N01446:47
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.
3. There can be no benefit of such direction but only this, that they may find by experience their own ability; that after they have done their utmost, they may by their experience understand their own helplessness: it is the duty of men to love God, and to repent of sin; and it is the duty of Sinners to labour that they may love God, and repent of sin, &c. but it is not in their power to work up their hearts to the love of God, and Godly Sorrow; they should labour to be convinced, they cannot do it.
3. There can be no benefit of such direction but only this, that they may find by experience their own •ability; that after they have done their utmost, they may by their experience understand their own helplessness: it is the duty of men to love God, and to repent of sin; and it is the duty of Sinners to labour that they may love God, and repent of sin, &c. but it is not in their power to work up their hearts to the love of God, and Godly Sorrow; they should labour to be convinced, they cannot do it.
Sometimes it is much to be suspected, that they do not reform all that is amiss: and in this Case;
Sometimes it is much to be suspected, that thay do not reform all that is amiss: and in this Case;
1. The danger of a Natural Condition is to be solemnly set before them; though their terrors seem to be great, yet they need to be greater; men must have so much terror as to bring them to a separation from sin: therefore there is need to represent their danger in the most lively and dreadful way, that the sense thereof may pierce their heart deeply; if they be but thoroughly scared, they will be brought to an universal Reformation: