N01446:252
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.
Quest. What must men know of their own hearts, before they be Converted?
Answ. In general, They must know so much as is sufficient to bring them off from trusting in their own righteousness and their own strength. Some men know a great deal more of their own hearts than other men, they see many particular deceits and workings of corruption that other men don't see, and no man knows his heart so before Conversion, but he may learn a great deal more after he is Converted; but so much must be known by every man, as is sufficient to break him off from trusting in himself: It is the sight of his own heart that does take him off from trusting in himself: let him hear never so much about the insufficiency of his own righteousness, he will trust in himself, till he sees his own heart; but when he sees that thoroughly, it is impossible that he should trust in himself, for he sees there is nothing there to trust unto.
Answ. In general, They must know so much as is sufficient to bring them off from trusting in their own righteousness and their own strength. Some men know a great deal more of their own hearts than other men, they see many particular deceits and workings of corruption that other men don't see, and no man knows his heart so before Conversion, but he may learn a great deal more after he is Converted; but so much must be known by every man, as is sufficient to break him off from trusting in himself: It is the sight of his own heart that does take him off from trusting in himself: let him hear never so much about the insufficiency of his own righteousness, he will trust in himself, till he sees his own heart; but when he sees that thorowly, it is impossible that he should trust in himself, for he sees there is nothing there to trust unto.
Particularly, 1. He must see himself under the reigning power of Sin. If men imagine that they have no great disposition to sin or that their corruption are in any […] ortify'd, they will commend themselves to God upon that account; and wont see it […] ir for God to condemn them. […] absolute necessity they should have the particular consideration of