N01446:53
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. That the sin is pardonable: This he may demonstrate from several examples in the Scripture; from the sufficiency of Christ's Redemption; from several Offers and Promises of the Gospel, that the mans heart may not sink with discouragement.
3. That in case the Rule does call for any satisfaction to men, he must not delay that, but that must be attended as soon as there is opportunity; if he can make satisfaction without confession, there is no necessity of confession; for satisfaction answers for the wrong that has been done to man.
4. That he must not be sensible of that sin only, but of all other sins; every sin being provoking to God, and deserving damnation: and particularly that his Impenitency and Unbelief is more dangerous than any former act of sin: Joh. 3.19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light
Sometimes after the man has been in trouble a while, before he has any great experience of his own heart, he has some promises come to him with a great deal of refreshing: and he hopes God has accepted him; in this case the Minister may tell him,