Theophilie, or, A discourse of the saints amitie with God in Christ by Theophilus Gale.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAP. 1. Of Friendship in General, John 15.14.

• NAtural Friendship. Page 2
• Human Friendship. Page 2, 3
• Divine Friendship. Page 3, 4
• No true Amitie but what is founded on Amitie with Christ. Page 4
• The Paraphrase and Explication of John 15.14. Page 5
• The Laws of Friendship fundamental, or per∣fective. Page 6
• Al Friendship is founded on Election. Page 9

CHAP. 2. Christian prudence the foundation of friend∣ship with Christ.

• PRudence necessarie to the Election of Christ. p. 10
• The parts of Christian prudence. p. 14
• Prudence necessarie, 1. For the discoverie of the right End and Object of our frendship, which is termed spiritual Sagacitie. p. 14
• What this Sagacitie is; and how greatly use∣ful in order to a complete friendship with Christ. p. 15,—19
• 2. Spiritual Providence, or Consultation about the Means, very useful for friendship with Christ. p. 19,—24
• 3. Dexteritie in the Disposement of means, a fundamental ingredient of friendship with Christ. p. 24, 25.
• This Dexteritie stiled, (1.) P••spicacitie. p. 26
• ...(2.) Experience. p. 27
• ...(3.) Facilitie of learning. p. 28
• (4.) An easie Method of procedure. p. 29
• (5.) Dexteritie properly so termed. p. 29,—34

CHAP. 3. The Election of a single Christ, in oppositi∣on to Sin, Self, the World, and the Law.

• THE Saints Friendship with Christ is Conjugal. p. 35, 36
• Conjugal Friendship with Christ requires a single object of its Election, &c. p. 36,—44.
• 1. Reprobation of sin essential to friendship with Christ. p. 45,—47.
• How far a false friend of Christ may precede in the Reprobation of sin. p. 47
• (1.) As to Judgement. p. 48
• (2.) As to Wil p. 49
• (3.) As to Affections. p. 50
• What are the postures of the sincere friends of Christ towards sin. (1.) As to judge∣ment. p. 51
• (2.) As to their Consciences. ibid.
• (3.) As to Wil, and conflicts against sin. p. 51, 52, 53.
• 2. The Election of Christ presupposeth the Re∣nunciation of Self. p. 55
• Self violates al the Laws of friendship. p. 56, 57.
• Self-love is Christ's greatest enemie in 7. re∣gards. p. 58,—64
• Where Self is the cause of friendship, it is also the Ruine of the same. p. 62, 63
• A character of Hypocritick self-denial. p. 64, 65
• An Idea of true self-denial springing from a sight of our selves and of God. p. 65, 66.

• The parts of this Self-denial. p. 67, 68.
• Abraham's self-denial, the ground of his friendship with God. p. 69
• John Baptist's self-denial the foundation of his friendship with Christ. p. 70, 71
• 3. How far the World, is to be rejected, in or∣der to the Election of Christ for himself. p. 73
• 4. How far the Law is to be rejected by Christ's friends. p. 79
• Notes of a soul's being maried to the Law. p. 80
• How Christ's friends are dead to the Law. p. 80, 81.
• How the friends of Christ are alive to the Law as a rule. p. 81, 82

CHAP. 4. The Election of whole Christ, &c.

• A Complete Christ the Object of the Saints friendship. p. 84, 85
• 1. The friends of Christ must Elect him as their King. p. 86,—88
• 2. Christ's friends Elect him as their Priest. p. 89—91
• 3. The Election of Christ as our Prophet. p. 92,—94
• 4. The Election of Christ's Person a funda∣mental part of our friendship with him. p. 95,—102
• Self the first Motive that draws sinners to Christ. p. 98
• More pure strains of friendship with

• Christ. p. 99, 100
• The plague of false friends is, that they close not with the Person of Christ. p. 101, 102
• 5. The friends of Christ must elect his Spirit also, as their Friend. p. 102,—105
• 6. Christ's Yoke, Waies, and Ordinances must be elected. p. 105,—107
• 7. Election of Christ's Members. p. 107
• 8. Election of Christ's Crosse. p. 107

CHAP. 5. How far the friends of Christ may regard themselves.

