N01446:13
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
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.
He that published it, confesseth it came out altered from what was first written.
It is usual with New Converts to be molested with fears lest they have committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost. I am far from being of Dr. Tillotson's Opinion, who supposeth, that none in these Days are, or can be guilty of that Sin, nor any besides those, who were Eye-witnesses of the Miracles wrought by our Saviour Christ. I rather Concur with Dr. Collings, whose words are, Give me leave to speak my fears. I profess they are my thoughts, my sad thoughts, that we live in an Age as full of persons, that have sinned that Sin, that shall never be forgiven, as any Age ever was, since our Lord was on the Earth. Are there not many in our Days, who having been once enlightened, have not only •nned against the light of their Education, but are become malignant haters of those Holy Truths, and Ways of God, in which they were initiated, and malicious persecutors of all such, as profess the true and pure Gospel? Do not such sin wilfully after they have received the knowledge of the Truth? ⟨p. xii⟩And have they not done despite to the Spirit of Grace? As for such as are troubled with groundless fears of their having been guilty of that Sin, The Reverend Author of the Discourse Emitted herewith, has therein offered that, which may ease and satisfy their disquieted Consciences. Mr. Baxter notwithstanding the Dispute which had been between him and Mr. Tombs about Paedo-Baptism, after that wrote a Commendatory Epistle before a Learned Book of Mr. Tombs's against the Papists.
It is known, that in some points (not Fundamentals in Religion) I differ […] this beloved Author; Nevertheless, (as […] there was a difference of Opinion […] Jerome and Austin) Jerome said for all […], I cannot but love Christ in Austin; so do I say concerning my Brother Stoddard. And I pray the Lord to bless this, and all his holy Labours for the Conversion, and Salvation of many of God's Elect.