N01446:250
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.
Answ. 1 The Means whereby God effects it, is by leading men into temptation. Men in continuance ⟨p. 79⟩of time fall into temptation, and so the Visor falls off from their hearts, and they come to have an understanding of the plague that is therein. Sometimes by reason of some temptation they are drawn into some moral evil, and that discovers their hypocrisy and corruption: Sometimes temptations prevail upon them to make them worldly and proud: Sometimes by Afflictions the discontentment of their hearts is stirred up; so by God's not hearing their prayers, by converting other persons; sometimes by hearing the Doctrine of God's Sovereignty, or the strictness of the Law Sometimes the Word of God, and sometimes the Works of God are a temptation to them, and occasion them to be dead to that which is good, and make their corruptions works violently, Rom. 7.8. Sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.
Answ. 1 The Means whereby God effects it, is by leading men into temptation. Men in continuance ⟨p. 79⟩of time fall into temptation, and so the Vizard falls off from their hearts, and they come to have an understanding of the plague that is therein. Sometimes by reason of some temptation they are drawn into some moral evil, and that discovers their hypocrisie and corruption: Sometimes temptations prevail upon them to make them worldly and proud: Sometimes by Afflictions the discontentment of their hearts is stirred up; so by God's not hearing their prayers, by converting other persons; sometimes by hearing the Doctrine of God's Soveraignty, or the strictness of the Law Sometimes the Word of God, and sometimes the Works of God are a temptation to them, and occasion them to be dead to that which is good, and make their corruptions works violently, Rom. 7.8. Sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.