34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth about those that fear him Oh how many preservations how many Providences do we constantly receive and never take any notice of Thirdly Gods Providential Preservation is two-fold either General which extends to all creatures or special and Particular that reacheth in a peculiar manner to the godly The general Preservation is in respect even of Beasts themselves Therefore Psal 36 6. David takes notice of Gods hand that preserveth man and beast Hence Mat 6. A sparrow so inconsiderable a Bird yet doth not fall to the ground without Providence It hath indeed been the Opinion of some yea some Fathers That the Providence of God doth not extend to minute and particular things But the Scripture is clear in this So that the least fly cannot move it self or the worm creep without Gods Providence It 's God then that preserveth the irrational creatures and that without any derogation to his Majesty for he cannot but do it because of his supream Perfection But then for the Preservation of man especially of Believers there his care is more singular and peculiar In this sense some expound that place The Saviour of all men especially those that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 Gods care to his people is notably discovered by our Saviours expression Luk. 21.18 where he saith Not one hair of our head shall fall to the ground Compared with Mat. 10.30 The very hairs are numbered So then the least danger cannot befall us without the Providence of our heavenly Father Fourthly Hence it is that all the dangers yea and death it self comes by Gods appointment No sooner or later nor no other waies then he hath decreed Thus David comforted himself that though his enemies plotted against him yet his times were in Gods hand and to God do belong the issues of death Psal 68.20 So that it lyeth not in the power of all thy enemies to kill thee when they will David did often acknowledge this That it was God who did preserve him in all his trouble For you must know that this is a truth in Divinity howsoever Arminians and others have arraigned it for false-hood That God hath set the term of a mans life immoveable beyond which he cannot live and to which he shall attain As also All the means bringing it about Even those things that seem to be the most casual and accidental Job speaks this truth evidently Chap. 14.5 God had appointed his moneths and his daies so that he cannot passe the bounâ—s Yet this is not to be understood as if hereby a fatal necessity were introduced that if he be sick he need not use Physick to prolong life Not upon that ground which the Stoick said Si fatale est ut convalescat fatale etiam est ut medicum adhibeat If it be the destiny to be well it will be the destiny to call for the Physician but because Gods Decree doth include in it the meanes So that we must say God hath appointed in the use of meanes to prolong such a mans life viz. Hezekiah's nineteen years longer It 's true the Scripture saith The wicked shall not live out half their daies but that is in respect of their hopes and expectations as also in respect of the ordinary course of nature Many men by their wickednesse do shorten their daies in respect of second causes Therefore do not sinfully fear this or that will kill thee for thy times are in Gods hand and he hath appointed the period of any godly mans life in much mercy because they have done their work and to preserve them from great evils to come These things premised let us consider the several waies by which God preserveth his people in safety And one remarkeable way is By restraining and keeping them from such counsels or actions that may bring death and danger Do we not see rashnesse especially drunkennesse and other vices which make men bold are the cause of many a mans death God therefore keeps his people in a sober and wel-advised way Why is it said That wicked men shall not live out half their daies but that the ungodlinesse of men doth bring them to untimely deaths Yea we read of that good King Josiah whose death was so much lamented that he brought it upon him by rashnesse and foolish temerity for he would unnecessarily go and fight with Pharaoh King of Necho and though he was so seriously advised to the contrary yet he would adventure to his ruine 2 Chron. 35. David himself by his own unbelief and sinne did bring himself into danger And in the matter of Achish when he was forced to feign himself mad but alwaies while he was in Gods way every thing prospered with him Therefore Gods mercy is especially seen to the godly in that he makes them keep within their calling and bounds and that is a safe way If you observe you shall find the greatest dangers befall men out of their Calling They go beyond their bounds and then they smart for it The Bird is safest while she is on her Nest Therefore when the Devil tempted our Saviour to throw himself down the Pinacle of the Temple he answered Thou shalt not tempt God Mat. 4 7. The Devil left out that passage Thou wilt keep him in all his waies A man must be in his Calling and doing his duty It 's true indâ—ed God for wise and