An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily…An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily…
An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wanderings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wandrings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.
Richard Steele 1629–1692London: printed for Elizabeth Calvert, 1667
[16], 238 p. · 49k words · Wing S5382 · ESTC R8661
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
YOU have here an Antidote against the most common distemper of God's people in his Worship. My own disease caused me to study the cure; the general complaint of good people against these Egyptian Flies, moved me to preach it; and the common good of God's Church (not without solicitations thereto) hath now persuaded me to publish it. Be not offended, that so much is written of so minute a point; greater ⟨image 5⟩Tracts of the Fever, Stone, or Tooth-ache (whereby they might be certainly cured) would not be thought too long, by such as are sick thereof. Indeed, this had never seen the light, but that the disease is so general and that so few, if any, that have throughly, and on purpose handled it. However, this may serve (as the Learned L. Verulam *hath it) to awake better spirits, and to do the Bell-ringer's office, who is first up, to call others to Church. This being my first Essay, riper Judgements will (I believe) observe divers defects and superfluities therein, but Candour is a common debt, which we all owe one to another; and one poor mite may be accepted by men, when two mites can please Christ himself. It is my Request To you especially, that were the first Hearers hereof, that ye be not Hearers
or Readers only, but Doers of the Word. The world knows, you have been constant hearers, let the world see, that you are careful doers. The indubitable truths and duties, that I have still laid before you, will undoubtedly convert you, or else undoubtedly condemn you; and therefore I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain. For now I live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. And my earnest request for you, is, that Divine Power may accompany Divine Precepts. If you reap any benefit, let God have all the praise, and put the poor Instrument into some corner of your prayers. I have chosen a dialect and phrase familiar, for the advantage of the matter, rather than the applause of the Writer, being contented to be ranked among those,
scripserunt, sed secundum gratiam; you will excuse the unevenness of the stile, and other imperfections, when you understand that I had more studies than books in the composing hereof, being distant from my Library, and variously distracted in the writing about Distractions.
YOU have here an Antidote against the most common distemper of God's people in his Worship. My own disease caused me to study the cure; the general complaint of good people against these Egyptian Flies, moved me to preach it; and the common good of God's Church (not without solicitations thereto) hath now perswaded me to publish it. Be not offended, that so much is written of so minute a point; greater ⟨image 5⟩Tracts of the Fever, Stone, or Tooth-ach (whereby they might be certainly cured) would not be thought too long, by such as are sick thereof. Indeed, this had never seen the light, but that the disease is so general and that so few, if any, that have throughly, and on purpose handled it. However, this may serve (as the Learned L. Verulam *hath it) to awake better spirits, and to do the Bell-ringer's office, who is first up, to call others to Church. This being my first Essay, riper Judgements will (I believe) observe divers defects and superfluities therein, but Candour is a common debt, which we all owe one to another; and one poor mite may be accepted by men, when two mites can please Christ himself. It is my Request To you especially, that were the first Hearers hereof, that ye be not Hearers ⟨image 5⟩or Readers only, but Doers of the Word. The world knows, you have been constant hearers, let the world see, that you are careful doers. The indubitable truths and duties, that I have still laid before you, will undoubtedly convert you, or else undoubtedly condemn you; and therefore I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain. For now I live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. And my earnest request for you, is, that Divine Power may accompany Divine Precepts. If you reap any benefit, let God have all the praise, and put the poor Instrument into some corner of your prayers. I have chosen a dialect and phrase familiar, for the advantage of the matter, rather than the applause of the Writer, being contented to be ranked among those,2 qui non secundum artem ⟨image 6⟩scripserunt, sed secundum gratiam; you will excuse the unevenness of the stile, and other imperfections, when you understand that I had more studies than books in the composing hereof, being distant from my Library, and variously distracted in the writing about Distractions.
*Letter to the E. of Salisb. concerning his Advancement.
But my aim being a solid cure, not a starched discourse, I have chosen a Divinity dress, and not preached my self [who am the chief of sinners] but Christ Jesus my Lord [the chief of Goods] and my self
But my aim being a solid cure, not a starcht discourse, I have chosen a Divinity dress, and not preached my self [who am the chief of sinners] but Christ Iesus my Lord [the chief of Goods] and my self
CHAP. I.
Sect. 1. The Text propounded.
page 1.
Sect. 2. An Observation.
