N01446:282
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.
2. If upon Enquiry the Case be more doubtful, as it may be, partly because some things were not so clear to himself, or because he has forgotten some material thing, and cannot speak to it. It may be well to tell him, That if it be right, he will see more of it; when God begins to make a discovery of Christ, he will not leave men' but is wont to show them more. The path of the just is like the morning light, &c. Prov. 4.
2. If upon Enquiry the Case be more doubtful, as it may be, partly because some things were not so clear to himself, or because he has forgotten some material thing, and cannot speak to it. It may be well to tell him, That if it be right, he will see more of it; when God begins to make a discovery of Christ, he will not leave men' but is wont to shew them more. The path of the just is like the morning light, &c. Prov. 4.
3. If the Case be plain, it is best to encourage him, tho' there is no need to be positive. But he may be told, That it is hopeful that God has drawn his heart to Christ, and made a gracious change in his Soul; and that if he does indeed believe on Christ, he shall certainly be ⟨p. 89⟩saved; his sin don't make such a breach between God and him, as to hazard his Salvation.
4. To warn him to depend still on the free Grace of God in Christ; he must expect many dark hours and times of temptation, but his way must be, to grow in the knowledge of Christ; he must not think, that now he shall always live a life of joy and comfort. Satan will be busy with him, and he will have many workings both of carnal confidence and unbelief; & he must get more and more convinced of his own righteousness, and the fullness of Christ; if he live many years, he must never expect any thing to glory in but Christ Jesus: And he is likewise to be warned, That he live up to the mercy of God to him; that he don't fall into a languishing and pining condition, but maintain the life and power of Godliness, that so he may not expose himself to temptation and darkness, and that he may not dishonour the Holy Name of God; showing forth the virtue of him that has called him out of darkness into his marvellous light.