The Art of Divine Improvement, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS of this following TREATISE.
THE TEXT opened and analiſed, Pages 1, 2, 3.
Three Obſervations raiſed,
Obſervation 1. That the Saints of God paſs through many dangers in this life, page 4
1. This ſhews the folly of carnal men, who boldly conclude from their preſent proſperous eſtate, that they are in Gods favour, 5
2. This meets with the mistake of thoſe who think to ſail up unto heaven upon a calme ſea, 6
3. This reproves thoſe ſtony-ground Profeſſours, who cast off Christ when the Croſs appears, ib.
Obſervation 2. That the people of God are ſometimes caſt upon ſuch ſtraits, that all hopes of deliverance are cut off from them, 7
1. This calls for much thankfulneſs from thoſe Saints who have met with ſmiles, and not frowns from an indulgent God, 8
2. This ſtirrs up the bowels of rejoycing Chriſtians to pitty their mourning brothren, ibid.
Obſerv. 3. That the appearances of the Lord are eminent and immediate, to the help of his people, in the day of their diſtreſs, 9
Gen. 21. verſ. 17, 18. inſiſted upon in 5 particulars, 10, 11, 12.
The truth evinced in 5 Conſiderations.
Conſideration 1. God ſometimes leads his people into ſtraits, therefore he is engaged, in point of honour, to fetch them off, 13, 14
Conſider. 2. Sometimes the Saints meet with hard meaſure from men, becauſe they are faithfull in that buſineſs, which is commanded them by God, therefore there is much Equity in it, that God ſhould ſtand by them, 15
Conſid. 3. It is the great deſigne of God, to give real teſtimony of his hearty good-will unto his people, therefore he engageth high for them, in their greateſt ſtraits, 16, 17
Conſid. 4. God will lay great Obligations upon his people, to love and trust him, therefore he commands deliverance for them, 18
Conſid. 5. The Lord will fruſtrate all the hopes of the wicked, who look for the destruction of the righteous; therefore he comes in fully and ſeaſonably to their help, when their enemies ſay, God hath forſaken them, 19, 20.
From theſe Conſiderations we may draw theſe Inferences by way of Information.
1. That the Saints are a people of Gods ſpecial care. 21, 22.
2. That the Saints are a people of Gods ſpecial love. 23, 24, 25
Eccl. 9.1. anſwered in 5 particulars, 26, 27, 28, 29
3. That the ſinnes of Saints are circumſtantiated with higheſt aggravations, 30, 31, 32
4. That Infidelity, and diſpondency of ſpirit in an evil day, is il-becoming the Lords people. 33, 34, 35, 36.
2. Some things are propounded by way of Caution.
1. Take heed of raſhly casting your ſelves into danger, under the protection of this Doctrine. 37, 38
2. Beware of abuſing this Doctrine by ſlighting lawfull means of preſervation, when offered. 39, 40
3. Take heed of laying too great a burden upon a creature-bottome, 42, 43
4. Beware of abuſing providenciall preſervations, by a neglect of thoſe duties we owe to God, as our returnes for ſignall mercies. ib. 44, 45, 46, 47
The third uſe of Exhortation, 48
1. To ſome particular perſons in diſtinct capacity. 49
1. To the Magistrates, who are entreated,
1. To conſider the out-ſtretchings of Gods arm for them Ibid.
2. To conſider, what an honour God hath put upon them, 50
3. How God hath been a ſhelter unto them, when both their perſons and their power were ſtruck at, and from hence excited, 52, 53