• CHrist must be elected for himself. p. 109,—111
• What it is to Elect Christ for himself. p. 111, 112
• No regard is to be had to sinful, or carnal self. p. 113
• How the Elect, while under a Spirit of Bond∣age, aim at legal self only. p. 114
• False friends of Christ ruined by legal self. p. 114, 115
• The friends of Christ may not elect him for the advance of an Evangelick self-sufficience. p. 116, 117
• Christ's friends may not elect him, merely for the sweet Accidents of his presence. p. 118, 119
• Christ may not be elected for a carnal Heaven, or to avoid a carnal Hel. p. 120, 121, 122
• The friends of Christ may not elect him for self, as their last end; or on their own

• ...Conditions. p. 123—125
• The friends of Christ may eye freedome from Hel. p. 126, 127
• The friends of Christ may have a regard to Heaven. p. 128,—130
• Christs friends may desire ease from their bur∣dens. p. 131
• The friends of Christ may regard themselves, any way in subordination unto Christ. p. 132
• The essential connexion 'twixt the Interest of Christ, and that of his friends. p. 132,—134

CHAP. 6. That the friends of Christ do most advance themselves, by electing Christ for himself.

• 1. THis is proved from the object, Christ, considered, (1.) As the Last end. p. 136, 137
• (2.) As the First Beautie. p. 137, 138
• (3.) As the First Principle of Dependence, p. 138, 139
• 2. From the Act of Electing Christ; which is, (1.) Most Natural. p. 140, 141
• (2.) Most living, and lively. p. 142
• (3.) Most Rational. p. 143,—145
• (4.) Most Voluntarie. p. 145, 146
• 3. From the Effects of electing Christ for him∣self, which are, p. 146
• (1.) Participation of the Divine Nature, p. 146, 147
• (2.) Libertie, both natural, civil, and Di∣vine.

• ...p. 148,—154
• (3) Divine life, with al its Issues. p. 155
• 1. Spiritual Health. p. 156
• 2. Divine Strength. p. 157, 158
• 3. Growth in Grace. p. 159, 160
• 4. Spiritual Sense. p. 160, 161
• 5. Divine Motion. p. 161, 162
• (4.) Divine Honor. p. 163, 164
• (5.) Divine Harmonie, and Order. p. 164, 165
• (6.) Divine Beautie, and Glorie. p. 165, 166
• (7.) Divine Pleasures. p. 166,—168
• (8.) Divine Treasures. p. 168, 169

CHAP. 7. How, and why Christ is to be elected for himself, in regard of his Mediatorie ex∣cellences, as Relative to God the Father.

• THE Distribution of Christ's Excel∣lences. p. 170
• Christ's Designement to Office. p. 171—182
• Heb. 2.5, 6, 7, 8. largely explicated. p. 172,—175
• Joh. 6.27. Sealed, What p. 175
• ...Heb. 3.2. Appointed. p. 176, 177
• Act. 2.36. God hath made, &c. p. 177, 178
• ...Ephes. 5.1. A sweet smelling savor. p. 178, 179
• How the friends of Christ must eye his Divine Constitution. p. 180,—182
• Christ's Aptitude for his Office. p. 183
• Joh. 1.14. largely explicated. p. 183,—186
• Joh. 1.16. And of his fulnes, &c. p. 186, 187
• Al Grace passeth from Christ as its Foun∣tain.