just ends may bring suddain exercises upon his own people while doing their duty And God doth not alwaies keep them in safety violent death and other dangers have befallen them as well as the wicked but even then God doth order those passages for their good Secondly God preserveth them from those casual and accidental evils which arise so unexpectedly that no mans wisdome can prevent them God hath the supreme ordering and governing of all things even those things that we judge the greatest casualty and chance they are wisely determined by God In that passage where a man is supposed to be cutting of a tree with an Axe and the â—elve fall of and kill a man that accident is said to come from God and he is said to give such a man into his hand Exod. 21.13 compared with Deut. 19 5. Now consider how many thousand casualties happen in the world of killing of men of Houses and Towns burnt and herein we must acknowledg the goodnesse of God to us for that which hath befallen another might as well befall thee but that God prevents it Thirdly God preserveth wonderfully in changing and altering or working upon the hâ—aâ—ts of man so that though otherwise they would yet God so binds up their hearts that theâ— shall not do thee any mischief Did not Saul for many years together study to take away David's life yet he could not do it Was not Esau also purposed to kill Jacob yet God wholly changed his heart and that when he had a fair opportunity And how remarkeable is that passage of Jehoshaphat who
or The Agreement of the Associated Ministers of Worcestershire with Mr Baxters Explication of it A Defence of the Worcestershire Petition for the Ministry and Maintenance The Quakers Catechism An Apology against Mr Blake Dr Kendal Mr Lodovicus Molineus Mr Aires and Mr Crandon His Confession of Faith The Saints Everlasting rest The safe Religion a piece against Popery His present Thoughts about Perseverance Mr Lukin The Practice of Godliness Mr Langly His Catechism A Treatise of Suspension Dr Teate His Sermon at the Funeral of Sr Charles Coote Mr Dury The desires of forrain Divines of a Body of Divinity from English Divines with an Essay of a Modell Lib. 2. de Gener. cap. 10 Observ In what respects Ignorance is an impediment to the Ministers preaching What precious truths in Divinity the sinfulnesse of a people make them uncapable of Carnal The several significations it hath in Scripture Primitive Christians distinguished What it is to be a spiritual man Carnal or babes described and counselled The Ministers two-fold Work What wisdome is required in a Minister to choose out sound matter 1. For Information 2. For Consolation 3. For Reproof Reas 1. Reas 2. Reas 3. Observ Considerations abouâ— the principles of Religion and the knowledge and ignorance of them How necessary the Knowledge of the Principles of Religion is Observ What are those effects of the Ministry for the defect whereof a people may be severely blamed 1. Intellectual effects 2. Practical Effects Observ The imperfections and sins of the godly Whence it is that the godly do not fully conquer sin Envy its several acceptians Of sinfull Envy It s Original The Degrees of it What that is in others which is the Object of Envy The subject of Envy Who are prone to it The Aggravations of Envy Remedies aginst Envy A Case resolved The difference between Envy and zeal Observ Of strife and contention Godlinesse the only motive of love and agreement The agreement among the ungodly A two-fold striving I. Good II. Ungodly and that about a two-fold object 1. Civil The cause of sinfull strife and contention The effects of sinful strife and contention about worldly things The effects of sinfull strife about religious matters The aggravations of this sin Of Schisms and Divisions Observ Divisions divided 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical What it is that goes to the making of division or faction The causes of Divisions 1 Tim. 6.5 A Christian life must exceed a humane life What is implied in this phrase To live as men Observ Wherein the spiritual respect due to the Ministers of the Gospel doth consist Wherein our respect to the Ministers of the Gospel may run out into sinfull admiration Motives to give spiritual respect to the Ministery Quest Answ Observ Of being called by the Names of eminent men in the Church The Names that Christians have been called by Disciples Believers Whence the name Protestant came What great use the Devil makes of the names and esteem of men What is the common and most notorious way of Satans doing hurt to the Church of God 1. By corrupting the lives and conversations of the Ministry Tit. 1.7 2. By raising up Ministers full of superstition and doting upon traditions 3. By raising up all the power civil and ecclesiastical against the Church 4. By causing men to give them too much honour How the devil hurts the Church by godly men 1. When he tempts them away into any errour 2. Evil practicâ—â— 3. Setting them up too high 1 John 4.1 Observ Of a sinfull setting up of Christ There are principal and efficient Causes of grace and subordinate and instrumental The cheif instituted instrumental causes