Vindiciæ pietatis: or, a vindication of godliness, in the greatest strictness and spirituality of it. From the imputations of folly and fancy Together with several directions for the attaining and maintaining of a godly life. By R.A.

R. A. (Richard Alleine), 1611-1681.

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Page [unnumbered]

The Contents of the Sermons on Ephes. 5. 15.

THe Text opened. Page 2
The Doctrine propounded. Precisians are no fools. ibid.
The Doctrine explained,
1. Precisians are described,
1. Negatively, to be
1. No Pharisee. 3
2. No Phanatick ib.
3. No Phrenetick ib.
2. Positively,
1. By their make or constitution. They are form∣ed after the image of God 5
2. By their way or conversation. Where is con∣sidered,
1. The end of their conversation. Where they are described to be, men that are travelling to another world. 8
2. Their course,
I. They take the right way Which is,
1. Described to be,
The Old and Good
The New and Living
The Strait and Narrow
Way ib.
2. Proved to be the most excellent Way. It is,
1. The way of Truth 14
2. The way of Holiness 15
3. The way of God 16
4. The way of the Kingdom 17
II. They are upright in the way 19
Their uprightnesse is considereed, as it hath respect
Page [unnumbered] To the Commandement
To Conscience 21,
Their uprightness as it respects the Commandment, stands
1. In their having respect to every Command 23
2. In having respect to the most spiritual and in ward part of every Command. 24
3. In the endeavour to observe every Command to the utmost. 25
1. They endeavour to get up to the highest pitch of af∣fection, care, and activity ib.
2. They study and seek out after opportunities for ser∣vice. 26
3. They shun occasions and temptations to sin 27
4. They obstain from all appearance of evil 28
Two things added,
1. When they have done all that they can, they ac∣knowledge themselves unprofitable servants 30
2. Whatever they have done, they dare not trust upon it, or be found in their own righteousness 32
Their uprightness as it respects Conscience, exprest in two particulars
1. They take great care of Conscience 34
1. About the instructing and informing conscience. ib.
2. About keeping Conscience tender 35
2. They give good heed to Conscience, hearkning to, and following in without turning aside
1. To the right hand, either
1. By putting Religion in those things wherein God hath put none 43
2. By putting more Religion in any thing than God hath put in it ibid.
2. To the left hand 45
1. By making sins no sin, duties no dutie ib.
2. By making bold with known sins and duties ib.
III. From this way they will not be drawn aside, by Page [unnumbered] any fears or dangers on the one hand, or by any flatte∣ries or advantages on the other 46
1. A Summary description of these Precisians 51
2. Precisians are proved to be no fools from four Reasons,
Reas. 1. God accounts them no fools 54
Reas. 2. They will not be accounted fools at last, nei∣ther by God nor men 55
Reas. 3. The properties of wise men are found in them 58
1. They understand themselves aright. They under∣stand,
1. Their Interest ib.
2. Their way 60
2. They build sure 64
Reas. 4. The treasures of wisdom are found with them, they have gotten great treasure 66
1. The Pearl 67
2. The white Stone 68
3. The white. Robe 69
4. The Adoption 71
5. The Inheritance 73
Use 1. Advising the profane world to forbear censu∣ring or reproaching them 77
Use 2. Perswading them to come in and be of this num∣ber 80
The absolute necessity of precise godliness is evidenced
1. From Scripture 82
2. From Reasons drawn from Scripture, in six Pro∣positions
1. The Gospel requires, as indispensably necessary to Sal∣vation, inward Holiness 86
2. This inward Holiness which the Gospel requires, is an holy frame or habit 87
3. This inward habitual holiness stands in an universall compliance of the heart with the whole will of God 88
Page [unnumbered] 4. This inward habitual holinesse is such as bears the sway, and hath the preheminence in the soul 89
5. This inward, habitual prevailing holinesse, where∣ever it is, will infallibly bring forth a precise and cir∣cumspect life 90
Therefore
6. Whosoever is not a person of a precise life, is undoub∣tedly in the state of damnation

The Contents of the Sermon, on John. 1. 47.

THe Text opened. 94
The Doctrine propounded. Godliness is no Fancy 95
The Doctrine explained 96
The Doctrine confirmed ib.
I. The Principles or Doctrines of Godliness are no Fancies Instanced in the Doctrines,
1. of God, his Being and Holinesse 97
2. Of Sin 100
3. Of Redemption 109
4. Of Regeneration 115
5. Of Faith 123
6. Of Good Works 126
7. Of Judgment 140
II. The Duties and Comforts of Godlinesse are no fan∣cies 151
Instanced in the Duties of
1. Worshipping God in the Spirit ib.
2. Walking in the Spirit
1. What is meant by the Spirit 157
2. What by walking in the Spirit 158
1. Living under the conduct of the Spirit 160
2. Living in the power of the Spirit ib.
3. Living a spiritual life. 161
The Life of the Saints evidenced to be a spiritual and Heavenly life by three things.
Page [unnumbered] 1. Their chief dealings are about spiritual and hea∣venly things 162
2. Their delights are in spiritual and heavenly things.
3. By their spiritual dealings and delights them∣selves grow dayly more and more spiritual and heavenly 166
3. That walking in the spirit is no fancy 167
Proved from four damnable absurdities that would otherwise follow, viz.
If there be no such thing really as walking in the Spirit.
1. Then the Spirit of God is unfaithful in his Office 170
2. Then God himself is false in his promise 171
3. Then the Devil does more to the damning than the spirit of God doth to the saving of souls ibid.
4. Then God hath no people in the world 173
An exception against the reality of the delights, joys, and comforts of godliness answered 174

The Application.

