III. Rules by which to judge of our Uprightness, IV. Particular Marks of Uprightness and Hypocrisy, Page 209 210 215 217 V. Dissuasives from Hypocrisy, and Motives to Uprightness, 231 CHAPTER XII. Of lawful Care, and Freedom from anxious Care. I. The Description of lawful Care, 244 IV. Reasons against anxious Care, and for cheerful Trust in II. Farther Excellencies and Advantages of the Peace of God, CHAPTER XIV. Of the Impediments of Peace. 257 267 I. False Hopes and false Fears described, . 269 II. The Causes of Presumption or false Peace, 271 III. Several Grounds of false Peace discovered and removed, 273 CHAPTER XV. Concerning false Fears. I. Of needful holy Fear, II. The Springs and Cure of Causeless Fears, (1.) Of those which arise from natural Distempers, (2.) From the Greatness of Sin, III. Of Fears concerning not being elected, IV. Of Fears concerning the Sin against the Holy Ghost, V. Of Fears arising from an accusing Conscience, VII. Fears of misusing the Means of Grace, VIII. Of Fears arising from Doubts of God's Love, (1.) Because of Affliction, (2.) From want of Affliction, (3.) From inward Horrors and Distresses, (4.) From the Greatness of Afflictions, (5.) Because Prayers are not answered, (6.) From the Want and Weakness of Faith, . 328 331 336 338 IX. Reasons why Christians think they have no Faith, con sidered, . 340 (1.) In what true Faith consists, 343 (2.) The Difference between Faith and Assurance, 344 (3.) The Nature and Properties of Saving Faith, (4.) True Faith discerned by its Effects, 349 358 X. Fears concerning the Truth of Sanctification, (1.) Because not deeply humbled, 360 ib. (2.) From the Intrusion of evil and blasphemous Thoughts, 366 (3.) From the Prevalence of some gross Sin, (4.) From Want of affectionate Sorrow for Sin, (5.) From Defects in Spiritual Duties, (6.) From Deadness of Affection after Duties, (7.) From the greater Improvement of others in Piety and (2.) Who shall persevere, (3.) How far Christians may decline in Grace, B 3 (4.) The Difference between the Falls of the Sincere and (5.) Why the Faithful shall not finally apostatise, XII. Sundry Doubts removed, in particular, about falling (1.) Fears of being Hypocrites only, (2.) Because of the Decay of Grace and Comfort, (3.) Because of the Apostacy of others, (4.) From not being able to endure Persecution, (5.) From the Deceitfulness of the Heart, (6.) From sensible Weakness and Despondencies, Page 394 396 401 . ib. 402 406 407 409 ib. (7.) From not performing the Condition of the Promises, 410 (8.) From the want of such Grace as God hath promised (9.) From the Power and Number of Temptations, 414 418 XIII. The Christian's Ground of Hope against all Fears, 420 CHAPTER XVI. Means to attain the Peace of God. I. Errors in misjudging of a Person's State removed, II. Rules for a right Judgment of ourselves, 423 424 428 431 DR. OWEN TO THE READER. It is now above thirty years ago since I first perused the ensuing Treatise.. And although until this present occasion I never read it since; yet the impression it left upon me in the days of my youth, have, to say no more, continued a grateful remembrance of it upon my mind. Being, therefore, desired to give some testimony unto its worth and usefulness, I esteem myself obliged so`to do, by the benefit I myself formerly received by it. But considering the great distance of time since I read it, and hoping perhaps that there might be, since that time, some little improvements of judgment about spiritual things in my own mind; I durst not express my thoughts concerning it, until I had given it another perusal: which I have now done. I shall only acquaint the Reader, that I am so far from subducting my account, or making an abatement in my esteem thereof, that my respect unto it, and valuation of it is greatly increased; wherein also I do rejoice, for reasons not here to be mentioned. For although, perhaps, some few things might be expressed in different words or order, yet there is generally that soundness and gravity in the whole doctrine of the book, that weight and wisdom in the directions given in it for practice, that judgment in the resolution of doubts and objections, that breathing of a spirit of holiness, zeal, humility, and the fear of the Lord, in the whole; that I judge and am satisfied therein, that it will be found of singular use to all such as in sincerity desire a compliance with his design; namely, such a walking with God here, that he may come to the enjoyment of Him hereafter. I know, that in the days wherein we live, there are other notions esteemed higher or more raised, and those otherwise expressed with more elegancy of words, and pressed with more appearing strenuous ratiocinations than those contained in this book, with which the generality of professors seem to be more taken and satisfied. But for my part, I must say, that I do find in this, and some other practical discourses of the worthy ministers of the past age, that authority and powerful evidence of truth, arising from a plain transferring of the sacred sense of the scripture in words and expressions suited. to the experience of gracious, honest, and humble souls, that the most accurate and adorned discourses of this age do not attain or rise up to. Such, I say, is this discourse; the wisdom and ability of whose Author discover themselves from first to last, not in expressing his mind with enticing words of man's wisdom," but in evident deduction of all his useful directions from express testimonies of scripture, in such a way as to give light unto them, with |