N00814:286
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.
2. Because of this […], there is a strange sympathy and fellow-feeling between God and the Believer. The Lord is afflicted with the mans affliction, He doth tenderly, carefully and seasonably resent it, as if He were afflicted with it, Isa. 63.9. He who toucheth the Believer, toucheth the apple of the Lords Eye, Zech. 2.8. He is touched with the feeling of their infirmities, Heb. 4.15. and precious in His sight is their Blood, Psal. 116.15 In a word, what is done to them, is done unto Him; and what is not done to them, is not done unto Him, Mat. 10.45. Mat. 25.40. — On the other part, the zeal of His house sitteth in the heart of the Believer, Psal. 69.9. The Lords reproach lighteth on the Believer: If it go well with his affairs, that is the business of His People. So there is a strange sympathy between God and Believers; all by virtue of the Union between them. Because of which, men should hate every thing which would compete with Him in their Love or Affections, and should disdain to be slaves to the Creatures, since these are the servants of their Lord and Husband, and their servants through ⟨p. 164⟩Him. What a hateful thing for a Queen to Whose with the servants of her Prince and Husband? It is also a shame for a Believer to be afraid of Evil tidings, su•e the Lord, with whom he is one, alone ruleth all things, and doth whatsoever pleaseth Him in Heaven and Earth, 1 Corinthians 3.21, 23. Psal. 112.6, Psal. •• •3.