1. To bring forth Covenant-duties, as a return for Covenant-mercies. ibid.
2. To lay out themſelves in the ſuppreſſion of ſin and wickedneſs, 54
3. To countenance and protect the good people of the Land, 55
2. To the Miniſtery; who are deſired to conſider,
1. Our ſhare in National preſervations, 56
2. The preſent freedome we now enjoy, 57
3. What yoaks hath been upon us. ibid.
4. What oppoſitions we have met withall, ibid.
5. What ſhort Allowances ſome good Ministers have had for their great pains, 58
6. How, not onelyonly Ministers, but Miniſtery hath been ſhot at, by men of bold and daring ſpirits, 59, 60
Which Conſiderations do beſpeak us from the Lord,
1. to pitty our poor Congregations, eſpecially the un-converted in them, 62
2. To be painfull in all our callings, ibid.
3. To carry it with tenderneſs, one towards another, in caſes of ſmaller difference, 63
4. To preſs after purity in Doctrine, and worſhipps, 64
5. To breathe after unity in judgments, and affections, 65
3. To Military men,
1. To conſider their inexperience and unskilfulneſs in warlike matters, when the Warr firſt broke out, 66
2. To conſider how low their ſpirits were, at their firſt taking up armes, ibid.
3. What Midianitiſh Armies, for multitude, they have encountred with, 67
4. What perſonal preſervations they have had in the heat of war, ibid.
5. The great things which the Lord hath wrought for them, and by them, 68
Hence theſe duties are commended,
1. Not to ſacrifice to their own nets, 69
2. To own the Lords people who have owned them, 70
3. To be humbled for acts of violence and injuſtice, permitted or practiced by them, 71
4. To quicken up their firſt zeal for God, his truth, waies, miniſtry and people. 72, 73
4. To Mariners and Sea-trading men, 74
Pſal. 107.23, 24. opened and enlarged upon, 75, 76
5. To the recovered ones of the Nation, whom the Lord hath brought off from beds of ſickneſs, 77, 78
1. That they would own with thankfulneſs the mercies of the Lord. 79
Conſiderations to quicken up to thankfulneſs,
1. The diſeaſe was Epidemical, ibid.
2. It ſeized upon men ſuddenly, 80
3. It was violent, ibid.
4. It was weakening, ibid.
5. It was languiſhing, 81
6. It was inevitable, ibid.
7. It was mortall to many, in many places. 82
2. That they would make good their ſick-bed thoughts and purpoſes, ibid.
Hezekiahs caſe ſtated, and his example propounded, 2 Chron. 32.25. 83, 84, 85.
3. That they would commune with their own hearts, to finde out thoſe particular ſinnes, for which the Lord hath afflicted them, 87
Severall ſinnes pointed at, as introducent of ſickneſs. ibid.
4. That they would conſecrate their lives unto the Lord, which they have received. 1 Pet. 4.2. opened in ſome Particulars, 88
1. That the time of mans abode in the fleſh is fixed and determined by the Lord, ibid.
2. That, Whileſt man lives to the lusts of men, he lives not according to the lawes of his Creator, 89
3. That he onelyonly lives to the Lawes of his Creation, who lives up to the will of God, 90
Three Concluſions drawn from Acts 13.36.
1. That the best and choiceſt Saints are not exempted from ſervice, 91.
2. That the great God commands his ſervants, not onelyonly to work, but to do the work of their Generation. ibid.
Quaeſt. How ſhall we know the proper works of our generation? 93
Anſw. In ſome particulars, 94, 95, 96
5. That they would get their hearts tinctured with an awfull fear of God, 97
1. From the Conſideration of his Power, 98
2. From the Conſideration of his Goodneſs, 99
3. From the Conſideration of his wrath uppon others. ibid.
Queſtion. Why ſhould the Saints fear the wrath of God?
Anſw. 1. They ſee the provoking nature of ſin, ibid.
2. They ſee the dreadfulneſs of Gods wrath. ibid.
3. They know that they are not exempted from common calamities. 100
6. Labour to make ſure of heaven. 101
The ſecond part of the exhortation.
1. in a mix'd ſence, referring both to temporal and ſpiritual Preſervations, in ſome Particulars. 102
1. To perſwade the Lords people to keep up memorialls of the Lords mercies, ibid.
2. To communicate and impart them unto others, 103, 104, 105, 106
Pſalme 66. enlarged upon: From whence is obſerved, That 'tis a duty, by way of ſpecial incumbency, to commemorate and vommunicate the vouchſafements of the Lord unto them, ibid.
Arguments, to perſwade to this Duty.
1. It will bring a Saint into more heartacquaintance with God, 107, 108, 109.
2. It will more draw out the heart in love unto God, 110, 111
3. It will more ſtrengthen faith, 112, 113.
4. It is a notable friend to Religion, 114
Gen. 35. opened in ſome Particulars, ibid.