• ...p. 187,—189
• How al Divine perfections dwel in Christ, as in a Temple, Col. 2.9. p. 190—195
• Heb. 1.3. Explicated in each particular. p. 196,—208
• 2 Cor. 4.6. The Face of Jesus, what. p. 209,—212
• 2 Cor. 4.4. How Christ is the Image of God. p. 212, 213
• 2 Cor. 3.18. Christ an Essential Glasse, &c. p. 214,—218
• How the Believing soul is transformed into the Image of God, shining in Christ. p. 216, 217
• How al the Attributes of God shine in Christ. p. 219,—226
• The Wisdome of God in Christ. p. 220
• The Love, and Grace of God in Christ. p. 220, 221
• God's Justice in Christ. p. 222
• God's Holines in Christ. p. 222, 223
• God's Omnipotence in Christ. p. 223
• God's Faithfulnes in Christ. p. 224
• God's Immensitie in Christ. p. 225
• God's Independence in Christ, &c. p. 226
• Contemplate the Glorious Ideas of God in Christ. p. 227,—230
• Election, and Fruition of God's excellences in Christ. p. 230, 231
• Imitation of Christ's human Nature. p. 231, 232
• Christ's friends should present themselves fit Temples for Christ. p. 233, 234

CHAP. 8. The Doctrine of Amitie with Christ im∣proved by Doctrinal Corollaries, and practick Uses.

• DOctrinal Corollaries from this Subject. p. 235—248
• 1. The condescendence of Free-Grace. p. 236
• 2. The Dignitie of Religion. p. 237
• 3. The highest Wisdome, is to make Christ our friend. p. 238
• 4. Al by nature Enemies to Christ. p. 239
• 5. Al friendship with Christ, from God. p. 240
• 6. The contradictions of many seeming Friends. p. 241
• 7. How far false friends of Christ may go. p. 242, 243
• 8. How easie a thing it is to miscarrie in the beginning of our friendship. p. 244
• 9. Much seeming friendship with Christ not real. p. 245
• 10. True Friendship among men rare. p. 245, 246
• 11. The folie of such as refuse Christ. p. 247, 248
• Use 1. The Aggravations of this sin, not to mind friendship with Christ. p. 249,—259
• 1. As to its Object, it is against Christ, (1.) The Author of life. p. 250
• (2.) Most willing to give life. p. 251
• (3.) Most excellent in himself. p. 252
• 2. The Aggravations of this sin, as to its

• ... Subject. p. 253,—255
• 3. The Aggravations of this sin in regard of its formal Nature. p. 255, 556
• (1.) It's ful of Atheisme. p. 257
• (2.) Of Crucifying Christ. p. 257
• (3.) Of Blasphemie against Christ. p. 258
• (4.) Of Sacrilege. p. 258
• 4. The Aggravations of this sin from its Ef∣fects. p. 259
• The miserie of such as refuse friendship with Christ. p. 259,—263
• Use 2. For conviction to Refined Hypocrites. p. 263
• How far refined Hypocrites may procede in false friendship with Christ. p. 264,—273
• As to, 1. The Spirit of Bondage. p. 265
• 2. Aversion from sin, and self. p. 266
• 3. Assent, and Estime of Christ. p. 267
• 4. Consent, and closing with Christ. p. 267, 268
• ... 5. Affections. p. 268
• 6. Union with Christ. p. 269
• 7. The Image of Christ. p. 269
• 8. Active Obedience. p. 270
• 9. Passive Obedience. p. 270
• 10. Dependence on Christ. p. 271
• 11. Service, and Assistances. p. 271
• 12. Praises. 13. Communion of Saints. p. 272
• 14. Communion with Christ. p. 272
• 15. Prelibations of Glorie, &c. 273, &c.
• The Sinfulnes of false friendship with Christ. p. 276
• (1.) It is a mocquing Christ. p. 276
• (2.) It is a Wearying Christ. p. 277
• (3.) Is is most lothsome to Christ. p. 277

