N01446:307
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 the Minister be satisfied that the man is not Converted, he must use his prudence to judge whether it will be for the mans profit, that he do in plain Terms tell him so; sometimes it may be a prejudice and a means to exasperate him. Sometimes there is no such danger, but he may freely tell him what he judges, and the reasons of his judgment.
In Case the Minister be satisfied that the man is not Converted, he must use his prudence to judge whether it will be for the mans profit, that he do in plain Terms tell him so; sometimes it may be a prejudice and a means to exasperate him. Sometimes there is no such danger, but he may freely tell him what he judges, and the reasons of his jugment.
But in case he do not see it his way to tell the man his thoughts concerning him, yet he ought in conscience in the wisest way he can, put him into the understanding of his own condition: He may not suffer the ⟨p. 96⟩man to go away with an opinion, that he •inks well of him, much less may he leave him ignorant of such rules whereby he may come to understand his condition; it becomes him to lay such signs of trial before him as are most likely to bring him to sight of himself, and convince him of his Dangerous Estate.
But in case he do not see it his way to tell the man his thoughts concerning him, yet he ought in conscience in the wisest way he can, put him into the understanding of his own condition: He may not suffer the ⟨p. 96⟩man to go away with an opinion, that he •inks well of him, much less may he leave him ignorant of such rules whereby he may come to understand his condition; it becomes him to lay such signs of tryal before him as are most likely to bring him to sight of himself, and convince him of his Dangerous Estate.