N00814:226
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.
but that whereupon this ⟨p. 122⟩full assurance is drawn or put out, is somewhat deposed and witnessed already. Therefore I conceive the second operation of the Spirit upon the second proposition, and so upon the Graces in the man, is that witness of Gods Spirit, that beam of Divine light, shining upon those Graces, whereby they are made very conspicuous to the understanding: That is the witness; the shining so on them is His witnessing: for, only here in this proposition and in this operation, doth the Spirit of God prove a co-witness with our spirit: for, the main thing wherein the witness of our spirit lieth, is in the second proposition, and so the Spirit of God, witnessing with our spirits, is also in that same proposition. So these two witnesses, having deposed and witnessed one and the same thing, viz. the truth and reality of such and such Graces in the man, which our own spirit or conscience doth depose, according to its knowledge; and the Spirit of the Lord doth certainly affirm and witness to be so. There is a sentence drawn forth, and a conclusion of the mans Son-ship by the mans Faith, breathed upon by the Spirit for that effect, and this conclusion ⟨p. 123⟩beareth the full assurance of a mans Sonship. It may be presumed, that some true Saints do not partake of this all their days, as Heb•. 2.15.
but that whereupon this ⟨p. 122⟩full assurance is drawn or put out, is somewhat deposed and witnessed already. Therefore I conceive the second operation of the Spirit upon the second proposition, and so upon the Graces in the man, is that witness of Gods Spirit, that beam of Divine light, shining upon those Graces, whereby they are made very conspicuous to the understanding: That is the witness; the shining so on them is His witnessing: for, only here in this proposition and in this operation, doth the Spirit of God prove a co-witness with our spirit: for, the main thing wherein the witness of our spirit lieth, is in the second proposition, and so the Spirit of God, witnessing with our spirits, is also in that same proposition. So these two witnesses, having deposed and witnessed one and the same thing, viz. the truth and reality of such and such Graces in the man, which our own spirit or conscience doth depose, according to its knowledge; and the Spirit of the Lord doth certainly affirm and witness to be so. There is a sentence drawn forth, and a conclusion of the mans Son-ship by the mans Faith, breathed upon by the Spirit for that effect, and this conclusion