• (4.) It doth Christ most mischief. p. 277, 278
• The Folie of false friendship with Christ. p. 279
• It is, (1.) Self-flatterie. (2.) Self-delusion. p. 279
• ...(3.) Self-ruine. (4.) Self-confidence.
• ...(5.) Self-contradiction p. 280
• (6.) It shal be manifest folie. p. 280
• (7.) It is courting of shadows. p. 280
• The Curse of false friendship with Christ. p. 281
• (1) It is the Root of many Spiritual sins. p. 281
• (2.) It Poisons the best Mercies. p. 282
• (3.) It puts a sting into al Afflictions. p. 282
• (4.) Christ leaves such under the snares of this world. p. 282
• (5.) Christ leaves such to the Plague of their own hearts. p. 283
• (6.) Christ puts a period to the day of Grace. p. 284
• (7) Christ leaves them to Satan. p. 284
• (8.) Christ becomes a stone of stumbling to such. p. 285
• (9) Hence follows Judicial hardnes. p. 285
• (10.) Such are exposed to al the Curses of the Law, &c. p. 286
• (11.) Al the Hopes of such perish. p. 286

CHAP. 9. Heart-Examens, Exhortations, and Directi∣ons, touching a sincere closure with Christ, as our friend.

• Use 3. FOR Examination. p. 288
• Motives, 1. From the Difficulties that attend friendship with Christ. p. 289
• 2. From the Facilitie of being mistaken herein. p. 290
• 3. From the Danger of such mistakes. p. 291
• Distinctive Characters of true and false friends of Christ. p. 292
• As to 1. Estimation. p. 292
• 2. Aversion from sin. p. 293, 294
• 3. Self-denial, and Exaltation of Christ. p. 295,—297
• 4. The Law. p. 297, 298
• 5. Crucifixion to the World. p. 299
• 6. The Election of a whole Christ, with the whole Heart p. 300
• 7. Closures with Christ's person for himself. p. 301,—303
• Ʋse 4. Exhortation to a thorough closure with Christ. p. 304
• Motive 1. From the Excellences of Christ. p. 304,—307
• Mot. 2. From the Condition of the Soul, its Origine, Nature, Capacitie, Activitie, Im∣mortalitie. p. 307,—311
• Mot. 3. From the Nature of Amitie with

• Christ. p. 311, 311
• Mot. 4. From the Effects of Amitie with Christ. p. 312,—315
• Directions for a complete closure with Christ. p. 316
• In general, lay a good Foundation. p. 316, 317
• 1. Get a Sanctified Head; which implies, p. 319
• (1.) An Head wel-principled, with Evan∣gelick notions. p. 320
• (2.) An awakened Head. p. 321
• (3.) A Serious Head. p. 321
• 2. Get a Loyal Heart; which implies, p. 322
• (1.) A Broken Heart. p. 323
• (2.) A Sound Heart; which implies, p. 324,
• 1. A living Heart. p. 325
• 2. A Single Heart, both as to object, and Motives. p. 326, 327
• 3. An Entire Heart. p. 328, 329
• 4. A Flexible Heart. p. 330, 331
• 5. An Honest Heart. p. 331, 332

CHAP. 10. Advice to the friends of Christ, for the living up to the Dignitie of this their Relation.

• Ʋse 5. DIrections for Christ's friends &c. Direct. 1. Tudie and admire Christ's Excellences. p. 333
• (1.) Studie the Beauties of Christ's Person. p. 335, 336
• (2.) Studie, Christ's Good-Nature, Love

• and Tendernesses. p. 336,—340
• (3.) Studie the Riches of Grace in Christ. p. 340,—344
• Direct. 2. Daily repete your first Election of Christ. p. 344
• The Benefits of such repeted Elections of Christ,
• As to, (1.) Gradual separation from sin and Self, &c. p. 345
• (2.) The confirmation of our Union with Christ. p. 346
• (3.) The Radication of Grace. p. 347
• (4.) The Enlargement of Affections. p. 348
• (5.) Recoveries out of Backslidings. p. 349
• (6.) Communion with Christ. p. 350
• (7.) The life of faith. p. 350, 351
• (8.) Assurance of salvation. p. 352,—354
• Direct. 3. Grow more rooted and built up in Christ, Col. 2.7. As to (1.) Assent, and Estime of Christ. p. 355, 356
• (2.) Strong Adherence to Christ. p. 357, 358
• (3) Resignation to, and Dependence on Christ. p. 359,—362
• Direct 4. Get spiritual, Conjugal Affections for Christ. p. 363, &c.
• (1.) Conjugal Love to Christ. p. 365,—367
• (2.) Conjugal Desires after Christ. p. 367,—369
• (3.) Conjugal Grief for Christ's absence p. 369, 370
• (4.) Lively Hopes of Christ's Return••. p. 371, 372
• (5) Joy and Complacence in Christ's Pre∣sence. p. 373
• (6) Conjugal Fear of displeasing Christ. p. 374
• (7.) Conjugal Zele for Christ. p. 375

