A Christians Duty and Safety in Evil Times, Table of contents
The Contents of the following Sermons.
Text. Iohn 17.15. I pray not that thou ſhouldeſt take them out of the World; But that thou ſhouldeſt keep them from the evil.
The context opened page 1
Four things Obſervable in the Prayer of Chriſt Page 2.
1. The time when he made this Frayer pag. 2:
Obſervation, It is warantable and commendable for Miniſters to pray after their preaching page 2
Obſervation, Chriſtians ſhould then have moſt holy and ardent affections in their breaſts, when they are even leaving of this World page 4
Chriſts practiſe ſhould be our pattern p. 5
2. The Gesture he uſed. pag. 6.
3. The Manner of his praying. pag. 7.
1 He aimed at Gods glory page 7
2 He prayed to God his Father ibid
3 He prayed for his Diſciples page 8
4. The matter for what he prayed. pag 9.
The words of the Text explained. page 10.
Two Reaſons why Chriſt would not pray that his Diſciples might be taken out of the World page 12
1. Doctrin, It is not warrantable for any to wiſh for death becauſe of perſecutions or afflictions which they ſear, or feele. pag. 13.
Three Reaſons of the point.
1. Becauſe our lives are great bleſſings pag. 14.
2. It is more commendable to pray for a ſanctified uſe of Affliction, then for deliverance from it. p. 15.
3. There is much honour to be gained by a patient bearing of affliction, p. 15.
Uſe, for Reprehenſion of ſuch as wiſh for the day of their death page 16
2 Doctrin. In ſome caſes it is lawfull for a man to wiſh for death. p. 19.
1. When he deſires it not becauſe of ſufferings, but becauſe of ſin. pag. 19.
2 That he may thereby have a more full enjoyment of Chriſt. p. 20
3 Doctrin. It is not the deſire of Ieſus Christ that any of his ſervants ſhould die ſo long as he hath any work for them to doe in this Wortd. p. 21.
Three Uſes.
1 For Counſel, that you would deſire to live no longer then that you may ſerve God, and do good to others page 22
2 For Reproofe, of thoſe who are haſtening to the grave, and yet have not begun the work for which God ſent them into the World page 26
3 For Comfort, when you have finiſhed your work, then you ſhall goe to receive your wages page 31
4 Doctrin. No man dies, but God doth take him away. page 33.
Were our lives in owr own hands, we ſhould live to long: were they in our enemies hands, we ſhould die to ſoon p. 34
5 Doctrin. It may be a great comfort to the people of God, that they have the prayer of Ieſus Chriſt, to keep them from evill whilſt they live in the World page 35,
Two queſtions reſolved for the clearing of this Doctrine page 36.37
The efficaſy of Chriſt's Prayer continues for ever page 38
Six practical Inferences.
1 Chriſts Prayer ſhould not exclude our prayers. p. 40.
2 Chriſt is praying for us, before the Devil is tempting of us. p. 42.
3 The remembrance of Chriſts prayer ſhould check ſinfull Motions in us. page 43.
4 Chriſt prayer muſt not leſſen our care. page 44
5 There is a proneſſe in our nature to be defiled with the evil of the times. p. 45.
6 Every man by nature is unable to keep himſelfe p. 45
Five Directions how to accompliſh the …rayer of Chriſt.
1 Avoyd all diſputing with the Devil. page 47
2 Avoyd all occaſions unto ſin p. 48
3 Conſider the Al-ſeeing eye of God. page 49.
4 Chuſe ſuffering rather then ſin, p. 50
5 Flee to Chriſt for refuge. p. 51
Text 1 Theſ. 5.21. Prove all things; Hold fast that which is good.
