Gospel Revelation, Table of contents 3 – Docket title
THE CONTENTS OF THE EXCELLENCY of the SOUL.
Matthew 16.26. For what ſhall it profit a man to gain the whole world, and to loſe his own Soul, &c.
THe Text divided into two general parts.
1 That there is in every man a Soul, a ſpiritual ſubſtance, beſides what is viſible and ſenſible. p. 203
2 That this Soul is more worth than all the world. Ibid.
The tearms of the Text explained, ſheweth what is meant by Soul. ibid.
That every man hath a ſoul, and the neceſſity of looking to it, for five Reaſons. p. 204
1 Wee ſee there are Actions in men that are beyond that which concerns the body at all. ib.
2 There is a power in man to curb his body, to deny himſelf of that which is moſt ſuitable to the body. ib.
3 That which the Scripture makes the chief Actions of man to conſiſt in, which have any reference to God, is ſuch things as are done by ſomewhat beyond the body. ib.
4 When this bodily ſubſtance is decaying, mouldring away, there are many thoughts in a man about his Eternal Eſtate. p. 205
5 For wee know that there are real pains and torments upon a mans ſpirit. ib.
Doct. Did they but know the worth of their ſouls, it could not but raiſe them very high above theſe empty vanities. p. 208
The Excellency of the Soul diſcovered.
1 In its Relations to God. p. 208
2 The ſoul is onelyonly commended by God. 209
3 It is under the power of no man to inflict evil upon it. ib.
4 It is of large extent and capacity to receive the Image of God. ib.
For,
1 It is that that is capable to have the Image of God ſtampt upon it. ib.
2 It is able to work as God himſelf works. p. 210.
3 It is capable of enjoying communion with God himſelf. ib.
4 It is capable of the communication of thoſe Excellencies that ever God did, or will communicate to any. p. 211
5 The Contiguity it hath with God himſelf. p. 212
A ſecond Excellency of the Soul diſcovered in Relation to the Angels. p. 213
A third, in the Indeavour of it. ib.
A fourth, in the Immortality. p. 214
A fifth, in the Meaſure of all other Excellencies. p. 215
A ſixth, in the Price that was paid for it. p. 216
A ſeventh, in regard of the Body. p. 217
God onelyonly can ſatisfie the ſoul. p. 219
The Devil himſelf eſteems it. p. 220
Uſe 1 Sheweth that wee ought to look upon every childe of man with ſome reverence, eſteem, and honour. 221
Uſe 2 How can wee look upon many people without having our hearts raiſed with the meditation of the dreadfulneſs of Gods Juſtice upon men for ſin? ib.
Uſe 3 It muſt needs bee an honourable work to bee buſied about ſouls. 223
Uſe 4 Thoſe that have moſt Soul-Excellency, are the moſt excellent people. 226
Uſe 5 Let us bleſs God for our ſouls. 228
For hence it is that
1 You are look'd upon by the Angels themſelves. ib.
2 The Providence of God is more towards you. ib.
3 You are ſuch as are capable of all the good Chriſt hath purchaſed. 229
6 Bleſs God for Soul-Mercies above all other. 231
7 What a pitty is it that God ſhould not have the honour of mens ſouls. 232
8 Take heed of diſhonouring theſe ſouls of yours. 233
Queſtion How may a man diſhonour his ſoul?
Anſwer, 236
1 When hee lives idlely, and makes no uſe of it. ib.
2 When hee emploies it about low and mean things. 237
3 When hee defiles his ſoul. 238
4 When hee make it a drudge to his body. ib.
5 When hee grudges the time and coſt hee ſpends upon it. 239
6 When hee laies not up proviſion for it againſt an evil day. 240
7 When hee thinks to ſatisfie it with any thing but God. ibid.
Next Uſe ſhews how to put honour upon our ſoul. ib.
And that
1 By having your thoughts often upon them. ib.
2 By keeping your bodies under them. 241
3 By adorning your ſouls with beauty. 242
4 By providing for them. ib.
5 By imploying them in things ſuitable to them. ib.
6 By bringing them to gain that end for which they were made. ib.
Doct. 2 That the loſs of the ſoul is a moſt dreadful loſs. 243
Anſwers to that Queſtion, What Chriſt means by the loſs of the ſoul? ib.
Not becauſe they will bee annihilated. ib.
But 1 The loſs of the ſoul is in the privations of it, of all good. 244
2 It conſiſts in its departing from God. ib.
3 In ſubjecting it to that miſery and evil that is contrary to what good it is capable of. ib.
4 In the ſuckerleſs and helpleſs condition it is brought into. For
1 Every man and woman, as they came into the world, are deprived of that glory and excellency that God did indow the ſouls of men with at their firſt Creation.
