CASES OF CONSCIENCE, ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER AT THE CASUISTICAL LECTURE IN S. PIKE AND S. HAYWARD. TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION, OR THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF BEING SOME PIOUS THOUGHTS OFFERED IN ANSWER TO SEVERAL PRACTICAL CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, Mal. in. 16.-Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another, &e. PHILADELPHIA: JOSEPH WHETHAM, SOUTH FOURTH STREET. PREFACE. THE following Answers were, amongst others, delivered in a weekly Lecture, dur ing the last winter, with a view to remove the doubts of the timorous Christian, quicken him in his way to Zion, to guard against presumptuous hopes, and promote the life of religion in the soul. That these important ends might be answered, the auditory were desired to supply us with serious Cases of Conscience, arising from the difficulties they met with in the course of their experience, and to conceal their names, that so they might, with the greater freedom, propose their respective Cases, and that we, in our solution of them, might be kept from the least degree of fear or restraint. Through the reputed importunities of our friends, and from satisfactory evidences of usefulness, we have been prevailed upon to commit to public view a select number of these answers, though somewhat contracted. And we hope, that those into whose hands they may come, will read them with Christian candour. And may the Spirit of God, without whose peculiar blessing all attempts will be ineffectual to answer any saving purposes, make these a powerful means of bringing them nearer to Christ, and of making them more lively and active in his service! If this happy end is but in the least answered, we shall rejoice, and give God all the glory, disregarding all the little contempt that may be cast upon us and our imperfect labours. It must be acknowledged to be a very difficult and critical work to distribute to every one their proper portion, and so to divide the word of truth, as to give suitable encouragement to those to whom it belongs, and yet to leave the hypocrite or presumptuous sinner no room to hope. It is equally difficult to attempt to destroy the vain confidence of the sinner, without disturbing the peace, and discouraging the minds of those who are the real followers of Jesus. Who is sufficient for these things? We readily confess our insufficiency; but yet hope, that the Lord has enabled us to be in some measure faithful, so far as our spiritual knowledge extends, and may he enable you who read, to deal faithfully with your own souls, that so neither our labour, nor your perusal, may be in vain! LONDON, May 30, 1755. S. PIKE. As the Cases of Conscience have already been well received by the religiously disposed part of mankind, the Editor thought that additional Questions of the same nature, selected from the Pious Thoughts published in the Spiritual Magazine, which breathed the same evangelical spirit, would be acceptable to serious persons, and doubts not, but such as have a regard for Gospel doctrine, will find the same useful instruction and comfort from perusing the Questions that are now added. LIST OF THE CASES. 139 ual pride after special enlargements in duty? S. PIKE, CASE XVI.-Whether it is necessary to evidence a person's conversion, that he see and acknowledge himself to be the chief of sinners, though he has not been guilty of outward abominations? Or, what that sense of sin is, which is an evidence of conversion, and is, therefore, accompanied with salvation? S. HAYWARD, CASE XVII.-When a person has received a temporal mercy which he has prayed for; how shall he know whether it is granted in answer to prayer, and comes to him as a covenant blessing? S. PIKE. 146 153 CASE XVIII.-How may a Christian know that he grows in grace? S. HAYWARD, CASE I.-How shall we distinguish between the workings of natural affection, and the real exercise of grace in religious duties? S. PIKE, Page 9 CASE II-What methods must a Christian, in declining circumstances, take to recover a healthful vigorous frame of soul, so as to be able to maintain real and close communion with God amidst the hurries and business of this world? S. HAYWARD, 17 CASE III-A serious person who scruples to comply with the usual practice of playing at cards, desires to know whether these seruples arise from a needless tenderness of conscience, or from the faithful monitions of the Spirit of God? S. PIKE, 29 CASE IV.-How may a person judge when a promise or threatening comes from God or is brought by Satan to the soul? S. HAY-CASE XIX.-How may a deserted believer WARD, find out the particular sin or sins whereby he has grieved the Spirit of God? S. PIKE, CASE XX.-How should we read the word of God, so as may be for his glory, and the advantage of our souls? S. HAYWARD, CASE XXI.-How may a Christian attain to perform the duties of serious meditation in a right manner? S. PIKE, CASE XXII-When may a Christian be said to pursue the affairs of the present life so as to prevent his advance in grace, dishonour God, and injure his own soul? S. HAYWARD, 42 CASE V.-How far may a person judge of the strength or weakness of his faith by the brightness or darkness of his frames ? S. PIKE, 52 CASE VI.-Whether a person, who has been a great sinner, has any ground to expect pardon, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost? and whether he may partake of all the ordinances of God? S. HAYWARD, 61 -CASE VII.-What judginent should that person pass upon himself, who knows himself to be in a dark and corrupt frame, but finds himself greatly unaffected with it, and stupid under it? S. PIKE, 70 CASE VIII.-How may the times of family and closet duty be best regulated to the glory of God, our own comfort, and the advantage of those about us? S. HAYWARD, 78 CASE IX.-Is it not presumptuous for a person to hope he has an interest in Christ when he sees little or nothing in himself, but reason to doubt and question it? S. PIKE, 88 CASE X.--Is going to plays and other theatrical performances consistent with the profession and practice of Christianity? S. HAYWARD, 95 CASE XI-How may a person, who is desirous of following the dictates of providence in every respect, know the mind and will of God in any particular circumstance, whether temporal or spiritual? S. PIKE, 104 159 168 177 183 190 CASE XXIII.-How may a professor, who fears lest his experiences are counterfeit and not genuine graces, come to such satisfaction concerning his state, as shall encourage his continual reception of the Lord's Supper? S. PIKE, 197 CASE XXIV.-Whether a person may desire the blood of Christ to be applied to his soul, and yet be a hypocrite? S. HAYWARD, 208 CASE XXV.-How shall a person know whether the obedience he performs flows from true faith? S. PIKE, 216 228 237 CASE XXVI.-How should we perform the CASE XII.--Should not a person who is not |