Tables of Contents for Christian Directory

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An Eassy on the Genius, Works, and of Baxter

xxi

A Preface, Giving Some Account of the Author, and of this Edition of His Practical Works

lxi

A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY; OR, A SUM OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY, AND CASES OF CONSCIENCE

PART I.---CHRISTIAN ETHICS

The Introduction

Directions to Unconverted, Graceless Sinners, for the Attainment of Saving Grace

PART I.

What is presupposed in the reader of these Directions

Twenty Directions

PART II.

Thirty Temptations whereby the devil hindereth men's conversion, with the proper remedies against them

Ten Temptations by which he would persuade men, that their heinous, mortal sins, which prove them unconverted, are but the pardoned infirmities of the penitent

Directions to Weak Christians for their Establishment and Growth

Against receiving religion merely for the novelty or reputation of it

Let judgment, zeal, and practice go equally together

Keep a short method of divinity, or a catechism, still in your memory

Certain cautions about controversies in religion. Heb. vi. 1, opened

Think not too highly of your first degrees of grace or gifts. Time and diligence are necessary to growth. How the Spirit doth illuminate. The danger of this sin

Let neither difficulties nor oppositions, in the beginning, discourage you. Reasons

Value, and use a powerful, faithful ministry. Reasons. Objections answered

For charity, unity, and catholicism, against schism. Pretences for schism confuted

Let not sufferings make you sin by passion, or dishonouring authority

Take head of running from one extreme into another

Be not too confident in your first apprehensions or opinions, but modestly suspicious of them

What to do when controversies divide the church. Of silencing truth

What godliness is. The best life on earth. How Satan would make it seem troublesome and ungrateful. 1. By difficulties. 2. By various sects. 3. By scrupulosity. 4. By your overdoing in your own inventions. 5. By perplexing fears and sorrows. 6. By unmortified lusts. 7. By actual sins. 8. By ignorance of the covenant of grace

Mortify the flesh, and rule the senses and the appetite

Be wary in choosing, not only your teachers, but your company also. Their characters

What books to prefer and read, and what to reject

Take not a doctrine of libertinism for free grace

Take heed lest grace degenerate into counterfeits, formality, &c.

Reckon not on prosperity or long life; but live as dying

See that your religion be purely divine. That God be your First, and Last, and All: man nothing

The General Grand Directions for Walking with God, in a Life of Faith and Holiness: Containing the Essentials of Godliness and Christianity

Understand well the nature, grounds, reason, and order of faith and godliness. Propositions opening somewhat of them. The reader must note, that here I blotted out the method and helps of faith, having more fully opened them in a treatise called ``The Reasons of the Christian Religion:'' and another of the ``Unreasonableness of Infidelity''

How to live by faith on Christ. How to make use of Christ, in twenty necessities

How to believe in the Holy Ghost, and live by his grace. His witness, seal, earnest, &c. Q. When good effects are from means, from our endeavour, and when from the Spirit?

For a true, orderly, and practical knowledge of God. A scheme of his attributes

Of self-resignation to God as our Owner. Motives, marks, means

Of subjection to God as our Sovereign King. What it is. How to bring the soul into subjection to God. How to keep up a ready and constant obedience to him

To learn of Christ as our Teacher. How? The imitation of Christ

To obey Christ our Physician or Saviour, in his reparing, healing work

How each faculty is diseased or depraved? The intellect; its acts and maladies. The will. Q. Whether the locomotive and sense can move us to sin, without the consent of the will, (or reason,) upon its bare omission? The sin of the memory, imagination, affections, sensitive appetite, exterior parts, which needs a cure. Forty intrinsical evils in sin, which make up its malignity. The common aggravations of sin. Special aggravations of the sins of the regenerate. Directions to get a hatred of sin. How to cure it

Of the christian warfare under Christ. Who are our enemies. Of the devil. The state of the armies, and of the war between Christ and Satan. The ends, grounds, advantages, auxiliaries, instruments, and methods of the tempter

How Satan keepeth off the forces of Christ, and frustrateth all means

Christ's contrary methods

Temptations to particular sins, with directions for preservation and remedy. 1. How Satan prepareth his baits of temptation. 2. How he applieth them

Temptations to draw us off from duty

107

Temptations to frustrate holy duties

109

How to work as servants to Christ our Lord. The true doctrine of good works

110

Directions for our serving Christ in well-doing. Where are many rules to know what are good works, and how to do them acceptably and successfully

112

Is doing good, or avoiding sin, to be most looked at, in the choice of a calling or employment of life?

114

May one change his calling, for advantages to do good?

Who are excused from living in a calling, or from work?

115

Must I do a thing as a good work, while I doubt whether it be good, indifferent, or sin?

116

Is it not every man's duty to obey his conscience?

Is it not a sin to go against conscience?

Whether the formal cause alone do constitute obedience?

How sin must be avoided by one that hath an erroneous conscience?

How can a man lawfully resist or strive against an erring conscience, when he striveth against a supposed truth?

Is not going against conscience, sinning against knowledge?

When the information of conscience requireth a long time, is it not a duty to obey it at the present?

117

May one do a great good when it cannot be done but by a little sin (as a lie)?

Must I not forbear all good works, which I cannot do without sin?

Must I forbear a certain, great duty, (as preaching the gospel,) for fear of a small, uncertain sin?

117

What shall a man do that is in doubt, after all the means that he can use?

118

Sixteen Rules to guide a doubting conscience, and to know, among many seeming duties, which is the greatest, and to be preferred

To love God as our Father, and Felicity, and End

120

The nature of holy love. God must be loved as the universal, infinite Good. Whether passionately? What of God must be loved?

121

What must be the motive of our first love? Whether God's special love to us? The sorts of holy love. Why love is the highest grace

The contraries of holy love. How God is hated? The counterfeits of love

123

Directions how to excite and exercise divine love

How to see God. Signs of true love

132

Absolutely to trust God with soul, body, and all, with full acquiescence. The nature of trust (of which see more in my ``Life of Faith,'' and ``Display of Saving Faith'')

134

The contraries. The counterfeits. Q. Of a particular faith. The uses of trust

135

Fifteen Directions for a quieting and comforting trust in God

That the temperament of our religion may be a delight in God and holiness. Twenty Directions to procure it; with the reasons of it

138

Of thankfulness to God, our grand Benefactor. The signs of it. Eighteen Directions how to obtain and exercise it

142

For glorifying God. Ten Directions how the mind must glorify God. Ten Directions for praising God, or glorifying him with our tongues. Where are the reasons for praising God. Twelve Directions for glorifying God by our lives

146

For heavenly-mindedness

153

For self-denial. Only named, as being formerly written of at large

An Appendix of the reasons and measure of divine and self-love

154

Subordinate Directions Against the Great Sins Most Directly Contrary to Godliness

PART I.

Directions against unbelief. Q. Whether it be unbelief, not to believe that our sins are pardoned, and we elected? Can a man be surer that he believeth, than he is that the thing believed is true? The article of remission of sin is to be believed applyingly

166

Thirty-six Directions or helps against unbelief

167

Why the prophets were to be believed?

170

PART II.

Directions against hardness of heart. What it is. The evil and danger of it

171

PART III.

Directions against hypocrisy. What it is; and who are hypocrites. The helps

176

PART IV.

Directions against inordinate man-pleasing, or idolizing man; or that overvaluing man's favour, which is the fruit of pride and cause of hypocrisy. What the sin is and is not. The difficulty of man-pleasing. Pleasing God is our business and end. the motives to it. The signs of it

183

PART V.

Directions against pride, and for humility

192

What they are. The inward seemings of pride, that are not pride. The outward seemings of pride, that are not it. The counterfeits of humility. Signs of the worst part of pride against God. Signs of the next degrees of pride against God. Signs of pride in and about religious duties. Signs of pride in common converse. The dreadful consequents of pride. A summary of the signs of humility. Many considerations and helps against pride

PART VI.

Directions against covetousness, love of riches, and worldly cares

214

What love of riches is lawful; and what unlawful: and what is covetousness. The malignity of it. The signs of it. Counterfeits or false signs of one not covetous, which deceive many. False signs or appearances of covetousness, that cause many to be falsely accused. Means to destroy it

PART VII.