of Grace The end of faithfull Ministers is not to win people to themselves but to Christ A twofold end of Preaching the Word A corrupt end A good end Characters of that Ministry that seeks not you to applaud them but to bring you to Christ Reasons why a faithfull Ministry doth thus The Ministry is the appointed means to work Faith and all other Graces in the Hearers How it is not an Instrumental Cause How it is a Cause The Properties of this instrumental Cause Observ Of Faith The nature of faith It consists in three Acts. 1. Knowledge 2. Assent 3. A resting on Christ The Effects of faith ad intra Ad extra Of diversity of Gifts in Ministry 1. The Office it self is a Gift to the Church 2. Their severall Abilities and various Parts that Officers in the Church have while they discharge their Office 2. And these are of two sorts 1. Extraordinary Why all have not the same Gifts Rules or Helps to profit by the Ministry Observ Of Gods planting his Gospel among a people Observ Wherein this spiritual watering or further quickning of Christians doth consist 1 Cor. 15. ult Why there is such daily need of these quickening graces God only gives success to the Gospel God works in and by the Ministery God works on whom and when he will Why God only gives the encrease What we must do that God may give the increase Wherein God giveth the Increase Why God only can give the increase John 11. Qu. What means must we use that God may give this increase Observa What the Apostle doth not mean in saying The Ministry is nothing Rom. 10.16.21 Directions how to hear the Word Observ Ministers should agre in one They should agree in Doctrine 2. In their end and scope 3. In Affection The sad effects of dis union in the Church What people shâ—uld do when Ministers and Professors are divided Of Reward and Merit Observ Of Degrees of Glory All persons have work to do for God There is a two-fold doing of good works What it is to do a good work which God will accept and reward A lawfull self-seeking Mat. 6. The reward of godliness two-fold Wherein lieâ—h the reward of working for God 1. In this life 2. In the life to come The greatness of the heavenly reward The vast disproportion that is between the work and the reward Observ Of the Ministers being workers with God Why God wiâ—l work by the Ministry of men Observ The people of God are his husbandry and building What our being Gods husbandry and building joyntly considered implies What to be Gods Husbandry implies 1. On Gods part 2. On oâ—â— part Of Gods house What Gods building and our being his house implieth Observ Of exalting free grace The Properties of praising Gods grace Why the godly are so sensible of Gods grace What Opinions are Coâ—â—ers of this duty of giving thanks to free-grace Observ Of laying a good and sure foundation in Religion A two-fold foundation The Scripture and Christ Four unquestionable Scripture foundations The Scripture is the only foundation of our faith Reas 1. Reas 2. Four rotten weak and false foundations 1. The Authority of the Church 2. The Authority of the Civil Magistrate 3. Enthusiasm 4. Meer humane Reason The foundation of Gods Worship The necessity of
Divisions are ye not carnal 25 Envy its several acceptations ibid. Observ That envying wheresoever it is is a fruit of the Flesh and such a sinne that a godly man should especially watch against ibid. Envy It s Original Degrees Object Subject Aggravations Remedies 26 The difference between Envy and Zeal 32 For whereas there is among you strife 33 Observ That strifes and quarrelling contentions amongst Christians argue them to be so farre carnal ibid. Sinfull strife Its Cause Effects Aggravations 34 Whereas there is divisions among you p. 37 Observ That divisions and factions do quickly creep into the best and purest Churches 38 Divisions divided their Nature Causes 39 Are ye not carnal and walk as men 42 As man its several significations ibid. Observ That all those who are named Christians and would be accounted so should walk and live as those that are more than meer men ibid. What the phrase to live as men implieth 43 Verse 4. For whereas one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnal 45 Observ That although it 's the duty of People to have a great and high esteem of the Ministers of the Gospel yet they are not sinfully and inordinately to admire or rest meerly upon any mens persons 46 Wherein the respect due to the Ministers of the Gospel doth consist ibid And when it may degenerate into sinfull admiration 48 For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnal 49 Observ That it is not lawfull for Christians to call themselves by the Name of any men though never so Eminent so as to build on them 50 Of the Names that Christians have been called by in several Ages ibid. Observ That when the Devil cannot hurt the Church by a prophane and sinfull Ministry then he labours to destroy it by abusing the names and esteem of those who are truly holy and eminent 54 What are the common wayes of Satans doing hurt to the Church by the Ministers and Officers thereof ibid. And even by eminent godly men 56 1 COR. 1.12 And I of Christ 58 Observ That