N01446:227
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. If the man were willing, what keeps him from Christ? The difficulty lies in the will, if the will be conquered, the man is conquered: Yea, Faith in Christ is an act of the will: Faith is a choosing of Christ for his Saviour. Christ is offered to men, and many encouragements are ⟨p. 72⟩presented before them; and when once the will is gained to accept the offer, the man does believe on Christ: If men were willing, the difficulty would be at an end; they can't be willing till they are able; they are not willing, until the will is strengthened to comply with Gods Call.
2. If the man were willing, what keeps him from Christ? The difficulty lies in the will, if the will be conquered, the man is conquered: Yea, Faith in Christ is an act of the will: Faith is a chusing of Christ for his Saviour. Christ is offered to men, and many incouragements are ⟨p. 72⟩presented before them; and when once the will is gained to accept the offer, the man does believe on Christ: If men were willing, the difficulty would be at an end; they can't be willing till they are able; they are not willing, until the will is strengthened to comply with Gods Call.
3. That seeming willingness that is in many men is but feigned. They pretend a willingness to quiet their Consciences; they don't it may be feel much opposition, but they are not indeed willing; they are willing to be saved, and willing to be saved by Christ, rather than not be saved at all; and have some selfish desires that they could come to Christ, but there is no sincerity in them.