The Way to Heaven Discovered · Robert Purnell
The Way to Heaven Discovered, Table of contents
A Table ſhewing the principall things in this TREATISE.
| OF the ſtate of Nature. | 1 |
| Of the ſtate of Grace. | ibid. |
| The ſeverall degrees in each of theſe ſtates. | ibid. |
| How a ſoul yet in the ſtate of Nature, may be brought to Chriſt. | 2 |
| Which is firſt in the ſoul, Faith or Repentance, fully diſcovered. | 12 |
| A great queſtion anſwered, why doth the righteous God promiſe life to him that doth believe, and threaten eternall death to them that do not believe, ſeeing that it is not in the power of the Creature to believe. And there are five reaſons for it. | 17 |
| Conviction goeth alwayes with Converſion | 18 |
| Repentance and Forgiveneſs of Sins go together. | ibid. |
| Many ſweet promiſes made to a ſoul convinced of ſinne. | 19, 20 |
| One and twenty ſtumbling-blocks caſt in a Chriſtians way to Heaven, by the World Fleſh, and Devil. | 21 |
| What thoſe blocks are, and how to remove them. | 22 |
| The firſt ſtumbling-block caſt in the way, is to cauſe a ſoule to, queſtion whether the Scriptures be the Word of God. | 23 |
| Proved by five Arguments that they are the Word of God. | 24 |
| The ſecond ſtumbling-block is, that the Scriptures are corrupted by a ſpirit of ignorance, and ſelf-ends in the Tranſlators. | 25 |
| Proved that the generality of Scriptures are, truly, clearely, faithfully tranſlated. | ibid. |
| The third ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that the promiſes were made to the Jews and Gentiles heretofore in being; What hath any man to do to apply them now? | 26 |
| Proved by ſeverall Teſtimonies in holy writ, that the people now in being, may, and ought to apply the promiſes as well as they. | 27 |
| The fourth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I know not what the Scriptures mean, they are to be underſtood in a ſpiritual ſence (the Book is ſealed.) | 28 |
| Proved, that the ſame God that hath commanded us to read them, hath promiſed to open our underſtanding that we may be able to underſtand and apply them. | ibid. |
| Three queſtions anſwered concerning the Promiſes, by whom and to whom they are made. | 29 |
| The fift ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I know not how to apply the Promiſes, ſaith a miſ-giving-heart. | 32 |
| Means to help a ſoul to apply the Promiſes underſtandingly, orderly, particularly, and ſtrongly. | 32 |
| Means to help us to forgive all injuries done to us. | 37 |
| The ſixt ſtumbling-block caſt in the way by the World, Fleſh, or Devil, is, to perſwade the poor drooping ſoul that the Day of Mercy is paſt, his Glaſs is run out, his Sun is ſet, the Doore of Mercy is ſhut, the Golden Scepter is taken in. | 39 |
| This ſtumbling-block alſo is removed, and the doore of the Kingdome of Heaven opened. | 40 |
| The ſeventh ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, I feare I am not elected to Salvation. | 44 |
| This block is removed, and the nature of Election and Reprobation diſcovered. | 45 |
| The eight ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I fear I am none of Gods Child, becauſe I have ſo many fearfull thoughts caſt into me one after another. | 46 |
| This block is alſo removed, and the way to Heaven cleared. | 47 |
| The ninth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that ſurely, ſaith another, I am none of the Lords beloved, becauſe he followeth me with affliction, w…ath, and miſery. | 49 |
| Proved by many inſtances that a man may be dearly beloved although ſorely afflicted. And ſo this block is fully removed. | 50 |
| The tenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way of many a p…ecious Ch…iſtian, is, that I have been a Blaſphemer my ſelfe, and cauſed many others to blaſpheme, therefore no hope for me. | 52 |
| This block alſo is removed, and Satan, concerning the ſame, foyled. | 53 |
| The eleventh ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, [Oh Sir!] I have fallen into one and the ſame ſin often. | 54 |
| This block is removed, and many ſcruples of conſcience anſwered. | 55 |
| The twelfth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I have, according to the command of Chriſt, examined my ſelfe, whether I were in the Faith, and finde I am not. | 56 |
| This block removed, and aſſurance of ſalvation diſcovered. | 57 |
| The thirteenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I have been enlightened, and have taſted of the heavenly gift, and am fallen away. | 60 |
| This block alſo removed, and falling away diſtinguiſhed. | 63 |
| The fourteenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, Oh, ſaith a poor miſgiving ſoule, I cannot believe. | 65 |
| This block removed, and ability to believe is promiſed. | 66 |
| The fifteenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I feare I have ſinned againſt the Holy Ghoſt. | 70 |
| The nature of this ſin diſcovered, and this feare removed. | 71 |
| The ſixteenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, all a mans ſins may be ſet in order before him, and the judgements of God due unto him for them, and he deſpairing under them. | 79 |
| For the removing of this block, conſider, all thy ſins put together are but finite, but the mercy of God is infinite. | 82 |
| The ſeventeenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, [oh Sir!] there is no hope of me, for I am ignorant of the Trinity, I do not know God, he will come in flaming fire againſt me. | 88 |
| This block is removed, and the Trinity revealed, or the bleſſed myſtery thereof, in ſome good meaſure unfolded. | 89 |
| The eighteenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, that I have no hope of being ſaved, becauſe many Heathens have out-ſtript me in the way of civil obedience. | 106 |
| This block alſo removed, and the compleat righteouſneſs and obedience for Chriſtians unfolded. | 107 |
| The nineteenth ſtumbling-block caſt in the way is, (O Sir) I feare I have but only a form of godlineſſe withou… power. | 121 |
| This block removed by a clear diſtinction of a power, in, and with a form, and a form without a power. | 122 |
| The twentieth ſtumbling block caſt in the way is, (oh Sir) I have no power to doe any thing that you have laid before me. | 136 |
| This block removed, and the power that the Creature received from the Creator declared. | 137 |
| The one and tw…ntieth ſtumbling block caſt in the way is, that there are ſo many Opinions and Societies, all pretending to b… in the right way, that I know not with whom to joyn. | 147 |
| This block alſo removed, and the true Church of Chriſt from all falſe Churches diſcovered. | 148 |
| A word of friendly reproofe to the ſcattered and d…ſcontented Members of the late Parliament. | 191 |
| And a word of advice to the preſent Supream Authority of England, Scotland, and Ireland. | 197 |
There are many other particulars held forth in this li…tle Book, very ſeaſonable and uſefull, the heads whereof (for ſome reaſons) I forbeare to mention in this Table.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Purnell, The Way to Heaven Discovered (1653)