N00814:122
The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first…
The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first whereof, containeth the [sic] trial of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly the [sic] way how to attain it: : Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. / By William Guthrie, Minister of the Gospel, at New-Kilmarnock.The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first whereof, containeth te [sic] tryal of a saving interest in Christ. The second, pointeth forth plainly te [sic] way how to attain it: : Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of express covenanting with God. / By William Guthrie, Minister of the Gospel, at New-Kilmarnock.
printed by T. Green for Nicholas Boone, 1701
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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, This Faith goeth out sometimes in the act of recumbency or leaning on the Lord, the Soul taking •p Christ then as a resting sto•; and God hath so held HIM out, although HE be a stumbling stone to others, Rom. 9.•3. This acting of it, is hinted in the expressions of Trusting & Staying on God, so often mentioned in Scripture; and gracious Promises are made to this acting […] Faith: as Isa. 26.3, 4. God will keep […] imperfect peace whose minds are stayed ⟨p. 68⟩on Him; because such do trust in Him. Trust in the Lord; for with Him is everlasting strength. So, Psal. 125.1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which abideth forever. I say, the Lord hath made Promises to this way of Faiths acting, as knowing it will often go out after Him in this way with many persons, and this way of its acting will be most discernible to them. It goeth out after God sometimes by an act of waiting when the Soul hath somewhat depending before God, and hath not got out his mind satisfyingly about that thing; then Faith doth wait, and so it hath the Promise, Isa, 49.23. Sometimes it acteth in a wilful way upon the Lord, when the Soul apprehendeth God thrusting it away, and threatening its ruin; So J•b 13.15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. The Faith of that poor woman, Mat. 15.22.28. so highly commended by Christ, did go out in this way of wilful acting over difficulties; and the Lord speaketh much good of it, and to it; because some will be put to it, to exercise Faith that way sometimes, and so they have that for their encouragement. It were tedious to instance all the several ways of the ⟨p. 69⟩acting of Faith upon, and its exercise about, and outgoings after Christ. I may say, according to the various conditions and pressures of the Soul of man, the Lord hath variously held out Himself, and His Fullness in Christ under divers notions, as might most fitly meet the distress or condition of Man; and accordingly Faith which God hath appointed to traffic and travel between Christ and Man, as the Instrument of conveyance of His fullness unto man, and of maintaining Union and Communion, with Him, acteth variously and differently upon God in Christ: For, Faith is the very shaping out of a mans Heart according to Gods device of Salvation by Christ Jesus, in whom it pleased the Father that Fullness should dwell.