A treatise of conversion Preached, and now published for the use of those that are strangers to a true conversion, especially the grosly ignorant and ungodly. By Richard Baxter, teacher of the Church of Christ at Kederminster.

THE CONTENTS.

CHAP. I. SECT. I.

The Text Explained.

• SECT. 3. How Conversion, Repentance, Regene∣ration, Vocation, Sanctification, agree or differ, p. 6
• Sect. 4. What an unconverted state is? and what conversion is, Actively and Passively taken, p. 10
• Sect. 5. The first part of conversion is the change of the mind. first from Ignorance, by Illumination, p. 12

• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. 2. From Inconsiderateness to sober consideration, p. 13
• Sect. 7. 3. From unbelief to true Believing, p. 14
• Sect. 8. 4. It healeth their Errours about God, and the Necessa∣ry matters of Salvation, p. 16
• Sect. 9. The second part of conversion is on the Heart or Will, which hath first a New Inclination and complacency, p. 20
• Sect. 10. 2. New Intentinos or Ends, p. 26
• Sect. 11. 3. New choyce of means, 1. Principal, Christ and his Spirit. 2. Subservient, p. 31
• Sect. 12. As 1. Confession of sin, with godly sorrow, p. 37
• Sect. 13. 2. Earnest Prayer to God, p. 41
• Sect. 14. 3. The Word read or heard, p. 45
• Sect. 15. 4. The communion of Saints, p. 48
• Sect. 16. 4. The will hath new Resolutions, p. 52
• Sect. 17. The next part is in new Affections, which are, 1. A new love and hatred, p. 56
• Sect. 18. 2. New desires and Aversion, p. 57
• Sect. 19. 3. New Delight and sorrow, p. 58
• Sect. 20. 4. New Hope and Despair, p. 61
• Sect. 21. 5. New courage and Fear, p. 63
• Sect. 22. 6. New Anger, p. 65
• Sect. 23. 7. New Content and Discontent, p. 69
• Sect. 24. Conversion makes men to become as children: in Hu∣mility, Teachableness, and beginning the world anew, p. 71
• Sect. 25. Conversion changeth the Life, which 1. Beginneth in an Holy covenant with God, described, p. 80
• Sect. 26. 2. Sin is actually forsaken and cast away, p. 86
• Sect. 27. 3. Even Omissions: The man hath another work to do, p. 91
• Sect. 28. 4. A new tongue followeth a new Heart, p. 93
• Sect. 29. 5. And new company, usually, p. 95
• Sect. 30. 6. Conversion makes men compassionate the uncon∣verted, p. 97

CHAP. II. SECT. I.

THat none but the converted can be saved, is proved. 1. From express Scripture words. 2. By Scripture Reasons. 1. From Christs Office. (p. 105.) 2. From the drift of the Gospel. 3. From the work of the Ministry. 4. And of Gods Providences. 5. From all mens duty.

Question. Are there not many born of godly Parents, Baptized, and well Educated, and that need no conversion? Answered.

• Sect. 3. Reasons. 1. From Gods Absolute Dominion and Will. p. 111
• Sect. 4. 2. From mans state and Gods Government, p. 113
• Sect. 5. 3. From Gods Nature, p. 114
• Sect. 6. 4. From Gods offer, and their refusal of Salvation, p. 116
• Sect. 7. 5. From the flat Impossibility. p. 119

CHAP. III. SECT. I.

• USE first, there is a Heaven to be obtained, p. 121
• Use second, Of Examination: whether you are converted.
• Sect. 2. Reasons moving hereto, p. 123
• ...Things to be enquired after.
• Sect. 3. Signs of an unconverted person, p. 133
• Sect. 4. Use 3. For awakening, and humbling the unconverted, p. 136

CHAP. IV. SECT. I.

• THe misery of the ••nconverted. 1. They are no children of God and members of Christ, p. 140
• Sect. 2. 2. They have no hope of salvation, till converted, p. 143
• Sect. 3. 3. No sin pardoned, p. 146
• Sect. 4. 4. They are Satans slaves, p. 149

• Sect. 5. 5. They please not God, p. 152
• Sect. 6. 6. Are in continual danger of Hell, p. 159
• Sect. 7. 7. No cause of one hours Peace and true comfort, p. 161
• Sect. 8. 8. Their many warnings will multiply their misery, p. 162
• Sect. 9. 9. The further they go, the worse, p. 164
• Sect. 10. 10. Lose a life of Blessedness which they might have, p. 165

CHAP. V. SECT. I.

