VIII. Sin. The eighth sin re- proveable in them, is, the neglect of giving and taking due reproofs from each other ; contrary to Lev. xix. 17. " Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." And Christ's own rule, Matth. xviii. 15. " Go, and tell him his fault between thee and him alone." And so for taking reproofs, see Psal. cxli. 5. " Let the righteous smite me," &c.
IX. S'm. The ninth sin is, mu- tual strifes and animosities, not seasonably and prudently compo- sed among themselves, but scan- dalously exposed to the view of the world ; contrary to the apos- tle's rule, 1 Cor. vi. 5, 6. " Is there not a wise man among you, &c. But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers ? Naw therefore,there is utterly a fault among you."
X. S'm. The tenth sin is, the privateness of their spirits, center- ing too much in their own con- cerns; expresslycondemnedjPhil.
public officers, nor by sinful par- tiahty including some, and ex- cluding others (to whom it is as due, and who may have more need) from the benefit thereof; 1 Pet. iv. 10. " As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another."" 1 Tim. V. 21. " Observe these things, without preferring one be- fore another, doing nothing by partiality."
Ylll. Duty. Their eighth duty is, cheerfully to communicate their outward good things for the relief of their brethren ; Heb. xiii. 16. " To do good, and to communi- cate, forget not." And the bet- ter to enable them hereunto, to be diligent in their calHngs; Eph. iv.28. " Working with his hands, that he may have to give to him that needeth." And especially to make comfortable provision for their ministers, not by way of courtesy, but duty ; 1 Cor. ix. 14. " Even so hath God or- dained. That they which preach the gospel, should live of the gos- pel."
IX. Duti/. Their ninth duty is, not only to relieve the distres- sed members of Christ, but to seek out, and visit them ; to know their spiritual and temporal wants, in order to a full discharge of that duty; Jam. i. 27. " Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is This, to visit the fatherless and widows in theii' affliction," &c.
X. Duti/. Their tenth duty is, to put charitable constructions upon doubtful words and actions; and if either will admit a double
SIX BENEFITS OF WALKIXG BY THE FOREGOINO RULES. 589
ii. 21. " All seek their own, not sense always to take it in the fair- the things that are Jesus Christ's." est, accordinjj to the law of chari- And contrary to scripture exam- ty; ICor. xiii. 7. " Charity bear- pie, 2 Cor. xi. 29. ''^ Who is eth all things, believeth all things, weak, and I am not weak ? Who hopeth all things, endureth all is offended, and I burn not .''" things.'' And such a charity will
defend and maintain church peace
Siv Benefits of walking hy these Rules.
I. Benefit ©TRICT and heedful attendance to these rules, will put a lustre upon religion before the world, and make it glorious in the eyes of such as now despise it. Tit. ii. 10. " Adorn the doc- trine of God our Saviour in all things." Which he here speaks^ to encourage all to ordinate walking.
II. Benefit. This will allure and win the world over to Christ, and wonderfully prosper and further the design of the gospel. Phil, ii, 15, 16. " That ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, &c. That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
III. Benejit. This w411 effectually stop the mouths of all detract* ing and blaspheming enemies of religion. 1 Pet. ii. 15. " For so is the will of God, that with well-doing, ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."
IV. Benefit. This will eminently glorify God, which is the ulti- mate end of our beings. Matth. v. 16. " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
V. Benefit. This will fill the people of God (by way of evidence) with much inward peace. Gal. vi. 16. " And as many as walk ac- cording to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy upon the Israel of God."
VI. Benefit. This will secure the presence of God with, and among us ; whence results both the efficacy of ordinances, and the stability and glory of the churches : For Christ walks among the golden candlesticks, and threatens the churches, in case of defection from gospel rules, " to remove the candlestick out of his place, ex- pept they repent," Rev. ii. 1, 5.
Of the principal Matters contained in the whole.
Abasement of Christ, several instances of it in his in- carnation 223 Vid. Humiliation. Ahilities of men to use the means of grace, how to be im- proved 140 Adoption^ wherein that which is sacred agrees with, and differs
from that which is civil Adrian (the emperor,) his lamentable cry when dying 401
Affections^ the melting of them, from a sense of Christ's suffer- ings, is no infallible sign of grace 226 What care we should take of being deceived by the workings
A beheving meditation on Christ's sufferings, is of great force
Agony (of Christ) in the garden described 277
Useful inferences from the consideration of it 279
Amyntas^ a remarkable story of his interceding for his brother 169
Anathema Maranatha, the meaning of this expression 50
Antinomians, some of their vile opinions detected 439
Apology ; Final rejecters of gospel-grace can make none for
Apostasy of Christ's disciples in his sufferings 846
Assumption of our nature by the Son of God 73
Vid. Incarnation. Articles of peace with God, what they are, 477. Vid. Peacf. Ascension of Christ proved, and several circumstances of it ex- plained 505 The remarkable manner of it shewn in several particulars 505 A sixfold proof of the necessity of it 508 Several useful inferences concerning it ,509
592 AN ALrHABETlCAL TABLE FOR THE FIRST VOLTTiiE;
Page JbELiEVERs, the safety of their condition in Christ 11(1
Ought when dying to commit their souls to God 444?
What things are impHed in their committing their departing
Their encouragement to commend their spirits into God's
Should commit all their concerns into God's hand 452
Bernard, (saint) an observable remark of his concerning Christ's
Blindness of mind, The terribleness of this judgment 188
Blood of Christ, one drop of it not sufficient to redeem the world 15?
Whence the preciousness of it rises S29
Body of Christ, was extraordinarily fitted for being sensible of
Bosom of God, what is signified by Christ's being there 44
Bpa^iutv, The meaning of this word (in Col. iii. 15.) S6S
Breach, what a woeful one sin has made between God and us 110 Buried, The reasons of Christ being buried 456
Vid. Funeral. Benefits of Christ, how well they are suited to the case of sin- ners 483 Blood of Christ, The principal ends of shedding it 468
vid. Death. Body of Christ, How it was raised from the dead, shewn in
several particulars 489