A42363:52
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.
Again, The Lord sometimes carrieth on this work more calmly, softly, and gently, protracting it so as the steps of mens exercise under it are very discernible. It would draw a great length to enlarge every step of it; we shall touch the most observable things in it.
Again, The Lord sometimes carrieth on this work more calmly, foftly, and gently, protracting it so as the steps of mens exercise under it are very discernable. It would draw a great length to enlarge every step of it; we shall touch the most observable things in it.
1. The Lord Jayeth siege to men (who, it may be, have often refused to yield to him, offering himself in the Ordinances) and by some word Preached, Read, or born in on the mind, or by some providence leading in unto the Word, he doth also assault the house kept peaceably by the strong man, the Devil; and thus Christ, who is the stronger man, cometh upon him, Luke 11. 22. and by the Spirit of truth, doth fasten the Word on the man, in which Gods curse is denounced against such and such sinners, whereof the man knoweth himself guilty. The spirit convinceth the man, and bindeth it upon him, that he is the same person against whom the Word of God doth speak, because he is guilty of such sins, and from such sins the man is led on to see more until (ordinarily) he comes to see the sins of his youth, sins of omission, &c. yea, he is led on until he sees himself guilty almost of the breach of the whole Law; he seeth innumerable evils compassing him, as David speaketh in a fit of exercise, Isa. 40. 12. A man sometimes will see ⟨p. 20⟩ugly sights of sin in this case, and is sharp-sighted to reckon a filthiness to every sin almost. Thus the spirit convinceth of sin, Jo. 16. 8. 2. The Lord shaketh a special strong hold in the garrison, a refuge of lies, to which the man betaketh himself when his sins are thus discovered to him. The poor man pretendeth to faith in Christ, whereby he thinks his burden is taken off him, as the Pharisees said,