Baclcsliding cometh from losing complacency in, or desire of, God, m. 177.
Preventives of, ix. 216 ; be sure that your resolutions for good and
the world to come be thoroughly fixed and settled, ib. ; sit down and
count the cost of being holy christians, ib. ; consider the necessity
of standing to God's law, whatever persecutions and sufferings yoa
INDEX. 163
meet witli, 21 T ; be established in the peace of God, and never break this peace to obtain outward peace, ib. ; when troubles surprise you, consider how unbeseeming it is to take offence at God's providence, ih. : consider that the hurt Satan intendeth vou is not to hurt your bodies, but your souls, ih. ; consider how short is the prosperity of the wicked, ih.
Bad times, to be good in, requires much holiness and heavenly-mindedness, viii. 312 ; faith, or foresight of things to come, 313; Zealand love to God, ih. ; caution, ib. ; sincerity, 314 ; a fixed resolution, ih. ; a true sight of the worth of spiritual things above carnal, ib.
Balaam a notable instance of a natural conscience, i. 135.
Balaams counsel did more hurt than his curse, xviii. 45.
Baptism, how otjght we to improve ? v. 459.
Baptism, our initiation into the service of God. doth not only imply work, but fight, i. 260. Implies a dedication and giving up ourselves to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, according to their personal relations, ii. 104 ; a badge and a bond, 107, Implieth a renunciation of sins, v. 313.
A perpetual bond upon us, obliging us to repentance and holy life, v. 469 ; improvement of, the best preparation for the Lord's supper, ih. ; if not improved, will be a witness to solicit vengeance against us, ih. ; how to improve, ih. ; personally and solemnly own the covenant made with God in infancy, 470 ; often renew the sense of obligation, ib. ; use frequent self-reflection, ih. ; use it as a great help in all temptation, 471. Signifieth Christ's death for sin, and our death to sin, xi. 171 : also Christ's resurrection and oi:r newness of life, 172 ; strongly obligeth us to walk in newness of life, 173 ; is representing, 175 ; sealing, 177 ; oblici;ins, ih. An engagement upon christians to abhor carnal living, sii. 47. A solemn vow and profession to look after the benefits of Christ's death
and mortify the deeds of the body, xiii. 194. The use and respect of, with reference to remission of sin, xxi. 280.
Baptismal vow, wilful sin a renouncing of, viii. 393.
Bajjtist, his message to Christ not for his own satisfaction, but his disciples', ii. 79. Obstacles to the success of his preaching, iii. 195 ; the levity and rash- ness of the people, 196 ; evil influence of the scribes and pharisees, ib. ; offence at John's boldness, ih.
Basil the Great, reply to Modestus when threatened with banishment, xiil 8.
Beasts, their tractableness to man contrasted with man's disobedience to God, iv. 291 ; art and skill to subdue, a relic and argument of our old superiority, 292.
Beavii/ not always a sign of excellency, xiv. 423 ; a gift of God, but not to be rested in or abused to feed pride, 424.
Beginning, a title of Christ (Col. i. 18), means that he is the root and the beginning of the renewed state, i. 454.
Belief of the truth, not a cold assent, but such a lively faith as brings us under the power of it, iii. 107 ; consists of fiducial assent and obedi- ential confidence, 116.
Believer, sad condition of, under God's corrective discipline, though he do not vacate his justified state, ii. 234.
164 INDEX.
Believers, why so few, iii. 198 ; ignorance, ib. ; easy slightness, ih. ; careless security, 199; light esteem of Christ, 200; presumptuous conceit that we have entertained Christ already, ib. ; hardness of heart, 201 ; self-confidence, ib.; carnal fears, 202 ; carnal reasonings from our sins, ih. ; carnal apprehensions of Christ, ib. ; fewness of, no disgrace to the gospel, 203.
True, cannot wholly fall away, iii. 359.
Are the seed of Christ, iii. 388 ; by reason of the gift of the Father,
389 ; by purchase, ib. ; because begotten by his power and efficacy,
390 ; by his image formed in them, ib.
Are friends of God, iv. 258 ; as they are perfectly reconciled unto him in Christ, ib. ; all dispensations and duties that pass between them are passed in a friendly way, ib. ; communication of goods, ib. ; communication of secrets, 259 ; conformity and correspondency of will and affection, ib. ; mutual delight and complacency, ib. ; the special favour and respect God beareth them, 260.
Given to Christ as subjects of his kingdom, x. 206, 318 ; as scholars in his school, 208, 319 ; as children of his family, ib. ; as the wife of his bosom, 209, 319; as members of his body, 209, 320; given to him in charge, 210 ; those thus given are the elect and none other, ib. ; he undertook for them to die for them, and that they should be con- verted, justified, sanctified, guided to glory, and that not one of them should miscarry, 212 ; the Father did not save by his own power, but committed to the Son, partly in majesty, ib. ; in justice, 213; in love and mercy, ib.