This Puritan classic contains the following chapters:

I. Wherein the Text Is Opened, and the Doctrine Propounded

II. Although God takes no delight in afflicting his people, yet he sometimes exposeth them to great and grievous sufferings; with a brief account why, and how he calls them thereunto.

III. It Is Usual With God to Premonish His People of Approaching Trials and Sufferings; With Some Account Off the Manner How, and the Reason Why He So Forewarns Them

IV. The Excellency of a Prepared Heart for the Worst of Sufferings; And What a Blessed Thing It Is to Be Ready to Be Bound, or to Die for Christ, as Paul Here Was

V. The Necessity of a Sound and Real Work of Grace Upon the Heart, to Fit a Man for Suffering for Christ

VI. The Nature of This Work of Grace, in Which Our Habitual Fitness for Suffering Lies, and the Great Advantage the Gracious Person Hath for Any, Even the Hardest Work Thereby

VII. The Necessity of Getting Clear Evidences of This Work of Grace in Us, in Order to Our Readiness for Sufferings, the Nature of That Evidence, and Divers Things That Cloud and Obscure It Removed Out of the Way

VIII. The Necessity of An Improved Faith for the Right Management of Sufferings, and Directing to Some Special Means for the Improvement Thereof

IX. The Necessity and Usefulness of Christian Fortitude in Order to Sufferings

X. The Necessity of An Heart Mortified to All Earthly and Temporal Enjoyments, in Order to the Right Managing of a Suffering Condition

XI. The Singular Advantage That Suffering Saints Have by Their Skill and Insights Into the Methods and Mysteries of Satan’s Temptations, and Rules for the Avoiding of the Danger

XII. A Choice Part of Our Preparation and Readiness for Sufferings Consists in the Improvement of Our Praying Abilities, and Keeping Close With God in That Heavenly and Excellent Duty in Days of Suffering

XIII. The Necessity of Going Out of Ourselves, Even When Our Habitual and Actual Preparations Are at the Greatest Height; And Depending as Constantly and Entirely Upon the Spirit, Who Is Lord of All Gracious Influences, as If We Had Done Nothing

XIV. The Unreadiness of Multitudes of Professors for Suffering-work

XV. Persuading All the People of God, Whilst the Lord Respites, and Graciously Delays Their Trials, to Answer the End of God Therein, and Prepare Themselves for Greater Trials

XVI. Support and Comfort to Poor Trembling Souls, Who Do Take Pains to Make Themselves Ready for Sufferings; But Yet Finding Such Strength in Satan’s Temptations, and Their Own Corruptions, Fear That All Their Labour Is Vain, and That They Shall Faint, and Utterly Apostatize, When Their Troubles and Trials Come to An Height