness, Table of contents
The Contents of the Sermons on Epheſ. 5. 15.
THe Text opened. Page 2
The Doctrine propounded. Preciſians are no fools. ibid.
The Doctrine explained,
1. Preciſians are deſcribed,
1. Negatively, to be
1. No Phariſee. 3
2. No Phanatick ib.
3. No Phrenetick ib.
2. Poſitively,
1. By their make or conſtitution. They are formed after the image of God 5
2. By their way or converſation. Where is conſidered,
1. The end of their converſation. Where they are deſcribed to be, men that are travelling to another world. 8
2. Their courſe,
I. They take the right way Which is,
1. Deſcribed to be,
The Old and Good
The New and Living
The Strait and Narrow
Way ib.
2. Proved to be the moſt excellent Way. It is,
1. The way of Truth 14
2. The way of Holineſs 15
3. The way of God 16
4. The way of the Kingdom 17
II. They are upright in the way 19
Their uprightneſſe is conſidereed, as it hath reſpect
To the Commandement
To Conſcience 21,
Their uprightneſs as it reſpects the Commandment, ſtands
1. In their having reſpect to every Command 23
2. In having reſpect to the moſt ſpiritual and in ward part of every Command. 24
3. In the endeavour to obſerve every Command to the utmost. 25
1. They endeavour to get up to the higheſt pitch of affection, care, and activity ib.
2. They ſtudy and ſeek out after opportunities for ſervice. 26
3. They ſhun occaſions and temptations to ſin 27
4. They obſtain from all appearance of evil 28
Two things added,
1. When they have done all that they can, they acknowledge themſelves unprofitable ſervants 30
2. Whatever they have done, they dare not truſt upon it, or be found in their own righteouſneſs 32
Their uprightneſs as it reſpects Conſcience, expreſt in two particulars
1. They take great care of Conſcience 34
1. About the inſtructing and informing conſcience. ib.
2. About keeping Conſcience tender 35
2. They give good heed to Conſcience, hearkning to, and following in without turning aſide
1. To the right hand, either
1. By putting Religion in thoſe things wherein God hath put none 43
2. By putting more Religion in any thing than God hath put in it ibid.
2. To the left hand 45
1. By making ſins no ſin, duties no dutie ib.
2. By making bold with known ſins and duties ib.
III. From this way they will not be drawn aſide, by any fears or dangers on the one hand, or by any flatteries or advantages on the other 46
1. A Summary deſcription of theſe Preciſians 51
2. Preciſians are proved to be no fools from four Reaſons,
Reaſ. 1. God accounts them no fools 54
Reaſ. 2. They will not be accounted fools at laſt, neither by God nor men 55
Reaſ. 3. The properties of wiſe men are found in them 58
1. They underſtand themſelves aright. They underſtand,
1. Their Intereſt ib.
2. Their way 60
2. They build ſure 64
Reaſ. 4. The treaſures of wiſdom are found with them, they have gotten great treaſure 66
1. The Pearl 67
2. The white Stone 68
3. The white. Robe 69
4. The Adoption 71
5. The Inheritance 73
Uſe 1. Adviſing the profane world to forbear cenſuring or reproaching them 77
Uſe 2. Perſwading them to come in and be of this number 80
The abſolute neceſſity of preciſe godlineſs is evidenced
1. From Scripture 82
2. From Reaſons drawn from Scripture, in ſix Propoſitions
1. The Goſpel requires, as indiſpenſably neceſſary to Salvation, inward Holineſs 86
2. This inward Holineſs which the Goſpel requires, is an holy frame or habit 87
3. This inward habitual holineſs ſtands in an univerſall compliance of the heart with the whole will of God 88
4. This inward habitual holineſſe is ſuch as bears the ſway, and hath the preheminence in the ſoul 89
5. This inward, habitual prevailing holineſſe, whereever it is, will infallibly bring forth a preciſe and circumſpect life 90
Therefore
6. Whoſoever is not a perſon of a preciſe life, is undoubtedly in the ſtate of damnation
The Contents of the Sermon, on John. 1. 47.
