N01446:105
A guide to Christ. Or, The way of directing souls that are under the…
A guide to Christ. Or, The way of directing souls that are under the work of conversion. Compiled for the help of young ministers: and may be serviceable to private Christians, who are enquiring the way to Zion. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. and Pastor of the church in Northampton. ; With an epistle prefixed, by the Reverend Dr. Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by J. Allen for N. Boone, 1714
Directions How to guide Souls through the Work of Conversion.
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. That there is a great resemblance between common and saving Grace: Common Grace is the picture of Sanctifying Grace, and common affections are sometimes stronger than saving. Pharaoh justifies God, Saul weeps, one who was far from sincerity, tells Christ, he will follow him whithersoever he goeth, the Jews cry, Hosanna to the Son of David, the Israelites sang Gods praise, but soon forgot his works.
1. That there is a great resemblance between common and saving Grace: Common Grace is the picture of Sanctifying Grace, and common affections are sometimes stronger than saving. Pharaoh justifies God, Saul weeps, one who was far from sincerity, tells Christ, he will follow him whithersoever he goeth, the Jews cry, Hosanna to the Son of David, the Israelites sang Gods praise, but soon forgat his works.
2. That while they have such pangs of affection, it will be very hard for them to see their Hypocrisy. Their fear of Damnation makes them catch at any appearances of sincerity, and their pride makes them have an high opinion of their attainments; men sometimes in that frame make such signs as do indeed show their hypocrisy to be arguments of their sincerity.
2. That while they have such pangs of affection, it will be very hard for them to see their Hypocrisie. Their fear of Damnation makes them catch at any appearances of sincerity, and their pride makes them have an high opinion of their attainments; men sometimes in that frame make such signs as do indeed shew their hypocrisie to be arguments of their sincerity.
3. That it is a very dangerous thing for them to think that they are sincere, while they are not: then they will bless themselves, when God curses them; then they will continue quietly in a Natural Condition, and neglect the means of Conversion: and if they don't see the deceit quickly, there is danger that they may grow so hard-hearted, that if they do see it afterwards, they will not be the better for it.