N01446:205
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 it is very meet that he should appoint such a punishment, as might be a great restraint to mans sinning. If God had appointed some little punishment, men would have been more bold ⟨p. 65⟩to break the Law of God. Experience shows, that this severe punishment is not sufficient to keep multitudes from living in a way of sin; if the punishment had been less, men would have regarded it but little.
1. That it is very meet that he should appoint such a punishment, as might be a great restraint to mans sinning. If God had appointed some little punishment, men would have been more bold ⟨p. 65⟩to break the Law of God. Experience shews, that this severe punishment is not sufficient to keep multitudes from living in a way of sin; if the punishment had been less, men would have regarded it but little.
2. It was very meet that God should appoint a punishment that was suitable for the vindication of his Name. God loves himself, and his Name is dear to him; and it becomes God to annex such a penalty to his Law, as that his Great Name might be vindicated: God is a Great God, and therefore Sin is a great Evil; and it is very fit that if sin be punished, there be a punishment appointed some ways proportionable to the great evil of Sin.
3. That by Gods appointing so dreadful a punishment, he makes no man miserable. God holds out the point of a sword, this will do them no hurt if they don't run against it: God makes a dreadful pit, this will hurt no man if he don't run into it: Gods Law makes no man miserable; they make themselves miserable, and are cruel to their own Souls, when they sin against him.