THe Text opened. 94
The Doctrine propounded. Godlineſs is no Fancy 95
The Doctrine explained 96
The Doctrine confirmed ib.
I. The Principles or Doctrines of Godlineſs are no Fancies Inſtanced in the Doctrines,
1. of God, his Being and Holineſſe 97
2. Of Sin 100
3. Of Redemption 109
4. Of Regeneration 115
5. Of Faith 123
6. Of Good Works 126
7. Of Judgment 140
II. The Duties and Comforts of Godlineſſe are no fancies 151
Inſtanced in the Duties of
1. Worſhipping God in the Spirit ib.
2. Walking in the Spirit
1. What is meant by the Spirit 157
2. What by walking in the Spirit 158
1. Living under the conduct of the Spirit 160
2. Living in the power of the Spirit ib.
3. Living a ſpiritual life. 161
The Life of the Saints evidenced to be a ſpiritual and Heavenly life by three things.
1. Their chief dealings are about ſpiritual and heavenly things 162
2. Their delights are in ſpiritual and heavenly things.
3. By their ſpiritual dealings and delights themſelves grow dayly more and more ſpiritual and heavenly 166
3. That walking in the ſpirit is no fancy 167
Proved from four damnable abſurdities that would otherwiſe follow, viz.
If there be no ſuch thing really as walking in the Spirit.
1. Then the Spirit of God is unfaithful in his Office 170
2. Then God himſelf is falſe in his promiſe 171
3. Then the Devil does more to the damning than the ſpirit of God doth to the ſaving of ſouls ibid.
4. Then God hath no people in the world 173
An exception againſt the reality of the delights, joys, and comforts of godlineſs anſwered 174
The Application.
Uſe. Of Direction.
1. To the ungodly, in order to the bringing them to a godly life 194
Direct. 1. Get theſe three Principles fixed in your hearts,
1. That things Eternal are unſpeakably more conſiderable than t…ings temporal. 195
2. That things not ſeen are as infallibly certain as the things that are ſeen 198
3. That according to your preſent choice muſt be your eternal lot 202
Direct. 2. Make your choice 203
Direct. 3. Imbarque with Chriſt. 204
Direct. 4. Reſign up your ſelves to Chriſt 210
Direct. 5. Confirm and compleat all by ſolemn Covenant 215
2. To the Godly, in order to the carrying them on in a Godly Life 227
To whom are given Directions,
1. Concerning holy Duties
2. Concerning the leading an holy life.
Four things premiſed concerning the influence of holy duties on an holy Life
1. Holy Duties are the exerciſe of Grace 228
2. In holy Duties we have communion with God ibid.
3. By holy duties we obtain new and freſh ſupplies from God 229
4. Holy Duties are our conflicting with corruption 232
The Directions concerning holy Duties are ſuch as have reſpect,
1. To the right performance of them
2. To the right improvement of them
Directions for the right performance of the duty of Prayer
1. Be constant in the exerciſe of daily Prayer 233
2. Come to pray with actual and great expectation 237
3. Learn the skill to plead with God in Prayer 238
Four ſpecial arguments, from which the Saints may plead with God in prayer, viz. from
