CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XL
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The THIRD direction proposed : Load thy conscience with the guilt of the pei-plexing^ distemper — The ways and means whereby that may be done — Tlie foukth direction : Vehement desire for deliverance — The fifth : Some distempers rooted deeply in men's natural tempers — Considerations of such distempers; ways of dealing with them — The srxiH direction : Occasions and advantages of sin to be prevented — The seventh direction : The first actings of sin vigorously to be opposed .......... 56
CHAPTER XII.
The EIGHTH direction : Thoughtfulness of the excellency of the majesty of Citod— Our unacquaintcdness with him proposed and considered . . . .63
CHAPTER XIII.
The NINTH direction : When the heart is disquieted by sin, speak no peace to it until God speak it— Peace, without detestation of sin, unsound ; so is peace measured out unto ourselves— How we jnay know when we measure our peace unto our- selves—Directions as to that inquiry— The vanity of speaking peace slightly: also of doing it on one singular account, not universally . . . .70
CHAPTER XIV.
The general use of the foregoing directions— The great direction for the accoraplish- meut of the work aimed at : Act faith on Christ— The several ways Avhereby thia may be done — Consideration of the fulness in Christ for relief proposed — Great expectations from Christ— (rrounds of these expectations: his mercifulness, his faithfulness— Event of such expectations; on the part of Christ; on the part of believers— Faith peculiarly to be acted on the death of Christ, Rom. vi. 3-6— The work of the Spirit in this whole business . . . . .78
OF TEMPTATION: THE NATURE AND POWER, OF IT, ETC.
Pkefatort Note by the Editor . . . . . . .88
To the Reader .......... 89
CHAPTER I.
The words of the text, that are the foundation of the ensuing discourse— The occa- sion of the woi'ds, with their dependence— The things specially aimed at in them— Things considerable in the words as to the general purpose in hand — 01 the general nature of temptation, wherein it consists— The special nature ot temptation — Temptation taken actively and passively— How God tempts any— His ends in so doing— The way whereby he doth it— Of temptation in its special nature: of the actions of it— The true nature of temptation stated . . 91
96
VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER II.
WJmt it is to "cuter into teiuptation "— Not barely being tempted— Not to be con- quered by it— To fall into it— The force of that expression— Things required unto entering into temptation— Satan or lust more than ordinarily importunate — The soul's entanglements— Seasons of such entan,:;lements discovered— Of the "hour of temptation," Rev. iii. 10, what it is— How any temptation comes to its hour— How it may be known wlien it is so come— The means of prevention prescribed by our Saviour— Of watching, and what is intended tliereby— Of l)rayer ..........
CHAPTER III.
The doctrine- Grounds of it ; our Saviour's direction in this case— His promise of preservation— Issues of men entering into temptation— 1. Of ungrounded pro- fessors—2. Of tlie clioicest saints, Adam, Abraham, David— Self-consideration as to our own weakness- 'J'lie power of a man's heart to withstand temptation considered— The considerations that it useth for that purpose— Tlie power of temptation ; it darkens the mind — The several ways whereby it doth so— 1. By fixing tlie imaginations— 2. By entangling the aftections— 3. Temptations give ftiel to lust — The end of temptation considered, Avith the issue of former tempta- tions—Some objections answered . . . . . . .101
CHAPTER IV.
Particular cases proposed to consideration — The first, its resolution in sundry par- ticulars—Several discoveries of the state of a soul entering into temptation .117
CHAPTER V.
The second case proposed, or inquiries resolved — What are the best directions to prevent entering into temptation?— Those directions laid down — The directions given by our Saviour: "Watch and pray"— What is included therein — (1.) Sense of the danger of temptation — (2.) That it is not in our power to keep our- selves—(3.) Faith in promises of preservation— Of prayer in particular . 122
CHAPTER VI.
Of watching that we enter not into temptation — 'J'he nature and efficacy of that duty — The first part of it, as to the special seasons of temptation — The first sea- son, in unusual prosperity— The second, in a slumber of grace — Third, a season of great spiritual enjoyment— Tlie fourth, a season of self-confidence . ,127
CHAPTER VII.
Several acts of Avatchfulness against temptation proposed — Watch the lieart— What it is to be watched in and about — Of the snares lying in men's natural tempei-s —Of peculiar lusts — Of occasions suited to them— Watching to lay in provision against temptation — Directions for watchfulness in the fiist approaches of temp- tation— Directions after entering into temptation . . . . .131
CHAPTER VIII.
The last general direction. Rev. iii. 10, Watch against temptation by constant " keeping the word of Christ's patience "—What that word is — How it is kept — How the keeping of it will keep us from the " hour of temptation." . . 137