N01446:111
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. An Historical Faith. Men do receive the History of the Gospel for a truth, and take it for granted, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and Saviour of the World; and if any should deny it, or dispute against it, they would be very zealous against him, it would stir up their indignation; if they have any workings of infidelity, yet generally they go with that persuasion, that the Gospel is true; but this is no more than a Turk will say for his Religion: this Historical Faith, don't mortify mens corruptions. John 2.23, 24, 25. many profane man have this Historical Faith.
1. An Historical Faith. Men do receive the History of the Gospel for a truth, and take it for granted, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and Saviour of the World; and if any should deny it, or dispute against it, they would be very zealous against him, it would stir up their indignation; if they have any workings of infidelity, yet generally they go with that perswasion, that the Gospel is true; but this is no more than a Turk will say for his Religion: this Historical Faith, don't mortifie mens corruptions. John 2.23, 24, 25. many profane man have this Historical Faith.
2. A considerable confidence that Christ will save them. They are persuaded that they shall obtain Salvation by Christ, and do rejoice in the hope of it: This Confidence is a distinct thing from Justifying Faith; it is good or bad according to the grounds of it. Godly men have frequently such a confidence from the experience of a work of Grace in their own hearts, and the manifestation of the Love of God; but this is not Justifying Faith, but a Faith of Assurance. Carnal Men may have such a confidence, arising from an imagination that God loves them, and from a sense of their own goodness; but this is not Justifying Faith, but Presumption.
2. A considerable confidence that Christ will save them. They are perswaded that they shall obtain Salvation by Christ, and do rejoyce in the hope of it: This Confidence is a distinct thing from Justifying Faith; it is good or bad according to the grounds of it. Godly men have frequently such a confidence from the experience of a work of Grace in their own hearts, and the manifestation of the Love of God; but this is not Justifying Faith, but a Faith of Assurance. Carnal Men may have such a confidence, arising from an imagination that God loves them, and from a sense of their own goodness; but this is not Justifying Faith, but Presumption.