Directions against the master sin; sensuality, fleshpleasing, or voluptuousness

222

The nature of flesh-pleasing. What meant by flesh; and what is man's corruption. What flesh-pleasing is unlawful, and how far a sin. The malignity of the sin. The plea or excuses of flesh-pleasers answered. Counterfeits of mortification or temperance, which deceive many flesh-pleasers. Seemings of sensuality which are not it. The enmity of the flesh

Further Subordinate Directions for the Next Great Duties of Religion; Necessary to the Right Performance of the Grand Duties

And first, Directions for redeeming as well as improving time. What is time here, and what are opportunities. What redeeming it is. To what uses, and from what, and by what, time must be redeemed

230

Directions contemplative for improving time

232

Directions contemplative for taking the due season

238

Directions practical for improving time

239

Rules to know what time must be spent in

240

Thieves or time-wasters to be watched against. 1. Sloth. 2. Excess of sleep. 3. Inordinate adorning of the body. 4. Pomp and curiosity in attendance, house, furniture, provision, entertainment, compliment and servitude to the humour of time-wasters. 5. Needless feasting, gluttony, and tippling. 6. Idle talk. 7. Vain and sinful company. 8. Pastimes, inordinate recreations, sports, plays. 9. Excess of worldly business and cares. 10. Vain and sinful thoughts. 11. Reading vain books, romances, play-books, &c. and vain studies. 12. An ungodly heart, which doth all things for a carnal end

242

On whom the duty of redeeming time is principally incumbent. Eight sorts especially called to redeem time

245

Directions for the Government of the Thoughts

Directions against evil and idle thoughts

247

Directions to furnish the mind with good thoughts. Twenty great subjects or promptuaries affording abundant matter for meditation

249

Directions to make good thoughts effectual

255

General directions for meditation or good thoughts

Particular directions about the work of meditation

257

The difference between a contemplative and an active life. What is a contemplative life? Is every man bound to it? Whose duty is it? How far are all men bound to contemplation? Answered in twelve Rules

259

Directions to the melancholy about their thoughts. Signs of melancholy. The causes. Directions for cure. Special truths to be known, for preventing causeless troubles, &c.

261

Twenty Directions for young students for the most profitable ordering of their studying thoughts

267

Twenty instances of extremes to be avoided

271

Directions for the Government of the Passions

Directions against all sinful passions in general

273

Directions against sinful love of creatures

275

Helps to discover sinful love

Helps to mortify sinful love

276

Directions against sinful desires and discontents

277

Directions against sinful mirth and pleasure

280

Directions against sinful hopes

282

Directions against sinful hatred, aversion, or backwardness towards God and godliness

283

Directions against sinful anger

284

Directions meditative against it. 2. Directions practical against it

Directiosn against sinful fear

287

Of God. 2. Against sinful fear of the devil. 3. Against the sinful fear of men, and of sufferings by them

Directions against sinful grief and trouble of mind

293

Directions against sinful despair and doubting. What it is. When the day of grace is past. What sin is mortal, and what is infirmity, &c.

296

Directions for the Government of the Senses

PART I.

General Directions to govern them all by faith

301

Deny not all our senses as the papists

303

PART II.

Particular Directions for the government of the eyes

306

PART III.

Directions for the government of the ear

307

PART IV.

Directions for the governing the taste and appetite

309

Directions against gluttony. 1. What it is. 2. What are its causes. 3. The greatness of the sin. 4. Directions and helps against it. Rules for the measure of eating

Against excess of drink, and drunkenness. 1. What it is. The various degrees. 2. The causes. 3. The greatness of the sin. 4. The excuses of it. May we drink when thirsty, &c.? May one drink healths? 5. Twenty Questions for the conviction of drunkards. Twelve Questions to prove that it is their wilfulness and not mere disability to forbear. Practical Directions against tippling, &c.

318

PART V.

Directions against fornication and all uncleanness. The greatness of the sin. Directions for the cure

330

Directions against inward, filthy lusts

335

PART VI.

Directions against sinful excess of sleep

338

What is excess. 2. The evil of it. Whether love of sleep may be a mortal sin? The cure

PART VII.

Directions against sinful dreams

341

Directions for the Government of the Tongue

The general Directions. The moment of it. The duties of the tongue. Thirty tongue sins. The cure

342

Directions against profane swearing, and using God's name unreverently and in vain

347

What is an oath. What is a lawful oath. How far the swearer's intent is necessary to the being of an oath. How far swearing by creatures is a sin. Is it lawful to lay the hand on the book and kiss it in taking an oath? Is it lawful to give another such an oath or worse? When God's name is taken in vain. The greatness of the sin. The cure

Directions against lying and dissembling

353

What truth is. How far we are bound to speak truth. 1. Whether to every one that asketh us? 2. Or to every one that I answer to? 3. Are we bound ever to speak the whole truth 4. Is all logical falsehood a sin (that is, to speak disagreeably to the matter). 5. Or to speak contrary to our minds? 6. Is it a sin when we speak not a known untruth, nor with a purpose to deceive? 7. Or is this a lie? 8. Must our words be ever true in the proper, literal sense? 9. Must I speak in the common sense, or in the hearer's sense? 10. Is it lawful to deceive another by true words? 11. Doth lying consist in deceiving, or in speaking falsely as to the matter, or in speaking contrary to our minds? What a lie is. How sin is voluntary. The intrinsical evil of lying. The cure

Is often lying a certain sign of a graceless state? Where the question is again fully resolved (because it is of great importance). What sin is mortal, and what is mortified

359

Is it not contrary to the light of nature to suffer, e.g. a parent, a king, myself, my country, rather to be destroyed than to save them by a harmless lie? The case of the midwives in Egypt, and of Rahab, opened

360

Is deceit by action lawful, which seemeth a practical lie? And how shall we interpret Christ's making as if he would have gone further, Luke xxiv. 28; and David's feigning himself mad; and common stratagems in war; and doing things purposely to deceive another

Is is lawful to tempt a child or servant to lie, merely to try them?

Is all equivocation unlawful?

361

Is all mental reservation unlawful?

May children, servants, or subjects, in danger, use words which tend to hide their faults?

May I speak that which I think is true, but am not sure?

May I believe or speak that of another by way of news, discourse, character, which I hear reported by godly, credible persons, or by many?

Directions against idle talk and babbling. What is not idle talk; and what is. The sorts of it. The greatness of the sin in general, and the special aggravations. The cure. Who must most carefully watch against this sin

361

Directions against filthy, ribald, scurrilous talk

367

Directions against profane deriding, scorning, or opposing godliness

What the sin is. The greatness of it, and sottish impudence, and terrible consequents. The cure

368

Directions for the Government of the Body

PART I.

Directions about our labour and callings

375

Directions for the right choice of our labours or callings. 1. Is labour necessary to all? 2. What labour is necessary? 3. Will religion excuse us from labour? 4. Will riches excuse us? 5. Why labour is necessary? The good of it. 6. May a man have a calling consisting of various uncertain works? 7. May one have divers trades or callings at once? Directions

Directions against sloth and idleness. What it is, and what not. The aggravation of it. The signs of sloth. The greatness of the sin. Who should be most careful to avoid it

378

Directions against sloth and laziness in things spiritual, and for zeal and diligence. The kinds of false zeal. The mischiefs of false zeal. The signs of holy zeal. The excellency of zeal and diligence. Motives to excite us to it. Other helps

382

PART II.

Directions against sin in sports and recreations

386

What lawful recreation is. Eighteen necessary qualifications of it: or eighteen sorts of sinful recreation. Must all wicked men forbear recreations? What to judge of stage-plays, gaming, cards, dice, &c. The evil of them opened. Twelve convincing questions to them that use or plead for such pastimes. Seven more considerations for vain and sportful youths. Further Directions in the use of recreations

PART III.

Directions about apparel, and against the sin therein committed

391

May pride of gravity and holiness be seen in apparel? How else it appeareth? May not a deformity be hid by apparel or painting? May we follow the fashions? Further directions

PART II. CHRISTIAN ECONOMICS

Chapter I

Directions about marriage; for choice and contract

394

Whether marriage be indifferent? Who are called to marry? Who may not marry?

395

What if parents command it to one that it will be a hurt to? What if I have a corporal necessity, when yet marriage is like to be a great hurt to my soul? Of parents' prohibition

396

What if parents forbid marriage to one that cannot live chastely without it? or when affections are unconquerable?

What if the child have promised marriage, and the parents be against it? Of the sense of Numb. xxx. How far such promise must be kept?

397

What if the parties be actually married without parents' consent?

May the aged marry that are frigid, impotent, sterile?

398

The incommodities of a married life to be considered by them that need restraint

Especially to ministers

400

Further Directions

How to cure lustful love

402

Several cases about marrying with an ungodly person

What rule to follow about prohibited degrees of consanguinity? Whether the law of Moses, or of nature, or the laws of the land or church, &c.?

404

What to do if the law of the land forbid more degrees than Moses's law?

405

Of the marriage of cousin-germans, beforehand

What such should do after they are married?

What must they after do that are married in the degrees not forbidden by name, Lev. xviii. and yet of the same nearness and reason?

If they marry in a degree forbidden, Lev. xviii., may not necessity make it lawful to continue it, as it made lawful the marriage of Adam's sons and daughters?

Whether a vow of chastity or celibate may be broken, and in what cases?

