XXXX A LIST of the CASES. CASE I OW fhall we diftinguish between the Work, CASE II. What Methods must a Christian in dẹclining Circumftances, take to recover a healthful and vigorous Frame of Soul, fo as to be able to maintain real and clofe Communion with God amidst the Hurries and Bufineffes of this World? S. HAYWARD. CASE III. A ferious, Perfon, who fcruples, to comply, with the ufual Practice, of playing at Cards, defires to know whether thefe Scruples arife from a needlefs Tenderness of Conscience, or from the faithful Monitions of the Spirit of God? S. PIKE. CASE IV. How may a Perfon judge, when a Promife or Threatning comes from God, or is brought by Satan to the Soul? S. HAYWARD. CASE V. How far may a Person judge of the Strength or Weakness of his Faith by the Brightness or Darknefs of his Frames? S. PYKE CASE VI. Whether a Perfon, who has been a great Sinner, has any Ground to expect Pardon, and the Comforts Comforts of the Holy Ghoft; and whether he may partake of all the Ordinances of God? S. HAYWARD. CASE VII. What Judgment should that Person pass upon himself, who knows himself to be in a dark and corrupt Frame, but finds himself greatly, unaffected with it, and ftupid under it? S. PIKE. CASE VIII. How may the Times of Family and Closet Duty be beft regulated, to the Glory of God, our own Comfort, and the Advantage of those about us? S. HAYWARD. , CASE IX. Is it not prefumptuous for a Perfon to hope he has an Intereft in Chrift, when he fees little or nothing in himself, but Reafon to doubt and question it? S. PIKE. CASE X. Is going to Plays and other theatrical Performances confiftent with the Profeffion, and Practice of Chriftianity? S. HAYWARD, CASE XI. How may a Perfon, who is defirous of following the Dictates of Providence in every Refpect, know the Mind and Will of God in any particular Circumftance, whether temporal or fpiritual? S. PIKE. " CASE XII. Should not a Perfon, who is not com- › fortably perfuaded of his being a real Chriftian, abstain from the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, left he should eat and drink Damnation to himself? - And, what Method must that Perfon take to fatisfy a Church of Christ of his being a real Chriftian, who cannot relate any particular Experience of the Dealings of God with his Soul? S. HAYWARD. THE THE PREFAC E. HE following Answers were, amongst others, delivered in a weekly Exercise, during the laft Winter, with a View to remove the Doubts of the timorous Chriftian, quicken him in his Way to Zion, to guard against presumptuous Hopes, and promote the Life of Religion in the Soul. That thefe im portant Ends might be answered, the Auditory were defired to fupply us with ferious Cafes of Confcience, arifing from the Difficulties they met with in the Courfe of their Experience, and to conceal their Names, that fo they might with the greater Freedom propose their reSpective Cafes, and that we, in our Solution of them, might be kept from the least Degree of Fear or Restraint. Through the repeated Importunities of our Friends, and from fatisfactory Evidences of Ufefulness, we have been prevailed upon to commit to public View twelve of these Anfwers, though fomewhat contracted. And we hope, that thofe, into whofe Hands they may come, will read them with Chriftian Candour. And may the Spirit of God, without whofe peculiar Blessing all Attempts will be ineffectual to answer any faving Purposes, make these a powerful Means of bringing them nearer to Chrift, and of making them more lively and active in his Service! If this happy End is but in the least answered, we shall rejoice, and give God all the Glory, difregarding all the little Contempt that may be cast upon us and our imperfect Labours. It must be acknowledged to be a very difficult and critical Work to diftribute to every one their proper Portion, and fo to divide the Word of Truth, as to give fuitable Encou ragement to those to whom it belongs, and yet to leave the Hypocrite or prefumptuous Sinner no Room to hope. It is equally difficult to attempt to destroy the vain Confidence of The Sinner, without disturbing the Reave, and difcouraging the Minds, of those who are the real Followers of Jefus. Who is fufficient for thefe Things? We readily confefs our Infufficiency; but yet hope, that the Lord has enabled us to be in fome Measure faithful, fo far as our Spiritual Skill extends And may be enable you who read to deal faith fully with your own Souls, that fo neither aur Labour, nor your Perufal, may be in vain ! London, May 30, 1755. S. PIKE, S. HAYWARD. CAS |