The exercise of true spirituall deuotion Consisting of diuers holy meditations and prayers; seruing for the inflaming of mens benummed affections; the quickening and increase of sauing grace; and the better ordering of the whole course of the life of a Christian, in a manner acceptable to God, profitable vnto others, and comfortable vnto his own soule. The first part.

Title

The exercise of true spirituall deuotion Consisting of diuers holy meditations and prayers; seruing for the inflaming of mens benummed affections; the quickening and increase of sauing grace; and the better ordering of the whole course of the life of a Christian, in a manner acceptable to God, profitable vnto others, and comfortable vnto his own soule. The first part.

Author

Alliston, Joseph.

Publication

At London :: Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, for Thomas Man,

1610.

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Subject terms

Christian life -- Early works to 1800.

Meditations -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16866.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The exercise of true spirituall deuotion Consisting of diuers holy meditations and prayers; seruing for the inflaming of mens benummed affections; the quickening and increase of sauing grace; and the better ordering of the whole course of the life of a Christian, in a manner acceptable to God, profitable vnto others, and comfortable vnto his own soule. The first part." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16866.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 6, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR EDVVARD LEVVKENOR, Knight, grace and happines.
• The Preface.
• MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS.
  • Enemies to deuotion: first sin∣full lusts.
  • 2 Worldly Cares.
  • 3 Sathans suggestions.
  • WORKES OF CREA∣tion.
  • Worke of Redemption.
  • Mercies of God.
  • The folly of the wicked to be wondered at.
  • The hurt and danger which sin bringeth.
  • Death alwaies to be expected and prouided for.
  • Another of the same.
  • Gods glorie carefully to be sought for in all things.
  • No standing at a stay in Christi∣anitie.
  • The benefit which is receiued by the mutuall prayers of the faithfull.
  • Blessings of God are not the lesse to be regarded because they are common.
  • The Angels watch ouer the godlie.
  • The danger of security.
  • The folly of worldlings, and wickedmen.
  • The bondage and slauerie of the wicked.
  • The fond and preposterous course of the wicked in preferring the health of their bodies, before the saluation of their soules.
  • The forwardnes of the wicked in the way to hell, ought to prouoke the godlie to make the more speede in the way to heauen.
  • More care ought to be had of the soule then of the bodie.
  • The vnfruitfll hearing of the word of God verie dangerous.
  • Different degrees of grace in the godly.
  • Another of the same.
  • Death alwaies to be desired of the godlie.
  • The imprisonment of the god∣lie in this life.
  • The vanitie of all earthlie things.
  • A true discerning of the worlds vanitie, maketh men willing to leaue it, and desirous of a better estate out of it.
  • Of whom death is most feared.
  • Sathans craft and guilefulnesse in deceiuing men.
  • Sathans seuerall baites for sun∣drie persons.
  • The occasions of sinne carefully to be auoided.
  • Respect of persons.
  • Gods speciall prouidence ouer his children.
  • Contentednes in all estates.
  • Coueteousnes a dangerous disease.
  • All must suffer afflictions in this life.
  • The Ancre of the soule in affli∣ctions.
  • Great danger in yeelding to the least motion of any sinne.
  • Grace to be increased daily by all meanes.
  • Sathans guilefull tempta∣tions.
  • Christians are to estrange themselues from this world, and to aspire vnto heauen.
  • Death alwaies to be remem∣bred.
  • What maner of life it becom∣meth Christians to leade.
  • Gods patience in bearing with sinners.
  • The soule how it is to be fitted and prepared, for the enter∣tainment of so glorious a guest, as the holy Ghost is.
  • Grieuing of the spirit of God.
  • Spirituall desertions.
  • The truth and faithfulnesse of God, in performing his promises.
  • The comfort of a good con∣science, especially in death.
  • Sinne exceeding dangerous, though pleasant for a time.
