An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wandrings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.

The Contents.

CHAP. I.

Sect. 1. THe Text propounded.

page 1.

Sect. 2. An Observation.

.

Sect. 3. The words of the Text opened.

6.

The Doctr. It is a Christians duty to attend upon the Lord without Distractions.

7.

Sect. 4. A Distraction described.

8.

CHAP. II.

Sect. 1. The kinds of Distractions distinquished.

1. From the Fountain of them.

12.

1. The Devil.

ibid.

2. The Mind.

14.

3. The Fancy.

ibid.

4. The ••••tward Senses.

16.

Sect 2. 2. By the Master whereof they consist.

18.

Being Good, Bad, Indifferent.

19.

Sect. 3. 3. By the Adjuncts of them.

21.

CHAP. III.

Sect 1. That it is our duty to attend upon the Lord without Distractions. Proved, 1. From the Possibility of it, by four Arguments.

25.

Sect 2. 2. From the Necessity of it.

29.

1. To the Being of a Duty.

ibid.

2. To Comfort in a Duty.

30.

3. To the Prosperity of a Duty.

31.

4. To Communion with Christ in a Duty.

32.

CHAP. IV.

Sect. 1. Reasons of the Doctrine.

1. From the Nature of God.

His 1. Greatness.

35.

2. Holiness.

36.

3. Omniscience.

37.

Sect. 2. 2. From the Nature of his Worship.

Being 1. Reasonable.

40.

2. Spiritual.

41.

3. Sweet.

42.

Sect. 3. 3. From the Nature of our Condition here.

1. We cannot live without God.

43.

2. Our only way of communion is by Ordi∣nances.

ibid.

3. All our heart and strength is too little for this work.

45.

Sect. 4. 4. From the Nature of Distractions.

1. They divide the Heart.

46.

2. They frustrate the Duty.

47.

3. They contract more Guilt.

48.

CHAP. V.

Sect. 1. Objections answered.

1. About its Impossibility.

50.

Sect. 2. 2. About its Difficulty.

53.

Sect. 3. 3. From their Commonness.

58.

Sect. 4. 4. From Gods accepting the will for the deed.

61.

CHAP. VI. The Causes of Distractions in God's Worship.

Sect. 1. 1. Secret Atheism.

64.

A Remedy thereof.

67.

Sect. 2. 2. The corruption of our Nature.

68.

Its Remedy.

72.

Sect. 3. 3. Vnpreparedness unto holy Duties.

76.

A Case of Conscience answered, viz.

What measure of Preparation is necessary before our ordinary Duties of Worship.

77.

Sect. 4. 4. Lukewarmness.

82.

Its Remedies.

84.

99.

113.

Sect. 5. 5. Worldy-mindedness.

88.

Its Remedy.

91.

136.

Sect. 6. 6. Weakness of love to Christ and his Or∣dinances.

95.

Its Remedies.

84.

99.

113.

Sect. 7. 7. Want of Watchfulness.

104.

1. Before Duties.

ibid.

2. In Duties.

105.

3. After Duties.

107.

The Remedy thereof.

108.

Sect. 8. 8. A Beloved sin.

110.

Its Remedies.

84.

99.

113.

Sect. 9. 9. Satan.

115.

A Remedy.

118.

Sect. 10. 10. Vain Thoughts at other times.

121.

These 1. Displease and dis-ingage the Spirit of God.

ibid.

2. Dispose and naturalize the soul to these Thoughts.

122.

3. Discourage us to the conquest, and in∣courage us to the sin.

124.

4. Infect the Memory.

125.

5. Provoke God to give us up.

126.

The Remedies hereof.

127.

Sect. 11. 11. A divided heart in four respects.

133.

Its Remedy.

91.

136.

Sect. 12. 12. An opinion that there is no great evil in them.

139.

Its Remedy.

142.

CHAP. VII.

The Evil of Distractions

145.

1. In their Nature.

Sect. 1. 1. They are sins against the first Table.

ib.

Sect. 2. 2. They are heart-sins.

147.

Sect. 3. 3. They are sins in the special presence of God.

148.

Sect. 4. 4. They are sins about the most serious bu∣siness.

151.

Sect. 5. 5. They are sins of hypocrisie.

153.

2. In their Effects.

Sect. 6. 1. They alienate the heart from holy duties.

156.

Sect. 7. 2. They much affront the Majesty of God.

158.

Sect. 8. 3. They hinder the benefits of an holy duty.

160.

Sect. 9. 4. They deprive the soul of comfort.

162.

Sect. 10. 5. They grieve away the Holy Ghost.

164.

CHAP. VIII.

The Cure of Distractions.

166.

Sect. 1. 1. Dispel the Causes before specified.

167.

Sect. 2. 2. Bewail your former failings herein.

169.

Sect. 3. 3. Engage the Spirit of God in your as∣sistance.

174.

Sect. 4. 4. Believe the Presence of God.

178.

Sect. 5. 5. Lay a Law upon your senses.

184.

A Note about whispering during the Wor∣ship of God.

186.

Sect. 6. 6. A watchful reflection and ejaculation.

39••.

Sect. 7. 7. Strength of Grace.

195.

How it should be gotten.

201.

CHAP. IX.

Encouragements under the burden of Distractions.

204.

Sect. 1. 1. They are consistent with Grace.

206.

Sect. 2. 2. Your case is not singular.

208.

Sect. 3. 3. Christs Intercession is without Distra∣ction.

209.

Sect. 4. 4. Distractions may make us humble.

211.

Sect. 5. 5. God can make some sense out of such Prayers.

213.

Sect. 6. 6. There is grace and strength in Christ to help against them.

215.

Sect. 7. 7. A perfect riddance of them, is the Hap∣piness of Heaven.

217.

CHAP. X. Inferen••es from this Doctrine.

Sect. 1. 1. We have ••ause to mourn over our best duties.

220.

Sect. 2. 2. Omissions of duties are extreme danger∣ous.

223.

Sect. 3. 3. The grand Necessity of Watchfulness.

226.

Particularly in

1. Prayer.

2. Hearing God's Word.

3. Reading.

4. Singing Psalms.

5. Meditation.

229.

Sect. 4. 4. Great cause to bless God for freedom from Distractions.

232.

Sect. 5. 5. That Religion is an inward, difficult, and serious Business.

234.