N00814:276
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.
The fourth thing pre-required, is, The man who would close with Christ Jesus, must resolve to break all Covenants with Hell and Death: Isa. 28.15. Whatsoever known evil men are engaged into, they must resolve to forego it: for there is no concord between Christ and Belial. 2 Cor. 6.14, — The Lord requireth that they who would expect Him to be for them, should not be for another, Hos. 3.3 This is far from Evangelic repentance, which I grant doth not precede a mans closing with CHRIST by Faith; there is little here beyond a misregard of these things unto which a man was formerly devoted, and a slighting what he was mad upon, because he seeth himself destroyed thereby, and relief now offered, whereupon his heart beginneth to be more intent than formerly it was. After this, when Christ is looked upon alone, His worth and beauty doth appear, so as among ⟨p. 154⟩all the gods there is none like unto HIM, and he looketh out as a sufficient covering of the Eyes to all who get him. Upon which the heart loveth Gods device in the New-Covenant, and loveth to lay its weight upon Christ rather than any other way, bending towards him, and so the man becometh a Believer. Now, I will not say that all these things whereof we have spoken, are formally, orderly and distinctly found in every person before he close with God in Christ; for the way of the heart with Christ, may be added to the four wonderful things, Prov. 18.19. It is hard to trace the heart in its relelation from Darkness to Light; yet we hold out the most ordinary and likely way, to him who doth ask the way, debarring thereby ignorant and senseless persons from meddling; & discharging them to pretend to any interest in Him whilst they remain such.
The fourth thing pre-required, is, The man who would close with Christ Jesus, must resolve to break all Covenants with Hell and Death: Isa. 28.15. Whatsoever known evil men are engaged into, they must resolve to forego it: for there is no concord between Christ and Belial.