2 All our ſouls do naturally wander away from God. 245
3 In its depravity and ſinfulneſs. ib.
4 Its being in a ſuccourleſs, helpleſs condition. ib.
Wherein conſiſts the loſs of the ſoul in Hell? 246
1 In the full rejection of the ſoul from God. ib.
1 From living the life of God. 247
2 From having any union with God. 249
3 From having any fruition of God. ib.
4 From enjoying the preſence of Chriſt. 250
5 From being ever exerciſed in that bleſſed work of praiſing God. 251
6 From ever living in God, as the Saints do. ib.
A ſecond thing wherein the miſery of the ſouls loſs conſiſts in Hell, is in its being made very ſenſible of the loſs of its chiefeſt good. 254
Which is
1 To bee caſt under the eternal curſe of God. 255
2 To have all the faculties of the ſoul to bee filled with wrath. 256
1 The infinite power of God put forth in inlarging their natures, that they may bee the more capable of evil. ib.
2 To uphold their natures, that they ſink not with thoſe dreadful evils. ib.
3 To let out on the ſoul whatever it can bear to make it miſerable.
4 To keep all the faculties of the loſt ſoul in its utmoſt activity. 258
3 Its miſery appears in its ſuccourleſs and helpleſs condition. ib.
For
1 All the power of God cannot help it.
2 There can bee no Mediator between God and the loſt ſoul. ib.
Several Aggravations whereby the miſery of a ſoul that is loſt doth appear. As,
1 If the ſoul be loſt, then the body is, and will be loſt alſo. ib.
Becauſe
1 The body all the time a man doth live, is the onelyonly or moſt immediate inſtrument the ſoul hath to work and to ſin by. 259
2 Becauſe the ſoul that is lost ſhall bee united to the body, the very extremity of the ſoul muſt needs bring miſery on the body alſo. ib.
2 When the ſoul comes into this condition, it comes into the moſt dreadfulleſt condition that any creature is in. ib.
3 It will then have none to pitty it.
Jeſus Chriſt will not pitty it.
The Angels will not pitty it.
The Saints will not pitty it.
Their kindred will not pitty it. ib.
4 It will prove to moſt that are loſt, an unexpected loſs. 260
5 It will prove to bee a dreadful loſs, becauſe it will prove to bee a wilful loſs. 261
6 It will bee a great loſs for a little matter. 262
7 Many will loſe their ſouls that were very nigh the ſavi…g of their ſouls. ib.
8 When they ſhall conſider they have loſt their ſouls, and have nothing in lieu thereof. 263
9 The ſhame that ſhall bee put upon ſuch loſt ſouls as ſhall periſh eternally. ib.
10 When they ſhall ſee others taken up to Heaven, that were as unlikely to bee ſaved as themſelves. 264
Uſe 1 If the ſouls loſs bee ſo dreadful, bleſs God that your ſouls are not thus loſt. ib.
2 Let us bleſs God then for Jeſus Chriſt. 267
3 It muſt needs then bee a dreadful evil for any to have a hand in this loſs. 269
4 It rebukes the folly and madneſs of moſt people that have no care of their ſouls. 272
Several waies by which men come to loſe their ſouls As
1 Some loſe their ſouls by wandring up and down in darkneſs all the daies of their lives. ib.
2 Others by pawning them away. 273
The pawning of the ſoul is moſt dangerous of all other. 274
For
1 There is no ſuch pawn as poſſibly can bee laid as this ib.
2 In laying of pawns there is a time prefixed for the redemption. ib.
3 You bargain the bringing of ſomewhat that you have in your own power to redeem it. ib.
3 Men loſe their ſouls, by wounding of them. ib.
Queſt. Wounding them, how you will ſay?
By that I mean the commiſſions of ſins againſt conſcience. 275
4 Men loſe their ſouls by being gull'd of them.
5 By ſelling of them away. ib.
Men ſell their ſouls,
1 When men ſeek advantage to themſelves by any unlawful means. 276
2 When men ſhall reſolutely give up themſelves to all manner of wickedneſs. 277
6 Men loſe their ſouls by poiſoning them. ib.
And that
1 Either by wicked company, Or,
2 By wicked errors.
7 Others loſe their ſouls by venturing them. 279
This a man may do in four caſes.
1 By raſhneſs. 280
2 By doing things that are doubtful. ib.
3 By venturing upon Gods patience. ib.
4 By venturing upon their own lives. 281
8 Many loſe their ſouls by ſtarving them. 283
9 Some loſe their ſouls by ſurfeiting of them. 285
10 And laſtly, By forfeiting of them. ib.
And that two waies.
1 By not tendring that homage to God that is due. ib.
2 By breaking Covenant with God. 286
Uſe 5 It concerns us to examine whether our ſouls bee not in ſuch a condition, that if they ſhould depart in, they would bee loſt. ib.
But who are they that are no better qualified?
Anſwer. 287
1 That ſoul that God hath not convinc'd of the dangerous natural condition in which it is.
2 That ſoul that hath not made it his greateſt care above all things to ſave it ſelf.
3 That ſoul to whom the Lord hath not revealed the glory of the myſteries of the Goſpel.
4 That ſoul that hath no other righteouſneſs to tender up to God but its own. 289
Queſt. What other Righteouſneſs is there?
