A42363:59
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.
It may be it is in his heart to do me good, O that it may be so!—Although all these thoughts be not in the preparatory work of every one, yet they are with many, and very promising where they are.
7. Upon all these Thoughts and Meditations, the man more seriously than ever before, resolveth to pray, and to make some essay with God, upon Life and Death; he concludeth, it can be no worse with him: for, if he sit still, he perisheth, as the Lepers speak, 2 Kings 7. 3, 4. He considereth with the pinched Prodigal Son, that there is bread enough in the Fathers House, and to spare▪ while he perisheth for want: so he goeth to God, for he knoweth not what else to make of his condition, as the Prodigal Son doth, Luk. 15. 17, 18. and, it may be, here he resolveth that to speak; but readily things do vary when he is arraigned before God, as the Prodigal Son forgot some of his premeditated prayers, Luk. 15. 18, 19, 21. And now when he cometh before God more observably than ever before, (1.) He beginneth with the Publican, a far off, Luk. 18. 13. with many through confessions and self-condemnings, whereof he is very Prodigal, as Luk. 15. 21. I have sinned against Heaven, ⟨p. 25⟩and before thee, and am no more worthy, &c. (2.) Now begin his thoughts about the hearing of his prayer, which he was not wont to question much▪ he now knows what those expressions of the Saints, about the hearing of their prayers, do import. (3.) It is observable in this address, that there are many broken Sentences, like that of