N01446:178
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.
That there is great diversity in the degrees of mens trouble: Every man must have so much trouble, as to make him strive earnestly after Salvation, and do what he can do in order to it; so much as to make him thoroughly to Reform, and earnestly to strive to get into a Converted Condition. Every Ship that performs its Voyage, must have so much Wind as may make the Ship Sail; but some Ships have stronger and more tempestuous winds than others have. Some men are of more tender spirit, & less will prevail upon them, than upon others; and some men whose troubles are but small at the beginning, do grow afterwards to a great height: God uses his Sovereignty very much as to the degree of mens trouble.
That there is great diversity in the degrees of mens trouble: Every man must have so much trouble, as to make him strive earnestly after Salvation, and do what he can do in order to it; so much as to make him thorowly to Reform, and earnestly to strive to get into a Converted Condition. Every Ship that performs its Voyage, must have so much Wind as may make the Ship Sail; but some Ships have stronger and more tempestuous winds than others have. Some men are of more tender spirit, & less will prevail upon them, than upon others; and some men whose troubles are but small at the beginning, do grow afterwards to a great height: God uses his Sovereignty very much as to the degree of mens trouble.
Another Argument is, that his terror did not ⟨p. 54⟩begin when other mens did. Many others have been smitten in the Preaching of the Word, the Word of God has been like a sharp sword in their heart; but his troubles came from the examples of others, or from some affliction, or from his fall into some sin: But he may be told,
That it is all one from what occasion his troubles did arise, provided that he be but convinced of the absolute necessity of present Reconciliation, and be but earnest in his endeavours after that: Though the Word be a principal means of Conversion, yet God may bless what means he will to do the work,