The Confirming Work of Religion, Table of contents
The CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. The primitive confirmation, held forth and cleared in ſeven Poſitions.
POSIT. I. That ſad aſpect, which the implicit and traditional profeſſion of this day hath upon the preſent ſtate of religion. Pag. 1
POSIT. II. The greatneſſe of that ſervice for the Church to have a clear founding of the faith of aſſent, upon known and ſolid grounds herein, more univerſally promott. Pag. 3
POSIT. III. The true primitive confirmation as it was in the times of the Apoſtles, hold forth and cleared from the Scripture. Pag. 6
POSIT. IV. The continued neceſſity therof, no leſſe convincing now, for the Churches uſe, then in theſe Primitive times. Pag. 9
POSIT. V. That ſuch a confirmatory worke reſpects not only the more knowing and inquiſitive part of men, but the meaneſt within the Church. Pag. 11
POSIT. VI. VVhat is ſpecially called for in the practicall uſe of this primitive confirmation, held forth in ſome ſerious propoſals for this end. Pag. 14
POSIT. VII. VVhat ſpecial excitment we are under, for promotting the ſame in ſo remarkable a period of time as this, and from that hope of a greater reviving yet of ſuch a Catholick ſpirit, to advance the higheſt ends of religion amonghſt men. Pag. 19
CHAPTER II. For giving ſome clear view, of theſe primary evidences and demonſtrations of our faith, that the meaneſt Chriſtian should know, and vvith the leaſt expenſe of time may improve for their dayly uſe, on theſe greateſt principles.
SECTION I.
I. Of the glorious being of God, which is the firſt foundation of all religion. Pag. 22
II. Of the original of the world, and its not being eternal. Pag. 25
III. Of a ſupreme providence in the conſervation and goverment of the world. Pag. 26
IV. Of that ſpecial providence, which in its continued adminiſtration about human affaires, doth unchangably difference betwixt the righteus and the wicked. Pag. 29
V. How ſuch a wonderful record as that of an immediat revelation of God unto men, is ſo demonſtrably extant in the world. Pag. 31
VI. Of theſe ſpecial evidences of the Scriptures divinity, which men muſt needs ſee to be infallible. Pag. 33
VII. Of the ſecure convoyance of the Scripture through all the changes of times paſt. Pag. 35
VIII. Of the fall of man and entry of ſin into the world, as it is fully demonſtrable to reaſon, as well as by the certainty of faith. Pag. 37
SECTION II.
I. Holding fort theſe great aſſiſtances to the Chriſtian faith, and of the Meſſias being ſurely promiſed to the Church before his coming. Pag. 38
II. Of the truth and accomplishment of this great promiſe of the Meſſias, and how it is now as ſure in the event as its clear he was promiſed. Pag. 39
III. Of that ſpecial advantage for confirmation of our faith herein, that for 4000. years the promiſed coming of the Meſſias was deferred. Pag. 41, 42
IV. Of the nature and internal excellency of Chriſtianity, to bear furtheſt evidence to the truth therof. Pag. 43
V. That this is the ſame Goſpel we now receive and injoy, which from the firſt promulgation therof hath had ſo great effects on the world. Pag. 45
VI. That the ſufferings of the ſaints in times paſt was ſo demonſtrably above the aſſiſtance of nature. Pag. 46
SECTION III.
I. For holding forth on what grounds the faith of a deity muſt determine men to be Chriſtians. Pag. 48
II. What confirmations the Chriſtian Religion hath from that viſible ſtate of the Jews. Pag. 49
III. That way and manner of its prevailing on the world, as no profeſſion elſe could ever pretend to. Pag. 51
IV. The nature of that great evidence, which Chriſt hath himſelf given to the world of his divine miſſion in the love and unity of his people, Joh. 17: 21. Pag. 53
V. How the ſtrenth of ſuch a demonſtration ſtands ſtill clear and evident in theſe dividing times of the Church. Pag. 54
VI. What in theſe laſt times is under our hand to compenſe ſuch a confirmation by miracles, which was in the firſt times of the Goſpel. Pag. 56
SECTION IV.
I. For holding forth with the furtheſt rational certainty, and evidence the truth and doctrine of Chriſt, to be a ſoul-quicking and experimental religion. Pag. 58
II. The truth alſo of converſion of men from a ſtate of nature to a new ſtate of grace. Pag. 60
III. Of ſo great an experiment of religion as Communion betwixt God and men here in the earth. Pag. 62
IV. Of ſo great a demonſtration of religion in the power and workings of the Conſcience. Pag. 64
V. Of that ſpecial confirmation to our faith, which doth reſult from ſuch a demonſtration of this power of the Conſcience over men. Pag. 65
SECTION V.
I. For holding forth the truth of a Kingdom of darkneſſe in the world, in oppoſition to the Kingdom of Chriſt. Pag. 66, 67
II. What confirmation to our faith, the certainty hereof, and of theſe powers of darkneſſe, doth clearly afford. Pag. 68
III. That great truth of the immortality of the ſoul, with the cleareſt evidence to reaſon, as well as by the certainty of faith. Pag. 69, 70
IV. How confirming a ſeal to the Scripture that great change which paſſeth on all men by death is, and how its no natural accident. Pag. 72
V. Some ſpecial aſſiſtances to the Chriſtians faith of an eternal glory in heaven, and to ſerve an unavoidable conviction thus on the greateſt Atheiſts. Pag. 74
VI. Some thing of a viſible Hell, in ſome near approach hereof even to mens ſenſes, held forth to awake and convince the world of ſuch a ſtate of horrour and torment in another world. Pag. 77
VII. Some aſſiſtances to our faith of that great truth of the Reſurrection of the body. Pag. 79
CHAPTER III. The Confirming vvorke of religion further improven vvith reſpect to this diſmal and amazing time vve are novv fallen in.
SECTION I. To hold forth what may be both for light and confirmation upon this great diſtreſſe the Churches of Chriſt are now under. Pag. 81, 82
SECTION II. How great a talent we ſtand accountable for in this day of ſuch immediate and extraordinare appearences of the Lord for confirming the ſame publick cauſe of the Reformed Church ſince the Reformation, which we are now called to adhere to. Pag. 84
SECTION III. What manner of time is the preſent lot of the Church now fallen in, and what judgment we ought to have hereof from the Scripture, for our furtheſt confirming in ſuch a day. Pag. 93
SECTION IV. Some ſpecial ſervice that we are now called to, and accountable for, in behalf of the truth, and for ſanctifying the Lord in the eyes of others, who are under ſo great a talent of light and confirmation in the ſame. Pag. 99
FINIS.