A Sincere Believer Comforted and Encouraged, Table of contents 1 – Errata
A Table of the principall Heads contained in this Book; ſcil.
In the firſt part the nature of the Spirituall Taſte.
OF the Book of Pſalmes, Pag. 1, 2
Of this 34 Pſalm, and the occaſion of it, whence foure things are obſerved, pag. 2. to 5
Of the coherence of the Text, whence 3 points are raiſed, viz. pag. 5. to 26
1. The preſence of Angels encamping round about us, ſhould occaſion us to taſte and ſee Divine goodneſſe. Three Reaſons and three Ʋſes of that poynt. pag. 6. to 13
2. Such as by ſweet experience have once taſted Divine goodneſſe themſelves, cannot but ſtirre up others to partake with them. Ten Reaſons of the point, and two uſes, pag. 12. to 22
3. They that have taſted Divine goodneſſe, are truly bleſſed, and ſhould at once truſt in God and feare him. pag. 22 to 26
The Text divided, and Doctrines raiſed, pag. 26
1. Doct. All that undertake to exhort others, muſt endeavour to work on the affections. Why? The reaſons three. How? The meanes foure. pag. 28. to 33
The uſes two, where ſix directions how we may ſo heare as to bee affected under the Word, pag. 33. to 37
2. Doct. All ſinners ſhould be induced to taſte and try God and his wayes. Where
1. What this taſting is? pag. 37
Anſw. 1. There is a corporall taſte, and hereby occaſionally we may taſte God, pag. 37, 38
2. There is a myſticall or ſpirituall taſte, and we may be ſaid thus to taſte God five wayes pag. 38 to 48
1. In Divine ordinances which God hath appointed as conduit pipes to convey ſomewhat of himſelfe to us, viz. 1. the Word. 2. Prayer. 3. Seales. 4. Conference. 5. Meditation. pag. 38. to 45
2. By Faith and particular Applications of Chriſt to the ſoule; for where there is taſting there muſt be touching, pag. 45, 46
3. By partaking of Divine influences from the ſpirit of Chriſt, ſcil. the adorning gifts and renewing graces of the holy Ghoſt, pag. 46, 47
4. In outw…rd behaviour and reformation, and turning our feet into his teſtimonies, to make triall of his wayes, pag. 47, 48
5. In experimentall and actuall diſcoveries of ſweetneſſe and fulneſſ… in God, pag. 48
2. Whether unregenerate men may ha…e theſe taſtes of God, and ſtill continue in the old Adam? pag. 49
Anſw. 1. They may ſeeme to goe farre, w…re Heb. 6.4, 5. is opened. They goe 8 long ſ…ps in religion, pag. 49. to 51
2. And yet they are void of ſpirituall life and ſenſes, and ſo come ſhort of true beleevers in many things. pag. 51 to 53
3. Why we ſhould labour for experimentall taſts of God. pag. 53
1. Becauſe God and his good wayes are undeſervedly evill ſpoken of, and 'tis not wiſdome to goe by hear-ſay. pag. 53, 54
2. Wee ſhall never know the true worth and ſweetneſſe of God and religion, till we taſte and try them. pag. 54
3. Wee are much encouraged by the comfortable experiences of ad Saints, who never repented their ſo doing. pag. 54, 55
4. Either wee muſt taſte of Divine goodneſſe or fury. pag. 55, 56
5. If you taſte Divine good…eſſe here, you ſhall have your fill and will of God hereafter. pag. 56, 57
1 Ʋſe. Matter of reproof, 1. to ſuch as … …t▪ wil not taſte God and his …. Where ſix reaſons are given why millions to …i… …ry day never taſted God in … m…rcy they … received, or duty they have performed, pag. 57. to 64
2. To ſu… as ſeeke for ſweetneſſe and ſatisfaction in the creature out of God, pag. 63, 64
3. Such as are ever and anon taſting ſin; theſe nibble at Satans baits. pag. 64 to 67
4. To ſuch as binder others from taſting and trying how good the Lord and his wayes are, pag. 67, 68
2 Ʋſe of information in the true reaſon of all that rage and fury that boyles up in mens ſpirits againſt the wayes of God. They never taſted nor tryed them. pag. 68, 69
3. Vſe of triall and examination, whether ever we ſavingly taſted God, pag. 99
This is tryed by the effects, which are three, 1. Regeneration, 2. Eſtimation, 3. Exultation. pag. 69 to 71
A diverſion conſolatory to ſincere hearts, that mourn for want of the ſenſe of Gods love in Chriſt. pag. 72, 73
4 Ʋſe of Exhortation, to unregenerate men and women to taſte and try God, pag. 73
