CONTENTS.

PART I.

THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS.

PAGE

PREFACE,

CHAPTER I. A general account of man's fall in Adam,

and the remedy provided in Christ; and a particular

account of man's being naturally wedded to the law as

a covenant of works,

SECT. 1. The fall of Adam,

SECT. 2. Redemption through Christ,

SECT. 3. Man's legal disposition,

SECT. 4. Man's strict attachment to legal terms, or to the law as

a condition of life,

SECT. 5. Man's vain attempt to seek life by Christ's righteousness,

joined with their own; and legal hopes natural to all,

CHAP. II. The manner of a sinner's divorce from the law

in a work of humiliation, and of his marriage to the

Lord Jesus Christ; or, The way how a sinner comes to

be a believer,

SECT. 1. Of a law-work, and the workings of legal pride under it,

SECT. 2. Conviction of sin and wrath carried on more deeply and

effectually on the heart,

SECT. 3. The deeply humbled soul relieved, with some saving dis-

coveries of Christ the Redeemer,

SECT. 4. The workings of the Spirit of faith, in separating the heart

from all self-righteousness, and drawing out its consent to, and desire

after Christ alone and wholly,

73

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SECT. 5. Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cordial renunciation

of all its own ragged righteousness, and formal acceptance of and clos-

ing with the person of glorious Christ,

78

CHAP. III. The fruits of the believer's marriage with Christ,

particularly gospel holiness, and obedience to the law as

a rule,

82

SECT. 1. The sweet solemnity of the marriage now over, and the

sad effects of the remains of a legal spirit,

ib.

SECT. 2. Faith's discoveries over sin and Satan, through new and

further discoveries of Christ, making believers more fruitful in holi-

ness, than all other pretenders to works,

85

SECT. 3. True saving faith magnifying the law, both as a covenant

and rule. False faith unfruitful and ruining,

89

SECT. 4. The believer only, being married to Christ, is justified and

sanctified; and the more gospel freedom from the law as a covenant,

the inore holy conformity to it as a rule,

94

SECT. 5. Gospel grace giving no liberty to sin, but to holy service

and pure obedience,

98

101

CHAP. IV. A caution to all against a legal spirit, especially

to those that have a profession without power, and learn-

ing without grace,

CHAP. V. Arguments and encouragements to gospel min-

isters to avoid a legal strain of doctrine, and endeavor the

sinner's match with Christ by gospel means,

107

SECT. 1. A legal spirit the root of damnable errors,

ib.

SECT. 2. A legal strain of doctrine discovered and discarded,

SECT. 3. The hurtfulness of not preaching Christ, and distinguish-

ing duly between law and gospel,

109

111

SECT. 4. Damnable pride and self-righteousness so natural to all

men, has little need to be encouraged by legal preaching,

114

SECT. 5. The gospel of divine grace the only means of converting

sinners; and therefore should be preached most clearly, fully and

freely,

119

CHAP. VI. An exhortation to all that are out of Christ, in

order to their closing the match with him; containing

also motives and directions,

SECT. 1. Conviction offered to sinners, especially such as are wed.

ded strictly to the law, or self-righteous; that they may see their need

of Christ's righteousness,

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126

ib.

SECT. 2. Direction given with reference to the right use of the

means, that we rest not on these instead of Christ the glorious Hus-

band, in whom alone our help lies,

131

138

SECT. 3. A call to believe in Jesus Christ, with some hints at the

act and object of faith,

.

SECT. 4. An advice to sinners to apply to the sovereign mercy of

God, as it is discovered through Christ, to the highest honor of justice

and other divine attributes, in order to further their faith in him unto

salvation,

142

148

SECT. 5. The terrible doom of unbelievers that reject the gospel-
match, the offered Saviour and salvation,

PART II.

THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE.

CHAP I. Containing the privileges of the believer that is

espoused to Christ by faith of divine operation,

.

SECT. 1. The believer's perfect beauty, free acceptance, and full

security, through the imputation of Christ's perfect righteousness,

though imparted grace be imperfect,

ib.

SECT. 2. Christ the believer's friend, prophet, priest, king, defence,

guide, guard, help, and healer,

160

SECT. 3. Christ the believer's wonderful physician, and wealthy

friend,

164

SECT. 4. The believer's safety under the covert of Christ's atoning

blood, and powerful intercession,

167

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SECT. 5. The believer's faith and hope encouraged even in the

darkest nights of desertion and distress,

171

SECT. 6. Benefits accruing to believers from the offices, names, na-

tures, and sufferings of Christ,

174

SECT. 7. Christ's sufferings further improved, and believers called

to live by faith, both when they have and want sensible influences,

SECT. 8. Christ the believer's enriching treasure,

SECT. 9. Christ the believer's adorning garment,

178

182

184

185

SECT. 10. Christ the believer's sweet nourishment,

CHAP. II. Containing marks and characters of believers

in Christ; together with some further privileges and

grounds of comfort to saints,

188

SECT. 1. Doubting believers called to examine themselves by marks

drawn from their love to him and his presence, their view of his glory,

and their being emptied of self-righteousness, &c.,

ib.

SECT. 2. Believers described from their faith acting by divine aid, and

fleeing quite out of themselves to Jesus Christ,

192

SECT. 3. Believers characterized by the objects and purity of their

desire, delight, joy, hatred, and love, discovering they have the spirit

of Christ, .

SECT. 4. Believers in Christ affect his counsel, word, ordinances,

appearance, full enjoyment in heaven, and sweet presence here,

SECT. 5. The true believer's humility, dependence, zeal, growth,

admiration of free grace, and knowledge of Christ's voice,

SECT. 6. True believers are willing to be tried and examined.—Also

comforts arising to them from Christ's ready supply, real sympathy,

and relieving names suiting their need, .

SECT. 7. The believer's experience of Christ's comfortable pres-

ence, or of former comforts, to be improved for his encouragement

and support under hidings,

SECT. 8. Comfort to believers from the stability of the promise, not-

withstanding heavy chastisements for sin,.

SECT. 9. Comfort to believers from Christ's relations, his dying love,

his glory in heaven, to which he will lead them through death, and

supply them with all necessaries by the way,

SECT. 10. Comfort to believers from the text, "Thy Maker is thy