The Signs of the Wicked Man, Title page – Table of contents
THE SIGNES OF THE WICKED MAN.
Together with Directions that ſhew how the ſeuerall Gifts and Graces of Gods Spirit may be attained.
NEEDFVLL For ſuch as want thoſe Graces, and for ſuch as deſire to increaſe in them.
By N. BIFIELD, Preacher of Gods Word at Iſleworth in Middleſex.
LONDON, Printed by GEORGE PVRSLOVV for RALPH ROVNTHVVAITE, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the Flower de-luce and Crowne in Pauls Church-yard.
1619.
TO THE MVCH Honoured Lady: the Lady BRIDGET TRACY, NICHOLAS BIFIELD wiſheth all proſperity in the things of the Kingdome of CHRIST.
MADAM,
BEING deſtitute of a better gift to beſtow vponupon your Ladiſhip, to teſtifie my thankefulneſſe or obſeruance, I preſent this little Treatiſe vntounto you. It may hauehave more vſe then it ſhewes for: for if things ſhine more cleerely when their contraries are ſet by them; then may this deſcription of the eſtate of a wicked man by Signes, ſerue much to eſtabliſh the godly in the point of Aſſurance, when hee ſeeth himſelfe freed from thoſe fearefull & forlorne marks. And if men vſe to make much of all thoſe directions by which any gaine or treaſure may be certainely compaſſed: then ought the Directions not to bee deſpiſed, that ſhew how the Spirit of God, and the graces thereof may bee attained:
For by theſe directions, both thoſe that want the true graces of Chriſt, may here learne how to get them, and ſuch as hauehave them but in weake meaſure, may by the ſame Rules learne how to increaſe them.
I hauehave been induced to thinke of your Ladiſhip in this Dedication, partly in acknowledgement of the great reſpect due to the Family out of which you came, as it hath beene a principall meanes of cauſing the light of the Goſpell for many yeares to ſhine in thoſe places where the people had ſitten in darkeneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death: And partly drawne by the many prayſes I hauehave obſerued in your Ladiſhip, ſince the time of your ſoiourning in the noble Family you now liue in: Your great reſpect of my Miniſtery, and your conſtant paines to employ your ſelfe about Religious duties, deſerue from mee more acknowledgement then ſo meane a gift as this can diſcharge. Madam, you are happy aboue many, that GOD hath inclined your heart to beare the yoke of Chriſt in your youth, and diſcerne the glory of the ſpirituall Kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt. Your meekeneſſe aſſures me liberty to beſeech you to goe on in the good way of God, and to cleaue faſt with all hearty affection vntounto the Truth, as you hauehave learned Ieſus Chriſt, It ſhall be a great increaſe of your glory, to increaſe in the knowledge and grace of Chriſt, and (in ſound denyall of your ſelfe, and contempt of the world) to faſhion your ſelfe to all the courſes by which you may be pleaſing in the eyes of God, whiles multitudes in the Gentry of the Land of both Sexes, by following fooliſh vanities, forſake their owne mercy.
Now the God of peace ſanctifie you throughout, and ſo proſper his owne worke in you, that your whole ſpirit, and ſoule and body may bee preſerued blameleſſe vntounto the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, March. 9. 1618.
Your Ladiſhips to bee commanded in Chriſt Ieſus, N. BIFIELD.
The Contents.
THE Preface, ſhewing the neceſsity of the tryall of mans eſtate, and the cauſes why wicked men will not try themſelues; and alſo why diuers godly perſons are negligent herein, page 1. to 18.
CHAP. I. THirty ſignes of an open wicked man. p. 18. to 33
CHAP. II. THirteene ſignes of an Hypocrite. p. 33. to 40
CHAP. III. SIxteene Signes of ſuch Profeſſors as are likely to fall away. p. 40. to 47
CHAP. IIII. SEVEN Arguments of hope, that ſhew a wicked man that hee may bee ſaued, if he will be directed. p. 47. to 52
CHAP. V. HOw hee may get faith. p. 53. to 59
CHAP. VI.
HOw hee may get to bee poore in ſpirit. p. 59 to 68
How hee may attaine godly ſorrow. p. 68. to 77
CHAP. VII. HOw the Spirit of Adoption may be had. pa. 78. to 81
How hee may get a louelove to the Word. p. 81. to 86
How he may get the gift of prayer. p. 86. to 94
How hee may attaine to the feare of God. P. 94. to 95
How he may be made to louelove his enemies. p. 96. to 99
CHAP. VIII.
HOw ſauing knowledge may bee gotten and increaſed. p. 99. to 102
How the louelove of God may be wrought in vsus. p. 102. to 106
How the louelove of the godly may bee attained, and how it may bee preſerued. pag. 106. to 111
CHAP. IX. HOw vprightneſſe and ſound ſincerity of conuerſation may bee attained. p. 111. to the end.