A42363:117
The Christians great interest
The Christians great interest: or A short treatise, divided into two parts the first whereof containeth, the trial of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly, the way how to attain it: wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. By W. Guthrie, minister of the gospel in Scotland.The Christians great interest: or A short treatise, divided into two parts the first whereof containeth, the tryal of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly, the way how to attain it: wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. By W. Guthrie, minister of the gospel in Scotland.
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1681
The Trial of a Saving Interest in CHRIST.The Tryal of a Saving Interest in CHRIST.
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.
Fifthly, There is a thing called Liberty before God and this properly is freedom, or free speaking unto God many do much question their state, because of the wa• of this now and then, since the Scripture hath said, Wha• the Spirit is, there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. but they […] justly confine that liberty, spoken of there, unto this fre• ⟨p. 63⟩speaking before God. I grant where the Spirit of the Lord doth savingly discover Gods will in the Scripture to a man, There is liberty from any obligation to the Ceremonial Law, and from the condemning power of the Moral Law, and from much of that gross darkness and ignorance, which is on natural hearts as a veil hiding Christ in the Gospel from them. I grant also, that sometimes, even this liberty which is a free communion with God, and ordering of our case before him, and filling of our mouths with Arguments, Job. 23. 4. is granted to the godly, but not as liberty taken in the former senses. Although the Lord hath obliged himself to pour out the Spirit of prayer upon all the house of David in some measure Zech. 12. 10. Yet this communication of the Spirit, which we call liberty, or free speaking unto God, dependeth much on the Lords absolute pleasure, when, and what measure to allow it. This liberty which we call freedom, or free speaking with God in prayer, is sometimes much abstracted from any great confidence in the time of prayer, (at least, until it draw towards the close of it) it standeth much in a vivacity of the understanding to take up the case which a man is to speak before God, so as he can order his case; and next, there be words or verbal expressions, elegant, suitable, and very emphatical, or powerful and pithy; there is also joined a fervency of spirit in prayer, whereof the Scripture speaketh; the soul is hot and bended, and very intent: There is also ordinarily in this liberty, a special melting of the heart (often joined with a great measure of the Spirit of grace and supplication, Zech. 10. 11.) for so the soul in poured out before God as for a first born: Such is the liberty, which many Saints get before God, whilst in much brokenness of heart, and fervency of spirit, they are admitted to speak their mind fully to God, as a Living God, noticing (at least) their Prayer. Sometimes this liberty is joined