N01446:258
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 men have great discoveries of their own hearts for a pretty while together, and yet don't come to lye at Gods foot, they say themselves they can't do it. In this Case they may be told,
1. That they cannot deliver themselves; that it is utterly impossible for them to mend their own hearts. For men may see themselves bad and insufficient, yet not be brought to despair as to their own power; be nourishing a secret hope, that in time with some advantages their heart will be brought to a better pass; therefore it is best to possess them with a sense of their utter insufficiency to help themselves; they may as well make a world, as make their own hearts good; they can't work faith in themselves, Joh. 6.44.
2. That they cannot deserve that God should give ⟨p. 83⟩Grace to them. They can't force God to work Regeneration in them, they have no natural excellency to engage God, they can't work upon the Mercy of God, nor engage the Justice of God to save them; God is not bound to them to help them, there is nothing to hinder him if he pleases, there is nothing to oblige him, they can't compel God; God is free to help them or deny help, as it pleases him
2. That they cannot deserve that God should give ⟨p. 83⟩Grace to them. They can't force God to work Regeneration in them, they have no natural excellency to ingage God, they can't work upon the Mercy of God, nor ingage the Justice of God to save them; God is not bound to them to help them, there is nothing to hinder him if he pleases, there is nothing to oblige him, they can't compel God; God is free to help them or deny help, as it pleases him