The context opened p. 53
VVhat is meant by propheſying p. 54
Doctrine, From the Conrext, viz. Thoſe that have attained unto the higheſt perfection of grace and knowledge, that it is poſsible for men in this life to attain unto, are not to deſpiſe or neglect the Ordinances of Ieſus Chriſt page 57
1 Reaſon, Our Sanctification is not perfect in this life page 59
2 Reaſon. Sin lyes hidden in the ſecret corners of the heart page 60
The words of the Text explained,
VVe muſt hold faſt the truths of the Goſpel in judgment, that we run not into error page 63
In practiſe, that wee run not into ſinne page 64
Doctrine, It is the duty of all hearers of the Word, to try, and prove all Doctrines which they hear page 65
Four Cautions about trying of Doctrines
1 People muſt not take liberty to try all Preachers page 67
2 We muſt not be ſcepticks in Religion page 71
3 VVe must not bring the Scriptures to our Opinion, but our Opinion to the Scriptures page 71
4 VVe muſt not be over confident of our opinions page 72
Four Reaſons why we ſhould try all Doctrines.
1 Becauſe erronious Teachers may carry a reſemblance to them that preach the truth page 73
2 The Scripture foretells that there ſhall be many falſe Teachers in the latter dayes page 74
3 Falſe Doctrines are publiſhed very craftily pag 76
4 There is an aptneſſe in our nature to be turned aſide unto error p. 79
Three general Directions about trying of Doctrines
1 The Scripture is to bee the standard by which we are to try all Doctrines p. 82
2 Cleare principles of truth must rather bee maintained, then diſputed page 84
3 VVe muſt not be conſident in any opinion untill wee have tryed it throughly page 85
Nine Rules for trying of all Doctrins that wee heare
1 Whatſoever the Word of God doth expreſly hold forth to be believed, and received p. 85
2 Whatſoever Doctrine advanceth the grace of God in Chriſt p. 87
3 Whatſoever Doctrine doth advance the Will of God p. 87
4 Whatſoever Doctrine doth advance all the attributes of God ibid
5 Whatſoever Doctrine diſcovereth the ſinfulneſſe of vain thoughts p. 89
6 Whatſoever Doctrine advanceth all truth ibid
7 Whatſoever Doctrine tends to ſettle a troubled Conſcience ibid
8 Whatſoever Doctrine tends to the advancement of Godlineſſe 90
9 Whatſoever Doctrine will abide the tryal p. 91
All theſe Doctrines are ſound and to be embraced.
On the Contrary,
1 Whatſoever Doctrine is not to be found in Scripture p 86
2 Whatſoever Doctrine debaſeth the grace of God in Chriſt p. 87
3 Whatſoever Doctrine makes the Will of God …or obediance, and the grace of God for Salvation to be contrary ibid
4 Whatſoever Doctrine doth rob God of his glory in any of his attributes 88
5 Whatſoever Doctrine requireth only outward reformation p. 89
6. Whatſoever Doctrin is pleaſing to the corrupt nature of man p. 89.
7 Whatſoever Doctrine leaves a diſtreſſed Conſcience without any bottome to rest upon p. 90
8 Whatſoever Doctrine tends to licentiouſneſſe p. 91
9 Whatſoever Doctrine will not endure the tryall p. 92
All theſe Doctrines are falſe, and to be abhorred.
Text. Acts 16.30, 1. And ſaid, ſirs, what muſt I doe to be ſaved? And they ſaid, beleive on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved.
1 Obſervation, Men of the moſt deſpicable condition in the world may become the objects of Gods pardoning mercy page 97
2 Obſervation, God by his providence doth many times ſo bring it about, that afflictions ſhall bee a means to make men look after Salvation p. 99
3 Obſervation, VVhen once men come to make a dilligent Enquiry after Heaven, there will then appear great alteration in their paſſions, and affections page 99
The words of the Text explained
Six things obſerved from the form of ſpeech the Iaylor uſed page 102
Doctrine: Above all things in the world, this is the moſt needfull thing, for the ſons of men to make Enquiry after, namely, what they muſt doe to bee ſaved page 103
Three Cautions for the right underſtanding of the Doctrine
1 VVee must not expect to bee ſaved by doeing page 104
2 No man can be ſaved without doeing page 105
3 Heavenly care, doth not exclude lawfull worldly care page 106
Four Reaſons why wee muſt enquire what we muſt doe to be ſaved
1 Becauſe the ſoul is the moſt excellent thing in the world page 107
2 Heavenly care is the ready way to bodily welfare page 108
3 Becauſe the Devil makes great enquiry how to damn the ſoul page 109
4 If thou looſeſt thy ſoul, thou looſeſt all page 110
1 Uſe, For rebuke of them that Enquire after notionall Queſtions page 112
That enquire onelyonly after earthly things page 113
That enquire how to damn themſelves page 114
2 Uſe, For examination whether we are in an eſtate of Salvation Page 115
This may be known
1 By the Methods God takes with thoſe whom he intends to ſave page 115.117
2 By the Impreſſions which hee works on their hearts page 118
The ſecond part of the Text explained
God promiſes to give what hee commands page 121
Faith and Repentance muſt bee joyned together pag 124
Doctrine, It is the duty of all thoſe that expect ſalvation, to beleive in Ieſus Chriſt page 126
Every aſſent unto the word, is not beleiving page 128
A Deſcription of ſaving faith page 129
The great benefit and priviledge wee have by living under a Covenant of grace page 131
The differences betwixt the Covenant of works and Covenant of Grace page 132
There is no poſſibillity of life by the Covenant of works page 133
In the Covenant of grace there is place for repentance, and mercy for the penitent. 136
Text. Luke 11.28. But hee ſaid, yea rather bleſſed are they which hear the Word of God, and keep it.
