N00814:382
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.
This also may have place here for pressing this as a duty, That God is so formal, express, distinct and legal, (to ⟨p. 203⟩say so) in all the business of mans Salvation, viz. Christ must be a near kinsman to whom the right of Redemption doth belong. He must be Chosen, Called, Authorized and Sent; Covenants formally drawn between the Father and Him, the Father accepting payment and satisfaction, giving formal discharges, all done clearly and expressly. Shall the Lord be so express, plain and peremptory in every part of the business, and shall our par• of it rest in a confused Thought, and we be as dumb Beasts before him? If it were a Marriage between Man and Wife, it would not be j•d enough, although there were con• in heart given by the Woman, and k• to the Man, if she did never express so much by word, being in a capacity to do so. Now this Covenant between God and Man, is held out in Scripture, as a Marriage between man and wife, Hos. 2.19, 20. 2 Cor. 11 2. The whole Song of Solomon speaketh it. The Lord useth similitudes, to signify unto us what he intends; and surely this is a special requisite in Marriage, that the Wife give an express and explicit consent unto the business: the Man saith so, I take thee to be my lawful Wife, ⟨p. 204⟩and do oblige my self to be a dutiful Husband: The Woman is obliged on the other part, to express her consent, and to say, Even so I take thee to be my lawful Husband and do promise Duty and Subjections. It i• so here; the Lord saith, I do betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou s•alt call me Ishi, my Husband, Hos. 2. I will be for thee as a Head and Husband, if thou wilt not be for another, Hos. 3. The man ought to answer, and say, Amen, So be it, Thou shalt be my God, my Head and Lord, and I shall and will be thine, and not for another,