N01446:305
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. 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.
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 comptent 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.
3. Whether they have had sensible Communion with God. God is wont at times to draw nigh to the Souls of his People, sometimes in Meditation, sometimes in Prayer, and in other Ordinances; and to make discoveries of himself, and of Jesus Christ to their Souls, and to draw their hearts to him; and if there has been any thing considerable that way; the Minister may be well satisfied of their good Estate.