although Christ only is to be relied upon as the Head of his Church yet it is not his will that under this pretence we should despise or contemn his Ministry and the means of grace he hath appointed 59. Of sinfull setting up of Christ ibid. Of the causes of grace Efficient and Instrumental ibid. Verse 5. Who then is Paul and who is Apollo 62 Observ That faithfull Ministers seek not to win or gain a people to themselves but to Christ 63 A two-fold end of preaching the Word ibid. The Characters of that Ministry that seeks not the peoples applause but to bring them to Christ 64 Who then is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believed 66 Observ That the Ministry in Gods Church is the Means and instrumental Cause he hath appointed to work Faith and all other Graces in the Hearers 67 How the Ministry is not an instrumental cause of grace and how it is ibid The properties of the Ministry as such a cause 69 Who is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every man 70 Observ That Faith is the great and eminent grace which God by the Ministry works in some Hearers ibid The Nature of Faith It s three Acts Knowledge Assent and a resting on Christ 71 The Effects of faith ad intra 72 Ad extra 73 Even as the Lord gave to every man 74 Observ That God hath given several Gifts and Abilities to the Ministers of the Church and thereby makes use of them all for his glorious ends ibid. Why all Ministers have not the same gifts 76 Rules or Helps to profit by the Ministry 77 Verse 6. I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase 78 Observ That it's Gods unspeakable goodness sometimes to send his Word and plant his Gospel among a people that never heard or knew any thing of it before 79 Apollo watered 82 Observ That it is not enough for a people once to receive the true Faith and principles of Religion but they need a further watering and quickning them up to grow ibid. Wherein this spiritual watering consists 83 And why there is such need of quickning means 84 But God gave the encrease 85 Observ That it's God only who can and will give encrease and spiritual successe to the Ministerial labours in the Church 86 How God works 90 Wherein God giveth the increase ibid. And why he only can 92 Verse 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 93 Observ That the best and most able Ministry is nothing without Gods power giving the increase 94 What the Apostle doth not mean and what he doth mean in saying The Ministry is nothing ibid. Directions how to hear the Word 96 Verse 8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one 97 Observ That although there is diversity and variety in the gifts of the Ministers yet they all ought to agree in one ibid. They should agree in Doctrine in their End and Scope and in Affection 98 The sad effects of dis-union in the Ministers 99 What people should do when Ministers and Professours are divided ibid. And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour 101 Of Reward and Merit 101 105 106 Observ That according to a mans labour and working for God he is sure to have a proportionable reward 102 All have work to do ibid. A two-fold doing of good works ibid. The requisites to such a work as God will accept 103 A lawfull self-seeking 105 Verse 9. For we are labourers together with God 109 Observ That the Ministers of the Gospel are workers with God for the conversion of mens souls So 2 Cor. 6.1 110 Why God will have co-workers ibid. Ye are Gods husbandry ye are Gods building 113 Observ That the people of God are his husbandry and building ibid. What our being Gods husbandry and building joyntly implies ibid. And then what they severally imply 114 Ye are Gods building 117 Doct. That particular Churches are or should be Gods house Gods building ibid Of Gods house or Church ibid. What Gods building and our being his house implieth 118 Verse 10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me c. 121 Observ That it 's the property of godly men in all the good they have or do to attribute all to Gods grace ibid. The Properties of praising Gods grace ibid. Why the godly are so sensible of Gods grace 123 How profitable that duty is ibid. What opinlons are coolers of this duty of giving thanks to free grace 124 As a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation ibid Observ It 's a special part of the wisdom and heavenly art of the Ministers of the Gospel to lay a good and sure