1. God himſelf, his
Gracious Nature 239
Glorious Name 241
2. Chriſt
1. Gods gift of Chriſt ibid.
2. Chriſts purchaſe ibid.
3. The Intereſt which Chriſt hath in the Father 242
4. The intereſt the Saints have in Chriſt ib.
3. Promiſes
4. Experiences.
The uſe and benefit of the Saints pleading with God in prayer 243
Four ſpecial arguments from which Sinners may plead with God in prayer 244
1. God Gracious nature 246
2. Gods call and invitation 247
3. Chriſt his
Sufficiency 248
Office 249
4 Their own neceſſity ib.
4. Prayer in Faith 251
Directions for performing the Duty of holy meditations Page 239
1. The chief matters to be meditated on, reduced to ſeven Heads
1. God 240
2. Sin 244
3. Chriſt 247
4. The vanity and miſery of a worldly life 251
5. The nature, excellency, and neceſſity of a godly Life 254
6. Death and Judgment 257
7. Eternity 263
Some particular advice for the better managing of this duty 269
Directions for the right performance of the Duty of Self-Examination 271
The matters to be examined,
1. Whether you be in a ſtate of grace, or in a ſtate of Sin 273
There are three marks for the tryal of that 274
2. Whether you are in a languiſhing or flouriſhing ſtate 286
Three helps for the finding out that 287
Several cauſes of languiſhing, or hindrances of flouriſhing in grace,
1. Overly performance of Chriſtian duties 289
2. Ʋnprofitable converſe with Chriſtian Friends ibid.
3. Ʋnneceſſary converſe with carnal friends ib.
4. Overmuch buſineſs in the world 290
5. The remaining guilt of ſome unrepented ſin ib.
6. Some unmortified luſt ib.
7. Sloathfulneſſe 291
8. Contentedneſſe with a poor and low condition ib.
Directions for the renewing your Covenant
Four things p…emiſed
1. Every ſincere Chriſtian is entred into Covenant with God 309
2. Chriſtians do often break Covenant ib.
3. Breaches of Covenant do weaken the obligation of the Covenant, and how 311
4. The renewing of your Covenant doth revive the obligation of it 312
Directions, 1. For the time when,
Four ſpecial times when this Duty is to be performed ib.
2. For the manner how.
Directions for the right improvement of holy Duties
1. When ever you ſet upon Duty, reſolve to put hard for it, to obtain ſuch ſenſible communion with God in it, that you may come off with ſome lively impreſſions of God upon your hearts 315
2. What holy, lively frame you have attained to in duty be careful to maintain afterwards, from duty to duty 317
Directions for the carrying on a conſtant holy courſe
I. In your whole courſe purſue, and as much as poſſible, eye your End, God and your own Salvation 322
II. Walk on in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, or live by Faith 327
III. Deny your ſelves 331
IV. Order your ſelves aright in thoſe things that eſpecially concern your ſelves 337
1. Allow not your ſelves in the practice of the leaſt known ſin
2. Live not in the …glect of any known Duty 340
3. Take heed of the World 344
4. Be humble 352
5. Temperate 356
6. Be Moderate ibid
V. Carry your ſelves well towards others 357
1. Towards all men 358
Be
True ibid.
Juſt 359
Merciful 360
Peaceable 361
Courteous 363
2. Towards your Families. 368
Four General Directions for a Concluſion of the whole.
In your whole holy Courſe and all the Duties of it
I. Be Sincere. 371
II. Be Steady and Even. 378
III. Be fruitful. 379
IV. Be ſtedfaſt and unmoveable. 381
The great danger of falling off from God and an holy life, is in time of Trouble. 38…
What kind of troubles are the greateſt Temptations
Apostacy and Back-ſliding.
What's the beſt courſe to prevent Apoſtacy in times of Tribulation.
I. Try your ſelves well before band. 383
Try,
1. What your are in the ſtate of your ſouls, as to the main. ibid.
2. What you are in your active obedience. ibid.
3. How you carry your ſelves under the ſmaller croſſes that come daily upon you. 386
4. What you are in the Temptations of Proſperity 388
II. Mortifie the fleſh. 389
III. Be convinc'd of the miſery …f Apoſtates and Backſliders. 391
IV. Walk circumſpectly, take heed that you neither ſpeak, do, nor ſuffer any thing, 395
1. Raſhly. 396
2. Obſtinately. ibid.
3. Proudly. ibid.
4. Ignorantly. 397
5. Ʋnpeaceably. ibid.
V. Be Reſolute.