N01446:194
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.
SOMETIMES he complains that he finds a dreadful murmuring spirit; he is dreadful apt to quarrel with God, and can't tell how to justify him: it is a great terror to him, yet he cannot deliver himself from it. In this Case he may be told,
SOMETIMES he complains that he finds a dreadful murmuring spiri•; he is dreadful apt to quarrel with God, and can't tell how to justifie him: it is a great terror to him, yet he cannot deliver himself from it. In this Case he may be told,
1. That it is generally so with men under the work of preparation. There's scarce any but has experience of it. Men can hardly bear outward afflictions, much less appearances of damnation: When awakened Sinners are called upon to submit to God, yield themselves prisoners to him, there are two courses that men take to avoid it; One is, to establish a righteousness of their own; they strive to pacify the anger of God, they would fain do something to engage the heart of God to save them. Upon that account they pray affectionately, they are exact in their outward carriage, they strive to make their hearts better: The Other way is, when they find that their danger continue after all their pains, they quarrel with God, object against his Dispensations, find fault with him; they are in a tumult, their hearts are in an uproar, and they are murmuring against Gods dealing.
1. That it is generally so with men under the work of preparation. There's scarce any but has experience of it. Men can hardly bear outward afflictions, much less appearances of damnation: When awakened Sinners are called upon to submit to God, yield themselves prisoners to him, there are two courses that men take to avoid it; One is, to establish a righteousness of their own; they strive to pacify the anger of God, they would fain do something to ingage the heart of God to save them. Upon that account they pray affectionately, they are exact in their outward carriage, they strive to make their hearts better: The Other way is, when they find that their danger continue after all their pains, they quarrel with God, object against his Dispensations, find fault with him; they are in a tumult, their hearts are in an uproar, and they are murmuring against Gods dealing.