the things of this world yet if foolish in heavenly things that earthly wisdome cannot help thee Say then to thy self Oh foolish and unwise sinner Why do I take this moment of pleasure for an eternity of torment Oh foolish and blind man Why do I let the day of grace and the precious time of salvation passe away Will not this be bitternesse in the later end Verse 19. For the wisdome of this world is foolishnesse with God c. THis Verse is brought in as a Cause or Reason why a man should renounce earthly and worldly wisdome because it 's foolishnesse with God See here the different thoughts of God and man the great admired worldly wisdome among men is but foolishnesse with God and that which God cals true and real wisdome men account foolishnesse but it 's quickly decided whose thoughts shall prevail Gods or mans The words of the Text being a Reason asserted in a Proposition we may consider 1. The Subject 2. The Predicate or Attribute The Subject is The wisdome of this world by that you heard was meant all the knowledge learning and prudence which is attained in this world by meer humane industry This is the choice and most excellent pearl that the world hath if their wisdome be thus folly what then is their folly 2. There is the Attribute It 's foolishnesse with God Though the wise men of this world have written several Books as the Encomium hujus moriae the praise of this folly yet God abhorreth and rejecteth it It is foolishnesse with God who is the only wise God who is only able to judge and discern what things are There are many wise learned men in the world whose naked propositions we do more regard than other mens demonstrations But how much more should we acquiesce in Gods assertions We may justly call all humane wisdome meer foolishnesse because God doth so Now when the wisdome of the world is said to be foolishnesse with God that is to be understood two wayes First Actively it is onely contriving plotting and accomplishing foolish things Secondly Passively God turneth it all to foolishnesse as David prayed God would turn Achitophels counsel into folly 2 Sam. 15.31 And as 1 Cor. 1. He hath chosen foolish things to confound the wise things of the world And this passive sense is a great part of the meaning as appeareth by the two-fold testimony taken out of the Old Testament which are to shew that God doth befool and as easily destroy all the wisdome and counsels of meer worldly men as we blow down the houses of clay that little children make in sport Observe That all the admired wisdome of a meer worldly man is nothing but contemptible folly before God The worlds wise man is Gods fool he whose words and counsels in worldly matters are as Achitophels in his dayes like the oracles of God they are by God turned into meer foolishnesse I shall first begin with that active foolishnesse demonstrating by several particulars That all worldly wisdome is meer folly And First This is abundantly seen in all that Idolatry and superstition which the wisest of men are prone unto and wherein they do greatly applaud themselves What more foolish ridiculous and absurd instances have we of folly then of the Idolatry and superstitious worship that the Oracles of their dayes have decreed The Apostle Rom. 1.21 speaketh excellently to this purpose Professing themselves wise they became fools for their foolish heart was darkned And wherein was this seen In turning the glory of the invisible God into an image of an Ox that eateth hay This doth especially relate to the Aegyptians who boasted of their great wisdome and indeed they were the seminary of learning it 's said to all the world yet who more foolish in their Idolatry than they worshipping an Ox yea Mice and Cats and Crocodiles This also might be demonstrated of the Grecians and Romans while applauded for the wise men of the world How absurd and foolish were they in their worship Insomuch that Socrates was called an Atheist meerly because he derided their many gods and Austin relateth a great deal of excellent discourse which Seneca hath against the Idolatry and Superstition than in use though that Tractate be not now among his Works But these are Heathens and so no wonder if we shall find even in the Church of God when men have followed their humane wisdome in prescribing the worship of God by that they become vain and ridiculous witnesse all that heap of foolish and superstitious Ceremonies which Popery brought into the Church by degrees That as the ridiculous deformity of an Ape lieth in imitating or being like a man and yet not a man So the absurd folly of all that superstitious worship did appear in the affectation of Religion and Devotion when indeed it was not so Now this great folly of Idolatry the Scripture doth often aggravate They have eyes and see not c. And they that make them are like unto them They are even such stupid Idols as their Idols are And what holy derision doth the Prophet Eliah put upon Baals Priests launcing and cutting themselves crying O Baal hear us 1 King 18.26 Especially the Prophet Isaiah describeth this bruitish folly when he telleth us of the workmen that with one peece of wood he makes a fire and with another a god Isa 44.19 If you ask then Wherein the great wisdome of the world is foolishnesse I answer in their Worship in their Religion All the golden Images all the curious ornaments and vestments in worship are but beggarly things if compared with the pure spiritual worship of God Thus when the Galatians apostatized from the pure Gospel-worship of Christ and turned to antiquated Ceremonies he cals them Foolish Galatians Chap. 3.1 We doe not breake Christs command when we call such fooles because it 's not from a causlesse anger but a judicious zeal Secondly Worldly wisdome is meer foolishnesse because such men contrive and plot and think to accomplish all their counsels by their own strength