The Christians Guide to Devotion, Frontispiece – Table of contents
The Chriſtians Guid to Devotion.
Printed for H. Rodes near Bride lane in Fleetſt
…nford ſc.
The Chriſtians Guide TO DEVOTION. WITH RULES and DIRECTIONS for the leading an Holy Life: AS ALSO MEDITATIONS and PRAYERS Suitable to all Occaſions.
By S. Smith.
The Second Edition.
LONDON, Printed for Hen. Rodes, next door to the Bear-Tavern in Fleet-ſtreet, near Fleet-Bridge, 1685.
A Table of the Contents in this Tract.
PART. I. Of the Nature and Effects of Devotion.
Chap. 1. WHerein Devotion generally conſiſts, Pag. 1.
Chap. 2. Of its Effects, Pag. 6.
Chap. 3. The high neceſſity of Devotion, Pag. 14.
Chap. 4. Of its great Decay and Neglect, Pag. 20.
Chap. 5. That Indevotion is a greater Sin than it is commonly accounted, Pag. 26.
PART II. Of the Cauſes of Indevotion.
Chap. 1. Firſt, Impurity of Life, Pag. 34.
Chap. 2. Secondly, Love of the World, Pag. 39.
Chap. 3. Thirdly, The too great Paſſion we have for Earthly Pleaſures, Pag. 45.
Chap. 4. Fourthly, Worldly Cares and Troubles, Pag. 52.
Chap. 5. Fifthly, Exceſſive Buſineſs, Pag. 59.
Chap. 6. Sixthly, The cuſtom of letting the Mind wander upon different Objects. Pag. 66.
Chap. 7. Laſtly, The Rareneſs and Interruption of holy Duties, Pag. 73.
PART III. Of the great Source of Indevotion, the Spirit of the World, and the love of Pleaſure.
Chap. 1. That Voluptuouſneſs is a mortal Enemy to Devotion: What are the Sentiments and Maxims of the World concerning the Ʋſe of Pleaſure and Senſuality, Pag. 81.
Chap. 2. That Senſual Pleaſures do not, either in their Ʋſe, or in their Abuſe, agree with the Spirit of Chriſtianity and of Devotion. Pag. 94.
Chap. 3. The ſame Truth more particularly and fully diſcuſs'd, Pag. 104.
Chap. 4. What may be accounted innocent Pleaſures? That Devotion is no uneaſie thing, nor an Enemy to Pleaſure. Pag. 116.
Chap. 5. That we are not to conſult our own Heart and Senſes upon the choice of Pleaſures: That Devotion leads us to true Pleaſure. Pag. 131.
Chap. 6. That Young People have not any priviledge to uſe ſenſual Pleaſures, nor to diſpence themſelves from Devotion, Pag. 147.
PART IV. Of Directions and Helps conducive to Devotion.
Chap. 1. Firſt General direction: To will, deſire, and ask it, Pag. 159.
Chap. 2. Secondly, To lead an holy Life, and practiſe all the Vertues. Pag. 165.
Chap. 3. Thirdly, To be watchful over the Senſes, and not to let the Heart looſe, Pag. 172.
Chap. 4. Fourthly, To perſevere in holy Duties, and not to ſtartle at any difficulties, Pag. 177.
Chap. 5. Fifthly, To have God alwayes before our Eyes, Pag. 183.
Chap. 6. Firſt particular direction; To have our Hours of Devotion well choſen and ordered, Pag. 189.
Chap. 7. The ſecond Help: Solitude and Religious Aſſemblies, Pag. 196.
Chap. 8. The third; Reading and Meditation. Pag. 203.
Chap. 9. The fourth; Prayer. Pag. 212.
Chap. 10. The Fifth; Fasting and mortification, Pag. 218.
Chap. 11. Touching the raſh Judgment which is made of devout People, Pag. 226.