1. That Family-Reformation lies by way of ſpecial care and duty upon the Governours of it. 114, 115
2. That it hath a great tendency to the promoting of Religion, when Maſter and Family walk together in the wayes of God, 116, 117
3. It adminiſters great hope of much good, when Inferiours obey, their Superiours command and call to Religion, and family-Reformation. 128, 119, 120
4. That great Deliverances lay great Obligations upon Governours to act high in perſonal and family-Reformation, 121, 122
2. The pure ſpiritual part of the Exhortation ſpeaks in three particulars.
1. It exhorts to make enquiry, whether you are delivered from wrath and miſery to come, by Jeſus Chriſt, 123
1. To clear it up, that you are brought home to God, 124, 125
2. How, and when the Lord brought you home to himſelf. 126, 127
2. To quicken up your hearts to duty in all heart-deadneſs, and damps of ſpirit, 128
Canticles 5.3, 4, 5. Hoſ. 8.5, 7. inſisted upon, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136.
3. To be much in the ſenſe of Grace received. 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142.
Three Conſiderations to provoke unto thankfulneſs for grace received.
Conſid. 1. The danger we were all expoſed unto by the breach of the firſt Covenant, 143, 144.
From hence is inferred, That the neceſſity of ſinfull man required, that Chriſt ſhould dye, ibid.
1. Becauſe man is under the firſt Covenant, as he hath his ſtanding in the firſt Adam, ibid.
2. Becauſe man in a ſtate of nature is under ſuch weakneſs and impotency, which renders a perfect obedience unto the Law of works, impoſſible unto him, 145
3. Becauſe, as man ſtands in the first Adam, and in the firſt Covenant, he is a Childe of wrath, ibid. 146
1. This ſhews the Saints, how little they are beholding to old Adam, for their ſpiritual comeforts and attainments, 147
2. This ſhews us, That eternal life is the free gift of God by Jeſus Christ, 148, 149 Ten ſhort conſiderations to prove this, 150
3. This confuteth that opinion, which advanceth corrupt nature into the throne, and makes it, at leaſt, co-partner with Chriſt, in the great work of Salvation. 150
4. This ſhews the dangerous eſtate of all men, whileſt in a ſtate of nature and unregeneracy, 152, 153
Conſid. 2. Conſider, what ſad diſtractions the ſenſe of this danger brought forth in you at your firſt awakening, 154, 155
Conſid. 3. Conſider, how welcome and unexſpected grace, and the good news of a Saviour were unto you in thoſe bitter agonies, ib. 156, 157,
Hoſea 6.1, 2, 3. opened, 158, 159
From whence we may draw this Inference, That the ſence of recovering and relieving Grace, is of excellent advantage to a Chriſtian, 160
The truth whereof is evinced in 3 particulars.
1. It makes him live beſt to God, ibid.
2. It makes him live beſt to himſelf, ibid.
3. It makes him live beſt to others, ibid.
That he will live beſt to God, appears,
1. Becauſe he will live moſt by faith upon God, 161
2. becauſe his heart will be drawn out more in love unto God, 162, 163
3. Becauſe he will live most in thankfulneſs unto God, 164, 165
Pſalm. 103.1, 2, 3. ſpoken to, ibid.
4. Becauſe he will live moſt to the glory of God, 166, 167
2. That he will live beſt to himſelf, is evinced, 168, 169,
1. Becauſe he will live moſt off from ſin,
1 Cor. 6.13, 14, 15. urged. 170, 171
2. Becauſe his heart will be more fixed for God, 172, 173
Some Obſervations ſuiteable to our times drawn from Ezek. 34.5, 6.174, 175, 176
3. Becauſe he will live beſt to his own comfort. 1. In Prayer. 2. In Hearing. 3. In receiving the Sacrament, 177, 178, 179, 180
4. This will give him comefort in every estate, 181
1. In breaking afflictions from God, ib.
2. In battering temptations from Sathan, 182
1 Pet. 5.10, 11. opened in five Particulars. 183
3. In the ſenſe of approaching death in 2 Particulars, 184
1. It prevents a two-fold diſtemper, an overmuch hoping for life, and an overmuch fearing of death 185
2. It fills the ſoul with raviſhing comefort, under the aſſurance of a bleſſed eternity. 186
3. A ſober and ſerious Conſideration of grace received, will make a Saint live beſt to others, 187
1. By encouraging young Converts, 188, 189
2. By ſupporting weak believers, 190, 191
3. By way of comfort unto others, 192
1. In the black day of Perſecution, in Three Particnlars, ibid. 193, 194
2. In the ſad hour of temptation, 195
Job 2.7. ibid.
