A Good Conscience the Strongest Hold, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS.
THe ſum and ſcope of the Epiſtle to Timothy—is the Miniſters duty. page 1.
The ſum of the Text, the Miniſters greateſt charge. p. 2.—11.
The words opened, obſervations raiſed. p. 3, 4, &c.
The maine point of Doctrine
Propounded. p. 11.
Expounded. p. 12.
Confirmed. p. 13, 14
CHAP. I.
What Conſcience is, ſhewed two wayes. p. 15.
1. By opening the word Conſcience. p. 15.
Conſcience is more then a bare and ſingle knowledge. ibid.
Conſcience implyes a four-fold knowledge
with God. p. 16.
with ſelf. p. 17.
with others. p. 18.
with things themſelves. p. 20.
Four Corollaries and Deductions. p. 22.
2. What the thing Conſcience is deſcribed. p. 24.
CHAP. II.
Two kinds of Conſcience
Evill.
Good.
A two fold evill Conſcience
Quiet.
Troubled.
A double goodneſs in Conſcience, of
Sincerity.
Security.
p. 26.
The full definition of a good Conſcience, viz. when
1. It is rightly Purified.
2. Rightly Pacified.
3. And doth …egularly performe all his offices
ibid
When Conſcience is rightly purified p. 27.
Three things Conſcience muſt be purified from
Ignorance. p. 27.
Error. p. 28.
Hardneſſe. p. 31
Three things Conſcience is purified by.
The Word. of Chriſt.
The Blood. of Chriſt.
The Spirit. of Chriſt.
p. 33.
CHAP. III.
Of the Conſcience rightly pacified. p. 37.
Three things Conſcience muſt be pacified from.
The raigne of ſin. p. 37.
The rage of Satan. p. 39.
The wrath of God. p. 41.
Three things Conſcience is pacified by.
The Word. p. 42.
The Blood. p. 43.
The ſpirit of Chriſt. p. 44.
CHAP. IV.
The Offices of Conſcience. p. 45.
Conſcience hath a four-fold Office
Miniſteriall, or Propheticall.
Regall or Magiſtratuall.
Teſtimoniall, or of a witneſs.
Judiciall, or of a Judge.
p. 46.
To which is added a fifth Office, viz. Regiſteriall,
Wherein Conſcience is a Miniſter. p. 46.
Wherein Conſcience is a King. p. 48.
Wherein Conſcience is a witneſſe. p. 49.
Wherein Conſcience is a Judge: p. 51.
Wherein Conſcience is a Regiſter. p. 52.
Five Corollaryes. p. 54.
CHAP. V.
Ten particular ſorts of good Conſcience propounded. Firſt of the Conſcience of Faith ibid p. 60.
CHAP. VI.
Of the Conſcience of Purity p. 66
CHAP. VII.
Of the Conſcience of Sincerity. p. 72.
Ten notes of Sincerity p. 75.
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Inoffenſive Conſcience. p. 93
Inoffenſiveneſſe twofold.
Not taking
Not giving
Offence. p. 93.
1. Inoffenſiveneſs in not giving offence, reſpects either God or Man. ibid.
What is it to be inoffenſive before God. p. 94.
How any can be ſaid ſo to be inoffenſive. ibid.
Foure markes of this inoffenſiveneſſe. p. 95.
Offence not to be given to men.
Others
Godly p. 97.
or Thoſe without. p. 105.
Our ſelves. p. 107.
Six cautions given to prevent offence giving. p. 98.
Six rules preſcribed to avoid offence giving. p. 102.
2. Inoffenſiveneſſe in not taking offence from
God. p. 109.
The Godly. p. 110.
The wicked. p. 111.
CHAP. IX.
Of the well ſighted Conſcience. p. 112.
CHAP. X.
Of the well ſpoken Conſcience. p. 115.
1 Pet. 3. 21. Opened. The anſwer or interrogation of a good Conſcience. p. 115. 116.
CHAP. XI.
Of the honeſt dealing Conſcience. p. 120.
Seven notes of an honeſt Conſcience. p. 124.
CHAP. XII.
Of the tender Conſcience. p. 129.
A double tenderneſs of Conſcience.
Sinfull and diſeaſed.
