N00814:78
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.
Part 1: The Trial of a Saving Interest in CHRIST.Part 1: The Tryal of a Saving Interest in CHRIST.
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 and most Ordinary way, by which many are brought in to Christ' is, By a clear and discernible work of the Law and Humiliation, which we ordinarily call, The Spirit of Bondage, as was h•nted before. We do not mean, that every one whose Conscience is awakened with Sin and fear of Wrath, doth really close with Christ, the contrary doth appear in Cain, Saul, Judas &c. but there is a convicti-of Sin, awakening of Conscience, and work of Humiliation, which, as we shall circumstantiate it, doth rarely miscarry or fail of a gracious issue, but ordinarily doth resolve into the Spirit of Adoption, and a Gracious work of Gods ⟨p. 35⟩Spirit. And because the Lord dealeth with many Sinners this way, and we find that many are much puzzled about the giving judgment of this Law-work.
The Fourth and most Ordinary way, by which many are brought in to Christ' is, By a clear and discernable work of the Law and Humiliation, which we ordinarily call, The Spirit of Bondage, as was h•nted before. We do not mean, that every one whose Conscience is awakened with Sin and fear of Wrath, doth really close with Christ, the contrary doth appear in Cain, Saul, Judas &c. but there is a convicti-of Sin, awakening of Conscience, and work of Humiliation, which, as we shall circumstantiate it, doth rarely miscarry or fail of a gracious issue, but ordinarily doth resolve into the Spirit of Adoption, and a Gracious work of Gods ⟨p. 35⟩Spirit. And because the Lord dealeth with many Sinners this way, and we find that many are much puzled about the giving judgment of this Law-work.
This work is either more violent and suddenly expede, or it is more sober and lent, protracted through a greater length of time, and so as the steps of it are very discernible. It is more violent in some, as in the Jailer, Paul, and some other Con•erts in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, on whom Christ did break in at an instant, and fell on them as with fire and sword and led them Captive terribly. And because some great legal shakings are deceitful and turn to nothing, if not worse, we shall point at some things remarkable in these Converts, spoken of before, which did prove the work of the Law on them to have had a gracious issue and result.