Chapter II

Directions for the choice of, 1. Servants

407

2. Masters

408

Disputation, Whether the Solemn Worship of God in and by Families as Such, be of Divine Appointment

Aff. Proved against the cavils of the profane, and some sectaries

409

What solemn worship is

What a family

410

Proof as to worship in general

Family advantages for worship

The natural obligation on families to worship God

411

Families must be santified societies

412

Instructing families is a duty

414

Family discipline is a duty

415

Solemn prayer and praise are family duties

416

Objections answered

420

Of the frequency and seasons of family worship. 1. Whether it should be every day. 2. Whether twice a day. 3. Whether morning and evening

421

Chapter IV

General Directions for the holy government of families

422

How to keep up authority

Of skill in governing

423

Of holy willingness

424

Chapter V

Special Motives to persuade men to the holy government of their families

424

Chapter VI

Motives for a holy and careful education of children

427

Chapter VII

The mutual duties of husbands and wives towards each other

431

How to maintain due conjugal love

Of adultery

432

Motives and means against dissension

433

Motives and means to further each other's salvation

435

Further duties

437

Chapter VIII

The special duties of husbands to their wives

438

Chapter IX

The special duty of wives to their husbands

440

How far may a wife give, without her husband's consent?

441

Of wives' propriety

442

Is a wife guilty of her husband's unlawful getting, if she keep it? And is she bound to reveal it (as in robbing)?

May a wife go to hear sermous when her husband forbiddeth her?

Must a woman proceed to admonish a wicked husband when it maketh him worse?

What she must do in controverted cases of religion, when her judgment and her husband's differ?

443

How long, or in what cases, may husbands and wives be distant?

May the bare commands of princes separate husbands and wives (as ministers, judges, soldiers)?

May ministers leave their wives to go abroad to preach the gospel?

May one leave a wife to save his life in case of personal persecution or danger?

444

May husband and wife part by consent, if they find it to be for the good of both?

May they consent to be divorced, and to marry others?

Doth adultery dissolve marriage?

Is the injured person bound to divorce the other, or left free?

Is it the proper privilege of a man to put away an adulterous wife, or is it also in the woman's power to depart from an adulterous husband?

May there be putting away, or departing, without the magistrate's divorce or licence?

445

What if both parties be adulterous?

What if one purposely commit adultery to be separte from the other?

Doth infidelity dissolve the relation?

Doth the desertion of one party disoblige the other?

Must a woman follow a malignant husband that goeth from the means of grace?

Must she follow him, if it be but to poverty or beggary?

446

What to do in case of known intention of one to murder the other?

Or if there be a fixed hatred of each other?

What if a man will not suffer his wife to hear, read, or pray; or do beat her so, as to unfit her for duty; or a woman will rail at the husband in prayer time? &c.

Who may marry after parting or divorce?

447

Is it lawful to suffer, vea, or contribute to the known sin materially of wife, child, servant, or other relations? Where is opened what is in our power to do against sin, and what not

If a gentleman have a great estate by which he may do much good, and his wife be so proud, prodigal, and peevish, that if she may not waste it all in housekeeping and pride, she will die or grow mad, or give him no quietness, what is his duty in so sad a case?

449

Chapter X

The duties of parents for their children. Where are twenty special Directions for their education

449

Chapter XI

The duties of children towards their parents

454

Chapter XII

The special duties of children and youth towards God

457

Chapter XIII

The duties of servants to their masters

458

Chapter XIV

The duty of masters towards their servants

460

The duty of masters to slaves in the plantations

461

Is it lawful for a christian to buy and use a man as a slave?

462

Is it lawful to use a christian as a slave?

What difference must we make between a servant and a slave?

What if men buy negroes, or other slaves, of such as we may think did steal them, or buy them of robbers and tyrants, and not by consent?

463

May I not sell such again and make my money of them?

May I not return them to him that I bought them of?

Chapter XV

The duties of children and fellow-servants to one another

463

Chapter XVI

Directions for holy conference of fellow-servants and others

464

May we speak good when the heart is not affected with it?

Is that the fruit of the Spirit which we force our tongues to?

Chapter XVII

Directions for every member of the family, how to spend every ordinary day of the week

466

Chapter XVIII

Directions for the holy spending of the Lord's day in families

470

Whether the whole day should be kept holy?

More particular directions for the order of holy duties on that day

472

Chapter XIX

Directions for profitable hearing God's word preached

473

Directions for understanding the word which you hear

Directions for remembering what you hear

474

Directions for holy resolutions and affections in hearing

475

Directions to bring what we hear into practice

476

Chapter XX

Directions for profitable reading the holy Scriptures

477

Chapter XXI

Directions for reading other books

478

Chapter XXII

Directions for right teaching children and servants, so as is most likely to have success. The sum of christian religion

479

Chapter XIII

Directions for prayer in general

483

A scheme or brief explication of the exact method of the Lord's prayer

485

Cases about prayer

486

Is the Lord's prayer to be used as a form of words, or only as a directory for matter and method?

What need is there of any other prayer, if this be perfect?

Is it lawful to pray in a set form of words?

Are those forms lawful which are prescribed by man, and not by God?

Is free praying, called extempore, lawful?

Which is the better?

Must we ever follow the method of the Lord's prayer?

487

Must we pray only when the Spirit moveth us, or as reason guideth us?

May he pray for grace who desireth it not?

May he pray that doubeth of his interest in God, and dare not call him Father as his child?

488

May a wicked man pray, or is he ever accepted?

May a wicked man use the Lord's prayer?

Is it idolatry or sin always to pray to saints or angels?

Is a man bound to pray ordinarily in his family?

Must the same man pray secretly, that hath before prayed in his family?

Is it best to keep set hours for prayer?

May we join in family prayers with ungodly persons?

What if the master or speaker be ungodly or a heretic?

489

May we pray absolutely for outward mercies, or only conditionally?

May we pray for all that we lawfully desire?

How may we pray for the salvation of all the world?

Or for the conversion of all nations?

490

Or that a whole kingdom may be converted and saved?

Or for the destruction of the enemies of Christ or the kingdom?

What is to be judged of a particular faith?

Is every lawful prayer accepted?

With what faith must I pray for the souls or bodies of others?

With what faith may we pray for the continuance of the church or gospel?

How to know when our prayers are heard?

How to have fulness and constant supply of matter in our prayers?

How to keep up fervency in prayer?

491

May we look to speed ever the better for any thing in ourselves or our prayers? Or may we put any trust in them?

492

How must that person and prayer be qualified, which God will accept?

Special Directions for family prayer

Special Directions for secret prayer

Chapter XXIV

Directions for families about the sacrament of the Lord's supper

493

What are the ends of the sacrament? What are the parts of it?

Should not the sacrament have more preparation than the other parts of worship?

495

How oft should it be administered?

Must all members of the visible church communicate?

May any man receive it, that knoweth himself unsanctified?

May an ungodly man receive it, that knoweth not himself to be ungodly?

Must a christian receive who doubteth of his sincerity?

What if superiors compel a doubting christian to receive it, by excommunication or imprisonment: what should he choose?

496

Is not the case of a hypocrite that knoweth not himself to be a hypocrite, and of the sincere who knoweth not himself to be sincere, all one, as to communicating?

Wherein lieth the sin of an ungodly person if he receive?

Doth all unworthy receiving make one liable to damnation? or what?

497

What is the particular preparation needful to a fit communicant?

Marks of sincerity

Preparing duties

498

May we receive from an ungodly minister?

May we communicate with unworthy persons in an undisciplined church?

What if I cannot communicate unless I conform to an imposed gesture, as sitting, standing, or kneeling?

499

What if I cannot receive it, but as administered by the Common Prayer?

If my conscience be not satisfied, may I come doubting?

Obj. Is it not a duty to follow conscience as God's officer?

What to do in the time of administration?

500

What graces must be exercised?

On what objects?

The season and order of sacramental duties

Chapter XXV

Directions for fearful, troubled christians who are perplexed with doubts of their sincerity and justification

502

Causes and cure

503

Chapter XXVI

Directions for declining, backsliding christians: and about perseverance

505

The several sorts of backsliders

The way of falling into sects, and heresies, and errors

And of declining in heart and life

506

Signs of declining

507

Signs of a graceless state

Dangerous signs of impenitency

509

False signs of declining

Motives against declining

Directions against it

511

Directions for perseverance, or to prevent backsliding

Antidotes against those doctrines of presumption which would hinder our perseverance

512

Chapter XXVII

Directions for the poor

514

The temptations of the poor

515

The special duties of the poor

516

Chapter XXVIII

Directions for the rich

517

Chapter XXIX

Directions for the aged and weak

519

Chapter XXX

Directions for the sick

522

Directions for a safe death to secure salvation

For the unconverted in their sickness. (A sad case.) 1. For examination; 2. For repentance; 3. For faith in Christ; 4. For a new heart, love to God, and resolution for obedience

Will late repentance serve the turn, in such a case?