.
Sect. 3. The words of the Text opened.
6.
The Doctr. It is a Christians duty to attend upon the Lord without Distractions.
7.
Sect. 4. A Distraction described.
8.
CHAP. I.
Sect. 1. THe Text propounded.
page 1.
Sect. 2. An Observation.
.
Sect. 3. The words of the Text opened.
6.
The Doctr. It is a Christians duty to attend upon the Lord without Distractions.
7.
Sect. 4. A Distraction described.
8.
CHAP. II.
Sect. 1. The kinds of Distractions distinguished.
1. From the Fountain of them.
12.
1. The Devil.
ibid.
2. The Mind.
14.
3. The Fancy.
ibid.
4. The outward Senses.
16.
Sect 2. 2. By the Master whereof they consist.
18.
Being Good, Bad, Indifferent.
19.
Sect. 3. 3. By the Adjuncts of them.
21.
CHAP. II.
Sect. 1. The kinds of Distractions distinquished.
1. From the Fountain of them.
12.
1. The Devil.
ibid.
2. The Mind.
14.
3. The Fancy.
ibid.
4. The ••tward Senses.
16.
Sect 2. 2. By the Master whereof they consist.
18.
Being Good, Bad, Indifferent.
19.
Sect. 3. 3. By the Adjuncts of them.
21.
CHAP. III.
Sect 1. That it is our duty to attend upon the Lord without Distractions. Proved, 1. From the Possibility of it, by four Arguments.
25.
Sect 2. 2. From the Necessity of it.
29.
1. To the Being of a Duty.
ibid.
2. To Comfort in a Duty.
30.
3. To the Prosperity of a Duty.
31.
4. To Communion with Christ in a Duty.
32.
CHAP. IV.
Sect. 1. Reasons of the Doctrine.
1. From the Nature of God.
His 1. Greatness.
35.
2. Holiness.
36.
3. Omniscience.
37.
Sect. 2. 2. From the Nature of his Worship.
Being 1. Reasonable.
40.
2. Spiritual.
41.
3. Sweet.
42.
Sect. 3. 3. From the Nature of our Condition here.
1. We cannot live without God.
43.
2. Our only way of communion is by Ordinances.
ibid.
3. All our heart and strength is too little for this work.
45.
Sect. 4. 4. From the Nature of Distractions.
1. They divide the Heart.
46.
2. They frustrate the Duty.
47.
3. They contract more Guilt.
48.
CHAP. V.
Sect. 1. Objections answered.
1. About its Impossibility.
50.
Sect. 2. 2. About its Difficulty.
53.
Sect. 3. 3. From their Commonness.
58.
Sect. 4. 4. From Gods accepting the will for the deed.
61.
CHAP. VI. The Causes of Distractions in God's Worship.
Sect. 1. 1. Secret Atheism.
64.
A Remedy thereof.
67.
Sect. 2. 2. The corruption of our Nature.
68.
Its Remedy.
72.
⟨image 7⟩Sect. 3. 3. Unpreparedness unto holy Duties.
76.
A Case of Conscience answered, viz.
What measure of Preparation is necessary before our ordinary Duties of Worship.
77.
Sect. 4. 4. Lukewarmness.
82.
Its Remedies.
84.
Sect. 5. 5. Worldly-mindedness.
88.
Its Remedy.
91.
Sect. 6. 6. Weakness of love to Christ and his Ordinances.
95.
Its Remedies.
99.
Sect. 7. 7. Want of Watchfulness.
104.
1. Before Duties.
ibid.
2. In Duties.
105.
3. After Duties.
107.
The Remedy thereof.
108.
Sect. 8. 8. A Beloved sin.
110.
Its Remedies.
113.
Sect. 9. 9. Satan.
115.
A Remedy.
118.
Sect. 10. 10. Vain Thoughts at other times.
121.
These 1. Displease and dis-engage the Spirit of God.
ibid.
2. Dispose and naturalize the soul to these Thoughts.
122.
3. Discourage us to the conquest, and encourage us to the sin.
124.
4. Infect the Memory.
125.
5. Provoke God to give us up.
126.
The Remedies hereof.
127.
Sect. 11. 11. A divided heart in four respects.
133.
Its Remedy.
136.
⟨image 8⟩Sect. 12. 12. An opinion that there is no great evil in them.
139.
Its Remedy.
142.
