FINIS

FINIS.

INDEX.

A.

Abuse of things, unfairness of arguing from it against their use, 53.
Acceptance with God, commonly prevailing notions respecting it, 85—88.
— Scripture, and Church of England, doctrine respecting it, 88—92.
— practical consequences, of common notions respecting it, 89.
— true doctrine vindicated from objection, 93—94.
Addison, quoted, 162.
Affections, of their admission into Religion, 57, 58.
— their admission into Religion reasonable, 59—62.
— true test and measure of them in Religion, 62—65.
— in Religion, not barely allowable, but highly necessary, 66—69.
— our Saviour the just object of them, 69, 70.
— objection, that they are impossible towards an invisible Being, discussed, 71—77.
— little excited by public misfortunes, and why, 75, 76.
— towards our Saviour, special grounds for them, 77, 78.
— divine aid promised for exciting them, 79, 80.
— our statements respecting them in Religion verified by facts, 80, 81.
— religious, St. Paul a striking instance of them, 61.
Ambition, votaries of, 125, 126.
Amiable tempers, discussion respecting, 178—198.
— substituted for Religion, 179, 180.
— value of, estimated by the standard of mere reason, 180.
— false pretenders to them, 181.
— real nature, when not grounded on Religion, 181, 182.
— precarious nature, 182—184.
— value of, on Christian principles, 186.
— life, Christian’s most so, 190, 191.
— Christians urged to this, 192—196.
— its just praise, 197, 198.
— apt to deceive us, 198.
Applause, desire of, universal, 146, 147.

B.

Babington, the reverend Matthew, 259.
Benevolence, true Christian, its exalted nature, 287, 288.
Bacon, Lord, quoted, 229.

C.

Calumny, considerations which reconcile the Christian to it, 169, 170.
Charity, true, what, and its marks, 311, 312.
Christianity, vital revival of, would invigorate church establishment, 294.
— vital, alone suited to lower orders, 295, 296.
— the common system, falsely so called, 305.
— the truest patriotism, 287—292.
— of the world, its base nature, 324.
— not a gloomy service, 326—332.
— relaxations compatible with, 327, 328.
— its solid texture, 332.
— general, what so called, 334, 335.
— true, requires incessant watchfulness and care, 336.
— state in which it finds us, 30—33.
— its present critical circumstances, 265—272.
— reduced to a system of ethics, proofs of this, 273, 277, 278.
— causes, which have tended to produce neglect of her peculiar doctrines, 269, 270, 274—276.
— peculiar doctrines of, taught by the oldest divines and highest dignitaries of the English church, 273, 274.
— peculiar doctrines gradually fallen into neglect, 276—278.
— sad symptoms of its low state among us, 278—280.
— objection, that our system of it too strict, stated and answered, 280—283.
— vital, its happy influence on temporal well-being of communities, 283—285.
— not hostile to patriotism, 285—287.
— from its essential nature, peculiarly adapted to well-being of communities, 290—292.
— vital, can alone produce these effects, 293.
— excellence of it, in some particulars not commonly noticed, 252—259.
— general state of, in England, 262.
— its tendency to promote the well-being of political communities, 262—288, 292, 293.
— has raised the general standard of practice, 264, 265.
— sickens in prosperity and flourishes under persecution, 266, 267.
— peculiarities of, naturally slide into disuse, 269.
Christians, true, duties especially incumbent on them in these times, 350—353.
— should pray for their country, 351.
— their prayers intreated for the success of this work, 353.
— ready made, who esteemed such, 318.
— real, how different from nominal, 214, 215.
— life, illustrated by figure of a traveller, 217—219.
Commons, House of, proves inordinate love of worldly glory, 159.
Consistency between Christianity’s leading doctrines and practical precepts, 231—252, 253.
— between Christianity’s leading doctrines amongst each other, 253.
— between Christianity’s practical precepts amongst each other, 253—257.
Contact, necessary to produce any interest in our affections, 73—78, 81.
Corruption of human nature, common notions of it, 14—16.
— of human nature, Scripture account of it, 16, 26, 27.
— of human nature, arguments suggested in proof of it, 16—26.
— of Heathen world, and striking instance of it, 18, 19.
— of savage life, 19, 20.
— proof of it, furnished by the state of the Christian world, 20—24.
— by the experience of the true Christian, 24, 25.
— human, its general effects, when suffered to operate without restraint, 25, 26.
— human, firm grounds on which it rests, 35.
— human, practical uses of the doctrine, 36.
Cowper’s Task, recommended, 234—352.
— quoted, 251.

D.

