N01446:298
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.
In Case he desires the Minister to tell what he judges about his sincerity; it may be suitable to tell him, that as far as he can discern, his heart is upright, and that the root of the matter is found in him; he must tell him that he has no infallible knowledge, God alone does know the hearts of men, there is no depending on his judgment, but so far as he can perceive, his Soul has been renewed by the Spirit of God.
If the man has any particular temptations, it is very suitable to remove them; he may be under temptation, because he has great deadness, a great deal of pride and hypocrisy; because he has not had so much discovery of the favour of God, as he perceives others have had; because many others have been mistaken; because God has afflicted him very much; because he is withdrawn now in the time of his Sickness: Such particular temptations are to be answered. It may be ⟨p. 93⟩showed to him, that the dealings of God are various with his people; that such things are not inconsistent with Grace, that the best way is to live upon the free mercy of God in Christ.
If the man has any particular temptations, it is very suitable to remove them; he may be under temptation, because he has great deadness, a great deal of pride and hypocrisie; because he has not had so much dscovery of the favour of God, as he perceives others have had; because many others have been mistaken; because God has afflicted him very much; because he is withdrawn now in the time of his Sickness: Such particular temptations are to be answered. It may be ⟨p. 93⟩shewed to him, that the dealings of God are various with his people; that such things are not inconsistent with Grace, that the best way is to live upon the free mercy of God in Christ.