precise fellow yet know that it were better for thee to go to heaven with a few in the narrow gate then with many to the broad way to destruction Matth. 7.13 FINIS A Table for the Ninth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans A ABrahams true seed who they are page 69 Acts of God have special and particular ends page 143 Adoption external what it signifieth page 26 Anabaptists confuted page 37 86 Anabaptists and Familists confuted page 137 Anathema what it is page 18 Arminians confuted concerning Election and Vniversal Redemption page 84 86 Astrology judicial censured page 78 79 80. Assurance of Salvation how attained page 206 c. B BLame of sin apt to be laid from our selves page 160 Blindnesse of minde the misery of it page 141 Blindnesse of ' the world in misjugding of the state and condition of Gods children page 225 Bring born under the same position of the stars preventeth not difference of disposition page 78 C CAlled some at one hour some at another page 101 Calling effectual an evidence and token of one in Covenant with God page 61 Calling effectual a ground of good assurance of Salvation page 205 A special evidence of Election page 206 without respect of persons or qualification page 209 Calling wrought by the word and Spirit of God page 216 Called ones have a special work of the word upon their Souls page 222 Cavil against the Godhead of Christ answered page 40 Censuring of any rashly especially to be Reprobates taxed and reproved page 60 Children of God their honourable estate page 35 use 2. Children of Godly Parents are not therefore Gods children page 56 Children of such how said to be holy page 56 57 admonition to such page 57 Children of the flesh and of promise page 62 63 Christ incarnate and and became true man and why page 36 37 Christ brought not his body from Heaven page 37 Christs incarnation comfortable to his page 38 Christ true God proved 39 use of it page 41 Christ both God and man in one person page 43 Christ to be thought and spoken of with reverence due to his name page 44 Christians described page 53 54. Christians their spiritual duty page 60 Comparing our selves with God is useful and beneficial page 167 168 Chosen ones of God differ not from others till God distinguish them page 59 Conscience why placed in the soul of man viz. to be witnesse and register page 8 9 Conscience not right till sanctified page 10 erroneous and unsanctified taxed page 11 Contentment one special ground of it page 99 a necessary Christian duty page 175 Continuance in sin dangerous page 189 Covenants what they are page 27 Churches enemies can do nothing but what God hath appointed page 143 Curiosity the danger of it page 170 D DAvids respect to Saul though wicked page 30 Daies their superstitious observation reproved page 123 Decrees of God concerning Election and reprobation most just page 116 Drawn to Christ how men are page 91 Different estates of men in the world ordered by Gods decree and appointment page 98. Dignity of Gods children discovered page 224 c. E ELection is the chusing of a certain number to salvation and not of all page 84 Election reprobation depend meerly upon the good pleasure of God and not of man page 85 Election daependeth not upon good works or upon faith foreseen page 93 Comfort to such as are assured of their Election page 87 91 Election of God is sure and unchangeable page 89 The doctrine of Election must be rightly applyed but not abused page 91 Election a sure and true note of it page 92 Election the Decree of it most effectual page 100 Election assurance of it possible to be atttained page 101 assurance of Election how attained page 101 102 Elected ones special Characters of them page 111 their condition whilst remaining in their natural estate page 220 Enemies of the Church can do nothing against it but by Gods permission and appointment page 144 and yet are justly blamed and punished and why ibid. Erroneous opinions justly to be abhorred page 118 proceed chiefly from carnal Reason page 158 Excellencies in others are duly to be acknowledged and reverenced page 29 Final estate of any not rashly to be judged page 101 Freewill the doctrine of it confuted page 131 132 G GLory and happinesse of the Saints in heaven is wholly of Gods free mercy page 202 assurance of interest in it how attained page 203 Glory of God ought to be dearer to us then our own salvation and why page 22 23 God the title of it never given to any one man in Scripture Magistrates how called gods page 40 God in every act of his hath a particular end page 143 God hath lawful power over man to dispose of him at his pleasure as the potter over the clay page 179 God no tyrant nor unrighteous ibid page 180 Gods Infinite power against sin and sinners will be one day manifested page 192 Reasons and uses of it shewed page 191 Gods power saving and destroying ibid. Gods revenging power irresistible page 192 Grief Christians ought to grieve for the misery of others especially of their souls page 