N01446:303
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.
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.
1. Whether they have passed thorow the several steps of the work of Conversion. Some can give so full an account thereof, as will abundantly satisfie 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.
2. Whether they have lived a life of Sanctification. There is great diversity in the measures of Sanctification that men have attained unto: very Holy men live an holy life, and by Enquiring what knowledge they have of God? Whether they prize the Glory of God? Whether they hate all Sin? Whether they do draw their encouragement from Christ? Whether ⟨p. 95⟩they love Holiness, for Holiness sake? What Conflict they have with Pride, Unbelief, a self-righteous Spirit and Self-love? A Minister may come to competent satisfaction whether they be in a state of Grace or not; in discoursing such things with them, a man may many times feel the workings of a spirit of Holiness.