N01446:144
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.
3. That such temptations are no sign that God don't love him; he may not gather from thence, that God has given him up to Satan; for this has been the condition of some very Godly men. This is an exercise that God has brought upon some that have been dear to him: As Satan is wont to tempt the best of men, so •me of the choicest with these suggestions; •his is not too great an affliction to be brought ⟨p. 40⟩upon such men as God does love; the Devil may in this manner hurry those that he shall not be able to destroy. Paul in likelihood had some such temptations, 2 Cor. 12.7. God for holy ends may suffer those whom he loves to be thus exercised, that they may leave their own weakness, and be humbled before God.
3. That such temptations are no sign that God don't love him; he may not gather from thence, that God has given him up to Satan; for this has been the condition of some very Godly men. This is an exercise that God has brought upon some that have been dear to him: As Satan is wont to tempt the best of men, so •me of the choicest with these suggestions; •his is not too great an affliction to be bro't ⟨p. 40⟩upon such men as God does love; the Devil may in this manner hurry those that he shall not be able to destroy. Paul in likelihood had some such temptations, 2 Cor. 12.7. God for holy ends may suffer those whom he loves to be thus exercised, that they may leave their own weakness, and be humbled before God.
4. That it is not very usual for God to suffer men to be long followed with these injections. Tho' there be some instances to the contrary, yet more ordinarily after a while God does restrain Satan, though no man can determine any precise time, yet after a while they are wont to be removed. God may so far hear Prayers, as to remove this affliction.