524

Directions to the godly for a safe departure

525

Their temptations to be resisted

How to profit by our sickness

526

Directions for a comfortable or peaceable death

527

Directions for resisting the temptations of Satan in time of sickness

531

Directions for doing good to others in our sickness

533

Chapter XXXI

Directions to the friends of the sick that are about them

534

Can physic lengthen men's lives?

535

Is it meet to make known to the sick their danger of death?

Must we tell bad men of their sin and misery when it may exasperate the disease by troubling them?

What can be done in so short a time?

536

What to do in doubtful cases?

What order should be observed in counselling the ignorant and ungodly when time is so short?

Helps against excessive sorrow for the death of friends; yea, of the worst

537

A form of exhortation to be read in sickness to the ungodly, or those that we justly fear are such

A form of exhortation to the godly in sickness, for their comfort. Their dying groans and joys

541

PART III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS

Chapter I

Of the worship of God in general. The nature and reasons of it, and Directions for it. How to know right ends in worship, &c.

547

Chapter II

Directions about the manner of worship, to avoid all corruptions, and false, unacceptable worshipping of God. The disadvantages of ungodly men in judging of holy worship. How far the Scriptures are the rule or law of worship and discipline, and how far not? Instances of things undetermined in Scripture. What commands of Scripture are not universal and perpetual? May danger excuse from duty, and when? Rules for the right manner

553

Chapter III

Directions about the christian covenant with God, and baptism. The covenant, what? The parties, matter, terms, forms, necessary modes, fruits, &c. External baptism, what? Complete baptism, what? Of renewing the covenant

559

Chapter IV

Directions about the profession of our religion to others. The greatness of the duty of open profession. When and how it must be made?

562

Chapter V

Directions about vows and particular covenants with God

564

Directions for the right making such vows and covenants. What a vow is? The sorts of vows. The use and obligation. Whether any things be indifferent; and such may be vowed? As marrying, &c. May we vow things indifferent in themselves, though not in their circumstances? In what cases we may not vow. What, if rulers command it? What if I doubt whether the matter imposed be lawful? Of vowing with a doubting conscience

Directions against perjury and perfidiousness; and for keeping vows and oaths. The heinousness of perjury. Thirty-six Rules about the obligation of a vow, to show when and how far it is obligatory; useful in an age stigmatized with open perjury. (Mostly out of Dr. Sanderson.) What is the nullity of an oath? Cases in which vows must not be kept

569

How far rulers may nullify a vow? Numb. xxx. opened. Of the accidental evil of a vow. Of scandal. Doth an error de persona caused by that person disoblige me?

571

Chapter VI

Directions to the people concerning their internal and private duty to their pastors, and their profiting by the ministerial office and gifts

581

The ministerial office opened in fifteen particulars

The reasons of it

582

The true old episcopacy

Special duties to your own pastors above others

583

Of the calling, power, and succession of pastors

584

The best to be preferred

585

The order of ministerial teaching, and the resolution of faith

How far human faith conduceth to divine

587

Of tradition

What use to make of your pastors

589

Chapter VII

Directions for the discovery of truth among contenders, and how to escape heresy and deceit. Cautions for avoiding deceit in disputations

590

Chapter VIII

Directions for the union and communion of saints, and for avoiding unpeaceableness and schism

595

Wherein our unity consisteth

596

What diversity will be in the churches. What schism is? What heresy? What apostasy? Who are schismatics? The degrees and progress of it. What separation is a duty?

597

Is any one form of church government of divine appointment? May man make new church officers?

599

The benefits of christian concord; to themselves, and to infidels

601

The mischiefs of schism

603

Whether papists or protestants are schismatics

The aggravations of division

605

Two hinderances of our true apprehension of the evil of schism

606

Directions against it

607

Of imposing defective liturgies

The testimonies of antiquity against the bloody and cruel way of curing schism. Their character of Ithacian prelates

614

Chapter IX

Twenty Directions how to worship God in the church assemblies

616

Chapter X

Directions about our communion with holy souls departed, now with Christ

618

Chapter XI

Directions about our communion with the holy angels

622

ECCLESIASTICAL CASES OF CONSCIENCE

How to know which is the true church among all pretenders, that a christian's conscience may be quiet in his relation and communion?

626

Whether we must esteem the church of Rome a true church? and in what sense some protestant divines affirm it, and some deny it?

628

Whether we must take the Romish clergy for a true ministry?

629

Whether it be necessary to believe that the pope is the antichrist?

631

Whether we must hold that a papist may be saved?

Whether those that are in the church of Rome are bound to separate from it? And whether it be lawful to go to their mass or other worship?

632

Whether the true calling of the minister by ordination or election be necessary to the essence of the church?

Whether sincere faith and godliness be necessary to the being of the ministry? And whether it be lawful to hear a wicked man, or take the sacrament from him, or take him for a minister?

633

Whether the people are bound to receive or consent to an ungodly, intolerable, heretical pastor, (yea, or one far less fit and worthy than a competitor,) if the magistrate command it, or the bishop impose him?

What if the magistrate command the people to receive one pastor, and the bishop or ordainers another, which of them must be obeyed?

635

Whether an uninterrupted succession either of right ordination or of conveyance by jurisdiction, be necessary to the being of the ministry, or of a true church

635

Whether there be or ever was such a thing in the world as one catholic church, constituted by any head besides or under Christ?

636

Whether there be such a thing as a visible catholic church, and what it is?

637

What is it that maketh a visible member of the universal church, and who are to be accounted such?

Whether besides the profession of christianity, either testimony or evidence of conversion or practical godliness be necessary to prove a man a member of the universal visible church?

What is necessary to a man's reception into membership in a particular church, over and above this aforesaid title? Whether any other trials, or covenant, or what?

638

Wherein doth the ministerial office essentially consist?

639

Whether the people's choice or consent is necessary to the office of a minister in his first work, as he is to convert infidels and baptize them? And whether this be a work of office, and what call is necessary to it?

Wherein consisteth the power and nature of ordination? And to whom doth it belong? And is it an act of jurisdiction? And is imposition of hands necessary in it?

640

Is ordination necessary to make a man a pastor of a particular church as such? And is he to be made a general minister, and a particular church elder or pastor at once, and at one ordaination?

641

May a man be oft or twice ordained?

How many ordainers are necessary to the validity of ordination by Christ's institution, whether one or more?

643

What if one bishop ordain a minister, and three, or many, or all the rest protest against it, and declare him no minister or degrade him, is he to be received as a true minister or not?

Hath a bishop power by divine right to ordain, degrade or govern, excommunicate or absolve, in another's diocess or church, either by his consent or against it? And doth a minister that officiateth in another's church, act as a pastor, and their pastor, or as a private man? And doth his ministerial office cease when a man removeth from his flock?

644

Whether canons be laws, and pastors have a legislative power?

645

Whether church canons or pastors' directive determinations of matters pertinent to their office, do bind the conscience, and what accidents will disoblige the people; you may gather before in the same case about magistrates' laws in the political Directions; as also by an impartial transferring the case to the precepts of parents and schoolmasters to children, without respect to their power of the rod (or supposing that they had none such)?

646

What are Christ's appointed means of the unity and concord of the universal church, and consequently of its preservation, if there be no human universal head and governor of it upon earth? And if Christ hath instituted none such, whether prudence and the law of nature oblige not the church to set up and maintain a universal ecclesiastical monarchy or aristocracy; seeing that which is every man's work, is no man's, and omitted by all?

Who is the judge of controversies in the church? 1. About the exposition of the Scriptures and doctrinal points in themselves. 2. About either heresies or wicked practices, as they are charged on the persons accused of them; that is, 1. Antecedently to our practice, by way of regulation. 2. Or consequently by judicial sentence (and execution) on offenders?

Whether a parent's power over his children, or a pastor's, or many pastors or bishops over the same children as parts of their flocks, be greater, or more obliging in matters of religion and public worship?

647

May an office-teacher or pastor be at once in the stated relation of a pastor, and a disciple to some other pastor?

Who hath the power of making church canons?

648

Doth baptism as such enter the baptized into the universal church; or into a particular church, or both? And is baptism the particular church covenant as such?

Whether infants should be baptized, I have answered long ago in a Treatise on that subject

What infants should be baptized? And who have right to sacraments? And whether hypocrites are unequivocally or equivocally christians and church members, I have resolved in my ``Disputation of Right to Sacraments''

Whether an unbaptized person, who yet maketh a public profession of christianity, be a member of the visible church? And so of the infants of believers unbaptized?

Is it certain by the word of God, that all in fants baptized, and dying before actual sin, are undoubtedly saved? Or what infants may we say so of?

649

What is meant by this speech, that believers and their seed are in the covenant of God; which giveth them right to baptism?

653

Are believers' children certainly in covenant before their baptism, and thereby in a state of salvation; or not till they are baptized?

654

Is infants' title to baptism and the covenant benefits given them by God in his promises upon any proper moral condition, or only upon the condition of their natural relation; that they be the seed of the faithful?

What is the true meaning of sponsors, (patrimi,) or godfathers, as we call them; and is it lawful to make use of them?

