N00814:225
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.
Ninthly, There is a witnessing of Gods spirit, mentioned, Rom. 8.16. A bearing ⟨p. 120⟩witness with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God. This operation of the Spirit, is best understood,, if we produce any syllogism by which our spirit do witness our Son-ship: As for example, Whosoever loveth the Brethren, is past from Death to Life, and consequently is in Christ; But I love the Brethren: Therefore I am past from Death to Life. Here there is a threefold operation of the Spirit, or three operations rather. The First is a beam of Divine light upon the first proposition, persuading the Divine authority of it, as the Word of God: The Spirit of the Lord must witness the Divinity of the Scripture; and that is the infallible Word of God, far beyond all other arguments can be used. The Second operation is, a Glorious beam of light from the Spirit, shining upon the second proposition, and so upon his own graces in the Soul, discovering them to be true Graces, and such as the Scripture calleth so. Thus we are said to know by His Spirit the things freely given unto us of God, 1 Cor. 2.13. The Third operation is in order to the third proposition of the argument, or the conclusion; and this I conceive to be nothing else but ⟨p. 121⟩an influence upon Faith, strengthening it to draw a conclusion of full assurance upon the foresaid premises. Now (with submission unto others, who have greater light in the Scripture, and more experience of these communications) I do conceive the witness of the Spirit, or witnessing of it, which is mentioned, Rom. 8.16. is not that first operation upon the first proposition; for, that operation is that testimony of the Spirit, by which He beareth witness to the Divinity of the whole Scripture, and asserteth the Divine authority of it unto the souls of Gracious men, and such an operation may be upon a truth of Scripture, which doth not relate to a mans Son-ship or Interest in Christ at all. The Spirit may so shine upon any truth, relating to Duty, or any other fundamental truth persuading the Divinity of it, upon and unto the soul, and speak nothing relating to a mans interest in Christ. Neither is the third operation of the Spirit, by which He makes Faith boldly draw the conclusion. This witnessing of the Spirit for that operation, is nothing else but influence upon Faith, bringing it out to full assurance;