N01446:112
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.
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.
3. A depending upon Christ, on the encouragement of a mans own goodness. He hears the Gospel, or has some common Illumination, discovering somewhat of God's readiness to pardon Sinners through Christ: and considering what he is, he ventures on Christ. When a man savingly believes, he ventures upon Christ upon Gospel encouragements; but another ventures, being encouraged from the consideration of his Prayers, Tears, Conscientiousness, or on that encouragement that he is not very bad, so he thinks such an one as he may venture; whereas if he did see himself so bad as indeed he is, he would not venture on Christ; the man makes partly his own righteousness, and partly the Righteousness ⟨p. 28⟩of Christ the foundation of his Faith; he does not exclude the Righteousness of Christ, but the preponderating consideration, and that which especially emboldens him to venture, is his own righteousness; his own righteousness is the first foundation of his hope, though he takes in the plea also of the Righteousness of Christ; he sees enough in Christ for such an one as himself, but not for the worst of Sinners.