Anſwer, A ſupernatural Righteouſneſs. 290
5 That ſoul that God hath not made in ſome meaſure at leaſt to feel the weight of ſin. ib.
6 That ſoul that walks after the fleſh in a courſe of ſin. 291
7 That ſoul that is under the dominion of any one luſt. 292
Queſt. What is it for ſin to domineer?
Anſw. When ſin ſhall ſet up a kinde of Throne, and give Laws as a King. 293
8 That ſoul that hath not had ſuch a change wrought by the Spirit, as is a New Birth, or Reſurrection. 294
9 That ſoul that hath not gone beyond thoſe the Scripture brands for Hypocrites. 296
Queſt. How ſhall a man know hee is gone further than theſe?
Anſwer. 298
1 They could not ſay, becauſe the word is pure, therefore they delighted in it.
2 That they prized Jeſus Chriſt as a ſanctifier.
3 That they lift up God as the higheſt end.
Uſe laſt, Minde that ſerious queſtion, What you ſhall do to bee ſaved? 299
Object. But wee muſt inquire after all truth.
Anſwer, Yes, but ſeaſonably, and in its due time. 300, 301
Rules about our inquiring how to be ſaved. ib.
1 Do it timely.
2 Do it earneſtly. 202
3 Do it ſincerely.
4 Do it conſtantly. 203
Reaſons why wee ſhould thus inquire. ib.
Becauſe
1 By nature wee are in a loſt condition.
2 Salvation is a difficult thing.
3 There are but few that ſhall bee ſaved. ib.
The true Queſtion of what wee ſhould do to bee ſaved
Anſwered. 306
1 If you would have your ſouls ſaved, joyn with God in what hee hath revealed to you concerni g your own condition. ib.
2 Break off the acts of thy ſin at leaſt. 308, 309
Wherein is ſhewed the reaſon of this Rule.
3 Take off your heart as much as you can from the world. 310
4 Acquaint thy ſelf with the myſteries of the Goſpel. ib.
Queſt. What is there in the Goſpel and Covenant of Grace wee muſt inform our ſelves of. 311
Anſw.
1 Informing our ſelves of the neceſſity of ſatisfaction to Divine Juſtice. ib.
2 Of a neceſſity of pe…fect Righteouſneſs.
3 Of an abſolute neceſſity of the application of Chriſts Righteouſneſs. 313
4 Of the neceſſity of Regeneration. ib.
5 The fear of God muſt bee mighty and ſtrong upon your ſpirits. 314
6 Attend upon thoſe means that God hath appointed to ſave your ſouls. 317
Queſt. Can wee do any thing towards the working our own ſalvation?
Anſwered. 317, 318, 319
7 Take heed of reſting upon falſe hopes of thy ſalvation. 320
Queſtion, What are thoſe hopes?
Anſwer. 321
1 Such hopes as are not Scripture-hopes.
2 Such as are not wrought by the …pirit. 323
3 Such as are not lively hopes. 324
4 Such as are not purging hopes. 325
Next thing is by laying the foundation ſure of ſalvation.
Where that Queſtion is anſwered, what it is? 328
9 Keep thy ſoul under the authority of the word. 331
2 The authority of conſcience. 332
10 Take heed of ſinning againſt the price of thy ſoul, againſt the good of the Covenant, and againſt mercy. 333, 334, 335
11 Take heed of ſinning againſt the Spirit of Grace. 336
12 Account the preciouſneſs of the time of your lives to conſiſt in this, that it is a day of ſalvation. 337
13 And laſtly, Bee ſure to go with thoſe that go in the ſtreighteſt and in the ſafeſt way. 337, 338, 339
The laſt thing treats of the tranſcendency of the Souls loſs above the worlds gains. 340
Sheweth, Three things that may help a natural man to ſee the things of the world to bee as nothing. ib.
1 If God wound his conſcience, and terrifie him.
2 When God laies his hand upon him in afflicting of him.
3 Even ſtrength of Reaſon. 343
As
1 Though thou ſhouldeſt gain the world, and yet bee a man like to periſh at laſt, thou haſt gotten but little. ib.
2 Hee is never a whit the better for any thing in the w rld. 346
3 All theſe are things beneath the ſoul. 347, 348
4 They are ſuch things as God hath denied to the choiceſt of his ſervants. 349
5 They may ſtand with Gods eternal hatred of his creature. 350
6 They have no real good in them. ib.
7 There is nothing that can ſatisfie the heart. 352
8 What ever a wicked man hath of the world, hee hath it without God. ib.
9 All theſe things turn upon a wheel of uncertainty. 353, 354
Uſe It ſhews us not to envy at the proſperity of the wicked. 357
2 Let all thoſe that ſeek the world in thoſe waies wherein they are like to loſe their ſouls think upon this truth. 360
The Souls Excellency.
The Worlds Vanity.
3 It ſhews the way to anſwer all Temptations. 365
By thus comparing the World with the Soul. 365
4 And laſtly, Incouragement to thoſe that will rather venture all in the waies of God, than to hazard their Souls.
Mr. BƲRROƲGHS on the BEATITUDES.