Proportion and propriety, the grounds of satisfaction to the soul

The creatures insufficient to satisfy the desires of the soul

The ground hereof, the vast disproportion between the soul and the

The creature vain, 1. In its nature and worth

Therefore we should not trust in it, nor swell with it

The creature vain. 2. In its deadness and inefficacy

Therefore we should not rely on it, nor attribute sufficiency to it

How to use the creature as a dead creature.

2

ib.

17

power

31

33

1. Consider its dependance, and subordination to God's

2. Sanctify and reduce it to its primitive goodness

How the creature is sanctified by the Word and Prayer

3. Love it in its own order.

The creature vain, 3. In its duration

The roots of corruption in the creature

Corrupt minds are apt to conceive an immortality in earthly things. 40

The proceedings of God's providence, in the dispensation of earthly

things, wise and just

Correctives to be observed in the use of the creature

1. Keep the intellectuals sound and untainted

2. By faith, look through and above them

3. Convert them to holy uses

Great disproportion between the soul and the creature

It is vexation of spirit

Cares are thorns; because, first, they wound the spirit; secondly,

they choke and overgrow the heart; thirdly, they deceive; fourth-

ly, they vanish

. 52

3. The deceitfulness of the creature

ib.

56

59

60

62

63

. 65

66

. 67

ib.

68

70

It is lawful to labour and pray for the creature, though it vex the spirit 74

We should be humbled in the sight of sin, which hath defaced the

creation

We should be wise to prevent those cares, which the creatures are

apt to breed

Irregular cares both superfluous and sinful

How to take away or prevent vexation

76

78

79, 82

83

1. Pray for that which is convenient to thy abilities and occasions 83

2. Take nothing without Christ

The spirit is the most tender and delicate part of man

A heart set on the world is without strength, passive or active

1. Unable to bear temptations

1. Because Satan proportioneth temptations to our lusts

2. Because temptations are edged with promises and threatenings 92

3. God often gives wicked men over to believe lies

11. Unable to bear afflictions

III. Unable to perform any active obedience with strength
How to use the creature as a vexing creature

Natural light not sufficient to understand the Scriptures

How the commandment came to St. Paul, and how he was former-

ly without it

.

The Spirit by the commandment convinceth a man to be in the

state of sin

A man may have the law in the letter, and be without it in the

power and spirit

Ignorance doth naturally beget blind zeal, and strong mispersuasions 106

Saving knowledge is not of our own fetching in

Nature teacheth some things, but it cannot thoroughly convince

The Spirit convinceth; first, by opening the rule, which is the law 113

The strength of sin twofold, To condemn us

To operate or stir in us

It hath the strength of a Lord.

Husband

. 113

How sin hath its life and strength from the law by the Obligation. . 114

The Spirit by the commandment convinceth us,

of original sin; either imputed, as Adam's sin

Or inherent, as the corruption of nature

In natural corruption consider, 1. The universality of it in Times. 120

Corruption of The mind

The conscience and heart
The will.

The memory and whole man

2. The closeness and adherency of it to nature

How the body of sin is destroyed in this life

Why God suffereth the remainders of corruption in us

Continually

. 135

3. The contagion of it in our best works

4. The fruitfulness of it bringing fruit Suddenly

The great error of those who either mitigate, or deny original sin. 173

In our humiliations for sin, we should begin with our evil nature

We should be jealous of ourselves, and of our evil hearts

. 190

. 191

We should hold war with our corruptions

. 193

We should be patient under the weight of our concupiscence

Wherein the strength of lust lies

. 194

. 195

How to withstand concupiscence in all the ways thereof

The Spirit by the commandment convinceth us,

1. Of actual sin, with the several aggravations thereof

The Spirit convinceth,

2. By discovering the condition of the state of sin

1. It is an estate of extreme impotency to good

Because of our natural Impurity.

Enmity

Infidelity

Folly

In the wicked there is a total impotency

Whether all the works of natural men are sinful

How God rewardeth the good works of wicked men

How the good works of wicked men proceed from God's Spirit

Whether a wicked man ought to omit his alms, prayers, and religious

services

Page.

. 208

. 20y

. 210

ib.

ib.

. ib.

. 212

213

. 219

220

221

In the best there is a partial impotency

224

What a man should do when he finds himself disabled and deaded

in good works

227

. 229

2. It is an estate of extreme enmity against God and his ways

How the Spirit by the commandment doth convince men to be in

the state of sin.

The Spirit by the commandment convinceth men to be under the

guilt of sin

There is a natural conviction of the guilt of sin; and

There is a spiritual and evangelical conviction of the guilt of sin

What the guilt and punishments of sin are

ROM. vi. 12.

Some will abide in the time of this mortal life in the Most Holy

Our death with Christ unto sin, is a strong argument against the

reign of it

Difference between the regal and tyrannical power of sin

Whether a man belong unto Christ or sin

Sin hath much strength From itself

From Satan and the world

From us

What it is to obey sin in the lusts thereof

Whether sin may reign in a regenerate man

How wicked men may be convinced, that sin doth reign in them . 261

Two things make up the reign of sin, 1. In sin, power

Three exceptions against the evidence of the reign of sin in the

wicked

1. There may be a reign of sin, when it is not discerned

Whether small sins may reign

Whether secret sins may reign

Page.

Whether sins of omission may reign

2. Other causes, besides the power of Christ's grace, may work a

partial abstinence from sin, and conformity in service

1. The power of restraining grace.

Differences between restraining and renewing grace.

2. Affectation of the credit of godliness .

3. The power of pious education.

4. The legal power of the Word.

. 266

. 267

ib.

. 268

. 271

. 273

. 274

3. Differences between the conflicts of a natural and spiritual con-

The apostle's reasons against idolatrous communion .
The doctrine of the pollution of sin.

The best works of the best men mingled with pollution
The best works of wicked men full of pollution.

What the pollution of sin is

The properties of the pollution of sin.

. 285

ib.

Why God requireth that of us which he worketh in us

How promises tend to the duty of cleansing ourselves

1. Promises contain the matter of rewards, and so presuppose ser-

vices

2. Promises are efficient causes of purification

1. As tokens of God's love

.

ib.

ib.

. 295

. 296

. 297

Love the ground of making, fidelity of performing, promises ib.

2. As the ground of our hope and expectations

3. As objects of our faith

4. As the rays of Christ, to whom they lead us

5. As exemplars, patterns, and seeds of purity

3. Many promises are made of purification itself

Rules directing how to use the promises

1. General promises are particularly, and particular generally ap-

pliable.

2. Promises are certain, performances secret

3. Promises are subordinated, and are performed with dependence 320