CHAP. VI. The Causes of Distractions in God's Worship.
Sect. 1. 1. Secret Atheism.
64.
A Remedy thereof.
67.
Sect. 2. 2. The corruption of our Nature.
68.
Its Remedy.
72.
⟨image 7⟩Sect. 3. 3. Vnpreparedness unto holy Duties.
76.
A Case of Conscience answered, viz.
What measure of Preparation is necessary before our ordinary Duties of Worship.
77.
Sect. 4. 4. Lukewarmness.
82.
Its Remedies.
84.
Sect. 5. 5. Worldy-mindedness.
88.
Its Remedy.
91.
Sect. 6. 6. Weakness of love to Christ and his Ordinances.
95.
Its Remedies.
99.
Sect. 7. 7. Want of Watchfulness.
104.
1. Before Duties.
ibid.
2. In Duties.
105.
3. After Duties.
107.
The Remedy thereof.
108.
Sect. 8. 8. A Beloved sin.
110.
Its Remedies.
113.
Sect. 9. 9. Satan.
115.
A Remedy.
118.
Sect. 10. 10. Vain Thoughts at other times.
121.
These 1. Displease and dis-ingage the Spirit of God.
ibid.
2. Dispose and naturalize the soul to these Thoughts.
122.
3. Discourage us to the conquest, and incourage us to the sin.
124.
4. Infect the Memory.
125.
5. Provoke God to give us up.
126.
The Remedies hereof.
127.
Sect. 11. 11. A divided heart in four respects.
133.
Its Remedy.
136.
⟨image 8⟩Sect. 12. 12. An opinion that there is no great evil in them.
139.
Its Remedy.
142.
CHAP. VII.
The Evil of Distractions
145.
1. In their Nature.
Sect. 1. 1. They are sins against the first Table.
ib.
Sect. 2. 2. They are heart-sins.
147.
Sect. 3. 3. They are sins in the special presence of God.
148.
Sect. 4. 4. They are sins about the most serious business.
151.
Sect. 5. 5. They are sins of hypocrisy.
153.
2. In their Effects.
Sect. 6. 1. They alienate the heart from holy duties.
156.
Sect. 7. 2. They much affront the Majesty of God.
158.
Sect. 8. 3. They hinder the benefits of an holy duty.
160.
Sect. 9. 4. They deprive the soul of comfort.
162.
Sect. 10. 5. They grieve away the Holy Ghost.
164.
CHAP. VII.
The Evil of Distractions
145.
1. In their Nature.
Sect. 1. 1. They are sins against the first Table.
ib.
Sect. 2. 2. They are heart-sins.
147.
Sect. 3. 3. They are sins in the special presence of God.
148.
Sect. 4. 4. They are sins about the most serious business.
151.
Sect. 5. 5. They are sins of hypocrisie.
153.
2. In their Effects.
Sect. 6. 1. They alienate the heart from holy duties.
156.
Sect. 7. 2. They much affront the Majesty of God.
158.
Sect. 8. 3. They hinder the benefits of an holy duty.
160.
Sect. 9. 4. They deprive the soul of comfort.
162.
Sect. 10. 5. They grieve away the Holy Ghost.
164.
CHAP. VIII.
The Cure of Distractions.
166.
Sect. 1. 1. Dispel the Causes before specified.
167.
Sect. 2. 2. Bewail your former failings herein.
169.
Sect. 3. 3. Engage the Spirit of God in your assistance.
174.
Sect. 4. 4. Believe the Presence of God.
178.
Sect. 5. 5. Lay a Law upon your senses.
184.
A Note about whispering during the Worship of God.
186.
Sect. 6. 6. A watchful reflection and ejaculation.
39•.
⟨image 8⟩Sect. 7. 7. Strength of Grace.
195.
How it should be gotten.
201.
CHAP. IX.
Encouragements under the burden of Distractions.
204.
Sect. 1. 1. They are consistent with Grace.
206.
Sect. 2. 2. Your case is not singular.
208.
Sect. 3. 3. Christs Intercession is without Distraction.
209.
Sect. 4. 4. Distractions may make us humble.
211.
Sect. 5. 5. God can make some sense out of such Prayers.
213.
Sect. 6. 6. There is grace and strength in Christ to help against them.
215.
Sect. 7. 7. A perfect riddance of them, is the Happiness of Heaven.
217.