11 12 Grief whether lawful for such as suffer justly by the Magistrates for evil doing page 34 H HAtred how God hated Esau shewed page 106 Hardnesse of heart a most grievous judgement page 141 God must not be provoked to inflict it ibid. Gods children shall not be given up to it page 142 Hardening of some a free act of God page 153 Hardening of some according to Gods will page 154 How God hardeneth the heart ibid. Whether Gods Hardening do justly excuse hardened sinners yea or no page 163 Hearers of the word their special duty page 129 130 Directions for profitable hearing of the Word of God page 115 Heart hard a grievous judgement see hardnesse Heart soft and melting a special mercy page 155 Heart so qualified how attained page 155 156 Hierusalem how and in what respect an holy City page 224 folly of Popish Pilgrimages thither ibid. Hope of salvation where to be placed page 132 Humility one special ground of it page 177 I IMpudency of some discovered page 170 Indifferency in matters of Religion not good page 118 Inferiors ought to be obedient to supeirours page 30 31 Israelites all are not that are so called page 52 Israelites indeed righly described page 26 47 Jewish people most honourable and why page 36 our duty towrds them ibid. Justice of God in case of Election c. vindicated page 179 Justice of God in destroying the wicked is to be magnified page 195 K KIndred in the flesh our duty towards them page 25 especially to seek and endeavour their salvation ibid. neglecters of their kindred reproved page 26 Kindred and race of Gods servants honourable page 34 L LOve if true begetteth grief for the party beloved page 15 Love to the people of God the tryal of it page
to the ground and not be accomplished to whom it belongeth it is impossible but that they should be accomplished and made good unto those that have title to them whatsoever standeth in opposition against them or gainsayeth them For the further confirmation of this point read Matth. 5.18 the Lord Jesus speaking of the Law of God and thereby meaning the whole Word of God he maketh it more firm and stable then the whole frame of heaven and earth heaven and earth shall passe away they shall perish but not one jot or tittle of the Law shall escape unfulfilled every tittle of the Word of God whether promise mercy threatning or Judgment and especially the Promises it shall not escape unfulfilled and in 2 Sam. 2.28 we read the Lord having promised to David to build him a house David doth assuredly rest upon the accomplishment of it and he groundeth his assurance thus For why thou are God and thou canst not change thou art most true and Rom. 3.3 4. The Apostle speaketh thus of the Jewes Though some of the Jewes do not believe shall their unbelief make the Word and Promise of God of none effect God forbid Let God be true and every man a lyar God is certainly true and in Josh 23.15 saith Joshua Now all things are come unto you which the Lord your God hath promised so in Act. 13.32 33. Paul saith to the Jewes the promise made unto the Fathers God hath fulfilled unto us their children evidence of Scripture might be plentifully brought for the clearing of this truth That all the Promises of God touching good things of this life or that to come they cannot possibly be frustrate but shall come to passe in Gods appointed time The Reasons and grounds of it are these two Reason 1 First from the Nature of God because God himself is unchangeable and therefore this word is proportionable and answerable to himself yea God is truth it self al-sufficient and able to make good his word and to fulfill his promise and to make it good in despight of all oppositions whatsoever whether it be men or devils he is the truth it self the God of truth and he is also infinite in power Reason 2 Secondly because all the promises of God they are made unto his in Christ he is the ground and foundation of all the sweet and comfortable promises unto his in him they are made good unto his children as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 1.20 In Christ Jesus all the promises are yea and in him amen they are ratified and confirmed in him now Christ Jesus is a most sure and firm foundation all the devils in hell cannot shake this foundation and therefore doubtlesse upon this ground we may resolve that all the promises of God concerning this life and the life to come they are firm and stable and shall certainly in Gods appointed time be fulfilled Object I but say some God promiseth many excellent temporal blessings unto his children we read in the Book of God of abundance of promises that God doth promise unto his children in this life which many of his children never come to see Answ It is true indeed but yet withal know thus much that even these temporal things are fulfilled as they are propounded they are propounded conditionally with the condition of obedience and with the exception of a Crosse if his children do fear and obey him or if otherwise the Lord see it good