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PURITAN PAPERBACKS: Rare Jewel of Christian Contenment; Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices & The Incomparableness of God
Jeremiah Burroughs; Thomas Brooks; George Swinnock
(1) THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT by Jeremiah Burroughs
Jeremiah Burroughs is worthily reckoned as belonging to the front rank of English puritan preachers. As such he played a prominent part in the Westminster Assembly of divines, but died prematurely before the Assembly’s work was concluded.
Burroughs' writings, some published before and others after his death, were numerous, but 'The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment 'is one of the most valuable of them all. Its author was much concerned to promote (1) peace among believers of various ‘persuasions’ (2) peace and contentment in the hearts of individual believers during what he describes as ‘sad and sinking times’. The Rare Jewel concentrates upon this second aim. It is marked by sanity, clarity, aptness of illustration, and warmth of appeal to the heart. ‘There is an ark that you may come into, and no men in the world may live such comfortable, cheerful and contented lives as the saints of God’. Burroughs presses his lesson home with all the fervour and cogency of a true and faithful minister of God.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Biographical Introduction 11
1 Christian Contentment Described 17
I It is inward 20
II It is quiet 21
What this is not opposed to 21
What it is opposed to 22
III It is a frame of spirit 25
IV It is a qracious frame 29
V It freely submits to God’s disposal 31
VI It submits to God’s disposal 33
VII It takes pleasure in God’s disposal 33
VIII It submits and takes pleasure in God’s disposal 35
IX It does this in every condition 36
2 The Mystery of Contentment 41
I A Christian is content, yet unsatisfied 42
II He comes to contentment by subtraction 45
III By adding another burden to himself 47
IV By changing the affliction into something else 49
V By doing the work of his circumstances 51
VI By melting his will into God’s will 53
VII By purging out what is within 55
3 The Mystery of Contentment – continued 56
VIII He lives on the dew of God’s blessing 56
IX He sees God’s love in afflictions 60
X His afflictions are sanctified in Christ 60
Xl He gets strength from Christ 62
XII He makes up his wants in God 65
XIII He gets contentment from the Covenant 69
4 The Mystery of Contentment – concluded 74
He supplies wants by what he finds in himself 74
He gets supply from the Covenant 78
I. The Covenant in general 78
2. Particular promises in the Covenant 80
XIV He realizes the things of Heaven 83
XV He opens his heart to God 84
5 How Christ Teaches Contentment 86
I The lesson of self-denial 86
II The vanity of the creature 91
III To know the one thing needful 92
IV To know one’s relation to the world 93
V Wherein the good of the creature is 97
VI The knowledge of one’s own heart 99
6 How Christ Teaches Contentment- Concluded 103
VII The burden of a prosperous condition 103
VIII The evil of being given up to one’s heart’s desires 109
IX The right knowledge of God’s providence 111
7 The Excellence of Contentment 118
I By it we give God his due worship 119
II In it is much exercise of grace 121
III The soul is fitted to receive mercy 124
IV It is fitted to do service 125
V It delivers from temptations 126
VI It brings abundant comforts 128
VII It gets the comfort of things not possessed 129
VIII It is a great blessing on the soul 133
IX A contented man may expect reward 133
X By it the soul comes nearest the excellence of God 134
8 The Evils of a Murmuring Spirit 136
I It argues much corruption in the soul 137
II It is the mark of an ungodly man 138
III Murmuring is accounted rebellion 139
IV It is contrary to grace, especially in conversion 141
V It is below a Christian 144
9 The Evils of a Murmuring Spirit – concluded 152
VI By murmuring we undo our prayers 152
VII The evil effects of murmuring 153
VIII Discontent is a foolish sin 157
IX It provokes the wrath of God 161
X There is a curse on it 165
XI There is much of the spirit of Satan in it 166
XII It brings an absolute necessity of disquiet 167
XIII God may withdraw his protection 167
10 Aggravations of the Sin of Murmuring 170
I The greater the mercies the greater the sin of murmuring 170
II When we murmur for small things 176
III When men of gifts and abilities murmur 178
IV The freeness of God’s mercy 178
V When we have the things for the want of which we were discontented 178
VI When men are raised from a low position 179
VII When men have been great sinners 180
VIII When men are of little use in the world 180
IX When God is about to humble us 181
X When God’s hand is apparent in an Affliction 182
XI When God has afflicted us for a long time 183
11 The Excuses of a Discontented Heart 185
I ‘It is a sense of my condition’ 185
II ‘I am troubled for my sin’ 186
III ‘God withdraws himself from me’ 188
IV ‘It is men’s bad treatment that troubles me’ 190
V ‘I never expected this affliction’ 191
VI ‘My affliction is so great’ 192
VII ‘My affliction is greater than others’ 193
