Jacobs ladder, or A short treatise laying forth distinctly the seuerall degrees of Gods eternall purpose whereby his grace descends vpon the elect, and the elect ascend to the predestinate glory.

A Table of the principall Con∣tents of the seuerall treatises, handled in this booke.

The first treatise. IAacobs Ladder, containing the seuerall steppes of Gods eternal counsell, touching the finall state of all men. Heere∣in are handled these points following:

• (1) The manifold and great vses of this treatise.
• (2) Certaine aduertisments and directi∣ons, touching the vnderstanding of it.
• (3) The degrees of Gods counsell concerning all men before the fall.
• (4) The degrees of diuine counsell touching elect men alone.
• (5) The degrees of his counsell pro∣per to the reprobate.
• (6) Certaine degrees of his counsell

• common to elect and reprobate, from the time of their death.
• (7) The execution of Gods counsell towards the elect, by those works of grace (particularlie and exactlie set downe) by which they passe to glorie.

The second treatise. Wherein are handled:

• (1) The etymologie and definition of iustification, what it signifies, & what it is.
• (2) The causes of iustification, effici∣ent, materiall, and finall.
• (3) Also the instrumentall cause, to wit, faith.
• (4) What faith it is that doth iustifie.
• (5) That application is a part of iusti∣fying faith.
• (6) That there is no iustification of sinners, without, or before this faith.
• (7) That iustification onely by faith, without the works of the law, is our iusti∣fication before God.
• (8) That it is impossible for the law to iustifie vs, neither was it ordained of God for such an end.
• (9) An answere to the Papists about iu∣stification by merit of good workes.

• (10) An answere to the obiections of such, which would haue iustification without faith.
• (11) The office and power of faith throughlie examined, and deliuered from all cauils of the aduersarie.
• (12) The doctrine of free iustification of faith, giues no libertie to the flesh.
• (13) An exhortation to iustified and beeleeuing Christans, to expresse the power of faith.

The third treatise. A receite against heresie. Wherein are handled:

• (1) A definition of heresie.
• (2) Difference betweene heresie and error.
• (3) What an heretike is.
• (4) The causes of heresie, efficient, materiall, and finall.
• (5) Occasions of heresie.
• (6) Effects of heresie.
• (7) Symptomes or tokens, whereby to discerne the spirite of heresie.
• (8) The cure or remedie against the maladie of heresie.
• (9) Foure parts of the cure: meditati∣on, practice, praier, fasting.

The fourth treatise. Of the new creature, or of sanctifica∣tion. Wherin are handled:

• (1) The chiefe praise of a Christian consists in newnes of life; this is his chief glorie.
• (2) Three sorts of old things mentio∣ned in scripture. 1. Ceremoniall law. 2. Tribulations. 3. Corruptions of nature, with the fruits thereof.
• (3) In what sense and sort, these old things are passed away.
• (4) The double vse to be made of this passing away of old things: 1. the thank∣full acknowledging of a benefite. 2. the carefull performance of a dutie.
• (5) What is ment by all things, and how they are become new.
• (6) How all things may bee said to be renewed, in them who haue more oldnes then newnes.
• (7) An effectuall change into a new creature, what a benefite it is.
• (8) How neere reprobates come to the new creature.
• (9) A true and effectuall change, is proper to the elect.
• (10) A duty which lieth vpon euerie

• new creature, to perseuere & grow in the grace of new birth.
• (11) Strong motiues to perswade to this dutie.

The fift treatise. Of spiritual combat. Wherin are handled:

• (1) Two speciall notes and markes of Gods children.
• (1) A sincere and constant delight in Gods law: where the difference between the ioy of Gods child, and of an hypocrit is cleerelie laide down.
• (2) The daiely & earnest strife against all and euery sinne: where ye haue the threefold strife, 1. betweene reason and affection: 2. betweene conscience and sinne: 3. betweene sinne and a renewed heart; plainely vnfolded.
• (2) Two questions propounded and answered: 1. Seeing regenerate and vn∣regenerate are both led captiue to sinne, what difference betweene their captiuity. 2. Seeing Christ Iesus was able at once to enfree beleeuers, why then are they all their life long kept partly bound and cap∣tiue to sinne? Where the great and mani∣fold profites, to bee reaped by remaining sinne, are distinctly named.