to exercise them with some crosse or some affliction and therefore if that many of the children of God do not enjoy the Promises it is because the Lord is pleased to chastise them for their sinnes and he is pleased so to do for their good because the Lord seeth it better and fitter for them to be exercised with afflictions and yet the promises of God are fulfilled according to the tenour that it is made unto them so they are fulfilled with condition of obedience and exception of the Crosse Psal 34.10 Gods Children shall want nothing that God hath promised that he seeth to be good concerning their temporall estate or the good estate in the life to come thou shalt want nothing now for the Application of it First of all this truth that you have here delivered That the Promises Vse 1 of God shall certainly be accomplished whatsoever seemeth contradictory unto them this discovereth unto us what a foul sin it is to be discouraged and daunted to be dejected and cast down and to walk uncomfortably heavily sadly and unchearfully either because they be under some great affliction already or because some great tryal is like to come upon them and hereupon they begin to be sad whence cometh this unchearfulnesse in a Child of God that he walketh thus sadly surely from the bitter root of unbelief because Gods Children consider not as they ought to do the truth and the stability of the comfortable promises of God they trusted not God barely on his Promises where God hath promised I will be with thee when thou walkest through the water and passest through the fire Esay 43.2 in the time of their greatest distresse God will be with them they do not believe and trust this promise of God that he will deliver them in all danger to uphold them and assist them he hath made this promise and this they believe not but withdraw their trust and affiance from this promise of God and so they greatly dishonour God for he that resteth upon the bare promise of God and stable word of God when he hath nothing else to rest upon he doth assuredly honour God wonderfully if we rest upon God when we see all things opposite to us then to rest upon the stable promise of God hereby we shew our zeal unto God but he that withdraweth his heart back from trusting on God dishonoureth God and robbeth him of his truth and maketh God no better then a lyar for if we trust not God when means seem to be with us much lesse will we trust him when all things seem to be contrary unto us therefore we ought carefully to avoyd this sinne This truth in the second place That all Gods Promises are certain Vse 2 this truth duly considered and thought upon may afford matter of strong comfort and great consolation to as many of us that find our selves to be such that have right and title to the gratious Promises of God but if we find our selves to be none of those here is no comfort belonging unto us wicked and ungodly persons that go on in a course of evil howsoever the Doctrine is most sweet and comfortable thou that art an ignorant and a gracelesse person if so be thou findest not thy self qualified aright thou hast no right nor title to the gracious Promises of God but if thou findest thy self to be called to faith and holinesse seconded with a holy and godly life and conversation thou findest thy self now believing in Christ thou art not a debauched wretch or
16 Love whether due to the none Elected page 21 Love wisheth well to the souls of the beloved page 21 22 Love of the father in sending of Christ page 38 How God loved Jacob expounded page 105 Love of God eternal cause of all good to his page 106 Love of God to us how it differeth from our love unto others page 107 He should endeavour to see the love of God in all that we enjoy ibid. Love of God to his Eternal 1â—8 and how page 109 how God loveth his Elect when enemies ibid. Lump expounded page 176 M O MAn what is meant by it page 166 Mary the blessed Virgin saved not by bearing Christ in her womb but in heart by faith page 28 Merit of works the doctrine of it confuted page 94 see more 201 2. use 202 1. use Mercy of God towards his chosen dependeth onely on the good pleasure of his will page 124 125 Mercy of God to his then sweeeest when compared with his wrath on thewicked page 196 Mercy of God to his Elect and Chosen shall be one day manifested page 198 the special uses of that point page 199 Mercy of God to his Elect and Chosen is directed to his own glory page 200 Mercy of God is to be magnified page 201 Mercy of God the ground of our happinesse in heaven page 202 Ministers of God are to manifest both love and wisdom when they deliver harsh things to the hearers p. 3. Ministers must yet take heed of daubing or man pleasing ibid. Ministers must take care to apply the word of God to the hearers aright page 51 128 How they assure men of salvation page 129 use 1. Ministers of the word must use to deal plainly with the hearers page 228 N NAtural estate a miserable condition page 220 Natural estate of the Elect