655

On whose account or right is it that the infant hath title to baptism and its benefits? Is it on the parent's, ancestor's, sponsor's, the church's, the minister's, the magistrate's, or his own?

Are they really baptized who are baptized according to the English Liturgy and canons, where the parent seemeth excluded, and those to consent for the infant who have no power to do it?

657

But the great question is, how the Holy Ghost is given to infants in baptism, and whether all the children of true christians have inward sanctifying grace? Or whether they can be said to be justified and to be in a state of salvation, that are not inherently sanctified? And whether any fall from this infant state of salvation?

Is the right of the baptized (infants or adult) to the sanctifying operations of the Holy Ghost now absolute; or suspended on further conditions? And are the parents' further duty for their children such conditions of the children's reception of the actual assistances of the Spirit? Or are children's own actions such conditions? And may apostate parents forfeit the covenant benefits to their baptized infants or not?

660

Doth baptism always oblige us at the present, and give grace at the present; and is the grace which is not given till long after, given by baptism, or an effect of baptism?

661

What is a proper violation of our baptismal convenant?

662

May not baptism in some cases be repeated; and when?

Is baptism by laymen or women lawful in cases of necessity; or are they nullities, and the person to be rebaptized?

663

May anabaptists that have no other error, be permitted in church communion?

May one offer his child to be baptized, with the sign of the cross, or the use of chrisms, the white garment, milk and boney, or exorcisms as among the Lutherans, who taketh these to be unlawful things?

663

Whence came the ancient universal custom of anointing at baptism, and putting on a white garment, and tasting milk and honey; and whether they are lawful to us?

664

Whether it be necessary that they that are baptized in infancy, do solemnly at age review and own their baptismal convenant before they have right to the state and privileges of adult members; and if they do not, whether they are to be numbered with christians or apostates?

Whether the universal church consists only of particular churches and their members?

665

Must the pastor first call the church and aggregate them to himself, or the church first congretate themselves and then choose the pastor?

Wherein doth a particular church of Christ differ from a consociation of many churches?

Whether a particular church may consist of more assemblies than one; or must needs meet all in one place?

Is any form of church government of divine institution?

666

Whether any forms of churches and church government, or any new church officers, may lawfully be invented and made by man?

668

Whether any part of the proper pastoral or episcopal power may be given or deputed to a layman, or to one of any other office; or their proper work may be performed by such?

673

May a layman preach or expound the Scriptures; or what of this is proper to the pastor's office?

674

What is the true sense of the distinction of pastoral power in foro interiore et exteriore, rightly used?

In what sense is it true, that some say that the magistrate only hath the external government of the church, and the pastor the internal?

Is the trial, judgment, or consent of the laity necessary to the admittance of a member into the universal or particular church?

675

What power have the people in church censures and excommunication

What is the people's remedy in case of the pastor's mal-administration?

May one be a pastor or a member of a particular church who liveth so far from it, as to be incapable of personal communion with them?

676

If a man be injuriously suspended or excommunicated by the pastor or people, which way shall he have remedy?

Doth presence always make us guilty of the evils or faults of the pastor in God's worship, or of the church? or in what cases are we guilty?

Is it lawful to communicate in the sacrament with wicked men?

Have all the members of the church right to the Lord's table, and is suspension lawful?

Is there any such thing in the church, as a rank, or classis, or species of church members at age, who are not to be admitted to the Lord's table, but only to the hearing of the word and prayer, between infant members, and adult, confirmed ones?

677

Whether a form of prayer be lawful?

678

Are forms of prayer or preaching in the church lawful?

679

Are public forms of man's devising or composing lawful?

Is it lawful to impose forms on the congregation or the people in public worship?

Is it lawful to use forms composed by man, and imposed not only on the people, but on the pastors of the churches?

Doth not the calling of a minister so consist in the exercise of his own ministerial gifts, that he may not officiate without them, nor make use of other men's gifts instead of them?

680

Is it lawful to read a prayer in the church?

Is it lawful to pray in the church without a prescribed or premeditated form of words?

681

Whether are set forms of words, or free praying without them, the better way; and what are the commodities and incommodities of each way?

Is it lawful to forbear the preaching of some truths, upon man's prohibition, that I may have liberty to preach the rest? yea, and to promise to forbear them, or to do it for the church's peace?

683

May or must a minister silenced, or forbid to preach the gospel, go on still to preach it against the law?

May we lawfully keep the Lord's day as a fast?

684

How should the Lord's day be spent in the main?

May the people bear a vocal part in worship, or do any more than say, Amen?

Is it not a sin for our clerks to make themselves the mouth of the people, who are not ordained ministers of Christ?

686

Are repetitions of the same words in church prayers lawful?

Is it lawful to bow at the name of Jesus?

Is it lawful to stand up at the gospel as we are appointed?

Is it lawful to kneel when the decalogue is read?

What gestures are fittest in all the public worship?

687

What if the pastor and church cannot agree about singing psalms, or what version or translation to use, or time or place of meeting, &c.?

What if the pastor excommunicate a man, and the people will not forbear his communion, as thinking him unjustly excommunicated?

May a whole church, or the greater part, be excommunicated?

What if a church have two pastors, and one excommunicate a man and the other absolve him, what shall the church and the dissenter do?

688

For what sins may a man be denied communion or excommunicated; whether for impenitence in every little sin, or for great sin without impenitence?

Must the pastor examine the people before the sacrament?

Is the sacrament of the Lord's supper a converting ordinance?

Must no man come to the sacrament that is uncertain or doubtful of the sincerity of his faith and repentance?

689

Is it lawful or a duty to join oblations to the sacrament, and how?

How many sacraments are there appointed by Christ?

How far is it lawful, needful, or unlawful, for a man to afflict himself by external penances for sin?

690

Is it lawful to observe stated times of fasting imposed by others, without extraordinary occasions; and particularly Lent?

691

May we continue in a church where some one ordinance of Christ is wanting; as discipline, prayer, preaching, or sacraments, though we have all the rest?

692

Must the pastors remove from one church to another, whenever the magistrate commandeth us, though the bishops contradict it, and the church cousent not to dismiss us? And so of other cases of disagreement

Is a pastor obliged to his flock for life; or is it lawful so to oblige himself; and may he remove without their consent? And so also of a church member the same questions are put

693

When many men pretend at once to be the true pastors of a particular church, against each other's title, through differences between the magistrates, the ordainers, and the flocks, what should the people do, and whom should they adhere to?

693

To whom doth it belong to reform a corrupted church; to the magistrates, pastors, or people?

Who are to call synods; princes, pastors, or people?

694

To whom doth it belong to appoint days and assemblies for public humiliation and thanksgiving?

May we omit church assemblies on the Lord's day, if the magistrate forbid them?

Must we obey the magistrate if he only forbid us worshipping God, in such a place, or country, or in such numbers, or the like circumstances?

Must subjects or servants forbear weekly lectures, reading, or such helps, above the Lord's day's worship, if princes or masters do forbid them?

695

Whether religious worship may be given to a creature, and what?

What images, and what use of images, is lawful or unlawful?

696

Whether stage-plays, where the virtuous and vicious are personated, be lawful?

699

Is it ever unlawful to use the known symbols and badges of idolatry?

701

Is it unlawful to use the badge or symbol of any error or sect in the worship of God?

Are all indifferent things made unlawful to us, which shall be abused to idolatrous worship?

May we use the names of week days which idolaters honoured their idols with, as Sunday, Monday, Saturday, and the rest? And so the months?

702

Is it lawful to pray secretly when we come first into church, especially when the church is otherwise employed?

May a preacher kneel down in the pulpit and use his private prayers when he is in the assembly?

May a minister pray publicly in his own name singly, for himself or others; or only in the church's name as their mouth to God?

May the name priests, sacrifice, and altar be lawfully now used instead of Christ's ministers, worship, and the holy table?

703

May the communion table be turned altarwise and railed in; and is it lawful to come up to the rails to communicate?

Is it lawful to use David's psalms in our assemblies?

704

May psalms be used as prayers, and praises, and thanksgivings; or only as instructive? even the reading as well as the singing of them?

Are our church tunes lawful being of man's invention?

Is church music by organs or such instruments lawful?

705

Is the Lord's day a sabbath, and so to be called and kept, and that of divine institution; and is the seventh-day sabbath abrogated? &c.

Is it lawful to appoint human holy-days, and observe them?

How far are the holy Scriptures a law and perfect rule to us?

706

What additions or human inventions in or about religion not commanded in Scripture, are lawful or unlawful?

Is it unlawful to obey in all those cases where it is unlawful to impose and command, or in what cases? And how far pastors must be believed and obeyed?

707

What are the additions or inventions of men, which are not forbidden by the word of God (whether by rulers or by private men invented)?

708

What are the mischiefs of unlawful additions in religion?