Lawfull and Sound.
p. 132.
Five kinds of diſeaſed and faulty tenderneſs. p. 132. 133
Right tenderneſſe reſpects.
1. God.
2. Others.
3. Our ſelves.
p. 140.
1. Tenderneſſe in reſpect of God, ſeen in ſix things. p. 141.
2. In reſpect of Men.
1. To all Godly in generall.
2 Weaker ones among them eſpecially.
3 To all men whatſoever.
4. To thoſe who are related to us, principally.
p. 151. & Sequ.
3. In reſpect of our ſelves, this tenderneſſe ſeen in 14. Notes. p. 157. & Sequ.
CHAP. XIII.
Of the paſſive, or ſuffering Conſcience. p. 181.
Foure ſorts of ſinfull & uncomfortable ſufferings. p. 187.
Six markes of honourable and conſcientious ſuffering. p. 189.
CHAP. XIV.
Of the Conſcience of Charity. p. 194.
Charity two-fold
Externall or civill
Eccleſiaſticall or chriſtian.
p. 195.
1. Externall charity reſpecteth
The Poore.
The Neighbour.
Our Enemy.
To the poor is to be ſhewed charity of beneficence. p. 196
To the Neighbour, a charity of benevolence. p. 199.
To an Enemy, the charity of forgiveneſs. p. 200.
2. Eccleſiaſticall or Chriſtian charity the more excellent. p. 201.
In what it is to be ſhewed. p. 202.
The great and dolefull want of it in theſe times. p. 206.
CHAP. XV.
The reaſons of the point. p. 212.
Three generall heads of reaſons, whereof the firſt is taken from the excellency of good Conſcience, and ſhewed in five particulars. p. 213.
CHAP. XVI.
The ſecond reaſon from the danger and miſchief of an evill Conſcience. p. 225.
This ſet out in foure Particulars. p. 225. 226.
CHAP. XVII.
The third reaſon from the difficulty of getting and keeping a good Conſcience, and eſcaping an evill. p. 232.
This made plaine in three particulars. p. 233
CHAP. XVIII.
The application of the Doctrine. p. 237
A ſeven-fold application propounded ibid.
Firſt by way of information ibid.
This information looketh two waies.
1. To diſcover errors.
2. To aſſert Duties and Truths.
1. Error diſcovered, that to preach Conſcience and preſſe duty, is legall preaching. p. 238. 239. 240.
2. That Conſcience is a ſnare, not ſecurity. p. 243.
Third miſtake, of ſuch who judge thier conſcience good when it is yet but a naturall conſcience. p. 244.
Naturall conſcience may have ſome good in it, yet cannot be call'd a good conſcience. p. 244.
What good may be in naturall conſcience, ſhewed in 8. particulars. p. 244. 245.
What is wanting in naturall conſcience, to make it truly good, ſhewed in four particulars. p. 246. 247.
Fourth miſtake. To judge conſcience therefore good, becauſe quiet. p. 247.
Foure quiet conſciences, & never an one of them good. p. 248.
1. The ignorant mans conſcience. p. 248.
2. The unawakened conſcience. p. 249. 250. 251.
3. The deluded conſcience. p. 252. 253. 254.
4. The hardened conſcience. p. 255.
A ſix-fold hardneſſe of heart or conſcience. p. 255.
1. Naturall hardneſſe. p. 255. 256.
2. Voluntary and attracted. p. 256. Eleven ſteps to hell diſcovered. p. 256 257.
3. Judiciall hardening by Impoſtors and Seducers. p. 259
4. Miniſteriall hardening by Miniſters and Ordinances. p. 259. 260.
5. Divine hardening by God himſelfe. ibid.
6. Satanicall by the prevailing efficacy of Satan. p. 261.
5th. Miſtake of ſuch who judge conſcience, therefore, good, becauſe troubled. p. 263.
Three notes of an ill troubled conſcience. p. 264.
Six notes of a good troubled conſcience. p. 271
A ſixth Miſtake, to judge erroneous conſcience, a good conſcience. p. 273.
Seven common and ordinary notes of an erroneous conſcience. p. 274.
A ſeventh miſtake, to judge ſcrupulous Conſcience, a good Conſcience. p. 278.