considered ibid. Necessity is twofold shewed page 110 Nicodemus his carnal reasoning page 158 O OBservation of times lawful and unlawful page 79 superstitious Observation of dayes reproved page 122 Opinions false and erroneous drawn from misconceit are very hardly left page 71 Opinions false and Erroneous to be disclaimed and utterly abhorred page 118 Opinions Erroneous arise chiefly from fleshly and carnal Reasoning page 158 P Painting of faces abominable and why page 174 Patinece of God towards the wicked and Reprobate shewed and the reason of it page 185 186 the end and use of Gods patience therein page 187 18 Patience of God abused very offensive to him page 188 Motives not to abuse the patience of God page 190 Papists can be no true friends to Protestant States page 32 use Papists overthrow the truth of Christs humane natures page 37 Popish slander answered and confuted page 41 78 Popish doctrine confuted page 94 132 133 Popish practise observed and reproved page 103 Papists abuse the written word and how page 121 137 Papists impudent cavil answered page 172 Popish Pilgrimages censured and reproved page 224 Peter whether ever Bishop of Rome questionable page 35 Piety the great force and power of it noted page 34 of Parents beneficial to children page 35 Places distinction taken away under the new Testament page 223 Pharaoh King of Egypt why raised up of God page 135 How God is said to harden his heart page 136 Preachers in applying the word may fitly and lawfully say this is a word of comfort c. page 71 Preachers must apply general truthes of God to particular cases and concernments page 128 Presumption how best beaten down in us page 167 Pride one special ground of it discovered Priviledge none whatsoever outward can make graceless persons accepted of God page 28 No outward Priviledge to be rested in no not outward profession of Religion ibid. Promises misapplyed are not comfortable page 50 Promises Rom. 9. what meant by them page 27 Promises of God firm and stable page 48 49 comfort to such as are interested in them ibid. Promises of two sorts page 71 Promises made good all the sorts of them page 72 Profane Proverb reproved page 35 Man fitly compared to Potters vessel with the use of it page 177 178 Q Quarrelling with Gods will very abominable page 173. Questioning the will of God great impudency page 169 not tolerable to do it page 171 Questioning of God a weaknesse in the Saints ibid. R REason carnal apt to gather false conclusions from true principles page 157 the ground of Erroneous Opinions page 158 Carnal Reason apt to abuse Scripture page 159 Religion the glory of a Nation page 32 Reprobation the decree of it from Eternity page 109 c. Reprobates how they sin of necessity page 110 what things cannot be found in them page 111 Reprobation the doctrine of it revealed in Scripture page 139 Reprobates hardened by God and how page 140 Gods highest end in their destruction page 194 Revelation besides or against Scripture to be rejected page 137 Revenge not to be sought by Christians and why page 193 S SAdnesse of Gods children reproved page 49 use Salvation of man wholly in Gods hand page 133 Stars their position not to be observed page 78 79 Separatists reproved and confuted page 52 53 Similitudes in Preaching must be of things known page 177 Scripture if obscure in one place is usually explained and made plain in another page 63 Scripture best expounder of it self page 65 Scripture sufficient to resolve all doubts page 77 136 used by the Apostles to prove doctrines page 103 Scripture sufficient in fundamentals and why page 137 how known to be the word of God page 138 Scripture expresse words not alwaies necessary to be used in preaching proved page 215 Scripture apt to be perverted by wicked men page 65 but ought not to be abused page 215 Successions of persons without truth and piety nothing page 35 Swearing lawful p. 5. but vain reproved ibid. Swearing must be by the true God onely p. 6 7 T TRuths of God how to be delivered page 113 subject to be perverted page 114 Truth in word and heart go together p. 7 V VIrginity whether justly to be preferred before Marriage yea or no page 28 Vessel of clay is man even the strongest page 177 178 Vessel of wrath explained page 183 Vessel of wrath and child of wrath differ page 183 Elect and Reprobate both Vessels page 184 Vessels of mercy how known ibid. W VVEaknesse of Saints discovered page 171 Wilful sinners dangerous condition page 193 Will of God in Predestination Independent page 180 Will of God irresistible page 163 Will of God ever backed by his power page 164 the right use of it ibid. Will of God in all things just and holy page 122 not to be opposed by carnal reason page 123 Will of God overthroweth not the freedom of mans will page 164 Will of God not to be questioned page 169 not to be quarrelled against page 172 Quarrellers against Gods will noted page 174 Wish of the Apostle Rom. 9.3 lawful page 19 the extent of that wish weighed page 20