N01446:133
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. By showing him the possibility of his obtaining mercy. So Caleb told the people they were well able to overcome, and if God delighted in them, he would bring them in; thus he may be encouraged, by showing of him that God can help him, and that nothing does appear to show that God will not help him; his mercy is free, he has pardoned others as bad as he; his Providences to him are consistent with designs of Grace.
1. By shewing him the possibility of his obtaining mercy. So Caleb told the people they were well able to overcome, and if God delighted in them, he would bring them in; thus he may be encouraged, by shewing of him that God can help him, and that nothing does appear to shew that God will not help him; his mercy is free, he has pardoned others as bad as he; his Providences to him are consistent with designs of Grace.
2. By showing him the wonderful benefit that he will have if he does obtain mercy; besides that peace and communion with God which he will have in this Life, he will enjoy Eternal Salvation in the other World, which is inconceivably great. It were a great thing to have his punishments moderated, much more to be delivered from them; it were a great thing to be saved out of Hell, after hundreds of years, greater to be preserved from coming there: It were a great thing to be kept out of Hell, and suffered to live a natural life always upon the Earth; greater to be translated into the glorious presence of God, and to be like the Angels of God always beholding the face of the Father; it is worth the while to go through any difficulty for Heaven; Heaven will make amends for all: if all the way to Heaven were Rocks and Mountains, yet it is worth the while to travel thither. The People of Israel were often ⟨p. 35⟩told of the excellency of the Land of Canaan, that it was a Land flowing with milk and honey, and a land of vineyards, and olive-yards, & wheat and barley: So it is useful to set before him the glorious Happiness that the People of God will enjoy in another World.