A guide to Christ. Or, The way of directing souls that are under the…

for it is the duty of Ministers to preach such things to Sinners, as are proper to work this preparation; they are bound to preach the threatenings of the Law, mans Insufficiency, and God's Sovereignty: Yea, the manner of God is to deal with men, after the manner of men. Man is a rational Creature, and therefore God deals with him in a moral way •s Convictions before him. Men would make Enemies submit, before they pardon them; so does God. Besides, it is the duty ⟨p. 7⟩of the Sinner to do those things wherein preparation does consist; it is their duty to seek to God, to reform, and to make an absolute resignation of themselves to God. No wonder then if God holds them to it; Yea further, there is an absolute necessity in nature, that men be prepared before the Exercise of Faith; men cannot exercise Faith, till the heart be prepared by a sense • danger, and the insufficiency of other things. If they don't see their danger, they can see no occasion that they have to come to Christ: if they don't see themselves liable to Wrath, how can they come to Christ to save them from Wrath; as long as they imagine that they can help themselves, they will not come to Christ for help: men can't trust in Christ alone, till driven out of themselves; they cannot come as helpless and undone, until they see themselves so. Phil. 3.3.

for it is the duty of Ministers to preach such things to Sinners, as are proper to work this preparation; they are bound to preach the threatnings of the Law, mans Insufficiency, and God's Soveraignty: Yea, the manner of God is to deal with men, after the manner of men. Man is a rational Creature, and therefore God deals with him in a moral way •s Convictions before him. Men would make Enemies submit, before they pardon them; so does God. Besides, it is the duty ⟨p. 7⟩of the Sinner to do those things wherein preparation does consist; it is their duty to seek to God, to reform, and to make an absolute resignation of themselves to God. No wonder then if God holds them to it; Yea further, there is an absolute necessity in nature, that men be prepared before the Exercise of Faith; men cannot exercise Faith, till the heart be prepared by a sinse danger, and the insufficiency of other things. If they don't see their danger, they can see no occasion that they have to come to Christ: if they don't see themselves liable to Wrath, how can they come to Christ to save them from Wrath; as long as they imagine that they can help themselves, they will not come to Christ for help: men can't trust in Christ alone, till driven out of themselves; they cannot come as helpless and undone, until they see themselves so.