Obſervation, From the context, viz. good Children are a great praiſe and bleſſing to their parents page 140
The words of the Text explained p. 141
Obſervation, you muſt take heed that you bee not tickled with pride, when you hear your ſelves, or yours commended. page 142
Eight Obſervations from the manner or form of expreſſion that Chriſt doth here uſe page 143 to 151
What is meant by keeping the Word of God page 150
1 A keeping it in memory page 151
2 A keeping it in practice ibid
Doctrin, They are rather bleſſed that hear the Word of God, and practiſe what they …ear, then the mother of Ieſus Chriſt was for bringing him into the World page 152
The idolatry of the Church of Rome detected and confuted page 153
Five Reaſons why ſuch as hear the Word of God, and keep it are bleſſed
1 Chriſt doth account ſuch to ſtand in a nearer relation unto him then his naturall friends page 155
2 They ſhall perſevere when others apoſtaſtatize page 156
3 The Lord makes glorious promiſes unto ſuch page 157
4 They may be inſtrumentall to bring others unto bleſſedneſſe page ib
5 They themſelves ſhall ſurely come to bleſſedneſſe, although they ſhould not bring others unto Heaven page 158
Vſe, For lamentation, that people will not ſeek after bleſſedneſſe, when they may have it upon ſuch eaſie tearms 160
Five Conſiderations to ſet home this Vſe
1 If thou doſt not practiſe what thou heareſt, thou wilt but aggravate thy condemnation 160
2 Thou art voyd of love to God 163
3 Thy profeſsion is nothing worth ib
4 Thou canſt have no aſſurance of the love of God unto thee 165
5 Thou wilt provoke the Lord to take away the Goſpell from thee 166
Foure Demonſtrations that wee are guilty of barrenneſſe under the meanes of grace.
1 It appears, becauſe the Lords own people complain of their unfruitfulneſſe page 167
2 By the ſad complaint of Chriſts Miniſters, who diſcerne but little ſucceſſe to attend their Ministry page 168
3 By comparing our times, with the time in which the Goſpell was firſt planted page 169
4 Becauſe in theſe dayes more people are perverted from the truth of the Goſpel then converted thereby page 171
Five Demonſtrations that wee are in danger to have the Goſpell removed from us.
It appears 1 By that implacable oppoſition that is in the profeſsors of the Goſpell againſt the Preachers thereof page 172
2 By the general wantonneſſe and wearyneſſe of people in living under the Goſpell page 174
3 By the tolleration of ſuch opinions as are contrary to the Goſpell p. 175
4 By the encreaſe of damnable errors and hereſies p. 176
5 By that implacable oppoſition that is again… the ſettlement of Church government p. 177
When the Goſpel goeth from a people, all goeth.
1 Peace goeth p. 178
2 Plenty goeth ibid
3 Safety goeth ibid
4 Civill liberty goeth p. 9
5 The Dignity and ſplendor of a Nation goeth ibid.
Object. No man can keep what be heareth p. 180
Anſwer, The Covenant of Grace doth not require a perfect but a ſincere obedience page 181
Finis.