6Chapter II.
193The Great Benefits, And The Great Efficacy Of Praise Offered To God.
7Of The Fall Of Adam.
194Chapter XLII.
8Chapter III.
195The Reasons For Which We Ought Daily To Offer Praises To God.
9Showing How Man Is Renewed In Christ Unto Eternal Life.
196Chapter XLIII.
10Chapter IV.
197To Praise God Is The Highest And Most Honorable Employment Of Men.
11Of True Repentance, And The True Yoke And Cross Of Christ.
198Chapter XLIV.
12Chapter V.
199Of Patience, Which Triumphantly Endures The Cross, And Waits For The Promised Glory.
13Wherein Does True Faith Consist?
200Chapter XLV.
14Chapter VI.
201Divine Consolation Produces Patience Under Afflictions.
15Showing How The Vital Power Of The Word Of God Should Be Manifested In Man Through Faith.
202Chapter XLVI.
16Chapter VII.
203Motives To Patience; And, The Benefits Of The Cross.
17The Law Of God, Written In The Hearts Of All Men, Convinces Them That On The Day Of Judgment They Will Be Without Excuse.
204Chapter XLVII.
18Chapter VIII.
205I. Some Sentences And Testimonies Of Scripture.
19No One Can Find Comfort In Christ And His Merits, Who Does Not Truly Repent.
206II. Examples Of Patience.
20Chapter IX.
207III. Consolations.
21The Unchristian Walk Of Many Persons In Our Day, Is A Cause Of The Rejection Of Christ And Of The True Faith.
208Chapter XLVIII.
22Chapter X.
209There Is No Affliction For Which God Has Not Provided Appropriate Consolation. The Consolation Which He Affords Is Always Greater Than Our Misery; This Consideration Should Sustain And Confirm Our Patience.
23The Children Of The World Are Against Christ, And, Consequently, Their Life And Their Christianity Are Both Alike False.
210Chapter XLIX.
24Chapter XI.
211The Truth Of God And The Certainty Of His Promises, Ought To Dispose Us To Patience.
25Showing That He Does Not Truly Repent, Is Not A Christian, And Not A Child Of God, Who Does Not, In His Life And Conduct, Follow Christ; Also, Wherein The New Birth And The Yoke Of Christ Consist.
212Chapter L.
26Chapter XII.
213Showing How Hope Is Tested In Seasons Of Adversity; It Maketh Not Ashamed.
27The True Christian Dies Unto Himself And The World, And Lives In Christ.
214Chapter LI.
28Chapter XIII.
215Comfort For Those That Are Weak In Faith.
29The Christian Ought Willingly To Die Unto Himself And The World, For The Sake Of The Love Of Christ, And For The Sake Of That Future And Eternal Glory, For Which We Were Created And Redeemed.
216Chapter LII.
30Chapter XIV.
217Comforting Instructions For Those That Are Laboring Under Great Temptations In Spirit.
31The True Christian, Who Imitates Christ, Hates His Own Life In This World, And Forsakes The World.
218Chapter LIII.
32Chapter XV.
219Consolations For Those Who Labor Under Great Spiritual Temptations.
33Showing How The “Old Man” Daily Dies, And The “New Man” Is Daily Renewed, In A True Christian; Also, Wherein Self-Denial Consists, And What Is Meant By The Christian's Cross.
220Chapter LIV.
34Chapter XVI.
221Comforts Under Secret And Spiritual Temptations Of The Devil.
35A Conflict Is Constantly Maintained In The Christian Between The Spirit And The Flesh.
222Chapter LV.
36Chapter XVII.
223The Reasons For Which God Sometimes Delays His Comfort And Assistance.
37The Inheritance And Possessions Of Christians Are Not Of This World; They Should, Therefore, Regard Themselves As Strangers In It, While They Make Use Of Earthly Things.
224Chapter LVI.
38Chapter XVIII.
225Showing That In Seasons Of Trial The Consideration Of The Exalted Patience Of Christ, And Of The Future And Eternal Glory, Will Alleviate The Burden Of The Cross.
39Showing How Greatly God Is Offended, When Man Prefers Things That Are Temporal To Those That Are Eternal; And How Great The Evil Is, When Our Affections Cleave To The Creature And Not To The Creator.
226Chapter LVII.
40Chapter XIX.
227Consolations Against The Fears Of Death.
41He Who Is Most Of All Conscious Of His Misery, Is Most Of All Acceptable To God; And His Christian Knowledge Of His Misery, Urges Him To Seek The Grace Of God.
