Constantius Ckloriis, though a heathen, his respect for the consistency of christians, v. 284.
Consubstantiation, Lutheran doctrine of, confuted, x. 279.
Contentment is a quiet temper of mind about outward things, ii. 306 ; opposite to murmurings, ib. ; to distrustful and distracting cares, 307; to covetous desires, ib. ; motives to, ib. ; God is a sovereign Lord, ib. ; it is the wisdom and the will of God not to give to all alike, 308 ; earthly things are only useful to us in the present life, ib. ; comfort, safety, and happiness of this life lies not in abundance, 309 ; nothing abso- lutely necessary besides food and raiment, ih. ; these not hard to be obtained, 310 ; felicity of this life must be measured by its bearing upon a better, ib. ; a moderate estate freest from temptation, 311 ; God knows best what will do us good or hurt, ib. ; is only learned in Christ's school, 312 ; grounded in faith, humility, and weanedness from the world, ib. ; its fruits, 313. A necessary part of a holy life, xiii. 337.
Contimiing in prayer, reasons for, ix. 54 ; because the force of importunity is very great, ib. ; a deliverance is never so sweet, nor so thankfully improved, if it come at the first call, 55 ; because things often and earnestly asked of God come with the greater fulness of blessing when they come, ib. ; it argues an ill spirit when we will not continue pray-
186 INDEX.
ing, 56 ; disobedience, ib. ; weakness of faith, ih. ; want of love, or coldness of love, ib. ; want of patience, or tarrying God's season till the promise bring forth, 57 ; we must not only continue, but continue instant, 58 ; because it is not enough to kee^) up the duty, unless we keep up the afifections that must accompany the duty, ib. ; a seeming repulse or denial should make us more vehement, ib. ; God's dearest children are not admitted at the first knock, ib. ; we must not only continue praying when Christ seemeth to neglect us, but when he giveth a contrary answer, ib. ; whether God answereth or no, it is the duty of faith to answer itself, 59. Controversies about trifles, great evil of, v. 117.
Religious, caixtions as to conducting, v. 2G2.
The word to be made the judge of all, x, 460.
Of the present age, importance of a clear and satisfactory knowledge in, xi. 123 ; rules regarding, ib. Controversy, every private christian not bound to study, vi. 293. Conversation, what kind of, honoureth religion, ii. 107 ; sucli as is carried on with diligence and seriousness, ib. ; such as is governed by the respects of the other world, 108; such as is characterised by exact purity and holiness, 109,
Is generally either profane and sinful, vi. 126 ; or idle and vain, ib. • or tattling, ib. ; or worldly, ib.
Should be edifying, xviii. 392 ; because our tongue is our glory, ib. ; because holy conference and edifying discourse is a means of spiritual improvement, ib. ; because it is a great comfort and quickening to confer together of holy things, ib. ; because the well-ordering of our words is a great point of Christianity, 393 ; in order to, we must get a good stock of sound scriptural knowledge, 394. Converse and conference of godly persons comfortable and pleasant, and much
excelleth the merriest meetings of the carnal, vii. 287. Conversion, God keeps, in his own hand, i. 79.
In the work of, God doeth all ; after, he still concurreth, i. 138 ; and that not only in the general, but in every act from the beginning of the spiritual life to the end, 139.
How described in scripture, i. 141 ; enlightening the mind, ib. ; open- ing the heart, ib. ; regeneration, ib. ; resurrection, ib. ; creation, 142 ; not in power of man to convert himself, ib. ; objections answered, 143.
In producing, God works according to man's nature and the principles thereof, i. 144 ; and to men's particular characters and tempers, ib. ; almighty power goes along with persuasion, 145 ; this power secret, but prevailing, ib.
Of a sinner more pleasing to God than his destruction, i. 388.
More hard to continue in, than to convert ourselves at first, iii. 179.
Of a soul, how difficult, iii. 207 ; obstacles to, ib. ; Satan, ib. ; the perverseness of man's heart, ib.
Beginning of, not in man's power, iv. 369.
Of a sinner properly God's work, yet ascribed to men as the ministers and instruments of it, iv. 473, 478.
Evident in fruit if not in feeling, v. 20.
So described in scripture as to indicate the helplessness of man, V. 479.
'Causes of putting ofi", vii, 144 ; unbelief, ib. ; security, ib. ; averseness of heart from God, ib. ; love of the world and of present delights and contentments, 145 ; heinousness of putting off, ib. ; it is flat
INDEX. 187
disobedience to God, ib. ; ingratitude and unthankfulness for God's eternal love, ih. ; base disingenuity, ib. ; base self-love, when we can be content to dishonour God longer, provided that at length we may- be saved, 146 ; great injustice and injury to God, ib. KJonversion, does every one know bis own, or the way of it ? vii. 439 ; usually, yet there are exceptions, ib. ; manner of, ib. ; none converted but are first convinced of their danger and evil estate, ib. ; conviction, when it is strong and serious, cannot be without some compunction, ib. ; but the degrees of compunction are various, 440 ; as to the degrees, because no certain rule can be given, the measure must not be looked after, but the effects, 441 ; these are a hearty welcoming of Jesus Christ into the soul, ib. ; a thorough hatred of sin, ib. ; lively diligence in the spiritual life, ib.