N01446:157
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. That all that have obtained mercy, have sought upon the in encouragement that they might obtain mercy. They did not know what the issue of it would be; the possibility of it was that ⟨p. 45⟩which bore up their hearts in using of means; they had some hope mingle, with fear, and if they had not sought upon the encouragement of the possibility, they had certainly gone without mercy. The Sick man does not say he will not use means, unless he were certain of a Cure: The Merchant don't say that he will not send his Ship to Sea, unless he were certain of a prosperous Voyage: The Husbandman don't say that he will not Plough and Sow his Land, unless he were certain of a good Crop; Men must wait upon God, upon this encouragement, that they may obtain mercy, Jon. 2.8, 9.
1. That all that have obtained mercy, have sought upon the in incouragement that they might obtain mercy. They did not know what the issue of it would be; the possibility of it was that ⟨p. 45⟩which bore up their hearts in using of means; they had some hope mingle, with fear, and if they had not sought upon the incouragement of the possibility, they had certainly gone without mercy. The Sick man does not say he will not use means, unless he were certain of a Cure: The Merchant don't say that he will not send his Ship to Sea, unless he were certain of a prosperous Voyage: The Husbandman don't say that he will not Plow and Sow his Land, unless he were certain of a good Crop; Men must wait upon God, upon this encouragement, that they may obtain mercy, Jon. 2.8, 9.
2. That the mere loss of their pains is a small matter. It will be a dreadful thing for a man to lose his Soul; but the mere loss of their labour is a small matter. A man may well venture the loss of his labour, in hope of the Salvation of his Soul: A man that is sick, will venture the loss of a little expense for the preservation of his life: Men have no cause to be very scrupulous about the loss of their pains: The loss of their Souls will be far sorer.