N01446:40
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.
1. He is to be told, that he must not rest in Ease, but labour after healing. If a Wise man by applying Plasters to a Sore be delivered from much of the anguish that he was in, he will not satisfy himself with that, and give over the […] of means, least the anguish should return again; so the Sinner had need be careful that […] don't satisfy himself in the ease of his Conscience, but must get it healed by the application of the Blood of Jesus Christ.
1. He is to be told, that he must not rest in Ease, but labour after healing. If a Wise man by applying Plaisters to a Sore be delivered from much of the anguish that he was in, he will not satisfie himself with that, and give over the 〈…〉 of means, least the anguish should return again; so the Sinner had need be careful that 〈…〉 don't satisfie himself in the ease of his Conscience, but must get it healed by the application of the Blood of Jesus Christ.
2. It is extremely dangerous to tell him, that it is hopeful that God has put the seeds of Grace into him. There is not one in a thousand but does experience such religious affections long before […] is Converted; these religious affections are nothing else but the workings of self-love and natural conscience; natural Conscience discovers the danger of sin, and somewhat of […] baseness of it, hence he is sorry for it; the […] conceives some hope that by praying, reading, &c. he shall get Salvation, hence he delights in them; the man hopes that he has accepted of God, hence he has some affections to him; and of a Minister does but speak encouragingly as if the man were Converted, he lays a foundation for […] for he is in great da• to fall in with the flattery.
2. It is extreamly dangerons to tell him, that it is hopeful that God has put the seeds of Grace into him. There is not one in a thousand but does experience such religious affections long before 〈…〉 is Converted; these religious affections are nothing else but the workings of self-love and natural conscience; natural Conscience discovers the danger of sin, and somewhat of baseness of it, hence he is sorry for it; the conceives some hope that by praying, reading, &c. he shall get Salvation, hence he delights in them; the man hopes that he has accepted of God, hence he has some affections to him; and of a Minister does but speak encouragingly as if the man were Converted, he lays a foundation for for he is in great da to fall in with the flattery.