and way Now this is a very foolish and absurd thing for the thoughts of a man are in some respect from man but the ordering and disposing of all things is from God Jer. 10.23 I know Lord it is not in man to order his own way Thus you see Achitophel was a meer fool in the issue And thus the Prophet Isaiah cryeth out The princes of Zoan are fools Isa 19.11 even they that boasted in their wisdome We reade of some Romane Emperours and others that did most foolishly affect a Deity especially Caius Caesar for which some thought him the Antichrist Yea some of the Christian Emperours did affect the attribute of God as Constantius the Arian that denied Eternity to the Sonne of God yet would have men salute him with Aeternitas vestra What blasphemous folly was this for a man who was to be worms meat presently Now in some respects all the great wise
pure Worship because 1. God is greatly provoked by the contrary God may be provoked by sinfull worship three waies 2. Corrupt worship â—ends to the breach of Union between God and his Church 3. God looks upon corrupt worship as done to Devils 4. Men are prone to invent new worship Reasons to prove that all acceptable worship must have a Divine Command Quest Answ Of the foundation of practice The parts are 1. It 's directory Gods Word 2. The justifion of our persons 3. A receiving power from Christ 4. A renewed and sanctified nature Why we should be carefull of laying these foundations for every good action The â—oâ—ten foundations that men build upon in regard of practice Observ Of Ministers praising themselves In what cases Ministers may magnifie their Work and Office Observ Ministers are not to preach any new Doctrine The use of Preaching notwithstanding the fulness of the Scripture Observ Of Ministers building upon the foundation of Scripture by their preaching Gal. 3.15 A two-fold building upon the foundation Both the words of Scripture and the sense of Scripture must be attended unto Why Ministers must take heed how they build upon the true foundation 1. On Gods part 2. On the peoples part 3. On the Ministers part Directions to Ministers and people how to build aright upon the foundation Observ Of preaching Jesus Christ as the foundation How many waies Christ is to be preached as a foundation Reasons why Ministers are to lay no other foundation but Christ Object Answ Object Answ The great advantages which those people have who are built on Christ Observ What is implied by comparing the truths of Christ to gold and precious stones 1. In respect of the matter 2. In respect of the way and manner of preaching them Observ Errors not fundamental are hay and stubble Propositions to amplifie this point Why errors are called hay and stubble Wickedness in practice the fruit of errour in judgement Observ What secret sins shall be brought to light The aggravation of secret hidden sins Observ Hidden and secret wayes of false doctrine shall be made manifest What concerning errours shall be made manifest 1. The causes of errour shall be manifest 1. Pride 2. Ignorance 3. Hypocrisie 4. Ambition and affectation of high places 5. Discontent and imparience 6. Envy 7. Contemplative delight in a mans own notions II. The nature of errour shall be manifested III. The cunning subtilty in divulging them shall be manifested Observ That God hath his time for the discovering of errour Errors are spiritual judgements What is meant by fire The way God takes to bring people out of errour By the word and afflictions Which are both helpfull but differently in these respects How wandering sheep are reduced by the Word Object Answ How afflictions may help to reduce men from errour Observ Of the durable nature of Gods Truths Truth two-fold Increated and Created Created truths of two sorts Scripture truths reduced to four heads Truth willing to be tryed They grow more illustrious by the fiery Tryal The effects of truth also upon the heart will abide this tryal Object Qu. Whether any Ministers or Churches are quite free from building hay or stubble Observ Every man shal be a loser by what error soever he maintaineth Wherein they shall be losers Observ Errours in judgment may damn a man as well as a wicked life The several corruptions of the understanding that endanger a mans salvation The difference between errour and heresie The grounds of the Doctrin Observ The difficulty of salvation even to a godly man The Church is Gods Temple Observ Church Priviledges and Relations are great Obligations to Holinesse How the word Temple is used in Scripture What it doth signifie Of Gods spiritual Temple What there is in the Church alusively to the Temple Of Gods presence with his Church The significa of the word Spirit when attributed to God That the Holy Ghost is God and a Person That he is a Person That he is God Arguments Why the holy Ghost is called Spirit Of the Spirits dwelling in us What to have the Spirit dwell in us implieth The special works and effects of the holy Spirit in his Church Doubt Resolution Observ Of defiling Gods Church with errours Why errors are said to defile Gods Church How God will punish Heretiques A godly maâ—n may fall into a damnable