N00814:417
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.
1. Men are not to expect fruitfulness ⟨p. 224⟩according to their desire, nor full assurance of Gods favour, immediately after they have fled unto Christ, & expressly transacted with God in Him These things will keep a man on work all his days. The Saints had their failings & short comings, yea, and backslidings, with many fits of dangerous mis-belief, after they had very seriously and expressly closed with God, as their God in Christ.
1. Men are not to expect fruitfulness ⟨p. 224⟩according to their desire, nor full assurance of Gods favour, immediately after they have fled unto Christ, & expresly transacted with God in Him These things will keep a man on work all his dayes. The Saints had their failings & short comings, yea, and backslidings, with many fits of dangerous mis-belief, after they had very seriously and expresly closed with God, as their God in Christ.
2. Many do look for fruitfulness in their walk and establishment of Faith, from their own Sincerity in transacting with God, rather than from the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. They heft their heart in their own honesty and resolutions, and not in the blessed root Christ Jesus, without whom we can do nothing, and are vanity in our best estate. Men should remember, that one piece •f Grace cannot produce any degree of Grace; further, nothing can work Grace, but the Arm of Jehovah: and if men would lean unto Christ, and Govenant with Him as their duty absolutely, whatsoever may be the consequence, at least, looking only to Him for the suitable fruit, it should fare better with them: God pleaseth not, that men should betake themselves unto Christ, & ⟨p. 225⟩Covenant with Him for a season, until they see if such & such fruit & establishment shall follow, purposing to disclaim their interest in Him and the Covenant, if such and such fruit doth not appear within such a length of time. This is to put the ways of God to a trial, and is very displeasing unto Him: men must absolutely close with CHRIST and Covenant with HIM, resolving to maintain these things as their duty, and a ready way to reach fruit, whatsoever should follow thereupon, they having a Testimony within them, that they seriously design conformity to His revealed Will in all things; and that they have closed Covenant with Him for the same end, as well as to be saved thereby.