Defective, conceptions generally prevailing concerning importance of Christianity, 1—5.
— conceptions concerning human corruption, 15, 16.
— conceptions concerning the evil spirit, 28.
— conceptions concerning the doctrines, which respect our Saviour and the Holy Spirit, 70, 71, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50.
— conceptions concerning the means of acceptance with God, 84—91.
— conceptions prevailing concerning practical Christianity, 102—104, 117—205.
— conceptions of guilt and evil of sin, 206—210.
— fear of God, 210.
— sense of the difficulty of getting to heaven, 214, 215.
— love of God in nominal Christians, 219—221.
— love of God, proofs of it in nominal Christians, 221—224.
— conceptions general, concerning peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 231.
— conceptions of peculiarities of Christianity, practical mischiefs from them, 232.
Depths, of the things of God; and our proneness to plunge into them, 41—43.
Devotedness to God, duty of it, 107—110, 113, 116, 118.
Dissipated and indolent, class of, 121, 122.
Dissipation, seems to have prevailed in the antediluvian world, 213.
Doddridge’s Sermons on Regeneration, referred to, note, 83.
Duelling, its guilt, &c. 159—161.

E.

Error, innocence of, considered, 10—12.
Establishment, religious, in England, how circumstanced, 267.
Estimation, desire of, universal, 146, 147.
— common language concerning it, the effects of the love of it, and the nature of the passion, 148—150.
— commendations of it questioned, 151.
— essential defects of inordinate love of it, explained, 152, 153.
— love of, Scripture lessons concerning, 152—156.
— value of, analogous to riches, 156.
— love of, common notions respecting it, 157, 158.
— proofs of our statements respecting it from House of Commons, 159.
— proofs of our statements respecting it from duelling, 159—161.
— real nature of inordinate love of it, 162, 163.
— true Christian’s conduct respecting love of it, 164—173.
— true modes of guarding against excessive love of it, 171, 172.
— advice to the true Christian respecting love of it, 174—178.
— love of, best moderated by humility and charity, 176.
— true Christian’s temper respecting it, 177.
Evil spirit, the existence and agency not contrary to reason, 28, 29.
External actions substituted for habits of mind, 134, 135.

F.

Faith, Christian’s life, a life of, 137, 138.
Families, two, the righteous and the wicked, 212.
Ferguson, the historian, 290.
Fuller’s Calvinism and Socinianism compared, 344.
Fundamental practical distinction between systems of nominal and real Christians, 237, 250, 251.

G.

General tone of morals, Christianity has raised it, 104.
— established by consent in every country, 263, 264.
Geneva, the effect of theatres, 223.
Gloomy service, false charge that we make Christianity such, 327.
Glory, true and false, what properly so called, 153.
— Mistakes concerning it, 153.
Good hearted young men, term misapplied, 310.
Good hearted young men, the title disproved, 315.
Gratitude, true signs of, 49.

H.

Habits, of mind forgotten in Religion, 134—146.
Heavenly mindedness, best promoted by being much conversant with peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 250.
Holy Spirit, Scripture doctrine concerning, 44, 82, 83.
— popular notions concerning, 50—53.
Honour, false notions respecting it, 162, 163.
Horne, Dr. quoted, 61.
Humility, best enforced by peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 244, 245.
— the ground of Christian graces, 146.
— excellent practical effects of, 176.

I.

Ignorance of Christianity, common, 5, 6.
— criminal, 6, 7.
Importance of Christianity, inadequate conceptions generally entertained of it, 1—13.
— of Christianity, proofs of the inadequate ideas generally entertained of it, 2—5.
— of Christianity, ideas of it given by the Holy Scriptures, 8—10.
— of Christianity, best enforced by peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 240.
Inconsistency of the world’s practical system, 255, 256.
Indifference about Christianity generally prevalent, 9.
— general towards our Saviour, proofs of, 46—48.
Infidelity, common progress of it, 338—342.
— a disease of the heart more than of the understanding, 342.
Innocent young women, term how misapplied, 310.
— young women, the title disproved, 315.
Intellectual attainments, rated below moral by Christianity, 257—260.
— low degree of excellence within our reach, 258.

J.

Jones, Sir William, a champion for Christianity, 348.

K.

Kenyon, Lord Chief Justice, commendations of, 302.

L.

Language, common, concerning the importance of Christianity, 5.
— concerning human corruption, 15.
— concerning affections towards our Saviour, and Holy Spirit’s operations, 51, 52.
— concerning terms of acceptance with God, 85—87.
— concerning mode of relaxing the strictness of Christian precept, 132, 133.
— concerning human judicatures, 133.
— concerning amiable tempers and useful lives, 179.
— common to people desirous of repenting, 235.
Learning, votaries of, 127.
Life, Christian, illustrated under figure of a traveller, 217—219.
— Christian’s, a life of faith, 137—140.
Liturgy, bad effects to be feared from its disuse, 297.
Lives, several mentioned, 336.
Love, true signs of it, 46, 47.
— of God, its essential characters, 110.
— of Christ, justly to be expected of us, 69, 70, 77, 78, 107, 108.
— means of exciting it, 99, 100.
— of God, defective in nominal Christians, 219, 220.
— of God, proofs of its being defective, 220—224.
— of fellow-creatures, nominal Christians defective in, 225.
— of fellow-creatures, true marks of, 226—229.
— of God, best enforced by Christianity’s peculiarities, 242.
— Christians to cultivate this grace above all others, 324.
— its excellent effects in the true Christian, 325.
— of fellow-creatures best enforced by peculiar doctrines, 243, 244.
Low standard of practice generally prevailing, 102, 103, 117—135.
Lower classes, not unfit that true doctrine of acceptance should be stated to them, 93, 94.

