N01446:58
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 God never gives a Faith of Assurance, before he gives a Faith of Dependence; for he never manifests his love till men are in a state of Favour and Reconciliation, which is by a faith of dependence. When men have comfortable Scriptures come to them, they are apt to take them as tokens of Gods love: but men must first be brought into Christ, by accepting the Offer of the Gospel before they are fit for such manifestations. Gods method is first to make the soul accept of the Offers of Grace, and ⟨p. 10⟩then to manifest his good Estate unto him.
2. That God never gives a Faith of Assurance, before he gives a Faith of Dependance; for he never manifests his love till men are in a state of Favour and Reconciliation, which is by a faith of dependance. When men have comfortable Scriptures come to them, they are apt to take them as tokens of Gods love: but men must first be brought into Christ, by accepting the Offer of the Gospel before they are fit for such manifestations. Gods method is first to make the soul accept of the Offers of Grace, and ⟨p. 10⟩then to manifest his good Estate unto him.
3. That if his Comfort be not of the right kind, it will not continue: And usually after such encouragements, mens terrors are wont to return with as much violence as ever. God commonly intermingles smiles and frowns, and if such vain confidences as men took up from refreshing Scriptures, be but nipped in the bud, they generally quickly wither away; and their fears return as strong as ever.
3. That if his Comfort be not of the right kind, it will not continue: And usually after such encouragements, mens terrours are wont to return with as much violence as ever. God commonly intermingles smiles and frowns, and if such vain confidences as men took up from refreshing Scriptures, be but nipped in the bud, they generally quickly wither away; and their fears return as strong as ever.