dress of this publick nature: you love the real and folid fatisfactions, not the pomp and fhew, those splendid incumbrances of life: your rational and virtuous pleafures burn like a gentle and chearful flame, without noise or blaze. However, I cannot but be confident, that you'll pardon the liberty which I here take, when I have told you, that the making the best acknowldgement I could to one, who has given me fo many proofs of a generous and paffionate friendship, was a pleasure too great to be refifted. I am,

Dear Sir,

Unfeignedly Yours,

R. LUCAS.

THE

CONTENTS.

The INTRODUCTION, wherein is fhewn

the Connexion betwixt this, and the author's for-

mer treatifes, concerning an Enquiry after Hap-

pinefs. A fhort comparison between fecular and

religious Perfection. The defign of this book de-

clared, and juftified from fome exceptions; and

the method of the whole laid before the Reader.

Page i.

SECT. I.

Of Religious Perfection in general.

Chap. 1. Perfection, a confirmed babit of bolines.

This conformable to reafon and

fcripture. The nature of an habit confidered, accor-

ding to four properties of it
Page I

Chap. 2. This notion of Perfection countenanced by all

parties, however different in their expreffions. Some

jhort reflections upon what the Pelagians, the Pa-

pilts, the Quakers, and the mystical writers have

faid concerning Perfection

17

Chap. 3. Several inferences deduced from the true no-

tion of Perfection. With a plain method how per-

fons may judge of their present state. The difference

between the extraordinary primitive converfions, and

thofe which may be expected in our days. With a

remark about infufed habits

27

Chap. 4. A general account of the blessed Fruits and

Advantages of Religious Perfection; which is re-

A 3

duced

duced to thefe four heads. 1. As it advances the

honour of the true and living God, and his Son Je-

fus in the world. 2. As it promotes the good of

mankind. These two treated of in the chapter of

Zeal. 3. As it produces in the perfect man a fu'l

affurance of eternal happiness and glory. 4. As it

puts him in poffeffion of true happiness in this life.

Thefe two laft, Affurance, and prefent Happiness

or Pleasure, handled in this chapter. Where the

pleasures of the finner, and of the perfect Chriftian,

are compared
Page 44

Chap. 5. Of the attainment of Perfection with a

· particular account of the manner, or the feveral fleps

by which man advances, or grows up to it: with

three Remarks to make this difcourfe more useful,

and to free it from fome fcruples

Chap. 5. Of the Means of Perfection.

obfervations, ferving for directions in

pel-means, and inftrumental duties.

tice of Wifdom and Virtue is the best means to

improve and firengthen both. 2. The two general

and immediate inftruments, as of Converfion o of

Perfection too, are the Gofpel and the Spirit. 3.

The natural and immediate fruit of Meditation,

Prayer, Eucharift, Pfalmody, and good Converfa-

tion, or Friendship, is, the quickening and enliven-

ing the Confcience; the fortifying and confirming

our Refolutions; and the raifing and keeping up an

heavenly Frame of Spirit. 4. The immediate ends

of Difcipline, are the fubduing the Pride of the

heart, and the reducing the Appetites of the body.

5. Some kinds of life are better fuited to the great

ends of religion and virtue, than others

Chap. 7. Of the Motives to Perfection. Several mo-

tives fummed up in short, and that great one, of

having the other Life in our view, infifted upon

138

92

77

Five general

the use of gof-

1. The prac-

SECT.

SECT.

II.

Of the feveral Parts of Perfection, Illumination, Li-

berty, and Zeal.
Page 145

Chap. 1.0F Illumination. I. The diftinguishing cha-
OF racter of illuminating truths. 1.
1. They

purify us. 2. They nourish and strengthen us. 3.

They delight us. 4. They procure us a glorious re-

ward. II. The nature of illuminating knowledge.

1. It must be deeply rooted. 2. It must be diftinct

and clear. 3. It must be throughly concocted 148

Chap. 2. Of the Fruits and Attainments of Illumi-

nation. That Illumination does not depend fo much

· upon a man's outward Parts, extraordinary Parts,

acquired Learning, &c. as upon his moral Qualifi-

cations; fuch as Humility, Impartiality, and Love

of the Truth. Four directions for the attainment

of illumination. 1. That we do not suffer our minds

to be engaged in quest of knowledge foreign to our

purpose. 2. That we apply our felves with a very

tender and fenfible concern to the study of illumina-

ting truths. 3. That we act conformable to thofe

Measures of light which we have attained. 4. That

we frequently addrefs our felves to God by Prayer,

for the illumination of his grace. The chapter con-

cluded with a prayer of Fulgentius
180

Chap. 3. Of Liberty in general. The notion of it tru-

ly stated and guarded. The fruits of this Liberty.

1. Sin being a great evil, deliverance from it is great

bappiness. 2. A freedom and pleasure in the acts of

righteoufnefs and good works. 3. The near relation

it creates between God and us. 4. The great fruit

of all, eternal life. With a brief exhortation to en-

deavour after deliverance from fin

Chap. 4. Of Liberty, as it relates to original fin. The

nature of which confidered, chiefly with respect to its

Corruption. How far this distemper of nature is

curable. Which way this cure is to be effected, 269

205

A 4

Chap.

Chap. 5. Of Liberty, with respect to fins of Infirmity.

An Enquiry into these three things. 1. Whether there

be any fuck fins, viz. Sins in which the most perfect

live and die. 2. If there are, what they be; or

what diftinguishes them from damnable or mortal fins.

3. How far we are to extend the liberty of the per-

fect man in relation to thefe fins
Page 296

Chap. 6. Of Liberty, as it imports freedom or delive-

rance from Mortal Sin. What mortal fin is. Here

the perfect man must be free from it; and which

way this Liberty may be beft attained. With fome

rules for the attainment of it
316

Chap. 7. Of Unfruitfulness, as it confifts in Idle-

nefs. Idleness, either habitual or accidental. Confi-

derations to deter men from the fin of Idlenefs 352

Chap. 8. Of Unfruitfulness, as it confifts in Luke-

warmnefs or Formality. The caufes from which

Lukewarmness proceeds. The folly, guilt, and dan-

ger of a Laodicean state
367

Chap. 9. Of Zeal. What in general is meant by

Zeal; and what is that Perfection of holiness in

which it confifts. Whether the perfect man must be

adorned with a confluence of all virtues; and to what

degree of holiness he may be fuppofed to arrive 398

Chap. 10. Of Zeal, as it confifts in good Works.

That our own fecurity demands a Zeal in thefe good

works: fo likewife do the Good of our Neighbour,

and the Glory of God, which are much more pro-

moted by good works
418

Chap. 11. Of Humility. How neceffary it is to Per-

fection

439

SECT. III.

Of the Impediments of Perfection.

FIV
IVE Impediments reckoned up, and infifted on.
1. Too loose a notion of religion. 2. An opinion

that Perfection is not attainable. 3. That religion

is an enemy to pleasure. 4. The love of the world.

5. The infirmity of the flesh. The whole concluded

with a prayer

442

THE