The Christian life part III. Wherein the great duties of justice, mercy, and mortification are fully explained and inforced. Vol. IV. By John Scott D.D. late rector of St. Giles's in the Fields.

THE CONTENTS.

OF JUSTICE.

CHAP. I.

OF Justice as it respects the Rights of Men, whether natural, or ac∣quired. The natural Rights of Men shewn in four particulars; First, As dwelling in mortal Bodies. Se∣condly, As rational Creatures. Thirdly, As joyned to one another by natural Relations. Fourthly, As naturally united in Society, Page 3. As Men dwell in mortal Bodies, they have a Right to their Bodies, p. 4, 5, 6. And to their bodily Subsistence, p. 7, 8, 9, 10.

CHAP. II.

OF Justice in preserving the Rights of Men, considered as rational Crea∣tures,

CHAP. III.

OF Justice in preserving the Rights of Men, as united together by Natural Relations, p. 30, 31. And as joyned toge∣ther in Society, p. 32. Wherein is shewn first, That they have a Right to Love, p. 33. Secondly, To Peace, p 34, 35. Thirdly, To Truth, p. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. Fourthly, To Credit, p. 41, 42, 43. Fifthly, To Prote∣ction, p. 44, 45, 46. Sixthly, To Com∣munication in the Profits of Commerce and Intercourse, p. 47, 48.

CHAP. IV.

OF Justice, as it preserves the Acquired Rights of Men: and particularly those which arise from Sacred and Civil Relati∣ons. As first, Of Sovereign and Subject, p. 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59. Secondly, Of Subordinate Magistrates to the Sovereign and People, p. 60, 61. Thirdly, Of Pa∣stors and People, p. 62, 63. Fourthly, Of Husband and Wife, p. 64, 65, 66, 67, 68. Fifthly, Of Friend and Friend, p, 69, 70. Sixthly, Of Masters and Servants, p. 71, 72, 73. Seventhly, Of Truster and Tru∣stee, p. 74, 75. Eighthly, Of the Bene∣factor and Receiver, p. 76, 77. Ninthly, Of Creditor and Debtor, p. 78, 79, 80, 81. 82.

CHAP. V.

OF Justice, as it preserves the Rights of Men acquired by Legal Possessi∣on, p. 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89.

CHAP. VI.

OF Justice, in reference to the Rights of Men acquired by personal Endow∣ments, p. 90, 91, 92, 93. And of out∣ward Rank and Quality, p. 94. 95.

CHAP. VII.

OF Justice, in reference to the Rights of Men acquired by Compact, p. 96, 97. Wherein are prescribed some general Rules of Righteousness to Conduct our Bargains and Contracts. First, That we should use Plainness and Simplicity in our Dealings. Secondly, That we should impose upon no Man's Ignorance or Unskilfulness. Third∣ly, That we should take no Advantage of a∣nother's Necessities. Fourthly, That we should not substract from the Commodity or Price, for which we have contracted. Fifthly, That we should not go to the ut∣most Verge of what we conceive to be lawful. Sixthly, That in doubtful Cases we should chuse the safest side, p. 98, 99, 100, 101, 102.

CHAP. VIII.

OF the Eternal Reasons whereon Justice is founded, and which render it mo∣rally good; which are these four, p. 103. First, The eternal Proportion and Con∣gruity of Iustice to the Nature of Things, p. 104, 105, 106, 107. Secondly, The eternal Conformity of it to the Nature of God, p. 108, 109, 110, 111. Thirdly, The Agreement and Correspondency of it with the Divine Providence and Disposals, p. 112, 113, 114, 115. Fourthly, The ever∣lasting Necessity of it to the Happiness of Men, p. 117, 118, 119, 120, &c.

CHAP. IX.

SOme Motives and Considerations against the Sinfulness and Unreasonableness of Injustice, viz. First, The great Repugnancy of it to the Terms and Conditions of the Christian Religion, p. 125, 126, 127. Se∣condly, The great Vanity, or Desperate∣ness of it, p. 128, 129, 130, 131, 132. Thirdly, The manifest Inexcusableness of it in it self, p. 133, 134, 135, 136, 137.

• Fourthly, The Fruitlesness and Mischie∣vousness of it to our selves, p. 140, 141, 142, 143. Fifthly, The high Provocation it gives to God, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148.

Of MERCY.

CHAP. I.

OF Mercy, as it relieves the Mi∣series of the Souls of Men, p. 149. Which Miseries are: First, Sor∣row and Dejection of Mind, p. 150, 151, 152. Secondly, Errors and Mistakes in matters of less Importance, p. 153, 154, 155. in which Case the proper Acts of Mercy are; First, Forbearance and To∣leration, p. 156, 157. And Secondly, To endeavour by all prudent and peaceable ways to rectify one anothers Mistakes, p. 158. Thirdly, Another of the Miseries of the Soul which Mercy relieves, is Blindness and Ignorance in things of the greatest Moment, p. 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164. Fourthly, Malice and Obstinacy of Will

CHAP. II.

OF Mercy as it relieves the Miseries of the Bodies of Men which are re∣duced to five Heads: First, Natural Ble∣mishes and Defects, p. 182, 183, 184. Secondly, Sickness and Diseases, p. 185, 186, 187. Thirdly, Outward Force and Violence from those in whose Power they are; such as Bondage and Captivity, p. 188, 189. Imprisonment, p. 190. bodily Tor∣ments and Persecutions, p. 191, 192, 193. Fourthly, Civil or Arbitrary Punishments in∣flicted

CHAP. III.