709

What are the mischiefs of men's error on the other extreme, who pretend that Scripture is a rule where it is not, and deny the aforesaid lawful things, on the pretence that Scripture is a perfect rule (say some, for all things)

710

How shall we know what parts of Scripture precept or example were intended for universal, constant obligation, and what were but for the time and persons that they were then directed to?

711

How much of the Scripture is necessary to salvation to be believed and understood?

712

How may we know the fundamentals, essentials, or what parts are necessary to salvation? And is the papists way allowable that (some of them) deny that distinction, and make the difference to be only in the degrees of man's opportunities of knowledge?

What is the use and authority of the creed? And is it of the apostles' framing or not? And is it the word of God or not?

714

What is the use of catechisms?

Could any of us have known by the Scriptures alone the essentials of religion from the rest, if tradition had not given them to us in the creed as from apostolical collection

What is the best method of a true catechism or sum of theology?

What is the use of various church confesions or articles of fath?

715

May not the subscribing of the whole Scriptures serve turn for all the aforesaid ends without creeds, catechisms, or confessions?

May a man be saved that believeth all the essentials of religion of coming to him by verbal tradition, and not as contained in the holy Scriptures, which perhaps he never knew?

Is the Scripture fit for all Christians to read, being so obscure?

716

How far is tradition and men's words and ministry to be used or trusted in, in the exercise of faith?

How know we the true canon of Scripture from Apocrypha?

Is the public reading of the Scripture the proper work of the minister; or may a layman ordinarily do it, or another officer?

717

Is it lawful to read the Apocrypha, or any good books besides the Scriptures, to the church; as homilies, &c.?

May church assemblies be held where there is no minister; or what public worship may be so performed by laymen (as among infidels or papists where persectution hath killed, imprisoned, or expelled the ministry)?

Is it lawful to subscribe or profess full assent and consent to any religions books besides the Scriptures, seeing all men are fallible?

May we lawfully swear obedience in all things lawful and honest, either to usurpers, or to our lawful pastors?

718

Must all our preaching be upon some text of Scripture?

Is not the law of Moses abrogated, and the whole Old Testament out of date, and therefore not to be read publicly and preached?

719

Must we believe that Moses' law did ever bind other nations, or that any other parts of the Scripture bound them or belonged to them; or that the Jews were all God's visible church on earth?

Must we think accordingly of the christian churches now, that they are only advanced above the rest of the world as the Jews were, but not the only people that are saved?

720

Should not christians take up with Scripture wisdom only, without studying philosophy, or other heathens' human learning?

721

If we think that Scripture and the law of nature are in any point contradictory to each other, which must be the standard by which the other must be tried?

722

May we not look that God should yet give us more revelations of his will, than there are already made is Scripture?

722

Is not a third rule of the Holy Ghost, or more perfect kingdom of love, to be expected, as different from the reign of the Creator and Redeemer?

May we not look for miracles hereafter?

723

Is the Scripture to be tried by the Spirit, or the Spirit by the Scripture? and which of them is to be preferred?

How is a pretended prophet or revelation to be tried?

May one be saved who believeth that the Scripture hath any mistake or errors, and believeth it not all?

724

Who be they that give too little to the Scriptures, and who too much; and what is the danger of each extreme?

How far do good men now preach and pray by the Spirit?

725

Are not our own reasons, studies, memory, strivings, books, forms, methods, and ministry needless; yea, a hurtful quenching or preventing of the Spirit, and setting up our own instead of the Spirit's operations?

726

How doth the Holy Ghost set bishops over the churches?

Are temples, fonts, utensils, church lands, much more the ministry, holy; and what reverence is due to them as holy?

What is sacrilege, and what not?

727

Are all religious private meetings, forbidden by rulers, unlawful conventicles, or are any such necessary?

What particular directions for order of studies and books should be observed by young students who intend the sacred ministry?

What books should a poor man choose that for want of money or time can have or read but few? There are three catalogues set down (but some-what disorderly as they came into my memory)

731

The smallest or poorest library

732

A poor library, that hath considerable additions to the former

Some more additions to them, for them that can go higher, with some additional notes

735

PART III.---CHRISTIAN POLITICS.

Chapter I

General Directions for an upright life

737

The most passed by on necessary reasons

740

Chapter II

A few brief memoranda to rulers, for the interest of Christ, the church, and men's salvation

741

Chapter III

Directions to subjects concerning their duty to rulers

744

Of the nature and causes of government

Mr. Richard Hooker's ``Ecclesiastical Polity,'' as it is for popularity, examined and confuted. Directions for obedience. Duty to rulers

745

Is the magistrate judge in controversies of faith or worship?

753

May the oath of supremacy be lawfully taken, in which the king is pronounced supreme governor in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as civil?

754

Doth not this give the pastor's power to the magistrate?

754

Hath the king power of church discipline and excommunication?

If kings nad bishops differ, which must be obeyed?

Is he obliged to suffer who is not obliged to obey?

756

Of admonition of rulers

758

Whether the sound authors of politics be against monarchy?

759

Whether civilians be against it?

760

Are historians against it? Greek, Roman, or christian?

Whether Athens, Rome, Aristotle, philosphers, academies be against it?

Are divines and church discipline against it?

Are Scripture and christianity against it?

761

Objections answered

Are papists, prelatists, and puritans against it?

763

Hilson's and Andrews's vindication of the puritans

764

Christianity is the greatest help to government

765

Further Directions

767

Whether man's laws bind the conscience?

Is it a sin to break every law of man? More fully answered

768

Chapter IV

Directions to lawyers about their duty to God

769

Chapter V

The duty of physicians

771

Chapter VI

Directions to schoolmasters about their duties for children's souls

773

Chapter VII

Directions for soldiers about their duty in a point of conscience. (Princes, nobles, judges, and justices, are passed by, lest they take counsel for injury)

774

Chapter VIII

Directions against murder

778

The causes of it.---wars, tyranny, malignant, persecuting fury, unrighteous judgment, oppression and uncharitableness, robbery, wrath, guilt and shame, malice and revenge, wicked impatience, covetous ness, ambition, &c.

The greatness of the sin

780

The consequents

Advice against self-murder

The causes to be avoided,---melancholy, worldly trouble, discontent, passion, &c. Besides gluttony, tippling, and idleness, the great murderers

Chapter IX

Directions for the forgiving of injuries and enemies, Against wrath, malice, revenge, and persecution

782

Practical Directions

Twenty curing considerations

Chapter X

Cases resolved about forgiving wrongs, and debts, and about self-defence, and seeking our right by law or otherwise

785

What injuries are we bound to forgive? Neg. affirm. resolved

785

What is the meaning of Matt. v. 38, &c. ``Resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee,'' &c.?

787

Am I bound to forgive another if he ask me not forgiveness? Luke xvii. 3 &c.

788

Is it lawful to sue another at law? 1 Cor. vi.7

Is it lawful to defend our lives or estates against a robber, murderer, or unjust invader by force of arms?

Is it lawful to take away another's life in defending my purse or estate only?

789

May we kill or wound another in defence or vindication of our honour or good name?

Chapter XI

Special Directions to escape the guilt of persecution: determining much of the case about liberty in matters or religion

790

What is persecution

The several kinds of it

The greatness of the sin

791

Understand the case of Christ's interest in the world

793

Whether particular churches should require more of their members as conditions of communion than the catholic church? and what?

795

Penalties to be chosen that hinder the gospel least

796

More Directions to the number of forty-one

797

Chapter XII

Directions against scandal as given

800

What scandal is, and what not

The sorts of scandalizing

801

The Scripture sense of it

802

Aggravations of the sin

803

Twenty Directions

Chapter XIII

Directions against scandal taken, or an aptness to receive hurt by the words or deeds of others; especially quarrelling with godliness. Or taking encouragement to sin

807

Practical Directions against taking hurt by others

Chapter XIV

Directions against soul-murder and partaking of other men's sins

810

The several ways of destroying souls

How we are not guilty of other men's sin and ruin

812

Chapter XV

General Directions for furthering the salvation of others

813

Chapter XVI

Special Directions for holy conference, exhortation, and reproof

814

Motives to holy conference and exhortation

Directions to christian, edifying discourse

817

Special Directions for exhortations and reproofs

818

Chapter XVII

Directions for keeping peace with all men

819

How the proud do hinder peace

820

Many more causes and cures opened

821

Chapter XVIII

Directions against all theft, fraud, or injurious getting, keeping, or desiring that which is another's

823

Cases of conscience about theft and such injuries

824

Is it sin to steal to save one's life?

May I take that which another is bound to give me, and will not?

825

May I take my own from an unjust borrower or possessor, if I cannot otherwise get it?

May I recover my own by force from him that taketh it by force from me?

May we take it from the rich to relieve the poor?

826

If he have so much as that he will not miss it, may I take some?

May not one pluck ears of corn, or an apple from a tree, &c.?

May a wife, child, or servant take more than a cruel husband, parent, or master doth allow? (May children forsake their parents for such cruelty)

May I take what a man forfeiteth penally?