3. In the dark day of ſpiritual diſſertion, 199, 200, 201, 202,
4. In the bewailed want of the ſpirits witneſs to Sonſhip and Adoption, ib. 203, 204, 205
4. By way of advancing Religion in the place where he lives, 206
The Saints are the beſt neighbours, 207
1. In communicating to the outward wants of the poor, ibid.
2. In procuring the bleſſings of God upon the Families and places where they live, ibid.
3. In diverting or delaying of Judgements impending, 208
4. In lengthening out the day of Gods Patience to the prophane world, 209
5. In promoting the Converſion of their carnall neighbours. 210
Conſiderations to ſtirr up Saints to endeavour the Converſion of ſinners, 211, 112, 213, 214
Conſid. 1. It is a matter of great well-pleaſingneſs unto God, 215
Conſid. 2. It is an honour to Jeſus Chriſt, 216
Conſid. 3. The Providences of God which have gone over the Nation, ib. 217
Conſid. 4. That we ought to do unto others what we would have others do unto us, 218, 219
Conſid. 5. That what your carnal neighbours are, you were, 220
Conſid. 6. That it is a piece of good friendſhip to your ſelves, 221
1. It is an high point of ſpiritual good huſbandry, ibid.
2. It makes much for your perſonall ſafety, ibid.
3. It makes much for your perſonall comfort, 222
4. It layes a good foundation for posterity, 223, 224
5. It hath a tendency towards your everlaſting comfort 225
Prov. 7.30. compared with, Dan. 123. 126.
Six poſitions laid down, 127
Conſid. 7. That bad men are very active and induſtrious to gain over others to their bad Principles, and worſe Practiſes, 229
Proverbs 1.10, 11. opened in ſome particulars 129, 230, 231
The 4 Ʋſe, by way of comfort and encouragement, in 4 caſes,
1. When Church-affairs do meet with a dark and gloomy day 232, 233, 234
2. When the Saints are under ſufferings for the name, and in the cauſe of Christ. 235, 236
Some further grounds of comfort offered. 237
1. That God will ſtand by you in the day of your ſuffering, becauſe your ſufferings are upon you for God, ibid.
2. That the ſpirits of all the faithfull will be up in prayer for you, 238, 239
3. That God doth many times ſo moderate and allay the fury of men, that it extends not to the taking away of life, 241, 242
4. That your death will be life from the dead to others in a ſpirituall ſenſe 243, 244, 245, 246
5. That 'tis an honourable advancement to be ſingled out by Christ to ſuffer for him, 247, 248
3. When you are under ſore and ſharp temptations from the wicked one, 249, 250
1 Cor. 1.30. opened, 251, 252, 253, 254
4. When you are under castings down, from a fear of your eternall welfare, 255, 256
The laſt Ʋſe, of Reproof.
1. The profane and carnal world are reproved in 3 Particulars, 257
1. For their uncharitable cenſuring of ſuffering Saints, ibid.
2. For their unjuſt charge of hypocriſie upon them, 258
Job. 8.6, 7. opened, 259, 260
3. For that definitive ſentence, which they paſs upon ſuffering Saints, as though they were caſt of by God, 261
Iſa. 49.14. opened, 262
Jer. 37.20. opened, 263
2. This reproves thoſe, who ſtrengthen themſelves with the arme of fleſh, and lean upon the creature, when afflictions overtake them, 264, 265
3. This reprooves thoſe, who will not wait the Lords time, but diſcover Impaciency, if helps come not at their own time, 266
The evil fruits of impaciency, 267
1. Ʋnbelief, 268
2. Diſcontented murmurings, ibid.
3. Ʋſe of unlawfull means, 269
Pſalme 78.41. opened, ibid.
4. This drawes up a charge againſt thoſe that retain not a remembrance of the great mercies of God toward them, neither give him the glory of them, 270
Hoſea 13.5, 6. opened 271
5. Thoſe are reproved who do not live up to the ſignal preſervation they have received from the Lord. 272, 273, 274.