N00814:214
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.
Secondly, There is Communion with God much talked of among Christians, whereby they understand the sensible presence of God refreshing the Soul exceedingly. But if we speak properly, Communion with God is a mutual interest between God and a man, who hath closed with him in Christ. It is a common-ness or a common interest between God and a Man; not only is a man interested in God Himself, but in all that is the Lords: so the Lord hath a special interest in the man, and also all that belongs to him. There is a Communion between Husband and Wife, whereby they have a special interest in others, persons, goods, gear and concernments, so it is here; there is such a Communion with God. He is our God, and all things are ours, because He is ours: this Communion with God all true Believers have at all times, as we shall show afterwards: I grant there is an actual improvement ⟨p. 109⟩of that Communion, whereby men do boldly meddle with any thing that belongs unto God, and do meddle with Himself as their own, with much homeliness and familiarity, especially in Worship, when the Soul doth converse with a living God, partaking of the Divine Nature, growing like unto Him, and sweetly travelling through his Attributes, and with some confidence of interest, viewing these things as the mans own goods and gear: this we call Communion with God in Ordinances: This indeed is not so ordinarily nor frequently made out to men, and all Gods People do not equally partake of it; and it is true, that what is in God, goeth not out for the behove of the man, to his apprehension equally at all times, yet certainly Communion with God, properly so called, viz. that common-ness of Interest between God and a Man who is savingly in Covenant with Him, doth always stand firm and sure; and so much of Communion with God in Ordinances have all Believers, as that their heart converseth with a living God there now and then, and is in some measure changed into that same image, and there needs be no doubt about any further in it.
Secondly, There is Communion with God much talked of among Christians, whereby they understand the sensible presense of God refreshing the Soul exceedingly. But if we speak properly, Communion with God is a mutual interest between God and a man, who hath closed with him in Christ. It is a common-ness or a common interest between God and a Man; not only is a man interested in God Himself, but in all that is the Lords: so the Lord hath a special interest in the man, and also all that belongs to him. There is a Communion between Husband and Wife, whereby they have a special interest in others, persons, goods, gear and concernments, so it is here; there is such a Communion with God. He is our God, and all things are ours, because He is ours: this Communion with God all true Believers have at all times, as we shall shew afterwards: I grant there is an actual improvement