• Direct. 5. Endeavor after the greatest in∣terne Uniformitie with, and externe Con∣formitie to Christ. p. 376
• (1.) Interne Uniformitie with Christ. p. 378
• (2.) Externe Conformitie to Christ. p. 380
• Direct. 6. Aspire after more intimate Union, and Communion with Christ, &c. p. 383
• 1. Confirme, and Improve Union with Christ. p. 384
• (1.) Relative Ʋnion with Christ. p. 385
• (2.) Positive Ʋnion with Christ; p. 385
• ... 1. Habitual. p. 385
• 2. Actual; which is (1.) Intellectual. p. 386
• (2.) Moral; which is 1. Adhesive, p. 387
• ... 2. Affective. p. 387
• 2. Aspire after more intimate communion with Christ. p. 388,—391
• (1.) In al Duties of Religion. p. 391
• (2.) In al Providential occurrences. p. 392
• (3.) In Creature-comforts, and inferior goods. p. 393
• Direct. 7. Give al Content to Christ. p. 394
• 1. Do nothing that may displease Christ. p. 395
• Christ is displeased and grieved, (1.) By visi∣ble Relapses, or secret Indulgences in sin. p. 395
• (2.) By secret Backslidings of Heart. p. 395,—397
• 2. Grow up more into the Image of Christ. p. 397
• 3. Displease Self. p. 397
• 4. Be Flexible towards Christ's Wil, and Grace. p. 398
• (1.) Towards his Wil of Precept, and Pro∣vidence. p. 399

• (2.) Towards his gracious Inspirations. p. 400
• 5. Studie Fidelitie towards Christ. p. 400
• 6. Frequent Addresses to Christ. p. 401
• 7. Civilitie and Respects due to Chri. p. 401, 402
• Direct. 8. Take al Content in Christ. p. 403,—407
• 1. As the Spring of al Grace. p. 408
• 2. As the Matter of our Happines: and so, p. 408
• (1.) Christ must be loved for himself. p. 408, 409
• (2.) Christ must be injoyed as the best good. p. 410
• (3.) Christ must be the spring of our Satis∣faction. p. 411
• (4.) Christ must be injoyed without Mesure. p. 411
• Direct. 9. Live by faith in al States, and Conditions of suffering by, or for Christ. p. 412
• 1. Ʋnder al Sufferings immediately from Christ. p. 413
• Christ has many Gracious Ends in Desertion. p. 414, 415
• How the friends of Christ must live by faith under al his Absences, and Desertions. p. 416, 417
• (1.) By keeping up good Thoughts of Christ. p. 418, 419
• (2.) By humble Submission unto Christ. p. 420
• (3.) By firme Adherence unto Christ. p. 421, 422
• (4.) By Endeavors to please Christ. p. 422
• (5.) By Longings after Christ. p. 423
• (6.) By laboring against sinking Despon∣dences. p. 423

• (7.) By making Deprivements of Grace a Means of Grace. p. 423
• (8.) What is wanting in Sense, make up by Faith. p. 423
• 2. The Advantages of faith in suffering for Christ. p. 424
• Directions for a life of faith under the Crosse. p. 425
• (1.) Give not way to hard Thoughts of the Crosse. p. 425
• (2.) Keep under Lawlesse Self, and Soft Na∣ture. p. 426
• (3.) Faith must Espouse Christ's Crosse. p. 427
• (4.) Faith must Triumph over the Crosse. p. 427
• (5.) Faith must Improve every Crosse. p. 428