N01446:210
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 his Labour and Service does lay no bond upon God to show mercy to him. Whatever he has pretended in his Prayers, he has no true regard to the Glory of God, he has minded nothing higher than his own Salvation; he has been serving himself, and not God. God is no ways obliged to give him such a reward, he has not merited grace, but has merited Condemnation by such services: There is nothing in such services to work upon the mercy of God; God's mercy is not moved by any external thing, there is nothing in those Services to engage the Justice of God, they are far from being meritorious; there is nothing to engage the Faithfulness of God: God has made no absolute promises to any hypocritical prayers.
1. That his Labour and Service does lay no bond upon God to shew mercy to him. Whatever he has pretended in his Prayers, he has no true regard to the Glory of God, he has minded nothing higher than his own Salvation; he has been serving himself, and not God. God is no ways obliged to give him such a reward, he has not merited grace, but has merited Condemnation by such services: There is nothing in such services to work upon the mercy of God; God's mercy is not moved by any external thing, there is nothing in those Services to ingage the Justice of God, they are far from being meritorious; there is nothing to engage the Faithfulness of God: God has made no absolute promises to any hypocritical prayers.
2. That God has a liberty to bestow his Grace upon whom he will. Mercy is Gods own, and he will make choice who shall be the subjects of it. God is master of his own gifts, will bestow them upon one, and deny them to others. It is just for God to deny all Sinners Saving Mercy, but if he pleases to have mercy upon some, none may prescribe who they shall be; but he may choose one, and refuse another, 1 Cor. 4.7.
2. That God has a liberty to bestow his Grace upon whom he will. Mercy is Gods own, and he will make choice who shall be the subjects of it. God is master of his own gifts, will bestow them upon one, and deny them to others. It is just for God to deny all Sinners Saving Mercy, but if he pleases to have mercy upon some, none may prescribe who they shall be; but he may chuse one, and refuse another,