The Inducements five. pag. 73 to 77
1. The pleaſure of bodily taſting is ſhort and vaniſhing, of ſpirituall endleſſe. pag. 74
2. God invites and allures you to taſte of his marrow and good things, pag. 75.
3. Kings have their Taſters, and ſo have you; you may ſafely venture. pag. 75
4. Conſider what the damned would give to be capable of this happineſſe, pag. 75, 76
5. Chriſt taſted gall & death for thee, do thou taſte Grace and Glory for him, pag. 76, 77
3. Doct. There is but a taſte of God in this life pag. 77 to 100
1. The Quod ſit, that it is ſo, proved
1. By plain Scriptures, pag. 78
2. By undeniable Arguments, ſcil.
1. The makings forth of God are not perfect in this adminiſtration pag. 78, 79
2. We are not capable of much here, corruption remains in the beſt, pag. 79, 80
2. The Cur ſit, why'tis ſo? viz.
1. Why beleevers have a ſmall taſte of God here, and it is not perfect Hell with them, foure reaſons of that, pag. 80 to 83
2. Why the Lord gives them but a taſte, pag. 83 to 87
The Reaſons four. pag. 83 to 87
1. To manifeſt his power and wiſdome in our preſervation. pag. 83, 84
2. To keep us humble. pag. 84
3. To wean us. pag. 84 to 86
4. To ſweeten Heavens joyes to us. pag. 86.
3. The Quid inde, or inferences, pag. 87 to 100
1. It meets with thoſe that dream of perfection in this life. Five objections anſwered, pag. 87 to 91
2. Let the world learne how to judge of Chriſtians, not by what they are & receive, but ſhall be and obtaine, pag. 92, 93
3. Weak Chriſtians ſhould bee comforted that ever mourn under their imperfections. pag. 93
For 1. No perfection under the Sun, pag. 93
2. True grace little at firſt, pag. 93, 94
3. As you doe but taſte the graces and …ſ…ations of God here, lo you doe has taſte of afflictions and death, the bitter fruits of ſin, you doe but ſip at the bitter cup. pag. 94, 95
4. All ſhould be exhorted to two things.
1. To labour for more of Gods will, reſt not in this, that you have grace in truth; for though the beſt doe but taſte, yet ſome more and oftner then others. There are degrees, pag. 95. to 99
2 To be even weary and ſicke of the world that ye may have clearer viſions and fuller enjoyment of God in the clouds, pag. 99, 100
4 Doct. They onelyonly that taſte can ſee how good the Lord is, pag. 100 to 118
1. Arg. True knowledge is not bare ſpeculation, 'tis heart-work as wel as brain-work, pag. 101, 102
2. God is at once the fountain of light and life, and where there is life, there are all the ſpirituall ſenſes. pag. 102, 103
3. Illumination is a fruit of Chriſts aſcenſion and interceſſion. pag. 103, 104
4, Chriſt as a Prophet teacheth only his friends pag. 104
5. Such as have a filiall feare, are numbred among his Diſciples. pag. 104, 105
6. The promiſe of Knowledge is to ſuch as obey God, and live up to received light. pag. 105
1 Ʋſe. This diſcovers the true Reaſon of that little inſight into Spirituall things in the midſt of ſo much light that is in the world. pag. 105, 106
2 Vſe. To mourne over thoſe that have bright notions, and choyce ſpeculations in Religion, and yet never taſted God; they ſee truths, but not with a beleevers eyes, nor in his light pag. 106 to 108
3 Vſe, To ſearch and enquire if our viſions of God are not deluſions. pag. 108
1. Do you thirſt after more and more knowledge in the myſteries of Chriſt? pag. 108
2. Is thy knowledge experimental? pag. 109, 110
3. Diffuſive? pag. 110, 111
4. With full aſſurance? pag. 112
5. Art thou humble and teachable? pag. 112, 113
6. Doth thy knowledge transform and heavenlize thee? pag. 114
4. Vſe. Labour for ſuch diſcoveries of God as may have a witneſſe within you: a little ſanctified knowledge will goe farre. pag. 114 to 116
5. Vſe. This wil follow, As without ſome taſting there is no cleare viſion, ſo without ſome knowledge there's no right taſting. pag. 116. 117
5 Doct. The Lord is exceeding good unto all his people. pag. 118 to 149
This proved,
1. from inſpired quils pag. 118
2 Heatheniſh and Naturall pag. 118, 119
The poynt opened and illuſtrated in two Enquiries.
1. Enquirie, what goodneſſe, and the goodneſſe of God is? pag. 120
2. Enquirie, What are the Epithites of divine goodneſſe? pag. 1…0. to 136
1. He is a univerſall good to all, the young Ravens, and old Devills, and all the Creation finds it. pag. 120. to 124
2. He is in Chriſt a ſpeciall and peculiar good unto his Elect. pag. 124. 125
3. God is an independent good, and no independent being but he. pag. 125. to 129
He is moſt bleſſed and glorious in himſelfe, and all the creatures cannot adde one ſparke to his felicity. Proved by three things.
