N01446:272
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.
At length the man seems as if he were thoroughly brought off from himself, and brought to lye at the foot of God. All his selfish hopes are taken away, he sees his own heart, and his will bows, he seems to resign up himself to God. In this Case,
At length the man seems as if he were thorowly brought off from himself, and brought to lye at the foot of God. All his selfish hopes are taken away, he sees his own heart, and his will bows, he seems to resign up himself to God. In this Case,
1. It is best to examine whether there be no deceit in it. Sometimes it is so plain that there is no great occasion ⟨p. 86⟩to examine, sometimes it is more doubtful. When they are thoroughly humbled, such things as these do concur. (1.) He sees all his own righteousness to be utterly empty and vile. that it has no power to draw the heart of God; he sees nothing at all to commend him, but he has been provoking God thereby. (2) He is at an end of his contrivances to change his heart. Formerly when things appeared dark unto him, he was wont to think that if he did th•s or so, that would bring him into a more hopeful way; but now he is beyond all his contrivances, he can't do any more. (3.) He sees his heart spiritually dead. He is utterly destitute of power to do any good thing; yea, he has no inclination to any good (4.) He sees he is in Gods Hand. It is free for God to do as he will with him, and he resigns up himself to God, so he is more quiet now than he was; both because his will is brought down, and he is satisfied that God can, and may help him.
1. It is best to examine whether there be no deceit in it. Sometimes it is so plain that there is no great occasione ⟨p. 86⟩to examine, sometimes it is more doubtful. When they are thorowly humbled, such things as these do concurr. (1.) He sees all his own righteousness to be utterly empty and vile. that it has no power to draw the heart of God; he sees nothing at all to commend him, but he has been provoking God thereby. (2) He is at an end of his contrivances to change his heart. Formerly when things appeared dark unto him, he was wont to think that if he did ths or so, that would bring him into a more hopeful way; but now he is beyond all his contrivances, he can't do any more. (3.) He sees his heart spiritually dead. He is utterly destitute of power to do any good thing; yea, he has no inclination to any good (4.) He sees he is in Gods Hand. It is free for God to do as he will with him, and he resigns up himself to God, so he is more quiet now than he was; both because his will is brought down, and he is satisfyed that God can, and may help him.