228Conclusion Of The Second Book.
42Chapter XX.
229Preface To The Third Book.
43A Truly Christian Sorrow For Sin Promotes The Daily Amendment Of The Life Of Man, Makes Him Meet For The Kingdom Of God, And Fits Him, In An Increasing Degree, For Eternal Life.
230Chapter I.
44Chapter XXI.
231Of The Great Internal Treasure Of An Enlightened Believer.
45Of The True Worship Of God.
232Chapter II.
46Chapter XXII.
233True Faith, And Converse With The Soul, The Only Means Of Attaining To This Inward Treasure.
47A True Christian Is Known Primarily By Love, And By A Daily Amendment Of Life.
234Chapter III.
48Chapter XXIII.
235The Whole Treasure Of The Inner Man Depends On Faith, Namely, God, Christ, The Holy Spirit, And The Kingdom Of God.
49He Who, In Christ, Desires To Grow In Grace, Is Often Compelled To Withdraw From Worldly Society.
236Chapter IV.
50Chapter XXIV.
237The Believing Soul Seeks God Internally, In Itself; Its Beauty And Blessedness When It Is United With God.
51Of The Love Of God And Our Neighbor.
238Chapter V.
52Chapter XXV.
239Showing How A Man May Be Drawn To God; Also, Wherein Spiritual Poverty Consists; And, What The Degrees Of Humility Are.
53The Love Of Our Neighbor, More Particularly Considered.
240Chapter VI.
54Chapter XXVI.
241The Seat Of God In The Soul.
55Wherefore Our Neighbor Is To Be Loved.
242Chapter VII.
56Chapter XXVII.
243Of The Dignity Of The Soul; Of True Repentance; And, Of Divine Mercy.
57Wherefore Our Enemies Are To Be Loved.
244Chapter VIII.
58Chapter XXVIII.
245The Calling Of God Is Earnest And Sincere, And Directs Us To Come To Him.
59Showing How The Love Of The Creator Should Be Preferred To That Of All Creatures; And How Our Neighbor Is To Be Loved In God.
246Chapter IX.
60Chapter XXIX.
247The Purifying Influence Of True Faith.
61Of That Reconciliation To Our Neighbor, Without Which God Withdraws His Grace.
248Chapter X.
62Chapter XXX.
249Showing How The Natural Light In Us Must Disappear, And The Light Of Grace Shine Forth.
63Of The Fruits Of Love.
250Chapter XI.
64Chapter XXXI.
251God, The Light Of The Soul, Directing Us Not To Judge Our Neighbors.
65Pride And Self-Love Corrupt And Destroy Even The Best And Noblest Gifts.
252Chapter XII.
66Chapter XXXII.
253The Christian Ought Daily, Once At Least, Wholly To Abstract Himself From All External Objects, And Retire Into His Own Soul; The Advantages Of This Course.
67Great Gifts Do Not Demonstrate A Man To Be A Christian, But Faith That Works By Love.
254Chapter XIII.
68Chapter XXXIII.
255Showing How The Love Of God Enters Into The Soul, When It Is Empty Of The Love Of The Creatures.
69God Has No Respect To The Works Of Any One; But Judges Of Works According To The Heart.
256Chapter XIV.
70Chapter XXXIV.
257Of The Exercise Of Patience And Love.
71Showing That God Alone, Without Any Human Aid, Is The Author Of Our Salvation, And That We Are To Submit Unreservedly To His Grace; Also, That Christ's Merit Is Not Imputed To The Impenitent.
258Chapter XV.
72Chapter XXXV.
259Showing How Christ, The Eternal Word Of The Father, Perfects His Work In The Hearts Of The Faithful, By Love And Humility.
73All Wisdom, Arts, And Sciences, Yea, Even The Knowledge Of The Whole Scripture, Are Vain, Without A Holy And Christian Life.
260Chapter XVI.
74Chapter XXXVI.
261Showing How The Holy Spirit Operates In Our Souls.
75He Who Does Not Live In Christ, But Gives His Heart To The World, Has Only The Outward Letter Of The Scriptures, But He Does Not Experience Their Power, Or Eat Of The Hidden Manna.
262Chapter XVII.
76Chapter XXXVII.
263Signs Of The Presence Of The Holy Spirit In Us.