OF Almsgiving, as to the manner of performing it; First, That it ought to be performed with a good and merciful In∣tention,

CHAP. IV.

OF the eternal Reasons and Grounds of Mercy, upon which it is founded and rendred morally Good. This shewn in five particulars: First, The Suitableness of it to the Nature of God, p. 242, 243, 244, 245. Secondly, The Convenience of it with the Frame and Constitution of human Na∣ture, p. 246, 247. An Objection against Cruelty answered, p. 248, 249, 250. Third∣ly, The near and intimate Relation of those Persons to us, upon whom our Mercy is to be exercised, p. 251, 252, 253. Fourthly, The Equitableness of it to our own State and Circumstances, p. 254, 255, 256, 257. Fifth∣ly, The Necessity of it to the tolerable Well∣being of humane Societies, p. 258, 259, 260, 261, 262.

Of MORTIFICATION.

CHAP. I.

OF Mortification, p. 263, 264, 265. Wherein it doth consist, shewn in three particulars. First, In Absti∣nence from the outward Acts of Sin, p. 266. Secondly, In not consenting to any Sin, p. 267, 268. Thirdly, In a con∣stant Endeavour to subdue our involuntary Inclinations to Sin, p. 269, 270, 271, 272.

CHAP. II.

OF the Means and Instruments of Mor∣tification, which are reduced to these Six: First, Faith, p. 274, 275, 276. Secondly, Consideration, p. 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282. Thirdly, Resolution, p. 283, 284, 285, 286, 287. Fourthly, Dis∣cipline,

CHAP. III.

OF Motives to Mortification drawn from the present Mischiefs and In∣conveniences which our Sins bring us into: which are first, either outward and bodily, or secondly, inward and spiritual, p. 307. The outward and bodily Incon∣veniences are Four: First, That Sin de∣stroys our Health, and shortens our Lives, p. 308, 309, 310, 311. Secondly, That it stains our Reputation, p. 312, 313. Third∣ly, It consumes our Estates, p. 314, 315, 316. Fourthly, It disturbs our sensual Plea∣sures,

CHAP. IV.

OF Helps to Mortification, given us by the Spirit of God, viz. First, The external Argument and Motives of the Gospel, p. 338, 339. Secondly, The ex∣ternal Providences of the Divine Spirit by which he excites us to our Duty, p. 340, 341, 342. Thirdly, The Aids and Assi∣stances which the Holy Angels give us, who are the Agents and Ministers of the Holy Ghost, p. 343, 344, 345. Fourthly, The internal Motions and Operations of the Holy Ghost upon our Souls, p. 346,

CHAP. V.

OF the Eternal Reward of Mortifi∣cation. That there is a State of e∣verlasting Life, and Happiness prepared for good Men, proved by plain and easie Argu∣ments. First, Because the Law of our Na∣tures hath not a sufficient Sanction with∣out it, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372. Secondly, From those Desires and Expecta∣tions of it, which do so generally and na∣turally arise in pure and vertuous Minds, p. 373, 374, 375, 376. Thirdly, From the Justice and Equity of the Divine Provi∣dence, p. 377, 378, 379. Fourthly, From the Revelation of his Will, which God hath made to us by Jesus Christ, p. 380, 381, 382, 383. From the Consideration of which the following Inferences, are raised; First, What an unreasonable thing it is for us Christians, immoderately to doat upon the World, p. 384, 385, 386. Secondly, How vigorous and industrious we ought to be in discharging the Duties of our Religion, p. 387, 388, 389. Thirdly, How upright and sincere we ought to be in all our Profes∣sions and Actions, p. 390, 391. Fourthly, What great reason we have to be chearful

CHAP. VI.

OF the Necessity of Mortification to the obtaining Eternal Life; proved, First, From God's Ordination and Appointment, p. 396, 397, 398. Secondly, From the Na∣ture of the thing, which implies a Disagree∣ment in wicked Souls to the future Hap∣piness, p. 399. To evidence this Disagree∣ment, three things are proposed, First, Where∣in the Felicities of the future State do con∣sist, p. 401, 402, 403. Secondly, What the Temper and Disposition of wicked Souls will be in the future Sate, p. 404, 405, 406, 407. Thirdly, How contrary such a Tem∣per and Disposition must be unto such Felici∣ties, p. 408, 409. For, First, There is in it an Antipathy and Contrariety to the Vi∣sion of God, p. 410, 411. Secondly, To the Love of God, p. 412, 413. Thirdly, To the Resemblance of God, p. 414, 415, 416. Fourthly, To the Society of the Spirits of just men made perfect, p. 417, 418. From all which these following Inferences are de∣duced, First, How unreasonable it is for any

• Man to presume upon going to Heaven, upon any account whatsoever without mortifying his Lusts, p. 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425. 426. Secondly, The indispensable Necessity of Mortification, since it is plain we can't be happy without it, p. 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431. Thirdly, What is the only true and solid Foundation of our As∣surance of Heaven, p. 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437. Fourthly, What is the great design of the Christian Religion, p. 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445.