1. God was thus good and happy and all ſufficient before all worlds. pag. 127
2. God is the Author of all his creatures good. pag. 127
3. That good and perfection that is in the creature, was firſt in God, and moſt perfectly good there. pag. 127. 128
4. God is a moſt free good. pag. 129. 130
5. An abſolute, ſutable and perfect good is he. 130. to 132
6. A moſt deſireable and delectable good. pag. 132. to 134
7. A laſting and everlaſting good, and that two wayes.
1. Eſſentially in himſelfe. pag. 134
2. Relatively to others, and that
1. Ex Parte Ante, looking to their Election. pag. 135
2. Ex Parte Poſt, Eying their glorification, pag. 135
1. Uſe. Matter of Lamentation over poore ſinners. For
1. Some have lived without taſting this goodneſſe all their dayes, the time is yet to come that ever they taſted this goodneſſe and ſweetneſſe in any ordinance or outward enjoyments. pag. 136
2. Others ſin againſt this infinite goodneſſe without reluctancy. pag. 136
2. Let not any man ſay when he is tempted, he is tempted of God, he tempts no man, but is goodneſs it ſelf without mixture. pag. 137. to 140
3. Beleeve not calumnies, for ſome hereticks, as Sardian and Marcion have ſaid, even of God, that he is not good; Chriſt ſlandered. pag. 140. to 142
What is the meaning of that Petition, Lead us not into tentation? pag. 139.
God many times puniſhes one ſin with another. Five ſins eſpecially. pag. 139. 140
4. Admire the goodneſſe of Gods nature. 142 to 143
5. Delight not to grieve, feare to diſpleaſe him. pag. 143. 144
6. Examine if the Lord be good to thee in a peculiar manner; the Characters four. pag. 144 to 146
7. This ſhould perſwade ſinners that are ignorant of divine ſweetneſſe, to taſte and try him. pag. 146
8. Let beleevers be thankfull for all this goodneſſe. pag. 146. 147
9. Imitate God in goodneſſe, be and doe good pag. 147
10. Eſteeme nothing ſweet or good any farther then you can finde or enjoy God in it. pag. 148
11. Keep in with this good God, and be carefull to abide in his goodneſſe: Prize his preſence, adore his diſcoveries, implore his ayd, and attend his calls. pag. 148. 149
The Table to the ſecond Part you finde after, Page 149.
Courteous Reader, The Author earneſtly deſires one favour at thy hands (before thou readeſt this Book) which is to correct with thy Pen the Printers miſtakes following.
PAge 31▪ in the Margent for foreign read foreign. pag. 42. in Marg. for Schueptius, r. Schuepfius. p. 51. in Marg. for Manzius, r. Mauzius. p. 58. in Marg. for Aug. de Tem. p. 18. r. Aug. de Temp. 18. p. 60. in Marg. after Buſineſs, onelyonly a comma; but after Pythagoras, a full ſtop. p. 69. line 29. for thing, r. things. p. 70. l. 13. the directive w, which ſtands before bitterneſs, place l. 15. before earthly p. 73. l. 7. after to damne, add me. p. 73. l. 11. for prooping, r. drooping. p. 78. in Marg. after life, onelyonly a comma. p. 91. l. 9. blot out the comma. p. 117. in Marg. for Elu-Par, r. Eln Par. p. 127. in Marg. for, idem in Mat. 19.17. r. P. Martyr in Mat. 19.17. p. 128. l. 12. for there, r. the…. …. 2…. for God, r. … p. 140 in Marg. for 810, r. 800. p. 146. in Marg. (in moſt copies) for quevere, r. quae…re. p. 147. in Marg. (in moſt copies) for gratiarum, r. gra…ia …m: and for, religrovis, r. religionis. p. 179. place the directive x, before Propheſies. p. 189. in Marg. for Hexam…n, r. Hexeme…. p. 191. in Marg. for vegetubit aeternum, r. veget abit in aeternum; and for lues, r. luce. p. 198. for Jerſome, r. Jerome. p. 208. l. 24. for heart-ſiftings, r. heart-liftings. p. 211. in Marg. (in moſt copies) for 1 Cor. 1.30. r. 2 Cor. 1.30. p. 212. in Marg. for Diodati, r. Diodate. p. 213. l. 17. for often, r. of them. p. 214. in Marg. for Sugenium, r. Eugenium. p. 220. l. 25. for 2 Cor. 4.21. r. 2 Cor. 5.21. p. 229. in Marg. for 777. to 779, r. 777. to 791. p. 248. l. 23. for Joh. 12.13. r. Joh. 12.32. p. 252. in Marg. for expectant, r. ſpectant, p. 259. in Marg. (in many copies) for reſigere, r. reſiſtere. p. 262. l. 21. over againſt the directive *, write in the Margent, 1648. July. p. 277 in Marg. for Julii, r. Jul.