N01446:188
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.
2. They that are to be Converted, are not capable of any strivings of the Spirit, but what are common, till they come to be humbled, and to believe. It is a pretty while after God begins to strive with the Elect, before they come to be humbled, and to believe in Christ; and before that, they are not capable of any strivings, but what are common. What can there be, but what is common to other men? Other men have fears of Hell and Judgment […] of Wrath, moral Convictions of […] Sin; encouragements, many […] of vileness in their own hearts, […] deceitfulness: And what can these have more before they are humbled? They are not capable yet to see the evil of Sin, the excellency of Christ, nor of godly sorrow, nor of sincere desires, because they are not Converted. Why may not a Reprobate have as much Conviction as they? What are they capable ⟨p. 58⟩of in their present Circumstances, but what many have had that are now in Hell? Some speak of a Saving Conviction, and Contrition; What is it? if it be only of Hell & Wrath, Reprobates have such as well as they; it can't be the great evil of sin, for none can see that, but they that are Converted: Natural men are blind, Rev. 3.17.
2. They that are to be Converted, are not capable of any strivings of the Spirit, but what are common, till they come to be humbled, and to believe. It is a pritty while after God begins to strive with the Elect, before they come to be humbled, and to believe in Christ; and before that, they are not capable of any strivings, but what are common. What can there be, but what is common to other men? Other men have fears of Hell and Judgment 〈…〉 of Wrath, moral Convictions of 〈…〉 Sin; encouragements, many 〈…〉 of vileness in their own hearts, 〈…〉 deceitfulness: And what can these have more before they are humbled? They are not capable yet to see the evil of Sin, the excellency of Christ, nor of godly sorrow, nor of sincere desires, because they are not Converted. Why may not a Reprobate have as much Conviction as they? What are they capable ⟨p. 58⟩