The eighth miſtake to judge the conſcience of, and for liberty, a good conſcience. p. 280.
Sinfull liberty of conſcience branded, and decyphered. p. 281.
Right liberty of conſcience aſſerted. p. 282.
Set out in five particulars. p. 283.
CHAP. XIX.
The other part of the uſe of information to aſſert Truths p. 285.
1. That good conſcience is the Chriſtians greateſt charge. ibid.
2. To looke after conſcience in ſelfe and others, the miniſters greateſt charge. p. 286.
3. Conſcience decaying is the decay of State. p. 290.
4. Conſcience decaying, grace decayes. p. 292.
5. Tolleration not to be granted to all ſorts of conſciences. p. 293.
6. Whence the world is ſo poyſoned with corrupt Doctrines, and blaſphemous errors. p. 249.
7. Whence many have loſt former peace and comfort. ibid.
8. Whence many come to dye Tragically and diſpairingly. p. 296.
9. Whence men come to commit the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt. p 298.
CHAP. XX.
The uſe of Lamentation p. 299.
The generall want of conſcience lamented. ibid.
The generall loſſe of conſcience more lamented. p. 303.
CHAP. XXI.
The uſe of reproofe. p. 309.
Want of conſcience reproved. ibid.
Want of conſcience the greateſt want: p. 313.
Loſſe of conſcience reproved. p. 314.
Loſſe of conſcience the greateſt loſs. p. 315.
CHAP. XXII.
The uſe of terror to foure ſorts of men. p. 317.
1. Such as are regardleſſe of conſcience. ibid
2. Such as have an accuſing & gnawing conſcience. 318.
3. Such as have a ſtupified and feared conſcience. p. 320
4. Such as are falling into the conſumption of conſcience p. 321.
CHAP. XXIII.
The comfort and happineſs of ſuch, whoſe care is to get and keepe a good conſcience. p. 323.
CHAP. XXIV.
The uſe of examination. p. 327.
CHAP. XXV.
The uſe of exhortation. p. 333.
1. By way of Dehortation. ibid.
1. By way of Adhortation to All Chriſtians. Miniſters chiefly. p. 334.
This exhortation backed with
Motives. perſwading. p. 335.
Meanes. directing. p. 349.
Motives to perſwade, foure. p. 345. &c.
Meanes directing, two-fold
principall.
Subſervient.
p. 349.
Principall meanes two
The blood.
The ſpirit.
p. 350.
Subſervient meanes 13. whereof. 6. preſcribe what is to be had and done. 7. what is to be avoided. p. 352.
1. Meanes to get and keepe good conſcience, faith. 353.
Three-fold faith neceſſary for a good conſcience.
Juſtifying for the heart. p. 354.
Orthodox for the judgement. 355
particular warranting faith for our particular actions. p. 356.
2d. Meanes To exerciſe and renew repentance. p. 357.
Repentance a Goſpell duty. ibid
3d. meanes, To attend the Hints and Items given by Chriſt and his Spirit. p. 360.
4. To attend and obſerve the hints and motions of our own Spirit. p. 361.
5. To confer our conſcience with Scripture. p. 365.
6. The laſt meanes to be uſed, Prayer. p. 366.
2. The evills to be avoided are ſeven. p. 370.
1. Beware of the ſmalleſt ſinne allowed. ibid.
2. Of one ſinful Act deliberately committed. p. 373
3. Beware of living under a looſe, cold, freezing miniſtery, or an unſound miniſtery. p. 375.
4. Take heed of an ill companion. p. 381.
5. In things doubtfull forbeare to Act, or chuſe the ſafer part. p. 382.
6. Shun worldly mindedneſs. p. 383.
7. Beware of erroneouſneſs of conſcience. p. 385
2. The other part of the exhortation concerneth miniſters eſpecially. p. 387.
Miniſters have a double charge given them, concerning conſcience.
1. Perſonall.
2. Doctrinall.
His perſonall charge is, that he be a man Exemplary, a man of conſcience. ibid
Here 1. A particular encouragement to younger Timothyes. p. 389.
2. An Item to Hymenaeus. p. 390.
His Doctrinall charge is, that he bee aman for Conſcience, in all his miniſtery applying himſelfe to the conſcience of his hearers. p. 396.