The Saints Guide, Title page 1 – Table of contents
THE SAINTS GUIDE, IN THREE TREATISES;
I. The Mirror of MercieMercy, on Gen. 6.13.
II. The Carnall Mans Condition, on Rom. 1.18
III. The Plantation of the Righteous, on Pſa. 1.3
By THOMAS HOOKER Miniſter in New-England.
Printed at London for John Stafford over againſt Brids Church.
1645.
The Contents of the Firſt Sermon. Gen. 6.13.
Doct. IN the generality, marriage with a contrary Religion ever brings deſtruction. p. 5.
Doct. 1. The Spirit of God doth ever undoubtedly accompanie the Miniſtry of the word. p. 12.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe God hath ſet apart the Miniſtery of the word to ſanctifie the ſoule. p. 13.
Reaſ. 2. Becauſe it is alwayes either a ſavour of life, or a ſavour of death. p. 14. it doth alwayes accompany the word, but it doth not alwayes work. p. 14.
Reaſ. 3. Becauſe it is able to doe all things. p. 15.
Ʋſe. For information to take heede least we take up Armes againſt the word of God, for the word of God. and the Spirit of God goe together, p. 17. this ſinne is neere to the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt. p. 17.
Doct. 2. The Lord by the Power of his Spirit in the Miniſtry of the word ſtrives with poore rebellious ſinners for their good, and they appoſe both his Spirit, and their owne good, p. 19.
Q. How doth the Spirit ſtrive. p. 24.
A.
1. By way of perſwaſion,
2. By terrour and puniſhment.
3. If this prevailes not then mercy overcomes the ſinner. p. 25.
1. If the ſinner be ſecure, the Lord ſummoneth him into his Court. p. 26.
1. By bringing him to the word. p. 27.
2. By bringing the word home to his underſtanding. p. 28.
2. If the ſinner careles, God makes him attend, and bring the word ſo evident to the Soule, that it cannot evade it. p. 28.
3. If ignorant he informes him. p. 30.
4. If carnall reaſon come to excuſe the hainouſneſſe of the ſins, the Spirit anſwers all its pleas, p. 36.
5. Leaſt the ſinner being convinced ſhould deſpaire, the Lord lets in the manifeſtations of his goodnes, p. 37.
6. If the ſinner ſhall turne this grace into wantonneſſe, ſo that the wiſedome of God reſolves to forſake him. p. 39.
7. Then the Patience of God pretend for a longer time, p. 39.
8. But if the ſinner grow more careleſſe, ſo that Patience is at a period. p. 41. then commeth in the long ſufferance of God. p. 42.
Reaſ.
1. The Lord doth thus ſtrive that he might glorify the attribute of his mercy, p. 56
2. That he might leave the world without excuſe, p. 57.
Ʋſe 1. For instruction to conſider,
1. Of the riches of Gods free grace,
2. Of the depth of that rebellion that is in the ſoules of men, p. 57.
Ʋſe 2. For information, That the condemnation of the wicked is marvellous juſt, p. 62.
Ʋſe 3. For reproofe of them that ſtrive with men, for their hurt, and ruine, p. 64.
Ʋſe 4. For exhortation, in imitation of God to ſtrive to bring others to the Lord. p. 68.
Ʋſe 5. For comfort, if the ſinner after all, will but entertaine the Lord, the Lord will entertaine him, p. 78.
Doct: 4. Though God ſtrive long with ſinners, and give them long time of repentance, and yet they returne not but abuſe his mercy and patience, the Lord will ceaſe to ſtrive with them, and take either the meanes from them, or them from the meanes, or his bleſſing from both p. 80.
The Contents of the ſecond Sermon. Rom. 1.18.
Obſer. 1: SIns againſt the firſt table are ſinnes of a deeper dye of a ſadder nature, then ſinnes againſt the ſecond table. p. 92.
Obſer 2. Gods wrath is not primarily not principally intended againſt mens perſons, but againſt their ſinnes. p. 92.