What if I resolve, when I take a thing in necessity, to make satisfaction if ever I be able?

What if I know not whether the owner would consent?

May I take in jest from a friend, with a purpose to restore it?

May I not take from another to prevent his hurting himself?

May I take away cards, dice, play books, papist books, by which he would hurt his soul?

May not a magistrate take the subjects' goods when it is necessary to their own preservation?

827

May I take from another for a holy use?

Chapter XIX

General Directions and particular cases of conscience, about contracts in general, and about buying and selling, borrowing and lending, and usury in particular

827

General Directions against injurious bargaining and contracts

Cases about justice in contracts

Must I in all cases do as I would be done by?

828

Is a son bound by the contracts which parents or guardians made for him in his infancy?

If parents disagree, how is the child to act?

Is one obliged by a contract made in ignorance or mistake of the matter?

Doth the contract of a man drunk, or in a passion, or melancholy, bind him?

829

May another hold such a one to his contract, or if he give or play away his money?

Am I obliged by covenanting words without a covenanting intent?

May I promise a robber money to save my life, or to save a greater commodity?

May I give money to a judge or magistrate, to hire him to do me justice, and not to wrong me, or not to persecute me?

If I make such a contract may the magistrate take it of me?

If I promise money to an officer or robber under a force, am I bound to pay it when the necessity is over? So of other constrained promises

May I promise a thief or bribe-taker to conceal him, and must I keep that promise?

830

Must I keep a promise which I was drawn into by deceit?

Is it a covenant when neither of the contracting parties understand each other?

Must I stand to a bargain made for me by a friend or servant to my injury?

If I say, I will give one his or that, am I bound to give it him?

831

Doth a mental promise not uttered oblige?

831

May I promise to do a thing simply unlawful, without a purpose to perform it, to save my life?

May any thing otherwise unlawful become a duty upon a promise to do it?

May he that promised for a reward to promote another's sin, take the reward when he hath done it?

Am I bound by a contract without witness or legal form?

May an office in a court of justice be bought for money?

May a place of magistracy or judicature be bought?

May one sell a church benefice or orders?

832

May one buy orders or a benefice?

May I give money to servants or officers to assist my suit?

May I after give by way of gratitude to the bishop, patron, &c.?

May a bishop or pastor take money for sermons, sacraments, or other offices?

May I disoblige another of his promise made to me?

What if it be seconded by an oath?

Doth a promise bind, when the cause or reason proveth a mistake?

What if a following accident make it more to my hurt than could be foreseen?

Or if it make it injurious to a third person?

Or if a following accident make the performance a sin?

Am I bound to him that breaketh covenant with me?

May I contract to do that which I foresee like to become impossibel before the time of performance?

Cases about justice in buying and selling

833

Am I bound to endeavour the gain of him that I bargain with as well as my own?

May I take more for my labour or goods than the worth, if I can get it?

May I ask more in the market than the worth?

How shall the worth of a commodity be judged of?

May I conceal the faults, or make a thing seem better than it is, by setting the best side outward, adorning, &c.?

If I was deceived, or gave more than the worth, may I do so to repair my loss?

If I foresee a cheapness of my commodity. (as by coming in of ships, &c.) must I tell the buyer of it that knoweth it not?

834

May I keep my commodity if I foresee a dearth?

May one use many words in buying and selling?

May I buy as cheap as I can, or below the worth?

May I sell dearer for another's necessity? (cases instanced in)

May I take advantage of the buyer's ignorance?

May I strive to get a good bargain before another?

May I buy a thing, or hire a servant, which another is first about, or call away his chapman?

May I dispraise another's commodity, to draw the buyer to my own?

835

What to do in cases of doubtful equity?

What if the buyer lose the thing bought before payment? (as if a horse die, &c.)

If the thing bought, (as ambergris, jewels, &c.) prove of much more worth than either party expected, must more be after paid?

What if the title prove bad, which was before unknown?

If a change of powers overthrow a title speedily, who must bear the loss?

Cases about lending and borrowing

May one borrow money who seeth no probability that he shall be able to repay it?

May one drive a trade with borrowed money, when success and repayment are uncertain?

836

May he that cannot pay his debts, retain any thing for his food and raiment?

May one that breaketh, secure that to his wife and children, which on marriage he promised, before he was in debt?

May one that breaketh retain somewhat to set up again by compounding with his creditors?

May I in necessity break my day of payment?

May I borrow of one to keep day with another?

May one that hath no probability of paying the last man, borrow of one to pay another?

Is it lawful to take pledges, pawns, or mortgages for security?

May a forfeiture, pledge, or mortgage be kept, on covenant-breaking?

837

May I take the promise or bond of a third person as security for my money?

Is it lawful to lend upon usury, interest, or increase?

Whom are we bound to lend to?

839

Is it lawful to take money on usury, in such cases as the lender sinneth in?

Doth not contracting for a certain sum make usury the more unlawful?

Tit. 5. Cases about lusory contracts

840

Is it lawful to lay wagers about the truth of our discourses?

Is it lawful to lay wagers about horse-races, dogs, hawks, &c.?

May one give money to see games or activities, bear-baitings, plays, &c.?

Is it lawful to play for money at cards, dice, lottery, &c.?

Or at games of activity, as bowling, shooting, running, &c.?

If the loser prove angry and unwilling to pay, may I get it of him by law?

Tit. 6. Cases about losing and finding

Must we seek out the loser to restore what we find?

May I take a reward as my due, for restoring what I found?

May I wish to find any thing in my way or be glad that I find it?

May I not keep it, if no owner be found?

If others be present when I find it, may I not conceal, or keep it to myself?

841

Who must stand to the loss of goods trusted to another?

Tit. 7. Directions to merchants, factors, travellers, chaplains, that live among heathens, infidels, or papists?

Is it lawful to put one's self or servants, specially young unsettled apprentices, into the temptations of an infidel or popish country, merely to get riches as merchants do?

May a merchant or ambassador leave his wife to live abroad?

842

Is it lawful for young gentlemen to travel into other kingdoms, as part of their education? The danger of common travelling

Directions for all these travellers in their abode abroad

845

Chapter XX

Tit. 1. Motives and Directions against oppression

846

The sorts of it

The greatness of the sin of oppression. The cure

847

Tit. 2. Cases about oppression, especially of tenants

849

Is it lawful to buy land of a liberal landlord, when the buyer must needs set it dearer than the seller did?

May one take as much for his land as it is worth

May he raise his rents?

How much below the full worth must a landlord sell his land?

May not a landlord that is in debt, or hath a payment to pay, raise his rents to pay it?

849

If I cannot relieve the honest poor without raising the rent of tenants that are worthy of less charity, may I do it?

850

May I penally raise a tenant's rent, or turn him out, because he is a bad man?

May one take house or land while another is in possession of it?

May a rich man put out his tenants to lay the lands to his own demesnes?

May one tenant have divers tenements?

May one have divers trades?

Or keep shops in several market towns?

Chapter XXI

Cases and Directions about prodigality and sinful waste

851

What it is. Ways of sinful waste

Are all men bound to fare alike? Or what is excess?

What cost on visits and entertainments is lawful? (Whether the greatest good is still to be preferred?)

What is excess in buildings?

852

May we not in building, diet, &c. be at some charge for our delight, as well as for necessity?

When are recreations too costly?

853

When is apparel too costly?

When is retinue, furniture, and other pomp too costly?

When is housekeeping too costly?

When are children's portions too great?

How far is frugality in small matters a duty?

Must all labour in a calling?

854

May one desire to increase and grow rich?

Can one be prodigal in giving to the church?

May one give too much to the poor?

May the rich lay out on conveniences, pomp, or pleasure, when multitudes are in deep necessities?

Directions against prodigality

Chapter XXII

Cases and Directions against injurious lawsuits, witnessing, and judgment

855

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about lawsuits and proceedings

When is it lawful to go to law?

May I sue a poor man for a debt or trespass?

May I sue a surety whose interest was not concerned in the debt?

May lawsuits be used to vex and humble an insolent, bad man?

May a rich man use his friends and purse to bear down a poor man that hath a bad cause?

May one use such forms in lawsuits (declarations, answers, &c.) as are false, according to the proper sense of the words?

May a person plead not guilty?

Is a man bound to accuse himself, and offer himself to justice?

856

May a witness voluntarily speak that truth, which he knoweth will be ill used?

May a witness conceal part of the truth?

Must a judge or jury proceed secundum allegata et probata, when they know the witness to be false or the cause bad, but cannot evince it?

Tit. 2. Directions against these sins

The evil of unjust suits

The evil of false witness

The evil of unjust judgments

857

The cure

Chapter XXIII

Cases of conscience and Directions against backbiting, slandering, and evil-speaking

858

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about backbiting and evil-speaking

May we not speak evil of that which is evil?

May not the contrary be sinful silence and befriending men's sins?

