The World Conquered, Title page – Table of contents
THE VVorld Conquered, OR A Believers Victory over THE WORLD. Layd open in ſeveral Sermons on 1. John 5. 4.
By R. A.
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1668.
The Contents.
THE Text opened. Pag. 1.
The main doctrine laid down. p. 2.
The doctrine explained and confirmed in the reſolution of 5. queries.
I. Wherein the enmity of the world againſt Souls ſtands or diſcovers it ſelf.
4. Things premiſed to the anſwering this queſtion. p. 3.
The Enmity of the world againſt Souls diſcovers it ſelf.
1. In withdrawing the Soul from God. p. 4.
1. In withdrawing our affections from God as our portion. Ibid.
2. In withdrawing us from our allegiance to God as our Soveraign. p. 5.
2. In witholding it from Chriſt. p. 6.
1. It holds us back from coming to Chriſt, and this,
1. By darkning our ſight. Ibid.
2. By deadning our ſenſe. p. 9.
3. By hanging upon our hearts, and about our necks. p. 12.
4. By furniſhing us with excuſes. p. 16.
2. It hinders us from following of Chriſt. p. 24. Particularly
1. It cuts Chriſt ſhort of that ſervice and of thoſe fruits that he ſhould reap from us. p. 26.
2. It holds us ſhort of that grace and true peace, which we might receive from him. p. 30.
II. Wherein the ſtrength of the world lies, whereby it prevails upon ſo many Souls. p. 32.
The ſtrength of the world lyes.
1. In the Spirit of the world within us, p. 35.
2. In the God of the world without us, Satan, who gives ſtrength to and marſhals the temptations of the world.
1. By over rating the good things preſent and under rating the good things to come. p. 44.
2. By ſharpning the edge of preſent evils, and blunting the edge of evils to come. p. 47.
3. By an active ſtimulating and preſſing us on, whatever becomes of us hereafter, to purſue the preſent good things and to prevent the preſent evil things. p. 48.
III. Wherein the ſtrength of faith lies whereby it overcomes the world. p. 56.
Here 2. things.
1. The ſtrength of a Chriſtian is his faith. p. 57.
2. The ſtrength of faith is Chriſt. p. 61.
There are two things in Chriſt which are the ſtrength of faith, his
Power. Ibid.
Victory. 64.
IIII. The conflict of faith with the tempting world: or the ways and means by which faith overcomes the world.
Theſe are, p. 66.
1. It gives a right judgment of the world. p. 67.
2. By faith the Soul pitches upon an eternal inheritance. p. 69.
3. By faith we underſtand that the good things preſent cannot further, and the evil things preſent cannot hinder our eternal happineſs. p. 73.
4. By faith we underſtand that the deſign of temptations is to deprive us of our inheritance. p. 77.
5. Faith makes experimental and fuller diſcoveries of the glory of that inheritance the Soul hath pitched upon. p. 79.
6. Faith gives aſſurance of this better inheritance. p. 91.
V. The conqueſt of Faith over this conflicting world p. 95.
Where.
1. How far forth, or in what ſenſe, every believer hath overcome the world: anſwered in 4. particulars. Ibid.
2. Wherein this victory ſtands. p. 103.
Anſwered.
1. Negatively in 4. particulars. Ibid.
2. Poſitively: And thus our victory over the world ſtands, in our having obtained.
I. A power to poſſeſs the things of the world without placing our happineſs in them. p. 105.
II. A power to mannage our worldly affairs and buſineſſes without the prejudice of our Souls. p. 107.
III. A power to uſe this worlds goods to their proper ends. p. 124.
IIII. A power to want the worlds good things and to ſuffer the worlds evil things, and to keep our hearts and our way whether we proſper or ſuffer. p. 133.
Then are we eminently indued with this power when we have attained to,
1. Selfdenyal under the greateſt opportunities of ſelf-ſeeking, or ſelf-ſatisfaction. p. 135.
2. Contentment under the greateſt ſtraits. p. 159.
3. Patience under the greateſt preſſures of Affliction. p. 171.
4. Humility in the heighth of honour. Ibid.
5. Magnanimity in the depth of danger or difficulty. p. 174.
6. Aequanimity in the greateſt turns and changes of our outward condition. p. 192.
V. A willingneſs to leave the world, to be gone from this, and to take our flight to the other world. p. 203.
3. Grounds why worldly men are unwilling to dye. p. 205.
The Application.
USe 1. of Information and conviction learn hence, 1. That every captive to the world is an unbeliever. p. 213.
2. That where there is but little power over the world, there is but little Faith. Ibid.
Uſe 2. Of Direction and exhortation. p. 247.
In Order to the obteining this victory,
Direct. 1. Improve duties this way. p. 248.
Direct. 2. Improve Sabbaths this way. p. 253.
Direct. 3. Improve Sacraments this way. p. 268.
Direct. 4. Improve worldly proſperity this way. p. 297.
Direct. 5. Keep your thoughts, affections and ſenſes under conſtant government. p. 312.
1. Keep your thoughts under government. Ibid.
2. Keep your affections under government. p. 317.
3. Keep a ſtrict watch upon your ſenſes. p. 320.
Direct. 6. Make a ſolemn ſurrender of your ſelves and all that you have to the government and diſpoſal of God. p. 324.
Arguments perſwading to preſs on for this victory, propoſed in ſeveral queſtions.
1. Are you for the ſaving of your Souls? p. 328.
2. Is not the world an enemy to your ſalvation. p. 329.
3. Is this enemy invincible? p. 331.
4. Is not victory over the enemy deſirable? p. 333.
5. Can this victory be bought to dear? p. 335.
6. What if this enemy ſhould reign to death? p. 337.
7. Will you now become enemies to the world? p. 339.