N01446:206
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. 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.
4. The punishment appointed for sin, is no greater than the recompense of Obedience. There is an equality in the Law, the Law is as bountiful to the Obedient, as severe to the Disobedient: If the Law did appoint little rewards of Obedience, and great punishments of Disobedience, men would have more show for their complaints, but the reward is as great as the ⟨p. 66⟩punishment. Heaven is as good, as Hell is bad.
4. The punishment appointed for sin, is no greater than the recompence of Obedience. There is an equality in the Law, the Law is as bountiful to the Obedient, as severe to the Disobedient: If the Law did appoint little rewards of Obedience, and great punishments of Disobedience, men would have more shew for their complaints, but the reward is as great as the ⟨p. 66⟩