What if religious, credible persons report it?

If I may not speak it, may I not believe them?

May we not speak ill of open persecutors or enemies of godliness?

What if it be one whose reputation countenanceth his ill cause, and his defamation would disable him?

If I may not make a true narrative of matters of fact, how may we write true histories for posterity?

What if it be one that hath been oft admonished?

Or one that I cannot speak to face to face?

In what cases may we open another's faults?

859

What if I hear men praise the wicked, or their sins?

Are we bound to reprove every backbiter?

Tit. 2. Directions against backbiting, slandering, and evil-speaking

Tit. 3. The great evil of these sins

860

Chapter XXIV

Cases of and Directions against censoriousness, and sinful judging

861

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about judging others

Am I not bound to judge truly of every one as he is?

How far may we judge ill of one by outward appearance, as face, gesture, &c.

How far may we censure on the report of others?

862

Doth not the fifth commandment bind us to judge better of parents and princes than their lives declare them to be?

Whom must we judge sincere and holy christians?

Is it not a sin to err, and take a man for better than he is?

Whom must I take for a visible church member?

Whom must I judge a true worshipper of God?

Which must I take for a true church?

Whom must we judge true prophets and true pastors of the church?

Tit. 2. Directions for the cure of sinful censoriousness

863

Tit. 3. The evil of the sin of censoriousness

864

Tit. 4. Directions for those that are rashly censured by others

865

Chapter XXV

Cases and Directions about trusts and secrets

866

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about trusts and secrets

How must we not put our trust in man?

Whom to choose for a trust?

When may I commit a secret to another?

Must I keep a secret when I am trusted with it, but promise it not?

What if a secret be revealed to me, without a desire to conceal it?

What if it be against the king or state?

What if it be against the good of a third person?

What if a man in debt do trust his estate with me to defraud his creditors?

What if a delinquent intrust his person or estate with me to secure it from penalty?

What if a friend intrust his estate with me to secure it from some great taxes to the king?

866

What if a man that suffereth for religion commit his person or estate to my trust?

If a papist or erroneous person intrust me to educate his children in his error when he is dead, I being of his mind, must I perform it, when I am better informed?

867

What if one turn papist, &c. after another hath committed his children to him?

Must I wrong my estate to satisfy a dying friend in taking a trust?

What if after the trust prove more to my hurt than I could foresee?

What if he cast the trust on me, without my promise to accept it?

May I not ease myself of a trust of orphans, by casting it on the surviving kindred, if they calumniate me as unfaithful?

What is a minister to do if a penitent confess secretly to him a heinous or a capital crime?

Tit. 2. Directions about trusts and secrets

868

Chapter XXVI

Directions against selfishness, as it is contrary to the love of our neighbour. The nature and evil of the sin, and the cure

868

Chapter XXVII

Cases and Directions for loving our neighbours as ourselves

870

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about loving our neighbour

How must I love another as myself, in degree, or kind, or only reality?

What is the true nature of love to myself and others?

If none must be loved above their worth, how doth God love sinners?

Must I love all in degree as much as myself?

Must I love any more than myself?

Must I love other men's wife, children, &c. better than my own, when they are better?

Who is that neighbour whom I must love as myself?

Must we love and pray for antichrist, and those that sin against the Holy Ghost?

Must we not hate God's enemies?

May I not wish hurt to another more than to myself?

Tit. 2. Directions to love our neighbours as ourselves

872

Tit. 3. The reasons and motives of love to our neighbour

Chapter XXVIII

Cases of, and Directions for, the love of godly persons as such

873

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about love to the godly

How can we love the godly, when none can know another to be sincere?

Must we love them as godly that give no account of the time, manner, or means of their conversion?

What if they are so ignorant that they know not what faith, repentance, conversion, &c. are?

Must I take the visible members of the church for truly godly?

Must we take all visible members equally to be godly and lovely?

874

Must we love all equally, strong and weak, that seem sincere?

Must we love those better that have much grace and little useful gifts, or those that have less grace and more profitable gifts, for the church?

874

Must we love him as godly who liveth in any heinous sin?

Must an excommunicate person be loved as godly or not?

Can an unsanctified man truly love a godly man?

875

Can he love him because he is godly?

May he love a godly man because he would make him godly?

Doth any such love the godly more than others?

Do all true christians love all the godly that wrong them, or differ from them?

What is that love of the godly which proveth our sincerity, and which no hypocrite can reach to?

Tit. 2. Directions for true loving the children of God

Tit. 3. Motives or mediative helps to love the godly

876

Tit. 4. The hinderances and enemies of christian love

877

Tit. 5. The counterfeits of christian love

878

Tit. 6. Cases and Directions for intimate, special friends

Is it lawful to have an earnest desire to be loved by others; especially by some one above all others?

Is it lawful, meet, or desirable, to entertain that extraordinary affection to any, which is called special friendship? or to have one endeared, intimate friend, whom we prefer before all others?

879

Is it meet to have more bosom friends than one?

Is it meet for him to choose any other bosom friend, that hath a pious wife? and is any so fit for this friendship as a wife?

Is it meet to love a friend for our own commodity? Must I or my friend be the chief end of my love or friendship?

May we keep any secret from such a friend? or have any suspicion of him, or suppose that he may prove unfaithful?

880

May we change an old bosom friend for a new one?

What love is due to a minister that hath been the means of my conversion?

What is the sin and danger of loving another too much?

What must be the qualifications of a bosom friend?

881

Twenty things necessary to such a friendship; so rare as prove it rare

Directions for the right use of special friendship

882

Chapter XXIX

Cases and Directions for loving enemies and doing them good

883

Tit. 1. Whom must I account and love as an enemy?

Why and how must an enemy be loved?

Must I desire God to forgive him while he repenteth not?

What if he be my enemy for religion, and so an enemy to God?

What if my benefits enable and imbolden him to do hurt?

884

May I not hurt an enemy in my own defence, and wish him as much hurt as I may do him?

Must kings and states love their enemies? How then shall they make war?

Tit. 2. Motives to love and do good to enemies

Tit. 3. Directions for the practice

885

Chapter XXX

Cases and Directions about works of charity

885

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about works of charity?

What are the grounds and motives of good works?

885

What is a good work which God hath promised to reward?

886

What particular good works should one choose at this time, that would best improve his master's stock?

887

In what order must we do good works, and who must be preferred?

Is it better to give in life-time or at death?

Must we devote a certain proportion of our incomes? and what proportion? A letter to Mr. Gouge on that question

Tit. 2. Directions for works of charity

894

Chapter XXXI

Cases and Directions about confessing sins and injuries to others

895

Tit. 1. Cases about confessing sins and injuries to others

When must we confess wrongs to those that we have wronged?

What will excuse us from such confessions?

Must I confess a purpose of injury which was never executed?

When must sins against God be confessed to men?

Tit. 2. The Directions for just confessing sin to others?

896

Chapter XXXII

Cases and Directions about satisfaction and restitution

896

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about satisfaction and restitution

What is satisfaction, what restitution, and when a duty? Why did they restore fourfold by the law of Moses?

How far is satisfaction and restitution necessary?

Who are bound to make it?

897

To whom must it be made?

What restitution is to be made for dishonouring rulers or parents?

How must satisfaction be made for slanders and lies?

And for tempting others to sin and hurting their souls?

And for murder or manslaughter?

Is a murderer bound to offer himself to justice?

Or to do execution on himself?

898

What satisfaction is to be made by a fornicator or adulterer?

In what cases is a man excused from satisfaction and restitution?

What if restitution will cost the restorer more than the thing is worth?

What if confessing a fault will turn the rage of the injured person against me to my ruin?

Tit. 2. The Directions for practice

Chapter XXXIII

Cases and Directions about our obtaining pardon from God

899

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about obtaining pardon from God

Is there pardon to be had for all sin without exception?

What if one oft commit the same heinous sin?

Is the day of grace and pardon ever past in this life?

May we be sure that we are pardoned?

Can any man pardon sin against God, and how far?

Is sin forgiven before it is committed?

Are the elect pardoned and justified before repentance?

Is pardon or justification perfect before death?

900

Is our pardon perfect as to all sins past?

May pardon or justification be lost or reversed?

Is the pardon of my own sin to be believed fide divina? and is it the meaning of that article of the creed?

May one in any kind trust to his own faith and repentance for his pardon?

What are the causes and conditions of pardon?

Tit. 2. Directions for obtaining pardon from God

Chapter XXXIV

Cases and Directions about self-judging

901

Tit. 1. Cases of conscience about self-judging

What are the reasons, uses, and motives of self-judging?

What should ignorant persons do whose capacity will not reach to so high a work as true self-examination and self-judging?

How far may a weak christian take the judgment of his pastor or others about his sincerity and justification?

Tit. 2. Directions for judging of our actions

Tit. 3. Directions for judging of our estates, to know whether we are justified, and in a state of life

902