M.

McLaurin, his essays and sermons referred to, 83, 97.
Maurice, Mr. a defender of Christianity, 348.
Maxims, which prove human corruption, 21.
Medium, religious, almost lost, 130.
Milton, quoted, 43.
Moral, attainments rated above intellectual, by Christianity, 257.
— attainments, how much more we can excel in them than in intellectual ones, 259.
Moravians, commendation of, 56.

N.

Natural condition of man without Christianity, 31—33.
Nature, essential, of true practical Christianity, 129.
Necessity, excuse on the plea of, stated, and answered, 36—42.
— opponent on the ground of, how best opposed, 37, 38.
Nominal and real Christian, distinction between them most important, 306.
Novels, prove how peculiarities of Christianity have fallen into neglect, 277, 278.

O.

Objections against the religious affections towards Christ, and against the operations of the Holy Spirit, 50—53.
— against human accountableness, discussed, 36—42.
— against the religious affections towards Christ, and against the operations of the Holy Spirit, discussed, 53—83.
Outgrowing vices mistaken for forsaking them, 308, 318.
Owen, Dr. referred to, 275.

P.

Paley, Mr. his defence of Christianity noticed, 260, 281.
Partiality in the religious views of nominal Christians, 119—121.
Particular, Christians must not fear to be so when required by duty, 167.
Pascal’s thoughts referred to, 245.
— thoughts recommended, 348.
Peculiar, doctrines, use, in promoting humility, 244, 245.
— in promoting moderation in earthly pursuits, 246.
— in promoting cheerfulness in suffering, 247.
— in promoting confidence in danger, and patience in suffering, 248, 249.
— in promoting heavenly mindedness, 250.
— doctrines, demand our utmost attention, 94—97.
— doctrines, use of, 239.
— doctrines, use of, in enforcing importance of Christianity, 240.
— doctrines, use of, in enforcing entire surrender to God, 240.
— doctrines, use of, in enforcing guilt of sin, and dread of punishment, 241.
— in promoting love of God, 241, 242.
—in promoting love of fellow-creatures, 243, 244.
Philosophy, epicurism and stoicism, 59.
Pitt, Mr. slander respecting him refuted—Note 272.
Pleasure, the true Christian finds in Religion, 139, 140.
Pleasures of true Religion, 325—332.
Policy, mistaken, of compromise with immorality, 301.
Polished state of society no security against progress of immorality, 298, 299.
Political, good effects from the prevalence of Christianity, as above described, 283—295.
— good effects from revival of vital Christianity, 296.
— bad effects from its farther decline, 297, 298.
— happiness of a Christian nation, 283—287.
Pomp and parade, votaries of, 124.
Poor the, more favourably circumstanced as to Religion, 93, 292.
Pope, the Poet, referred to, 246.
Popular notions concerning our Saviour and the Holy Spirit, 46—48.
Practical hints, on importance of Christianity, 13.
— on human corruption, 35.
— on mode of dealing with a certain description of infidels, 37, 38.
— on the means of exciting our affections towards our Saviour, 99, 100.
— respecting love of estimation, 174—178.
— respecting amiable tempers and useful lives, 192.
— to naturally sweet tempered, 193.
— to naturally rough and austere, 194—199.
— to true Christian, when engaged in hurry of worldly affairs, 199—204.
— to persons desirous of repenting, 235.
— respecting uses of peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 240—251.
— for revival of Religion, 300—304.
— to various descriptions, 305—318.
— to such as, having been hitherto careless, wish to become true Christians, 318—332.
— to some who profess their full assent to fundamental doctrines of Christianity, 333—336.
— to Sceptics and Unitarians, 337—345.
— to half-unbelievers, 346—348.
— to true Christians, from state of times, 349—354.
— Christianity, chapter on, 100—251.
— prevailing low views of it, 102—104.
— Christianity, its real strictness, 105, 106.
— its true nature, 107—110.
— charged on all without exception in its full strictness, 111—115.
— mischiefs of neglect of peculiarities of Christianity, 232.
— distinction, fundamental, between systems of nominal and real Christians, 231—234.
— precepts of Christianity, most excellent, 260.
— use of peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 238.
Prevailing, low views of practical Christianity, proofs of them, 104.
— inadequate sense of peculiar doctrines of Christians, 231, &c.
Probation, notion of, disproves prevailing system of Religion, 317.
Proof of Christianity’s divine origin, 260—262.
Puritans, many of their writings commended, 275.