• THE Benefits of conversion, p. 167
• Sect. 2. 1. Te be delivered from the power of Satan, p. 169
• Sect. 3. 2. ••nited to Christ, p. 172
• Sect. 4. 3. A member of the Catholike Church, p. 173
• Sect. 5. 4. All sin pardoned, p. 174
• Sect. 6. 5. Reconciled to God, p. 176
• Sect. 7. 6. Adopted sons of God, p. 177
• Sect. 8. 7. Have the Spirit of Christ, ibid.
• Sect. 9. 8. The Promises are theirs, p. 178
• Sect. 10. 9. All their service pleaseth God. p. 179
• Sect. 11. 10. Angels attend them. p. 180
• Sect. 12. 11. Communion with the Church, p. 181
• Sect. 13. 12. Christs Intercession, p. 184
• Sect. 14. 13. All things are theirs, and work for their good, p. 186
• Sect. 15. 14. In a safe case to Die, p. 189
• Sect. 16. 15. The heirs of Glory, which they shall possess, p. 190
• Sect. 17. 16. The new life is the happy beginning of Everlasting life, and Peace and Joy, p. 194
• Sect. 18. 17. No evil can befall him, which may be a sufficient Reason to lay by these Joyes, p. 197
• Sect. 19. 18. The further they go, the greater their happiness, p. 200
• Sect. 20. Conversion makes men useful to others, p. 203
• Sect. 21. It rejoyceth the Angels and Christ himself, p. 204
• Sect. 22. A perswasion on the foregoing grounds, p. 206

CHAP. VI. SECT. I.

• A ••se of Exhortation; set on by ten Questions: to the end. p. 209

CHAP. VII.

THE Hinderances of Conversion, with Directions contrary to to them.

• Sect. 1. 2. Hinderance 1. The wilful neglect of means, where the cavils against the means are answered, p. 229
• Sect. 4. Hinderance 2. Bad company, p. 240
• Sect. 6. Hinderance 3. Gross ignorance of those truths that should be the Instruments of Conversion, p. 243
• Sect. 8. Hinderance 4. ••nbelief, p. 248
• Sect. 10. Hinderance 5. Inconsiderateness. p. 250
• Sect. 12. Hinderance 6. Hardness of heart, p. 252
• Sect. 14. Hinderance 7. The great esteem and Interest of this world, p. 261
• Sect. 16. Hinderance 8. Custom in sin, subduing Reason to the flesh. p. 264
• Sect. 18. Hinderance 9. Foolish self-love, cherishing presumption and false hopes, p. 266
• Sect. 22. Hinderance 10. Counterfeit graces or half-conversion occasioning self-deceit, p. 268
• Sect. 23. Hinderance 11. Living among strong Temptations and occasions of sin, p. 269
• Sect. 24. Hinderance 12. The scandalous lives, and many opini∣ons of Professours, p. 270
• Sect. 26. Hinderance 13. The ill Education of children, p. 273
• Sect. 28. Hinderance 14. Striving against the Spirit of Grace, p. 276
• Sect. 30. Hinderance 15. ••nresolvedness and half-purposes, p. 277
• Sect. 32. Hinderance 16. Delay, p. 278
• Sect. 34. Hinderance 17. When good beginnings are not follow∣ed on, p. 281

• Sect. 36. Hinderance 18. A misunderstanding of some Scriptures, and Erroneous thoughts of God wayes. As 1. Mistaking the nature of conversion. 2. Thinking Sanctification is but a con∣ceit. 3. Or that Godliness is more ado then needs? Answered in twelve Questions. 4. Trusting to their own good meaning, and works. 5. Misunderstanding particular Promises: as that whoever believeth, calleth on the name of the Lord, &c. shall be saved. 6. False thoughts of Predestination and Gods Grace. 7. Ill conclusions from mans Impotency. 8. And from the ••nprofitableness of our willing and running. 9. And from Gods hardening. 10. Placing holiness in meer Opinions and siding. 11. False conceits against Ordinances: 1. Family duties. 2. Joyning with our Assemblies, on pretence of their pollution: Of our no-Ministry: no-Baptism. 3. Against singing Psalms, p. 283
• Sect. 37. Hinderance 19. A proud unteachable frame of spirit, p. 301
• Sect. 39. Hinderance 20. Wilful Obstinacy, p. 303
• ...The Conclusion.