77He Who Does Not Follow Christ In Faith, Holiness, And Continued Repentance, Cannot Be Delivered From The Blindness Of His Heart, But Must Abide In Eternal Darkness; And He Cannot Have A True Knowledge Of Christ, Or Fellowship With Him.
264Chapter XVIII.
78Chapter XXXVIII.
265Showing How Worldly Pleasures Drive Away The Holy Spirit.
79Showing That An Unchristian Life Leads To False Doctrine, Hardness Of Heart, And Blindness; Also, Treating Of The Eternal Election Of Grace.
266Chapter XIX.
80Chapter XXXIX.
267Of Inward Prayer, And Of The True Use Of The Lord's Prayer.
81Showing That The Purity Of The Doctrine Of The Divine Word Is Maintained Not Only By Discussions And Publications, But Also By True Repentance And Holiness Of Life.
268Chapter XX.
82Chapter XL.
269Showing That Humility Must First Be Laid As A Foundation In The Heart, And All Our Works Must Rest On It; Its Blessed Influences.
83Sundry Rules For Leading A Holy Life.
270Chapter XXI.
84Chapter XLI.
271Showing That A Man Ought To Rest In God Alone, And Not In His Gifts; And That He Must Deny Himself.
85The Whole Of Christianity Consists In The Restoration Of The Image Of God In Man, And The Destruction Of The Image Of Satan.
272Chapter XXII.
86Chapter XLII.
273Showing How Our Works May Be Rendered Acceptable To God.
87In This Concluding Chapter The Reasons For Adopting The Method Observed In Book I. Are Explained; The Duty Of Guarding Against Spiritual Pride Is Described, And The Truth Is Set Forth That True Spiritual Gifts Cannot Be Obtained Without Prayer.
274Chapter XXIII.
88Preface To The Second Book.
275Of The Mystery Of The Cross, By Which We Are Drawn To God.
89Chapter I.
276Preface To The Fourth Book.
90Jesus Christ, The Son Of God, Is Given To Us By Our Heavenly Father As Our Help Against The Damnable And Deadly Poison Of Original Sin, And The Pernicious Fruits Thereof, As Well As A Protector Against All The Calamities And Evils Both Of The Body And The Soul.
277All Creatures Are Messengers Of God, Intended To Lead Us To God.
91Chapter II.
278Part I.
92The Manner In Which The Christian Should Apply And Appropriate To Himself The Consolation Noticed In Chapter I.
279Chapter I.
93Chapter III.
280Of Light, The Work Of The First Day.
94Our Righteousness Before God, Consists Solely In The Perfect Obedience And Merit Of Christ Jesus, And In The Remission Of Sin Apprehended By Faith.
281Chapter II.
95Chapter IV.
282Of Heaven, The Work Of The Second Day.
96Showing That Saving Faith In The True Christian Produces Manifold Fruits Of Righteousness, And That These Must Proceed From The Depth Of The Heart; Also, That The Character Of Our Outward Works, Depends, In The Judgment Of God, Upon The State Of The Heart.
283Chapter III.
97Chapter V.
284Of The Separation Of The Waters From The Dry Land, The Work Of The Third Day.
98Showing That The Evidence Of True Christianity Does Not Consist In The Knowledge And The Hearing Of God's Word, But That He Is A Christian, In Whose Life God's Word Is Manifested, And Who Beseeches God In Sincerity That This Word, As A Divine Seed, May Be Quickened In Him, And Bear Fruit.
285Chapter IV.
99Chapter VI.
286Of The Sun, Moon, And Stars, The Work Of The Fourth Day.
100The Perfection And Salvation Of Men Depend On Union With Christ By Faith; But To This They Can Contribute Nothing, Whereas They Rather Interfere With The Grace Of God By Their Perverse Will; But Christ, And He Alone, Accomplishes The Work In Us.
287Chapter V.
101Chapter VII.
288Of The Waters, And Their Productions, The Work Of The Fifth Day.
102Showing That In Order To Understand The True Nature Of Repentance, We Must Necessarily Know The Distinction Between The Old And The New Man; Or, How In Us Adam Must Die, And Christ Live; Or, How In Us The Old Man Must Die, And The New Man Live.
289Chapter VI.
103Chapter VIII.
290Of The Living Creatures, The Work Of The Sixth Day.
104Showing How Graciously God Invites Us To Repentance, And How Necessary It Is That It Should Not Be Delayed.
291Part II.
105Chapter IX.
292Chapter I.
