N01446:225
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 the man says, he is willing to believe in Christ, but finds himself unable; he could be glad he could believe, but it is beyond him. In this Case he may be told,
1. That there is a mighty opposition in the heart of a natural man to believing in Christ; as it is ⟨p. 71⟩with all other Spiritual Duties, so it is with this. Men don't love to believe in Christ, but have a contrariety thereunto, Jeh. 5.40. Mat. 23.37. The opposition rises partly from pride, they had rather be saved by their own works, that they may have somewhat to glory in; it is very cross to their haughty spirit to go out of themselves, and be beholden to Christ alone for Salvation, to have nothing of their own to glory in; Men don't love to see themselves nothing; and partly it rises from fear: it seems to them a terrible thing to adventure upon Christ, they are not certain that God is free to accept of them; they are not certain whether Christ's Righteousness be sufficient for them; they don't see the encouragement that is in the Gospel, & think it an unlikely thing that they shall be safe in such a way: hence they have a trembling in their heart; look upon it too great an adventure, they fear it will be looked upon to be presumption, and that instead of mending their condition, they shall make it worse, they should be afraid to stay away from Christ; but they are afraid to come to him, and therefore are not willing.
1. That there is a mighty opposition in the heart of a natural man to believing in Christ; as it is ⟨p. 71⟩with all other Spiritual Duties, so it is with this. Men don't love to believe in Christ, but have a contrariety thereunto, Jeh. 5.40. Mat. 23.37. The opposition rises partly from pride, they had rather be saved by their own works, that they may have somewhat to glory in; it is very cross to their haughty spirit to go out of themselves, and be beholden to Christ alone for Salvation, to have nothing of their own to glory in; Men don't love to see themselves nothing; and partly it rises from fear: it seems to them a terrible thing to adventure upon Christ, they are not certain that God is free to accept of them; they are not certain whether Christ's Righteousness be sufficient for them; they don't see the incouragement that is in the Gospel, & think it an unlikely thing that they shall be safe in such a way: hence they have a trembling in their heart; look upon it too great an adventure, they fear it will be loked upon to be presumption, and that instead of mending their condition, they shall make it worse, they should be afraid to stay away from Christ; but they are afraid to come to him, and therefore are not willing.