N01446:184
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 it is a common thing with God to Convert some in a far shorter time than others. One Ship may spend twice as much time as another in performing the same Voyage; one mans disease may be broke in far less time than another mans. Some men has more temptations and hindrances than others; the Spirit pursues some men more closely than others; and those that are longer under the work, may be as soundly Converted at last. The great reason why men do not hitherto prosper in their seekings, is not that their first troubles were not like the troubles of other men, but because they trust in their own righteousness, and are not yet convinced ⟨p. 56⟩of their own helpless condition, and the badness of their own hearts.
Quest. But are not some mens Convictions and Terrors Saving? Is there not a difference all along in the terrors of them that are Elect, and them that are Reprobate?
Answ. There is no difference for a great while between the strivings of the Spirit in those that shall be Converted, and in those that shall not. As there may be no difference in the Voyages of two Ships for a pretty while, one of which at last arrives in the Harbour, and the other is Cast-away; So it is here. Those that shall never be Converted, may have the same experiences for a considerable time, that those have that shall be Converted; there may be no difference in their Awakenings, in their Reformations, in their Temptations, in their Encouragements, nor in respect of their Frames. This does appear,
Answ. There is no difference for a great while between the strivings of the Spirit in those that shall be Converted, and in those that shall not. As there may be no difference in the Voyages of two Ships for a pretty while, one of which at last arrives in the Harbour, and the other is Cast-away; So it is here. Those that shall never be Converted, may have the same experiences for a considerable time, that those have that shall be Converted; there may be no difference in their Awakenings, in their Reformations, in their Temptations, in their Encouragments, nor in respect of their Frames. This does appear,