by John Kettlewell
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
"The Measures of Christian Obedience" by John Kettlewell is an essential exposition of Christian ethics, focusing on the indispensable necessity of obedience to a regenerate state. This detailed discourse is designed to bolster piety and provide solace to troubled consciences by elucidating the broad and demanding standards of Christian duty as well as the divine leniency that accompanies earnest efforts to meet these standards.
Kettlewell's work is divided into multiple sections, each exploring different aspects of obedience in the Christian life. He discusses the general conditions of happiness, the specific laws of the Gospel that dictate this obedience, and the required manner of obedience to these laws. Particularly compelling is his examination of the types of sins and their compatibility with a state of grace, providing a nuanced view that differentiates between voluntary and involuntary sins, and the effects of each on the soul's salvation. His final section on repentance and its power to restore one to God's favor is both profound and comforting.
About John Kettlewell: John Kettlewell (1653-1695) was an English clergyman known for his devout adherence to the principles of the Church of England during a time of intense religious conflict. After refusing to take the oath of allegiance to William and Mary following the Glorious Revolution, he was deprived of his parish. Despite his ejection, he continued to be an influential religious writer and thinker. His writings, which include meditations, sermons, and theological discourses, reflect his deep commitment to Anglican doctrine and his concern for the spiritual welfare of his readers. Kettlewell's works remain a testament to his piety and his ability to address complex theological issues with clarity and pastoral sensitivity.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE I.
PREFACE II.
THE INTRODUCTION.
BOOK I.
Of the indispensable condition of happiness in the general.
1. CHAP. I.
Of Obedience, the general condition of happiness.
2. CHAP. II.
Of Pardon promised to Faith, Knowledge and being in Christ.
3. CHAP. III.
Of Pardon promised to Repentance.
4. CHAP. IV.
Of Pardon promised to Confession of Sins, and to Conversion.
5. CHAP. V.
Of Pardon promised to Prayer.
6. CHAP. VI.
Of Pardon promised to our fear of God, and trust in him.
7. CHAP. VII.
Of Pardon promised to the love of God, and of our Neighbor.
BOOK II.
Of the Laws of the Gospel, which are the Rule of this Obedience in particular.
8. CHAP. I.
Of the particular Laws comprehended under the Duty of Sobriety.
9. CHAP. II.
Of Love the Epitome of Duty towards God and Men, and of the particular Laws comprehended under Piety towards God.
10. CHAP. III.
Of the particular Duties contained under Justice and Charity.
11. CHAP. IV.
Of our Duties to men in particular Relations.
12. CHAP. V.
Of the Sanction of the foregoing Laws.
13. CHAP. VI.
Of the Sanction of all the forbidding Laws.
BOOK III.
What degrees and manner of Obedience is required to all the Laws forementioned.
14. CHAP. I.
Of Sincerity.
15. CHAP. II.
Of the second qualification of all acceptable obedience, viz. integrity.
16. CHAP. III.
Of Obedience with the fourth faculty, viz. our executive or bodily powers, and outward operations.
17. CHAP. IV.
A further pursuit of this last ground of shifting off the Obedience of our actions, in an Exposition of the seventh Chapter to the Romans.
18. CHAP. V.
Of the second sort of integrity, an integrity of times and seasons.
19. CHAP. VI.
Of the third sort of integrity, viz. that of the Object; or of obedience to all the particular Laws and parts of Duty.
20. CHAP. VII.
Of the two remaining pretenses for a partial Obedience.
21. CHAP. VIII.
Of obeying with all the heart, and all the soul, &c.
BOOK IV.
Showing in general that some sins are consistent with a state of Grace.
22. CHAP. I.
Showing in general that some sins are consistent with a state of Grace.
23. CHAP. II.
Of the Nature of these consistent slips more particularly.
24. CHAP. III.
Of the nature and danger of voluntary sins.
25. CHAP. IV.
Of the nature of involuntary sins, and of their consistence with a state of salvation.
26. CHAP. V.
Of these involuntary and consistent sins particularly; and of the first cause of innocent involuntariness, (viz.) Ignorance.
27. CHAP. VI.
Of Prejudice.
28. CHAP. VII.
A sixth cause of ignorance of the present actions being comprehended under a known Law. And of the excusableness of our transgressions upon both these sorts of ignorance.
29. CHAP. VIII.
Of Sins consistent through the second Cause of an innocent Involuntariness, viz. Inconsideration.
BOOK V.
Of Repentance which restores us to God's Favor after Sins of all sorts.
30. CHAP. I.
Of Repentance which restores us to God's Favor after Sins of all sorts.
31. CHAP. II.
Of Reconciliation, and Restitution upon those Sins, whereby we have offended, or injured our Brethren.
32. CHAP. III.
Of the Remedy for our involuntary Sins.
33. CHAP. IV.
Of such groundless Scruples as make safe, but weak Minds doubt of their Title to Salvation.
34. CHAP. V.
Of two other Causes of groundless Scruple to good Souls.
35. CHAP. VI.
Of the Sin against the Holy Ghost, which is a fourth cause of scruple.
36. CHAP. VII.
The Conclusion.