CONTENTS.

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CHAP. I.
The introduction to the Work, with some account of the nature of the Saint's Rest.
The Apostle's design in the text, 25
The Saint's Rest defined, 27
What this rest presupposes, ibid
What this rest contains, 29
1. A ceasing from means of grace, 30
2. A perfect freedom from all evils, ibid
3. The saint's personal perfection in body and soul, ibid
4. The nearest enjoyment of God the chief good, 31
5. All the powers of the body active in this enjoyment, 34
And all the powers of the soul; as, knowledge, 35
Memory, love, and joy, 36-42
CHAP. II.
The great Preparatives to the Saint's Rest.
The happiness of having a way into Paradise open, 43
1. The glorious appearing of Christ opens the way, ibid
2. The general resurrection, 46
3. The last judgment, 47
4. The saint's coronation, 50
CHAP. III.
The Excellencies of the Saint's Rest.
1. It is the purchased possession, 53
2. It is a free gift, 54
3. It is peculiar to saints, 56
4. It is an association with saints and angels, 57
5. It derives its joys immediately from God himself, 58
6. It will be seasonable, 59
7. It will be suitable, 60
8. It will be perfect, without sin or suffering, 62
9. It will be everlasting, 68
CHAP. IV.
The Character of the Persons for whom this Rest is designed.
'Tis wonderful it should be designed for mortals, 71
1. The people of God, who shall enjoy it, are chosen from eternity, 72
2. They are given to Christ, ibid
3. They are born again, ibid
4. They are deeply convinced of the evil of sin, 73
their misery by sin, the vanity of the creatures, 74
and the all-sufficiency of Christ, 75
5. Their will is proportionably changed, 76
6. They engage in covenant with Christ, 77
7. They persevere in their engagements, 78
The reader is invited to self-examination, ibid
That the people of God shall enjoy this rest, and 80
none but they, is further proved by Scripture; 82
and that they shall not enjoy it till they come to another world, 233
1. Esteem heaven the only treasure and happiness; ibid
2. Labor to know your interest in it, 234
3. And how near it is; 235
4. Frequently and seriously talk of it; 236
5. Strive in every duty to raise your heart nearer to it; 237
6. To the same purpose improve every object and event; 238
7. Be much in the angelical work of praise; 239
8. Maintain believing thoughts of God's infinite love. 240
9. Observe and cherish the motions of God's Spirit, 241
10. Take due care of your bodily health. 242
CHAP. XIII.
The nature of heavenly contemplation, with the time, place, and temper fittest for it.
The duty itself recommended to the reader, 244
This duty defined and illustrated, 246
The time fittest for this duty is—stated,—frequent, 248
and seasonable, every day, particularly Lord's 250
days; especially when in a devout temper, or an 251
afflicted state, or in the views of death, 252
The place, fittest for this duty is the most retired, 253
The temper fittest for this duty, is 255
1. When our minds are most clear of the world, ibid
2. And most solemn and serious. 256
CHAP. XIV.
What use heavenly contemplation makes of consideration, affections, soliloquy, and prayer.
The reader is invited to heavenly contemplation, 258
To that end consideration is recommended, ibid
Next, the exercise of the affections, particularly 261
1. Love, 262
2. Desire, 265
3. Hope, 267
4. Courage or boldness, 268
5. And joy, 269
These affections need not always be exercised in this order, nor all at one time, 273
Soliloquy and prayer are also useful in heavenly contemplation. ibid
CHAP. XV.
Heavenly contemplation assisted by sensible objects, and guarded by a treacherous heart.
The difficulty of maintaining a lively impression of heavenly things, 276
Sensible objects may assist heavenly contemplation; 277
1. If we draw strong suppositions from sense; ibid
2. If objects of sense and faith are compared, 278
To guard heavenly contemplation against a treacherous heart, consider,
1. The heart's backwardness to this duty, 289
2. Its trifling in it, 291
3. Its wandering from it,THE
SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST.

Hebrews iv, 9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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