106Showing What Repentance Is, And The Manner In Which The Sinner Truly Repents; Also, How The Goodness Of God Leads Us To Repentance.
293God, An Infinite And Eternal Being.
107Chapter X.
294Chapter II.
108The Four Properties Of True Repentance.
295God, The Supreme Good.
109Chapter XI.
296Chapter III.
110Showing That The Fruit Of Conversion Is The New Creature; Also, That The Christian Is, By Faith, A Lord Over All, And, By Love, A Servant Of All; And, That The Life Of Christ Is A Mirror For Us.
297Man, The Most Noble Of All Creatures, And Made For The Service Of God.
111Chapter XII.
298Chapter IV.
112Showing That Christ Is The Only Way And End Of True Godliness; And That Man Goes Astray, When God Does Not Guide And Direct Him.
299God Made Man In His Own Image, In Order That He Might Delight In Him.
113Chapter XIII.
300Chapter V.
114Showing That Jesus Christ Is The True Book Of Life, And That His Poverty Teaches Us To Despise The Glory Of The World.
301That God By His Love Bestows Himself Upon Us.
115Chapter XIV.
302Chapter VI.
116Showing How Christ, By The Shame And Contempt Which He Endured, And By His Self-Denial, Teaches Us To Despise The Honor And Glory Of The World.
303Showing How Much Man Is Indebted To God For His Everlasting Love.
117Chapter XV.
304Chapter VII.
118Showing How We Should, Through Christ, Bear And Overcome The Trials And Contempt Of The World.
305Of The Things That Instruct And Comfort The Soul.
119Chapter XVI.
306Chapter VIII.
120Showing How Christians Are To Seek And Obtain Favor And Glory Through Christ, In Heaven.
307Of The Obligations Under Which Men Lie To God.
121Chapter XVII.
308Chapter IX.
122Showing How We May Through Christ, And After The Example Of All The Saints, Overcome The Calumnies Of Men.
309Man Even More Indebted To God For Inward, Than For Outward Blessings.
123Chapter XVIII.
310Chapter X.
124Showing How The Sorrows And Pains Of Christ Should Teach Us To Subdue The Lusts Of The Flesh.
311Of The Wisdom Which God Has Shown In The Formation Of Man.
125Chapter XIX.
312Chapter XI.
126Showing How We Should Behold In The Crucified Christ, As In The Book Of Life, Both Our Sins, And Also The Displeasure, The Love, Justice, And Wisdom Of God.
313Of The Obligations Man Lies Under Towards God.
127Chapter XX.
314Chapter XII.
128Of The Power And Necessity Of Prayer, In These Holy Contemplations.
315Of Answering The Obligations Which Man Lies Under To God.
129Chapter XXI.
316Chapter XIII.
130Of The Power Of The Noble Virtue Of Humility.
317Showing That God's Love Appears In All His Works, Even In His Chastisements.
131Chapter XXII.
318Chapter XIV.
132All The Works Of A True Christian Must Be Done In Humility, Or They Will, Otherwise, Become An Abomination And Idolatry.
319Showing How, And On What Account, Man Is Obliged To Love God.
133Chapter XXIII.
320Chapter XV.
134A Man Who Does Not Perceive His Own Emptiness, And Does Not Give All The Honor To God, Commits The Greatest Of Sins, And Falls Like Satan.
321Showing That All The Creatures Continually Remind Us Of The Love Which We Owe To God.
135Chapter XXIV.
322Chapter XVI.
136Of The Noble Virtue Of Love, And Of Its Power, Soundness, And Purity.
323A General Rule, Teaching Us How To Answer Our Obligations To God.
137Chapter XXV.
324Chapter XVII.
138Sundry Signs By Which We May Ascertain Whether We Truly Love Christ.
325Showing That The Christian Who Loves Not God Is Without Excuse.
139Chapter XXVI.
326Chapter XVIII.
140Five Kinds Of Works Of Love, In Which The Grace And Goodness Of God Are Especially Revealed.
327Showing That Our Duty To God Tends To Promote Our Own Happiness.
141Chapter XXVII.
328Chapter XIX.
142Showing How The Lord Jesus Manifests Himself To The Loving Soul As The Highest Love And The Highest Good.
329The Service Which The Creatures Render To Man, Compared With That Which Man Renders To God.
143Chapter XXVIII.
330Chapter XX.
144Showing How The Highest Good Is Perceived And Tasted In The Soul.
331All Things Are Preserved By The Hand Of God.