  • The vsuall euent of Satans pra∣ctises against the Church of God.
  • Christians ought to keepe con∣tinuall watch in regard of Satans assaults.
  • Greater care is to be had of things to come, then of things present.
  • Gods all-seeing presence.
  • A motiue to patience vnder the crosse.
  • None euer free from the temp∣tations of Satan.
  • Satans temptations, sometimes more grieuous and dangerous then at other times.
  • Sathan more dangerous in lesser temptatious sometimes then in greater.
  • Whom Sathan tempteth most.
  • The wonderfull workes of God in heauen and earth.
  • A caueat for rash censurers of the weaknesses and infir∣mities of others.
  • The infirmities of others are to be borne with.
  • The liues of the Saints of old, and men now a daies, how different they are.
  • Heauenly mindednes.
  • Especiall fauours of God to∣wards vs, often and more especially to bee remembred of vs.
  • How the conscience is disquie∣ted and wounded.
  • The dulnes and sottishnes of worldlings.
  • As is the life of a man, so is his death and finall estate.
  • Iudgement day how terrible it will be to the wicked.
  • The excellencie of a true Christian.
  • An humble heart most pleasant vnto God: a proud▪ most vile and abominable.
  • Confidence in any creature, a most vaine thing.
  • Suspition.
  • Why the Lord suffereth oft times the infirmities of his chil∣dren to be knowne to others.
  • The heauen of the godly, and the hell of the wicked in this life.
  • The cares of this world what hindrances they are to the sin∣cere and entire worship of God.
  • True zeale.
  • A dangerous thing to affect the glorie of the world.
  • A singular priuiledge belong∣ing vnto all the children of God.
  • Iustification by faith onely.
  • A comfort for afflicted consciences.
  • The Christians glorious conquest.
  • The difficultie of conquering a mans selfe, and his owne affections.
  • The worlds esteeme of Gods children.
  • Another.
  • God and the world of a different iudgement.
  • The willing and ioyfull bearing of the crosse, a signe of a well growen Christian.
  • The exceeding follie and vanitie of the wicked.
  • The spirit of God is the life of the soule.
  • The loue of the world and world∣ly desires, banish all true loue of God from the soule.
  • The sinfulnes of mans nature corrupted.
  • Blindnes of minde, a great miserie.
  • Hardnes of heart a fearefull plague.
  • Feare of God.
  • Feare of God speaking in his word.
  • Knowledge and conscience must goe togther.
  • Another.
  • The worldly mans Idoll.
  • The miserable estate of a worldling.
  • The vnpleasant and distracted life of a carnall and wicked man.
  • The life of the righteous as well to be sought after, as their death wished.
  • The follie and danger of defer∣ring Repentance.
  • Freewill.
  • What worship God especially requireth.
  • Christians are willingly to re∣signe themselues, and all that they enioy, to Gods will.
  • Forgiuing of others, how ne∣cessary for all men.
  • A comfort for such, as are vniustly slaundered of the wicked.
  • Compassion towards others in their griefes.
  • A comfortable life, how to be obtained.
  • How they are to liue that are redeemed by Christ.
  • Gods loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things, and his wrath feared.
  • The Lords seruice the grea∣test freedome.
  • The extreame follie of men in hazarding the eternall e∣state of their soules, for the enioying of the vaine plea∣sures of this world.
  • Deniall of a mans selfe, how necessary.
  • The Lord is the light and the guide of his.
  • The Lord neuer forsaketh his in the day of affliction or temptation.
  • The loue of the world and world∣ly things, is the cause of dis∣traction, and much disquiet∣nes.
  • How Christians are to iudge of their estate.
  • The presence of God how bles∣sed and comfortable a thing it is.
  • The old man neuer dies in this life.
  • A free minde how to be obtained.
  • An effectuall motiue to true humilitie and lowlines of minde.
  • Another.
  • Vainglorie what a vanitie and follie it is.
  • The Christians Paradise in this life.
  • How the life to come ought to be desired of euery true Chri∣stian, in regard of the excel∣lencie and glorie of it.
  • Who shall be citizens of that heauenly kingdome.
• AN ALPHABETICAL Table of the chiefe points contaied in the seueral Meditations.