A42363:215
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
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.
O Lord, I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature, and by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day; And although, being born within the visible Christ, I was from the womb in Covenant with thee, and had the same sealed unto me in baptism; Yet for a long time I have lived without God in the ⟨p. 121⟩world, senseless and ignorant of my Obligation, by virtue of that Covenant. Thou hast (at length) discovered unto me, and bound upon my heart, my miserable state in my self, and hast made manifest unto my heart the satisfying relief thou hast provided by Christ Jesus, offering the same freely unto me, upon condition that I would accept of the same, and would close with thee as my God in Christ, warranting and commanding me upon my utmost peril, to accept of this offer, and to flee unto Christ Jesus: Yea, to my apprehension, now thou hast Sovereignly determined my heart, and shaped it for Christ Jesus, leading it out after him in the offer of the Gospel, causing me to approach unto the living God, to close so with him, and to acquiesce in his offer, without any known guile; And that I may come up to that establishment of Spirit in this matter, which should be to my comfort, and the praise of thy glorious Grace; Therefore, I am here this day to put this matter out of question, by express words before thee, according to thy will: And now I, unworthy as I am, do declare, that I believe, that Christ Jesus, who was slain at Jerusalem, was the Son of God, and the Saviour of the World; I do believe that record, that there is life eternal for men in him, and in him only; I do this day in my heart, plead and acquiesce in that device of saving sinners by him, and do interest my soul unto him; I do accept of reconciliation with God through him, and do close with thee as my God in him; I choose him in all that he is, and all that may follow him, and do resign up my self, and what I am, or have, unto thee, desiring to be divorced from every thing hateful unto thee, and that without exception, or reservation of any thing (consistent with my knowledge) or intended reversion;
O Lord, I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature, and by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day; And although, being born within the visible Christ, I was from the womb in Covenant with thee, and had the same sealed unto me in bapsïsin; Yet for a long time I have lived without God in the ⟨p. 121⟩