145Chapter XXIX.
332Chapter XXI.
146Showing How The Loving Soul Considers God In His Benefits As The Most Liberal Bountifulness.
333Showing That From The Service Of Man And The Creatures, A Union Takes Place Between The Visible World, Man, And God.
147Chapter XXX.
334Chapter XXII.
148Showing How God Manifests Himself To The Loving Soul, As The Supreme Beauty.
335From The Love Which We Owe To God, Proceeds That Which We Owe To Our Neighbor.
149Chapter XXXI.
336Chapter XXIII.
150Showing How God Manifests Himself To The Loving Soul As The Infinite Omnipotence.
337Man Is Made In The Image Of God.
151Chapter XXXII.
338Chapter XXIV.
152Showing How The Loving Soul Knows God As The Highest Righteousness And Holiness.
339That Man Is Obliged To Love His Neighbor As Himself.
153Chapter XXXIII.
340Chapter XXV.
154Showing How The Loving Soul Considers God As The Eternal Wisdom.
341All Mankind Are To Be Considered As One Man, Or As Being Many Members Of One Great Body.
155Chapter XXXIV.
342Chapter XXVI.
156Section I.
343Charity, The Foundation Of The Greatest Strength.
157All That We Have Lost In Adam We Recover Fully And Completely In Christ.
344Chapter XXVII.
158Section II.
345Of The Nature, Properties, And Fruits Of Love.
159The Evils That Follow The Neglect Of Prayer.
346Chapter XXVIII.
160Section III.
347Love Unites Him Who Loves With The Person Loved, And Transforms Into The Same Nature.
161The Benefits Of Continual Prayer.
348Chapter XXIX.
162Section IV.
349Nothing Is Worthy Of Our Love, But That Which Can Make Us More Noble And Pure.
163The True Christian Chooses The Narrow Way In Christ, Rather Than The Broad Way In Adam.
350Chapter XXX.
164Section V.
351Our Chief Love Is Due To God, As The First And Last, The Beginning And The End Of All Things.
165Considerations Which Should Move The Heart To Commune With God In Prayer.
352Chapter XXXI.
166Section VI.
353He Who Principally Loves Himself, Actually Sets Up Himself In God's Stead.
167The Omniscient God Knows What We Stand In Need Of, Before We Ask Him.
354Chapter XXXII.
168Section VII.
355Love To God, The Source Of All That Is Good; Self-Love, The Source Of All Evil.
169That God Invites And Engages All Men To The Exercise Of Prayer, And Promises To Hear Their Petitions.
356Chapter XXXIII.
170Section VIII.
357Of The Love Of God, And The Love Of Self.
171God Is No Respecter Of Persons, But Has An Impartial Love For All His Creatures.
358Chapter XXXIV.
172Section IX.
359Love To God, The Only Source Of Peace And Unity.
173Showing That It Is Equally Sinful To Pray To God Upon The Presumption Of Our Own Merit, And To Forbear On Account Of Our Unworthiness.
360Chapter XXXV.
174Section X.
361Showing How We Ought To Love God.
175The True Worshipper Ought Not To Seek After God In Any Particular Place; For He Finds Him Everywhere In Spirit And In Truth.
362Chapter XXXVI.
176Section XI.
363Divine Joy, The Fruit Of Divine Love.
177The Worshipper Is Not Restricted To Certain Times Of Prayer, But May At Any Hour Address God In Prayer, Provided That He Does Not Hinder Himself.
364Chapter XXXVII.
178Section XII.
365Of The Evil Fruits Of Self-Love.
179The Considerations Stated Above, Not Only Dispose The Heart To True Prayer, But Also Furnish Various Useful Lessons.
366Chapter XXXVIII.
180Chapter XXXV.
367Everlasting Sorrow And Death, The End Of Self-Love And Carnal Joy.
181Prayer Is The Sign Of A True Christian, That Is, Of One Who Is Anointed Of The Lord.
368Chapter XXXIX.
182Chapter XXXVI.
369All That We Have Must Be Offered And Consecrated To God.
183On The Benefits And Power Of Prayer, And On Its True Ground Or Foundation.
370Chapter XL.
184Chapter XXXVII.
371He Can Never Praise And Glorify God, Who Seeks His Own Glory.
185Reasons Why God Certainly Hears Our Prayers.
372Conclusion.
186Chapter XXXVIII.
373Index.
187Seven Helps Or Aids For Our Infirmities In Prayer.
