N00814:354
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.
Object. VIII.
Although I judge it my duty to close with Gods device in the Covenant, I am in the dark how to manage that duty, for ⟨p. 192⟩sometimes God doth offer to be our God without any mention of Christ, and sometimes saith, that He will betroth us unto Him; and in other places of Scripture, we are called to come to Christ, and He is the Bridegroom. Again, God sometimes speaketh of Himself as a Father to men, sometimes as a Husband: Christ is sometimes called the Husband, and sometimes a Brother, which Relations seem inconsistent, and do much put me in the dark how to apprehend God when my heart would agree with him, and close with him.
Answ.
It may be very well said, that men do come to God, or close with Him, and yet they come to Christ and close with Him. They may be said to come under a Marriage-relation unto God, and unto Christ also, who is Husband, Father, Brother, &c. to them, and there is no such mystery here, as some do conceive. For the better understanding of it, consider these few things.
It may be very well said, that men do come to God, or close with Him, and yet they come to Christ and close with Him. They may be said to come under a Marriage-relation unto God, and unto Christ also, who is Husband, Father, Brother, &c. to them, and there is no such mysterie here, as some do conceive. For the better understanding of it, consider these few things.