8. By his endeavours to raise heresies, and the means.. The history of the Simonians, Nicolaitans, gnostics, and other heretics, before popery The introduction and use of popery The introduction and success of Mahometanism The raising of errors and heresies since the Reform- Of the late miscarriages in England, by the prelates and their adversaries, and the rise of our wars and sects. Satan's enmity to Reformation...... 14. Christ's personal conflicts and conquests; with thirty particular discoveries of the enmity.. 3. The sin against the Holy Ghost so unreasonable and impious, that it is no wonder if it be unpardon- Other uses for practice, with directions to conquer PAGE The causes of this arrogancy and questioning of God's word.. Use. The frowardness of man's corrupt heart in the matters of OF NATURAL RELIGION OR GODLINESS. CHAP. I. Of the nearest truths, and, 1. Of human nature, or the knowledge of ourselves; where note that the THE UNREASONABLENESS OF INFIDELITY, MANIFESTED IN FOUR DISCOURSES. 1. The Spirit's extrinsic witness to the Truth of Christianity, on Gal. iii. 1—3. With a determination of this question, Whether the miraculous works of Christ and his disciples do oblige those to believe who never saw them? Aff. II. The Spirit's internal witness to the Truth of Christianity, on 1 John v. 10. Ill. For prevention of the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. A demonstration, that the Spirit and Works of Christ were the finger of God: or, the holy war between Christ and Satan, on Matt. xii. 22—33. A Postscript against Mr. Lyford's Exceptions. IV. The arrogancy of reason against Divine Revelations repressed: or, proud ignorance the cause of infidelity, and of men's quarrelling with the word of God, on John iii. 9. TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD BROGHIL, Lord President of the Council of State for the Government of Scotland. MY LORD, WHEN you were pleased to tell me your thoughts of the acceptableness of the attempt in the second part of my book called "The Saint's Rest,' and of how great use it would be to have that work yet more fully done; I told you, I had some popular sermons more by me on that subject, which, though they look not like such a full performance, might yet, as a supplement to the aforesaid discourse, afford some help to the settling of tempted souls in the faith. Upon some unexpected occasions which fell out when I was with you, with which your Lordship was well acquainted, I put the first of these papers then into the press, which moved so slowly, that it hath not reached the last till now. Such as they are, I here present them to you, with the thankful acknowledgment of those great undeserved respects and favours which I then received from you. And as I first present them to your hand, so do I wish the first and fullest effects of them upon your heart: for though I doubt not but you are established in the foundation of the faith, and resolved in these great matters long ago, and therefore are none of those for whom I principally publish this book; yet may the strongest believer on earth receive an increase of their faith, even in the principles and essentials of the christian verity. Oh! what raised, vigorous, and constant affections should we have to God and the life to come; and what resolute and invincible industry for the attainment of them, with a contempt of all these terrestrial toys, if we were not so defective either in a sound belief, or a serious consideration of these transcendant, incomparable, but invisible things! We should then apply ourselves to the living God, and study his pleasure, and wholly fit ourselves thereto, and hang upon him with greater observancy and expectation, than any sensual, ambitious parasites do study to humour the princes of the earth, or conform themselves to their uncer |