How the church is said to be undefiled, . . . 79, 80 How Christ's righteousness, not being in the chm-ch, may yet
be said to be the church's, .... 80
How we, being sinners, may yet be said to be undefiled, . 80-83
Christ's love to us should make us love him again, . . 84
Direction how afflicted in conscience are to judge of themselves, 84 Christians are not to wrong themselves with false judging of
their estates, ...... 84, 85
It is not an easy thing to bring the soul and Christ together .
into near fellowship, ..... 86 False reasons, excuses, and pretences hinder communion with
Christ, . . . . . . .86,87
Excuses of the flesh to hinder our communion with Christ
answered, ...... 87, 88
Excuses of worldlings to hinder their communion with Christ
answered, ...... 88
Causes of the false pretences and excuses which hinder many
from holy duties, ...... 89-91
Helps to keep us from putting off and delaying holy duties by
false reasons and excuses, .... 91-99
That Christ doth use some times to leave his church and chil- dren, ....... 100, 101
Ends why Christ leaves his children, . . . 101, 102
Christians wanting comfort are not to be censured, . . 103
We are to prepare for desertion, . . . . 103
The cause of Christ's withdrawing comfort fi-om us rests in
ourselves, . . . . . .103
Christ never altogether leaves the church, . . . 104
Christ's grace is the cause of our grace, . . . 104 We find experience of the grace of Christ especially when we
stir up ourselves to endeavour, .... 105
CONTENTS.
IX
God's graces are sweet, ....
Outward means, without the Spirit of Chi-ist, are ineffectual,
Christ always leaves some grace before he offers to depart.
Sins of omission bring grief and shame,
Christ hath our affections in his government,
Christ is wonderful in his saints and in his goodness towards
them, ......
Truth of affection will discover itself in outward expressions. The word of Christ, though for the present it be not effectual
yet afterwards it will be, . Christ so leaves his children sometimes, that their hearts ftiU
them for want of his presence. Causes of the fainting of Christian souls, The difference between the true child of God and others, Christ is many times present with the church when she finds
and feels it not, ..... How we are to judge of ourselves in a dead estate. We should depend upon Christ when he seems absent from us. How to know God hears our prayers. Directions how to carry ourselves when we pray without success,
or in any state of desertion. It is no easy thing to be a sound Christian, . Governors of the chui'ch and state compared to watchmen. Reasons why God useth watchmen, . How the church was wounded by the watchmen, How the church's veil is taken away. Why the watchmen are the wounders of the church, . We are not to think the worse of any for the disgraces of the
time, ......
True grace grows up with difficulties, '.
If we find not comfort in one means, we must have recourse to
another, ......
Resemblances between Jerusalem and the church,
How to know we are daughters of JeiTisalem,
We are to desire the prayers of others, . .
Love-sick, what it is.
How to know we are sick of love to Christ,
How is the church said to be the fairest among women ?
In what respects the church calls herself black.
There is a wondrous force in the examples of Christians to stir
up one another, ..... The excellent use of holy conference. Christians should be inquisitive. Whence comes the church's fauiiess under such seeming foul
ness and disgrace ? . . . .
How we are to judge of God's people under seeming disgi'aces Christians are to improve the gifts of others by questions, Our endeavours must be to make religion lovely. There is no envy in spiritual things, Christ is a most beautiful person, ... Christ, as he is beautiful and good, so he is beyond all com
parison good, .....
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109 110
111
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114 115 116 116
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121, 122
122
123 123 123 124 124 125, 126 129 130
132 133 134
135
135, 136
136
137
137
137, 138
139
CONTENTS.
Page
Christ only was king, priest, and prophet, . . . 140 Christ's transcendent excellencies serve to draw those that are
not yet in Christ unto him, and to comfort those that are in
Christ, ....... 142
The desperate folly of most men who choose base, transitory
things, and refuse Christ, .... 143 Christians ought to make Christ the rule of their choice in other
things, ....... 144
Means to enable us rightly to value Chi'ist, and highly to esteem
of him, ....... 144, 145
There is somewhat of God in every creature, . . 147
Why the church is so exact in particularising her beloved, . 148
"Why Christ is set out by an head of gold, . . . 149
Christians should be suitable to Christ their head, . . 150
Why Christ is said to have doves' eyes, . . . 151 The manifestation of Christ to his children by his Spirit in any