N00814:131
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.
Therefore,
Fifthly; There is somewhat common to all Gracious persons, which may be supposed by all the foresaid actings of Faith, wherein the nature & essence of Justifying Faith standeth; and this is the hearts satisfaction about Gods device of Salvation by Christ; when man pleaseth Gods invention of satisfaction to Justice through Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness doth dwell now by the Fathers pleasure; when the Soul and Heart of man acquiese•• in that, then it Believeth unto Salvation. As at first the Lord made man suitable unto the Covenant of Works, ⟨p. 74⟩by Creating him perfect, and so putting him in a capacity to perform His Will in that Covenant. So under the New-Covenant, when God giveth the New Heart to man, He sets the Idea and Stamp of all His device in the New-Covenant upon the man, so as there is a consonancy to Gods will there: Thus he beareth the Image of the Second Adam, CHRIST JESUS on him. This is a great part of the new heart, and is most opposed to works. Since now the man absolutely falleth off works, becoming Dead to the Law (as to the point of Justification) by the Body of Christ, Rom. 7.4. Many perceiving that God hath devised a way of satisfying Divine justice, and recovering lost man by the Incarnation of Christ, he thinks this so good and sure a way, that he absolutely giveth up with the Law, as I said before, and closeth with this device: and this is Believing or Faith, very opposite to works and all resting thereupon. This cannot fail to be in all Gracious persons, in whom many of the actings of Faith are not to be found. This doth clearly suppose known distress in a man, without all relief in himself; this supposeth known fullness in Christ, as ⟨p. 75⟩the alone sufficient relief; this imports a sort of impropriation: for the heart pleasing that device, in so far swayeth towards it. This is a thing clearly supposed in all the actings of faith, spoken of before. He that greedily hungereth, hath this; and he that leaneth, hath this, &c. This is to esteem Christ the Wisdom and the Power of God to Salvation; so is He said to be to all that believe,