VIII ‘If the affliction were any other, I could be content’ 194
IX ‘My afflictions make me unserviceable to God’ 195
X ‘My condition is unsettled’ 199
XI ‘I have been in a better condition’ 202
XII ‘I am crossed after taking great pains’ 204
XIII ‘I do not break out in discontent’ 205
12 How to Attain Contentment 207
I Considerations to content the heart in any afflicted condition 207
1 The greatness of the mercies we have 207
2 God is beforehand with us with his mercies 208
3 The abundance of mercies God bestows 209
4 All creatures are in a vicissitude 209
5 The creatures suffer for us 210
6 We have but little time in the world 211
7 This has been the condition of our betters 211
8 We were content with the world without grace, and should be now with grace without the world 213
9 We did not give God the glory when we had our desires 213
10 The experience of God doing us good in afflictions 213
13 How to Attain Contentment-concluded 216
II Directions for attaining contentment 216
1 There must be grace to make the soul steady 216
2 Do not grasp too much of the world 216
3 Have a call to every business 217
4 Walk by rule 217
5 Exercise much faith 219
6 Labour to be spiritually-minded 219
7 Do not promise yourselves great things 220
8 Get hearts mortified to the world 221
II Directions for attaining contentment- continued
9 Do not pore too much on afflictions 222
10 Make a good interpretation of God’s ways to you 223
11 Do not regard the fancies of other men 225
12 Do not be inordinately taken up with the comforts of the world 226
(2) PRECIOUS REMEDIES AGAINST SATAN'S DEVICES by Thomas Brooks
Brooks treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day.
Brooks lists seven reasons for writing this book. The first reason is enough…Brooks says, “Satan hath a greater influence upon men, and higher advantages over them than they think he hath, and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resisting, and happy in conquering.
TABLE OF CENTENTS
Thomas Brooks – a Brief Biography 11
The Epistle Dedicatory 15
A Word to the Reader 21
Introduction 25
THE PROOF OF THE POINT 27
SATAN’S DEVICES TO DRAW THE SOUL TO SIN
[12 devices and their remedies]
1 By presenting the bait and hiding the hook 29
2 By painting sin with virtue’s colours 34
3 By the extenuating and lessening of sin 38
4 By showing to the soul the best men’s sins and by hiding from the soul their virtues, their sorrows, and their repentance 45
5 By presenting God to the soul as One made up all of mercy 50
6 By persuading the soul that repentance is easy and that therefore the soul need not scruple about sinning 55
7 By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin 66
8 By representing to the soul the outward mercies enjoyed by men walking in sin, and their freedom from outward miseries 70
9 By presenting to the soul the crosses, losses, sorrows and sufferings that daily attend those who walk in the ways of holiness 79
10 By causing saints to compare themselves and their ways with those reputed to be worse than themselves 89
11 By polluting the souls and judgments of men with dangerous errors that lead to looseness and wickedness 92
12 By leading men to choose wicked company 99
SATAN’S DEVICES TO KEEP SOULS FROM HOLY DUTIES, TO HINDER SOULS IN HOLY SERVICES, TO KEEP THEM OFF FROM RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCES
[8 devices and their remedies]
1 By presenting the world in such a garb as to ensnare the soul 102
2 By presenting to the soul the dangers, losses and sufferings that accompany the performance of certain religious duties 112
3 By presenting to the soul the difficulty of performing religious duties 117
4 By causing saints to draw false inferences from the blessed and glorious things that Christ has done 122
5 By presenting to view the fewness and poverty of those who hold to religious practices 127
6 By showing saints that the majority of men make light of God’s ways and walk in the ways of their own hearts 133
7 By casting in vain thoughts while the soul is seeking God or waiting on God 135
8 By tempting Christians to rest in their performances 139
SATAN’S DEVICES TO KEEP SAINTS IN A SAD, DOUBTING, QUESTIONING AND UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITION
[8 devices and their remedies] 142
1 By causing saints to remember their sins more than their Saviour, yea, even to forget and neglect their Saviour 142
2 By causing saints to make false definitions of their graces 148
3 By causing saints to make false inferences from the cross actions of Providence 151
4 By suggesting to saints that their graces are not true, but counterfeit 154
5 By suggesting to saints that the conflict that is in them is found also in hypocrites and profane souls 162
6 By suggesting to the saint who has lost joy and comfort that his state is not good 167
7 By reminding the saint of his frequent relapses into sin formerly repented of and prayed against 171
8 By persuading saints that their state is not good nor their graces sound 176
SATAN’S DEVICES TO DESTROY AND ENSNARE ALL SORTS AND RANKS OF MEN IN THE WORLD
[5 devices and their remedies]
I DEVICES AGAINST THE GREAT AND HONOURABLE OF THE EARTH
1 By causing them to seek greatness, position, riches and security 183
