N01446:202
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 men in many cases have a power to appoint others to represent them; and they are accordingly bound to stand or fall according to the carriage of those Representatives. Yea, ⟨p. 64⟩men have a power to make Representatives for others; these things are common in matters of a Civil Nature. Why then may not God, who hath more power over men, than they have over themselves, appoint one to represent them, to act on their behalf, according to whose carriage, they should stand or fall?
2. That this was a fair and probable way for the good of Mankind; it was as hopeful a way as for every man to stand for himself: There was less likelihood that all Adams Posterity should stand, then that he should stand; not only from the personal qualifications of Adam, which were certainly greater than his Posterity would have had in the time of their Childhood; but because Adam was under an exceeding great Bond, he had a great Charge upon him; the Happiness of all his Posterity having a great dependence upon his Carriage. Adam had not only the care of his own Soul upon him, but he stood entrusted for many Millions that were to descend from him; and it was probable, that that Consideration should make him more careful to keep Gods Covenant.
2. That this was a fair and probable way for the good of Mankind; it was as hopeful a way as for every man to stand for himself: There was less likelihood that all Adams Posterity should stand, then that he should stand; not only from the personal qualifications of Adam, which were certainly greater than his Posterity would have had in the time of their Childhood; but because Adam was under an exceeding great Bond, he had a great Charge upon him; the Happiness of all his Posterity having a great dependance upon his Carriage. Adam had not only the care of his own Soul upon him, but he stood intrusted for many Millions that were to discend from him; and it was probable, that that Consideration should make him more careful to keep Gods Covenant.