Use. Of Direction.
1. To the ungodly, in order to the bringing them to a godly life 194
Direct. 1. Get these three Principles fixed in your hearts,
1. That things Eternal are unspeakably more consi∣derable than t•ings temporal. 195
2. That things not seen are as infallibly certain as the things that are seen 198
3. That according to your present choice must be your eternal lot 202
Direct. 2. Make your choice 203
Direct. 3. Imbarque with Christ. 204
Direct. 4. Resign up your selves to Christ 210
Page [unnumbered]Direct. 5. Confirm and compleat all by solemn Cove∣nant 215
2. To the Godly, in order to the carrying them on in a Godly Life 227
To whom are given Directions,
1. Concerning holy Duties
2. Concerning the leading an holy life.
Four things premised concerning the influence of holy du∣ties on an holy Life
1. Holy Duties are the exercise of Grace 228
2. In holy Duties we have communion with God ibid.
3. By holy duties we obtain new and fresh supplies from God 229
4. Holy Duties are our conflicting with corruption 232
The Directions concerning holy Duties are such as have respect,
1. To the right performance of them
2. To the right improvement of them
Directions for the right performance of the duty of Prayer
1. Be constant in the exercise of daily Prayer 233
2. Come to pray with actual and great expectation 237
3. Learn the skill to plead with God in Prayer 238
Four special arguments, from which the Saints may plead with God in prayer, viz. from
1. God himself, his
Gracious Nature 239
Glorious Name 241
2. Christ
1. Gods gift of Christ ibid.
2. Christs purchase ibid.
Page [unnumbered] 3. The Interest which Christ hath in the Fa∣ther 242
4. The interest the Saints have in Christ ib.
3. Promises
4. Experiences.
The use and benefit of the Saints pleading with God in prayer 243
Four special arguments from which Sinners may plead with God in prayer 244
1. God Gracious nature 246
2. Gods call and invitation 247
3. Christ his
Sufficiency 248
Office 249
4 Their own necessity ib.
4. Prayer in Faith 251
Directions for performing the Duty of holy meditations Page 239
1. The chief matters to be meditated on, reduced to seven Heads
1. God 240
2. Sin 244
3. Christ 247
4. The vanity and misery of a worldly life 251
5. The nature, excellency, and necessity of a godly Life 254
6. Death and Judgment 257
7. Eternity 263
Some particular advice for the better managing of this duty 269
Directions for the right performance of the Duty of Self-Examination 271
Page [unnumbered] The matters to be examined,
1. Whether you be in a state of grace, or in a state of Sin 273
There are three marks for the tryal of that 274
2. Whether you are in a languishing or flourishing state 286
Three helps for the finding out that 287
Several causes of languishing, or hindrances of flourish∣ing in grace,
1. Overly performance of Christian duties 289
2. Ʋnprofitable converse with Christian Friends ibid.
3. Ʋnnecessary converse with carnal friends ib.
4. Overmuch business in the world 290
5. The remaining guilt of some unrepented sin ib.
6. Some unmortified lust ib.
7. Sloathfulnesse 291
8. Contentednesse with a poor and low condition ib.
Directions for the renewing your Covenant
Four things p•emised
1. Every sincere Christian is entred into Covenant with God 309
2. Christians do often break Covenant ib.
3. Breaches of Covenant do weaken the obligation of the Covenant, and how 311
4. The renewing of your Covenant doth revive the obligation of it 312
Directions, 1. For the time when,
Four special times when this Duty is to be performed ib.
2. For the manner how.
Directions for the right improvement of holy Duties
1. When ever you set upon Duty, resolve to put hard for it, to obtain such sensible communion with God in it, that you may come off with some lively impres∣sions of God upon your hearts 315
Page [unnumbered] 2. What holy, lively frame you have attained to in duty be careful to maintain afterwards, from duty to duty 317
Directions for the carrying on a constant holy course
I. In your whole course pursue, and as much as possible, eye your End, God and your own Salvation 322
II. Walk on in the Name of the Lord Jesus, or live by Faith 327
III. Deny your selves 331
IV. Order your selves aright in those things that especi∣ally concern your selves 337
1. Allow not your selves in the practice of the least known sin
2. Live not in the ••glect of any known Duty 340
3. Take heed of the World 344
4. Be humble 352
5. Temperate 356
6. Be Moderate ibid
V. Carry your selves well towards others 357
1. Towards all men 358
Be
True ibid.
Just 359
Merciful 360
Peaceable 361
Courteous 363
2. Towards your Families. 368
Four General Directions for a Conclusion of the whole.
In your whole holy Course and all the Duties of it
I. Be Sincere. 371
II. Be Steady and Even. 378
III. Be fruitful. 379
IV. Be stedfast and unmoveable. 381
The great danger of falling off from God and an holy life, is in time of Trouble. 38•
What kind of troubles are the greatest Temptations
Apostacy and Back-sliding.
Page [unnumbered] What's the best course to prevent Apostacy in times of Tribulation.
I. Try your selves well before band. 383
Try,
1. What your are in the state of your souls, as to the main. ibid.
2. What you are in your active obedience. ibid.
3. How you carry your selves under the smaller crosses that come daily upon you. 386
4. What you are in the Temptations of Prosperity 388
II. Mortifie the flesh. 389
III. Be convinc'd of the misery •f Apostates and Back∣sliders. 391
IV. Walk circumspectly, take heed that you neither speak, do, nor suffer any thing, 395
1. Rashly. 396
2. Obstinately. ibid.
3. Proudly. ibid.
4. Ignorantly. 397
5. Ʋnpeaceably. ibid.
V. Be Resolute.

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