by David Dickson
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
"Therapeutica Sacra" by David Dickson is a profound theological exploration of the spiritual ailments of the conscience and the divine remedies provided through the covenants of God. Initially published in the 1600s, this work remains a treasure for its deep pastoral sensitivity and scriptural insight into the nature of regeneration and the believer's experience of grace.
The book unfolds across three parts: the first lays a foundation of understanding the human conscience and the biblical concept of regeneration; the second addresses the believers' doubts and struggles with sin through the lens of God's redemptive promises; and the third exhorts believers to caution against common spiritual pitfalls and to diligently pursue sanctification. Dickson's discourse on the three divine covenants—Redemption, Works, and Grace—serves as the backbone of his argument, illustrating how these eternal agreements provide a framework for understanding God's relationship with humanity.
Dickson particularly emphasizes the Covenant of Redemption, a pre-temporal agreement within the Trinity to save a chosen people, showing its central role in the stability and assurance of the believer's faith. By understanding these covenants, Christians gain a firmer grasp of their eternal security and the robustness of God's promises.
This work is meticulously crafted to address the tender consciences of troubled saints, applying scriptural balm to soothe and restore. Dickson combines rigorous theology with a pastor's heart, making "Therapeutica Sacra" a vital resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of God's sovereign grace and its implications for personal holiness and comfort. This book is particularly suited for those wrestling with doubts about their salvation, seeking assurance in the face of spiritual despondency, or desiring a deeper theological grounding in the works of a prominent Reformation theologian.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
HONORABLE AND VERY NOBLE:
BOOK I.
1. CHAP. I. - Of Conscience in general.
2. CHAP. II. - Of Cases of Conscience in general.
3. CHAP. III. - Of Regeneration, what it is; and the regenerate man, who he is.
4. CHAP. IV. - Of divine Covenants about the eternal salvation of men; and in special, of the Covenant of redemption, showing that there is such a Covenant, and what are the articles thereof.
5. CHAP. V. - Of the Covenant of works.
6. CHAP. VI. - Of the Covenant of Grace.
7. CHAP. VII. - For a further clearing and confirmation of the doctrine about the three Covenants, from Jer. 31, and Heb. 8.
8. CHAP. VIII. - Of the prudent application of divine covenants in general.
9. CHAP. IX. - Of the more special application of divine covenants, for removing the impediments of regeneration.
10. CHAP. X. - Concerning them that are like to despair.
11. CHAP. XI. - Concerning them that absolve themselves without warrant.
BOOK II.
12. CHAP. I. - Of considerations to be premised.
13. CHAP. II. - Wherein the regenerate man's doubt of his being in the state of grace, by reason of his felt unworthiness, is answered.
14. CHAP. III. - Wherein the regenerate man's doubts, arising from the multitude and weight of his sins against the Law and the Gospel, and against the light of his conscience, are answered.
15. CHAP. IV. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the regenerate man, raised by his suspicion, whether he be elected or not.
16. CHAP. V. - Wherein the regenerate man's doubting of his regeneration, because he findeth no power in himself to believe in Christ, is answered.
17. CHAP. VI. - Wherein the doubt of the regenerate man, concerning his being in the state of grace, arising from his apprehended defect of humiliation and sorrow for sin, is answered.
18. CHAP. VII. - Wherein the Christians doubt, whether he be regenerate, because he findeth not his righteousness exceeding the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, is answered.
19. CHAP. VIII. - Wherein the regenerate man's doubt, whether he be in the state of grace, arising from his unquietness of spirit, is answered.
20. CHAP. IX. - Wherein the converts doubt, arising from his uncertainty as what time he was converted, is solved.
21. CHAP. X. - Wherein is solved the converts doubt of his regeneration, arising from his apprehension, that the beginning of the change of his life, was not from the sincere love of God, but either from terror or self-love, which he conceiveth to be but carnal.
22. CHAP. XI. - Wherein the converts doubt of his being in the state of grace, arising from heavy afflictions and grievous temptations, is solved.
23. CHAP. XII. - Wherein is solved, the converts doubt of his conversion, arising from the power of his corruption manifesting itself more after his entry upon the course of new obedience, then it did before he began to repent.
24. CHAP. XIII. - Wherein is solved the converts doubt, whether he be in the state of grace, arising from his comparing of himself with the hypocrite and unregenerate in those perfections they may attain unto.
25. CHAP. XIV. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert, whether he be in the state of grace, because some godly persons look upon him as a hypocrite.
26. CHAP. XV. - Wherein the converts doubting of his being in the state of grace, so oft as he doth not feel the sense of his reconciliation with God, is examined and answered.
27. CHAP. XVI. - Wherein is solved the true converts doubt of his regeneration, because he seemeth to himself not to grow in grace by the use of the means appointed for his growth.
28. CHAP. XVII. - Wherein is solved the converts doubt, whether he be regenerate, because he seemeth to himself to follow religion and righteousness from the common operation of God's working by moral suasion, and not from the special operation and impulsion of the holy Spirit.
29. CHAP. XVIII. - Wherein is solved the true converts doubt, whether he be regenerate, because he findeth not self-denial in the measure which is requisite in converts.
