CONTENTS

OF

THE EIGHTH VOLUME.

DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS

TO A SOUND CONVERSION.

PAGE

PREFACE

Considerations to provoke men to take heed of sticking in a

half-conversion..

Direct. 1. Labour for a right understanding of the true nature
of Christianity, and meaning of the Gospel that must con-

vert

Direct. 2. When you understand that which you are called to,

search the Scripture, and see whether it be so

Direct. 3. Be much in the serious consideration of the truths

which you understand and believe...

Seven things to be considered

The manner of this consideration

Twelve motives to consideration

Direct. 4. See that the work of humiliation be thoroughly done,

and break not away from the spirit of contrition before he

have done with you: and yet see that you mistake not the

nature and ends of the work, and that you drive it not on

further than God requireth..

....

Preparatory humiliation, what

Sound humiliation, how known.

The ends and use of humiliation

Mistakes about humiliation to be avoided

Whether it be possible to be too much humbled

How to know when sorrow should be restrained

And when sorrow must be increased

Motives for submission to a thorough humiliation

Direct. 5. Close with the Lord Jesus understandingly, heartily,

and entirely, as he is revealed and offered in the Gospel..

PAGE

What must be understood of the person of Christ

95

The ends of redemption to be understood..

96

The demonstrations of the glory of God in Christ, and to whom

108

What are the works of redemption that Christ hath done . . . .

113

The benefits by Christ procured:

The general benefits..

117

The benefits proper to believers

120

The several terms on which the several benefits are conveyed

The certainty of all this....

128

131

132

137

....

144

How Christ must be received heartily and with the will

Christ must be entirely received, and how

Direct. 6. See that the flesh be thoroughly mortified, and your

hearts taken off the pleasures, profits, and honours of the

world, and think not of reconciling God and the world, as

if you might secure your interest in both ....

Direct. 7. Be sure that you make an absolute resignation of

yourselves, and all that you have to God

Direct. 8. See that you mistake not a mere change of your

opinions, and profession, and behaviour for a saving change 155

The marks by which a sound conversion may be known from

a mere opinionative change..

Directions to get beyond an opinionative change

Direct. 9. Acquaint yourselves by faith with the glory of the

everlasting kingdom, and see that you take it for your por-

tion and your end, and from thence let the rest of your ac-

tions be animated . . . .

Wherein this blessedness doth consist

Direct. 10. Rest not, and count not yourselves converted, till

God and holiness have your very love, desire, and delight :

and take it not for a saving change, when you had rather

live a worldly and ungodly life, if it were not for the fears of

punishment

.....

:

Direct. 11. If you would not have the work miscarry, turn

then this present day and hour without any more delays

where fifty considerations are given to shame men out of

their delays

....

Direct. 12. Stop not in weak and wavering purposes, and

faint attempts; but see that you be groundedly, unreser-

vedly, and firmly or habitually resolved

What resolution is, and by what deliberations it is caused.
The preparatory common acts, and the special acts: illu-
mination, and the will's determinations, how wrought

The unresolved are unconverted

147

158

166

169

171

173

181

209

Two Directions for prosecuting resolution, that it may hold

The Conclusion

.... 265

The text opened. What it is to receive Christ. The nature
of justifying faith in its three essential acts. How to know
that we have received Christ. What it is to walk in him.
What to be rooted, to be grounded, and built up, &c.

The Doctrine of the necessity of weak Christians seeking sta-

bility, confirmation, and increase of grace. What confir-

mation is, in the understanding, will, affections, and in the

life

Twenty Motives to convince weak Christians of the great
need of growth and confirmation

A Lamentation for the weaknesses of Christians: in their

knowledge, in their practice, in public worship, in inward

grace, in outward obedience, about known duties, confes-

sion, reproof, &c. their uncharitableness, backbiting,

pride, &c.

...

271

275

300

Ten more considerations to convince them that it is not tri-

fling, but great things which God requireth at their hands. 307

Twenty Directions for confirmation and increase of

grace

321

The Characters of a strong, confirmed Christian.

1. He liveth by such a faith of unseen things as governeth

his soul instead of sight.

382

2. He hath cogent reasons for his religion

384

3. He seeth the well-ordered frame of sacred verities, and the
integral parts in their harmony or concert; and setteth not
up one truth against another

4. He adhereth to them, and practiseth them, from an inward
con-natural principle, called "the Divine nature," and
"the Spirit of Christ."

5. He serveth not God for fear only, but for love

6. He loveth God, 1. Much for his goodness to himself. 2.

And more for his goodness to the church. 3. And most of

all or his essential goodness and perfection.

386

387

388

390

7. He taketh this love and its expressions, for the heart and

height of all his religion.

8. He hath absolutely put his soul, and all his hopes into the

hand of Christ, and liveth by faith upon him as his Saviour

9. He taketh Christ as the Teacher sent from God, and his

doctrine for the truest wisdom, and learneth of none but in

subordination to him

10. His repentance is universal and effectual, and hath

to the root of every sin

gone

PAGE

392

393

394

396

11. He loveth the light, as it sheweth him his sin and duty;

and is willing to know the worst of sin, and the most of duty 397

12. He desireth the highest degree of holiness, and hath no

sin which he had not rather leave than keep, and had ra-

ther be the best, though in poverty, than the greatest in

prosperity

399

13. He liveth upon God and heaven as the end, reward, and

motive of his life

401.

405

14. He counteth no cost or pains too great for the obtaining

it, and hath nothing so dear which he cannot part with for it 402

15. He is daily exercised in the practice of self-denial, as

(next to the love of God) the second half of his religion •

16. He hath mortified his fleshly desires, and so far mastereth

his senses and appetite, that they make not his obedience

very uneasy or uneven.

408.

17. He preferreth the means of his holiness and happiness,

incomparably before all provisions and pleasures of the flesh 410

18. He is crucified to the world, and the world to him by the

cross of Christ, and contemneth it through the belief of the

greater things of the life to come

411

19. He foreseeth the end in all his ways, and judgeth of all

things as they will appear at last

413

20. He liveth upon God alone, and is content with his favour

and approbation, without the approbation and favour of men

21. He hath absolutely devoted himself, and all that he hath

to God, to be used according to his will.

415

22. He hath a readiness to obey, and a quick and pleasant

compliance of his will to the will of God

417

419

23. He delighteth himself more in God, and heaven, and

Christ, and holiness, than in all the world: religion is not

tedious and grievous to him. .

420

24. He is conscious of his own sincerity, and assured of his

justification, and title to everlasting joys.

424

425

25. This assurance doth not make him more careless and re-

miss, but increaseth his love and holy diligence

26. Yet he abhorreth pride as the firstborn of the devil, and is

very low and vile in his own eyes, and can easily endure to

be low and vile in the eyes of others

27. Being acquainted with the deceitfulness of the heart,

and the methods of temptation, he liveth as among snares,

and enemies, and dangers, in a constant watch; and can

conquer many and subtle, and great temptations (through

grace).

426

428