N01446:27
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
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.
There are two things especially serviceable to this end.
One is, that they get experience of this work in their own hearts: If they have not experience, ⟨p. 9⟩they will be but blind guides; they will be in great danger to entertain false notions concerning a Work of Conversion: they will be inclinable to think, that there is not so much necessary as is in order to Conversion; they are in danger to be deceived with pretences of mens being delivered from their own righteousness, with shows of humilitation, faith and love. Whatever Books men have read, there is […] need of experimental knowledge in a Minister, many particular things will occur that he will not meet withal in Books: it is a great calamity to wounded Consciences, to be under the direction of an unexperienced Minister.
One is, that they get experience of this work in their own hearts: If they have not experience, ⟨p. 9⟩they will be but blind guides; they will be ingreat danger to entertain false notions concerning a Work of Conversion: they will be inclinable to think, that there is not so much necessary as is in order to Conversion; they are in danger to be deceived with pretences of mens being delivered from their own righteousuess, with shews of humilitation, faith and love. Whatever Books men have read, there is 〈…〉 need of experimental knowledge in a Minister, many particular things will occur that he will not meet withal in Books: it is a great calamity to wounded Consciences, to be under the direction of an unexperienced Minister.
The other is, to be acquainted with the observation of those who have travelled much in this work: if a man have experience in his own Soul, that will not reach all cases that may come before him; there is great variety in the workings of the Spirit, and in the workings of mens hearts under the convictions of the Spirit; and men that have had to do with many […] in their distresses, may afterward meet ith […] difficulties as may puzzle them ery much; therefore it is of great use to t the knowledge of the observations of ose who have had to do […] variety of cases, whereby they […] get a arger Understanding how to manage themselves, when things are difficultly circumstanced.