Christian ethicks, or, Divine morality opening the way to blessedness, by the rules of vertue and reason / by Tho. Traherne ...

The Contents.

CHAP. I.

OF the End, for the sake of which, Ver∣tue is desired.

Chap. II.

Of the Nature of Felicity; its excellency and perfection.

Chap. III.

Of Vertue in general. The distribution of it into its several kinds. Its definition.

Chap. IV.

Of the Powers and Affections of the Soul: What Vertues pertain to the estate of In∣nocency; what to the estate of Grace; what to the estate of Glory.

Chap. V.

Of the necessity, excellency and use, of Knowledge: Its depths and extents; its Objects, and its End.

Chap. VI.

Of Love and Hatred. The necessity and sweetness of Love. Its general use and efficacy. The several kinds of Love. Of the power, inclination and act of Love; its extent and capacity.

Chap. VII.

What benefit GOD himself does receive by his eternal Love: That when our Love is made compleat and perfect, it will be like his, and the benefit of it will be eternal.

Chap. VIII.

Of the excellency of Truth, as it is the ob∣ject and cause of Vertue. The matter and form of Vertuous Actions. That their form is infinitely more excellent than their matter, and the Heathen Morality infinitely defective and short of the Christian.

Chap. IX.

Wisdom is seated in the Will; it attaineth best of all possible Ends by the best of all possible Means.

Chap. X.

Of Righteousness, how Wisdom, Justice, and right Reason are shut up in its Nature.

Chap. XI.

Of Goodness natural, moral, and divine; its Nature described. The benefits and Works of Goodness.

Chap. XII.

Of Holiness: Its nature, violence and plea∣sure. Its beauty consisteth in the infinite love of Righteousness and Perfection.

Chap. XIII.

Of Justice in general, and particular. The great good it doth in Empires and King∣doms; a token of the more retired good it doth in the Soul. Its several kinds. That Gods punitive Justice springs from his Goodness.

Chap. XIV.

Of Mercy. The indelible stain and guilt of Sin. Of the Kingdom which God reco∣vered by Mercy. The transcendent nature of that duty; with its effects and bene∣fits.

Chap. XV.

Of Faith. The faculty of Believing implan∣ted

Chap. XVI.

Of Hope. Its foundation: its distinction from Faith; its extents and dimensions; its life and vigour; its several kinds; its sweetness and excellency.

Chap. XVII.

Of Repentance. Its original; its nature; it is a purgative Vertue; its necessity; its excellencies. The measure of that sor∣row which is due to Sin is intollerable to Sence; confessed by Reason, and dispensed with by Mercy.

Chap. XVIII.

Of Charity towards God. It sanctifieth Re∣pentance, makes it a Vertue, and turns it to a part of our true Felicity. Our Love to all other objects is to begin and end in God. Our Love of God hath an excel∣lency in it, that makes it worthy to be desired by his eternal Majesty. He is the only supream and perfect Friend; by Loving we enjoy him.

Chap. XIX.

Charity to our Neighbour most natural and easie in the estate of Innocency: Adams Love to Eve, and his Children, a great exemplar of our Love to all the World. The sweetness of Loving. The benefits of being Beloved. To love all the World, and to be beloved by all the World, is perfect security and felicity. Were the Law ful∣filled, all the World would be turned into Heaven.

Chap. XX.

Of Prudence. Its foundation is Charity, its end tranquility and prosperity on Earth; its office to reconcile Duty and Conve∣nience, and to make Vertue subservient to Temporal welfare. Of Prudence in Religion; Friendship, and Empire. The end of Prudence is perfect Charity.

Chap. XXI.

Encouragements to Courage. Its Nature, cause, and end. Its greatness and renown. Its ornaments and Companions. Its ob∣jects, circumstances, effects, and disad∣vantages: how Difficulties increase its vertue. Its Victories and Triumphs. How subservient it is to Blessedness and Glo∣ry.

Chap. XXII.

Of Temperance in matters of Art, as Mu∣sick, Dancing, Painting, Cookery, Physick, &c. In the works of Nature; Eating, drinking, sports and recreations: In oc∣casions of passion, in our lives and Con∣versations. Its exercise in Self-denial, measure, mixture and proportion. Its effects and atchievments.

Chap. XXIII.

Of Temperance in God. How the Modera∣tion of Almighty Power, guided in his Works by Wisdom, perfecteth the Creati∣on. How it hath raised its own Glory and our Felicity beyond all that simple Power could effect by its Infiniteness.

Chap. XXIV.

Of Patience. Its original. How God was the first patient Person in the World. The nature, and the glory, and the blessed effects of his eternal Patience. The Rea∣son and design of all Calamities. Of Pati∣ence in Martyrdom. The extraordinary reward of ordinary Patience in its mean∣est obscurity.

Chap. XXV.

The cause of Meekness is Love. It respects the future beauty and perfection of its

Chap. XXVI.

Humility is the basis of all Vertue and Feli∣city, in all estates, and for ever to be ex∣ercised. As Pride does alienate the Soul from God, Humility unites it to him in adoration and amity. It maketh infinite Blessedness infinitely greater, is agreeable to the truth of our condition, and leads us through a dark and mysterious way to Glory.

Chap. XXVII.

That Contentment is a Vertue. Its causes, and its ends: Its Impediments, Effects, and Advantages. The way to attain and secure Contentment.

Chap. XXVIII.

Of Magnanimity, or greatness of Soul. Its nature. Its foundation in the vast Capa∣city of the Understanding. Its desire. Its objects are infinite and eternal. Its en∣quiries are most profound and earnest. It disdaineth all feeble Honours, Pleasures

Chap. XXIX.

Of Modesty. Its nature. Its original. Its effects and consequences.

Chap. XXX.

The excellent nature of Liberality. Rules to be observed in the practice of it. Re∣gard to our Servants, Relations, Friends and Neighbours must be had in our Libe∣rality, as well as to the Poor and Needy. How our external acts of Charity ought to be improved for the benefit of mens Souls. Liberality maketh Religion real and substantial.

Chap. XXXI.

Of Magnificence in God. Its resemblance in Man. The chief Magnificence of the Soul is Spiritual. It is perfectly expressed in the outward life, when the whole is made perfect, and presented to God. God gives all his Life to us: and we should give ours all to him. How fair and glorious it may be.

Chap. XXXII.

Of Gratitude. It feeds upon Benefits, and is in height and fervour answerable to their Greatness. The Question stated, Whe∣ther we are able to love GOD more than our selves. It is impossible to be grateful to GOD without it. A hint of the glori∣ous Consequences of so doing.

Chap. XXXIII.

The Beauty of Gratitude. Its principal Cau∣ses. Amity and Communion are the great effect of its Nature. The true Character of a grateful Person. Gods incommunica∣ble Attributes enjoyed by Gratitude. All Angels and Men are a grateful Persons Treasures, as they assist him in Praises. He sacrifices all Worlds to the Deity, and su∣preamly delighteth to see him sitting in the Throne of Glory.

An APPENDIX.

Of Enmity and Triumph: Of Schism and Heresie, Fidelity, Devotion, Godliness. Wherein is declared, how Gratitude and Felicity inspire and perfect all the Vertues.