2 By causing them to act against the people of the Most High 190
II DEVICE AGAINST THE LEARNED AND THE WISE 194
By moving them to pride themselves on their parts and abilities, and to despise men of greater grace but inferior abilities 194
III DEVICE AGAINST THE SAINTS
By dividing them and causing them to ‘bite and devour one another’ 198
IV DEVICE AGAINST POOR AND IGNORANT SOULS
By causing them to affect ignorance and to neglect and despise the means of knowledge 211
APPENDIX
TOUCHING FIVE MORE OF SATAN’S DEVICES 214
1 By suggesting to men the greatness and vileness of their sins 214
2 By suggesting to sinners their unworthiness 222
3 By suggesting to sinners their want of certain preparations and qualifications 224
4 By suggesting to sinners that Christ is unwilling to save them 228
5 By causing sinners to give more attention to the secret decrees and counsels of God than to their own duty 229
SEVEN CHARACTERS OF FALSE TEACHERS 230
SIX PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING SATAN AND HIS DEVICES 234
[Five reasons of the point added] 240
CONCLUSION – CHIEFLY, TEN SPECIAL HELPS AND RULES AGAINST SATAN’S DEVICES 243
(3) THE INCOMPARABLENESS OF GOD: In His Being, Attributes, Works and Word by George Swinnock
George Swinnock is one of the easiest Puritan authors to read. He is theological yet his doctrine is expressed in vivid fashion and, while he is practical, his counsel is marked by a keen sensitivity to the doctrines taught in Scripture. Thomas Manton commended his work as coming ‘from one both of a good head and heart.’ In this exposition of Psalm 89:6, which looks at the incomparable being, attributes, works, and word of God, Swinnock is not content to let the truth lie on the surface of the mind. He drives it home to the heart, using powerful arguments, colourful illustrations, and personal applications. His great desire is for the reader to come to know, enjoy and love the incomparable God of the Bible. ‘He who knows God aright is fully satisfied in him; when he once drinks of the “fountain of living waters,” he thirsts no more after other objects.’
‘The holiness and happiness of the rational creature consists in these two: his holiness, in conformity to God; his happiness, in communion with him. And these two have a dependence on each other. They only who are like him, can enjoy him.’
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The Preface and Meaning of the Text of Psalm 89:6
2. God is Incomparable in His Being
3. The Incomparableness of God in His Being. It is From Itself, For Itself, and Wholly Independent
4. The Incomparableness of God in His Being, as He is Absolutely Perfect, Universal and Unchangeable
5. The Incomparableness of God in His Being, as it is Eternal and without Composition
6. The Incomparableness of God in His Being, as it is Infinite and Incomprehensible
7. The Incomparableness of God in His Attributes, in His Holiness and Wisdom
8. The Incomparableness of God in His Attributes, in His Knowledge and Faithfulness
9. The Incomparableness of God in His Attributes, in His Mercy and Patience
10. The Incomparableness of God in His Attributes, as they are From Him, are His Essence, as they are All One in Him, as they are in Him in an Infinite Manner
11. The Incomparableness of God in His Works, of Creation and Providence
12. The Incomparableness of God in His Work of Redemption; He Can Do All Things
13. The Incomparableness of God in the Manner of His Working: He Works Irresistibly, Arbitrarily
14. The Incomparableness of God in His Working, He does the Greatest Things with Ease and Without Help
15. The Incomparableness of God in His Word, He Speaks with Incomparable Authority, Condescension and Efficacy
16. The Incomparableness of God in His Word, in its Purity, Mysteries, Prophecies
17. The Incomparableness of God in His Word, as it is Converting, Affrighting and Comforting
18. If God be Incomparable, How Great is the Malignity of Sin, which Contemns, Dishonors and Opposes this God!
19. If God be Incomparable, How Great is the Madness and Misery of Impenitent Sinners!
20. If God be Incomparable, How Monstrous is Their Pride who Compare Themselves to the Incomparable God!
21. If God be Incomparable, then Incomparable Service and Worship is Due Him!
22. Labor for Acquaintance with the Incomparable God: Motives to it. The Knowledge of God is Sanctifying, Satisfying, Saving.
23. The Means of Acquaintance with God: A Sense of our Ignorance, Attendance on the Word; Fervent Prayer.
24, Exhortation to Choose This Incomparable God for our Portion; with some Motives to it.
25. Exhortation to Give God the Glory of His Incomparable Excellency; with Some Considerations to Enforce it.
26. Comfort to Them that have the Incomparable God for their Portion
PBS 5.19
(1) THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT by Jeremiah Burroughs
SGCB Price: $6.95 (list price $9.00)
(2) PRECIOUS REMEDIES AGAINST SATAN'S DEVICES by Thomas Brooks SGCB Price: $7.75 (list price $10.00)
(3) THE INCOMPARABLENESS OF GOD by George Swinnock SGCB Price: $6.95 (list price $9.00)
ORDER ALL THREE PURITAN PAPERBACKS SGCB Price: $20.00 (list price $28.00)
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