30. CHAP. XIX. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert, whether he be indeed converted, arising from this, that he knoweth no child of God so hardly exercised as he is.
31. CHAP. XX. - Wherein is solved the converts doubt, whether he be converted, because he doth not find in himself the infallible marks of regeneration.
32. CHAP. XXI. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert, whether he be indeed converted, because he cannot confidently apply to himself the promises of the Gospel.
33. CHAP. XXII. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert concerning his conversion, arising from the observation in himself of presumption and security in his prosperity and of his misbelief in adversity.
34. CHAP. XXIII. - Wherein is solved the doubt of a true converts regeneration, arising from some false rule applied without reason to himself.
35. CHAP. XXIV. - Wherein is solved the converts doubt of his own conversion, because he hath found the deceitfulness of his own heart, and dare not trust it anymore.
36. CHAP. XXV. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the true converts conversion, arising from his breach of the covenant of Grace, as he conceiveth.
37. CHAP. XXVI. - Wherein is solved the true converts doubt, whether he be regenerate, because he findeth himself not only far from the measure of holiness which he observeth to have been in the Saints commended in Scripture; but also short of the measure which some of his acquaintance have attained unto.
38. CHAP. XXVII. - Wherein is solved the true converts doubt, whether he be in the blessed state of grace, because he findeth himself frequently in an evil condition.
39. CHAP. XXVIII. - Wherein is solved the doubt of the true convert concerning his regeneration, because he findeth the power of the body of death in the pollution of the imaginations of his heart, vigorous and powerful.
40. CHAP. XXIX. - Showing how to quench the fiery darts of Satan, and resist his sinful suggestions whether of shorter endurance or of longer continuance.
41. CHAP. XXX. - Wherein are some mixed cases spoken of, whereunto the true convert is subject, and so may fall to doubt of his conversion or interest in Christ.
BOOK III.
42. CHAP. I. - Concerning some premises.
43. CHAP. II - Wherein is handled, the case of such as are fallen from their first love, and are well pleased in this case. The first rank shall be of some cases, wherein the conscience of the convert is deceived, by judging the man's evil condition to be good enough.
44. CHAP. III. - Concerning the converts sinful conniving at, and tolerating of, the errors and transgressions of others.
45. CHAP. IV. - Concerning the case of the true convert, falling asleep in carnal security under guiltiness of fleshly pollutions, and dreaming himself to be in no ill condition.
46. CHAP. V. - Concerning the converts pleasing himself in his luke-warm condition.
47. CHAP. VI. - Concerning such converts as lean unto the props of carnal confidence and please themselves in this condition.
48. CHAP. VII. - Concerning the case of the convert in some point of doctrine deluded, and pleasing himself in this condition.
49. CHAP. VIII. - Concerning the converts conscience, mistaking vice for virtue, and pleasing himself in this condition.
50. CHAP. IX. - Of the case of conscience, dealing treacherously under pretense of liberty of conscience.
51. CHAP. X. - Of such as do please themselves in a condition not pleasing God, because they conceive they can pray well under any condition.
52. CHAP. XI. - Of the converts esteeming the peace of God to be but a carnal security.
53. CHAP. XII. - Of the case of a convert, taking some acts of justifying faith to be high presumption in his person.
54. CHAP. XIII. - Of the condition of the convert, fearing that the joy of the holy Ghost which he hath felt, be found only to be either the joy of speculation, common to temporal believers, or a mere delusion.
55. CHAP. XIV. - Of the converts suspecting, that his zeal for God and against the sins of others hath been fleshly severity and imprudent temerity
56. CHAP. XV. - Of the converts suspecting his aiming at circumspect walking, shall be found in him scrupulosity.
57. CHAP. XVI. - Concerning the converts suspicion, that his softness of heart is nothing but a natural disposition to weep upon any occasion.
58. CHAP. XVIII. - Concerning the converts looking upon the sight of his faith, as if it were the failing of his faith.
59. CHAP. XIX. - Concerning the converts straitening his charity toward others, more than he did at the first time of his conversion, conceiving his former larger charity, was unwarrantable folly.
60. CHAP. XX. - Concerning the converts mistaking his condition, because of felt in-lake in his charity and love to God and men.
61. CHAP. XXI. - Concerning the converts despising of his own exercises of religion, because of his felt vanity of mind therein.
62. CHAP. XXII. - Concerning the converts discouragement for felt want of ability to do the duties commanded, whereunto his renewed will is very bent.
63. CHAP. XXIII. - Concerning the converts imprudent censure of himself for felt ingratitude.
64. CHAP. XXIV. - Concerning the converts imprudent censure of himself for his felt impatiency in bearing lesser troubles, after his patient bearing of greater troubles.
65. CHAP. XXV. - Concerning the converts mistaking his case for want of such a submission unto God's exercising of him, as he would have.
66. CHAP. XXVI. - Concerning the converts mistaking of his condition because of temptations.
67. CHAP. XXVII. - Concerning the converts mistaking his condition when he doth observe some degrees of God's deserting of him.
68. CHAP. XXVIII. - Concerning cases, wherein the convert is in doubt what to determine about his condition.