heresie How a godly man erring differeth from a wicked man Errour and erroneous persons distinguished Why God is so provoked with corruptions in Doctrine and Worship Observ Of Eternal Damnation The punishment of losse The pain of sense The aggravations of this destruction Eternal Universal Inevitable Observ Of the Temple of God Of the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple Believers joyned in a Church way according to Scripture are Gods temple Observ Of humane wisdome what an hinderance it is to the things of Christ Carnal wisdom an enemy to the Scripture Carnal wisdom an enemy to Christian duties Observ Humane wisdome nothing to Scripture-wisdome Scripture-wisdome excels speculative wisdome Scripture wisdome excels the moral or practical wisdome of the world Observ True wisdome is but folly in the worlds account The things to be believed have these seeming follies The hope of a Christian foolish in the judgment of the world The duties of Christians foolish in the judgement of the world Observ That true wisdom is only in the Church of God demonstrated Observ All worldly wisdom is folly before God And that whether considered actively or passively I. Active foolishnesse How worldly wisdome is foolishnesse in a passive sense God turning all their wisdome into folly A two-fold humane wisdome viz. good evil Observ How God takes the wise men of the world in their own craft Object Answ Observ Of vain thoughts In what sense the Scripture useth the word vain Observ Of glorying in men How many wayes we may be said to glory in men in the general How many wayes we may be said to glory in Doctors and Teachers Observ All things are the Saints In what respects all things may be said to be the godly mans Why God made all things for the godly Object Answ Object Answ Doubt Answ Object Answ Observ All Offices are for the Church In what sense the Ministers are not servants to the Church against Brownists In what sense they are the Churches The end for which they are the Churches Observ In what sense the world is said to be a godly mans Object Answ Observ Godly men only live In what respects it is true that the wicked do not live Observ The generation of death In how many particulars death is a godly mans Observ Observ Observ In what respects a godly man is Christs Characters of such as are Christs In what sense Christ can be said to be Gods Observ Of the Natures and Person of Christ and of the hypostatical Union How Christ as a man and as a Mediatour is Gods The general Character of the godly and the wicked All good the creature affords should lead us to God the universal good All naturally desire felicity The perswasiâ— of what is the best good and which is chiefly to be desired is wonderfully diversifyed according to the several inclinations humours and conditions of men How hardly this sin is discerned untill a man be enlightned by Gods Spirit All have lost the Image of God which alone did elevate the soul And Original corruption is come in the room of it If the godly man is yet conflicting with this sinne then it must needs reign in an unregenerate man The common gifts and graces of Gods Spirit never cures this evil The point is proved from the nature of Conversion And from the restlesse and unquiet heart of every natural man Their very approaches to God demonstrate that they prefer something before him The creature is unable to help us in our greatest exigencies Immoderate love of the creature is inconsistent with the love of God Is's a wofull snare and temptation The Word is unprofitable to a man while he preferres the creature It is a tormenting sinne All the things thus affected are vanities It 's direct Idolatry It 's a debasing of a man Such as prefer the world before God cannot Pray The heart is too noble for the creature Consider that all that have over-loved the creature have experienced the vanity of it Consider the reâ—sâ—â— why God mingles gall with the Honey of every creature Consider how insufficient they are of themselves to help and comfort us Heaven and glory cannot be obtained without a preement and transcendent affection to all other things Consider how â— some Heathens and superstitious persons have trampled upon earthly things to attain a notable end What this phrase to lift up the light of Gods countenance upon a man implyeth I. Riches II. An untroubled Conscience is no Argument of Gods countenance 1. An untroubled Conscience may be a stupid seared Conscience 2. And may be accompanied with grosse sinnes 3. And without taking Gods way for the obtaining and preserving of it Causes of the eclipse of Gods face to the godly The nature of this joy How it exceeds all worldly Joy The wonderfull Effects of Faith in quieting the soul in Afflictions The Doctrine xplain ed. The Arguments by which Faith quieteth the Soul The Stoical Security The Mirth and jollity of most wicked men under Gods Judgements How it differs from a gratious Confidence God alone preserveth in safety I. II. God preserveth principally And by creatures instrumentally 1. Irrational 2. Rational men Angels III IIII. The several waies by which God preserveth his people in safety