Obſer 3. The Gentiles naturally have that ingraſted in them whereby they may come in ſome degree to the knowledge of God, p 93.
Doct: 1. Much of God, of the power, greatneſſe, and goodneſſe of God may be knowne, and learned out of the Booke of the Creatures, p. 97.
Doct. 2. That all wicked men are enemies to, and oppoſors of the truth of God, p. 97.
Doct. 3. The ground of this oppoſition againſt the truth of God is from that corruption that is in their hearts, p. 97.
Doct. 4. All ſuch unrighteous ones as oppoſe the word of truth, ſhall ſurely beare the wrath of God, p. 98.
Doct: in generall. Carnall and corrupt men do hinder the powerfull officatiouſneſſe of the word of truth from working upon their ſinfull hearts, prevayling with them, and ſubduing of them, as much as in them lyeth, by reaſon of that inbred corruption that is in their hearts. p. 98.
Q. What is the Power of truth, or what would it worke upon the ſoule that wiked men oppoſe it.
A. Firſt it is a word of information diſcovering things in their proper colours: p. 106.
2. It is a word of quickening, it not onelyonly ſheweth the way, but inableth a man to walke therein. p. 108.
3. The word hath a drawing power with it. p. 108.
4. It is a word of conviction, able to beare downe all carnall reaſonings. p. 109.
Q. How doth a carnall man hinder the powerfull working of the word, p. 110.
A: 1. He is unwilling to liſten to the truth of God, p. 111.
A: 2. He is ever ready to rayſe an evill report of the truth. p. 115.
A: 3: A carnall heart doth oppoſe the truth by reſiſting the word of conviction, p. 119. and that is done either by extenuating his ſinne, or villifying of the word of God: p. 120. and a low eſteeme of the word is the ground of all oppoſition againſt the word, p. 120.
A: 4: If a carnall heart cannot, by carnall reaſon defeate the truth, then it falls to downe right oppoſition againſt the truth. p. 124
A: 3: Reaſ. 1. Carnall men doe oppoſe the truth, becauſe they are unwilling for to have their ſinnes removed, p. 126.
Ʋſe 1. First to examine our ſelves whether the Commandements of the Lord are not grevious unto us. p. 129.
Ʋſe 2: For conſolation to them that finde their hearts willing for to let goe all beloved ſinnes, and to come up to the Lord in every knowne truth. p. 134.
The Contents of the third Sermon. Pſal. 1.3.
Doct. It is the duty of a godly man not onelyonly to performe thoſe dutyes, diſcharge thoſe ſervices that God requireth of him, but to doe them in the fitteſt ſeaſon. p. 147.
Q. How ſhall a man diſcerne the ſeaſon of his ſervices, p. 151.
A. 1. When all circumstances, and occaſions doe concurre for a duty that is the ſeaſon. p. 151.
A. 2. We muſt let each time have his allowance. p. 152
A. 3. That time is moſt ſeaſonable when we finde our bodyes, and ſpirits beſt diſpoſed for ſuch ſervices. p. 153.
A. 4. We ſhould ſo diſcharge them that one duty may be helpfull to another, p. 156.
Severall rules for oceaſionall dutyes, p. 157.
That duty which is moſt neceſſary, and excellent muſt be taken up, and the other let paſſe. p. 159
That which concernes Gods glory is to be preferred before that which crucernes a mans ſelfe. p. 159
We muſt doe good to our ſelves in the firſt plaſe, p. 160. But I muſt not preferre my body, before anothers ſoule, nor my temporalls before his ſpiritualls, nor my good; before his life. p. 160.
Reaſ: 1. If the ſeaſon of doing dutyes be taken, it beautifies all our actions. p. 161.
Ʋſe 1. For triall, whether we have ſeaſonably diſcharged our dutyes in regard of our generall, and particular callings. p. 165.
Ʋſe 2. For inſtruction, it teacheth us that the life of a Chriſtian is not an idle life. p. 167.
Ʋſe 3. For incouragement, now to ſtop in that we may be cured, while the ſeaſon of grace laſteth. p. 168.