N01446:302
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 order to his passing a right judgment upon their condition, he must be careful that he do not lay too much weight upon it, that they have been in Church-fellowship many years, that their Carriage has been orderly, that they are well accounted of where they live, for these are […] fallible signs, such things are common to Saints ⟨p. 94⟩and Hypocrites; though these things may be grounds of Charity; but a Minister had need have better grounds to go upon when he comforts up persons with hopes of Reconciliation.
In order to his passing a right judgment upon their condition, he must be careful that he do not lay too much weight upon it, that they have been in Church-fellowship many years, that their Carriage has been orderly, that they are well accounted of where they live, for these are 〈…〉 fallible signs, such things are common to Saints ⟨p. 94⟩and Hypocrites; though these things may be grounds of Charity; but a Minister had need have better grounds to go upon when he comforts up persons with hopes of Reconciliation.
Neither must he lay too much weight on bad signs, that are not demonstrative; if the man do not know the time of his Conversion, or first closing with Christ, if he have any notable blemish, if he be not well accounted of, the Minister may not draw any peremptory conclusion from thence that he is not Godly; yea, if he do judge himself confidently to be Unconverted, it is best to enquire somewhat further in it. It is best discovered by three sorts of Enquiries.
1. Whether they have passed through the several steps of the work of Conversion. Some can give so full an account thereof, as will abundantly satisfy the Minister, that the work is right; some are so strangely to seek, that he may be much confirmed, that they have no grace; in some others after they have given what account they can, the work is more dubious.