A42363:72
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.
We come now to speak of some more clear and sure marks, by which men may take up their gracious state and interest in Christ.
We come now to speak of some more clear and sure marks, by which men may take up their gratious state and interest in Christ.
The first thing whereby men know it, is, their closing with Christ in the Gospel, wherein he is held forth. ⟨p. 32⟩This is believing, or Faith, which is the condition of the Covenant. Rom. 4. 16. It is faith, &c. Act 16 31. Believe—and thou shalt be Saved. Now, although in propriety of speech, it is hard to prove an interest […] faith, it being our very interest in him; yet the heart closing with Christ Jesus, is so discernible in it self, that it may well be placed amongst the marks, of a gracious state: And if a man can make out this, that he believeth on, and in Christ Jesus, he thereby doth prove a very true interest in him. Many are prejudiced at this as a mark, upon one of these three grounds ordinarily. (1.) Some conceive faith to be a difficult mysterious thing, hardly attainable. To these I say, do not mistake; Faith is not so difficult as many do apprehend it to be. I grant true faith in the meanest degree is the gift of God, and above the power of flesh and blood: for God must draw men to Christ, Phil. 1. 29. Joh. 6. 44. Yet, it were a reflection upon Christ, and all he hath done, to say it were a matter of insuperable difficulty, as is clear, Rom. 10. 6,—11. it were according to that Scripture, as much upon the matter, as to say, Christ came not from Heaven, is not risen from the dead, or ascended victorious to Heaven. I say, he hath made the way to Heaven most easy; and faith, which is the condition required on our part, more easy than men do imagine. For the better understanding of this, consider, that justifying faith, is not to believe that I am elected, or, to believe that God loveth me, or that Christ died for me, or the like. These things are indeed very difficult and almost impossible at the first hand to be obtained by those who are serious, whilst natural Atheists, and deluded Hypocrites find no difficulty in asserting all those things. I say, true justifying faith is not any of the foresaid things: neither is it simply the believing of any sentence that is written or that