N01446:59
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. 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.
WHEN the Sinner that was hoping he was in a good Estate, because some refreshing Scriptures came to him, sees his mistake, he is in danger to be discouraged. In this case he may be told,
1. That it is a common thing for persons that are afterwards Converted, to pass through such Changes; it is not a peculiar thing to him, but a thing of ordinary experience in such people as God is about to deliver out of a Natural Estate. They commonly have some lightsome times, and then returns of darkness: there was no reason to expect that that should last very long; such comforts are like Jonahs Gourd, that rise in a night, and perish in a night.
1. That it is a common thing for persons that are afterwards Converted, to pass thorow such Changes; it is not a peculiar thing to him, but a thing of ordinary experience in such people as God is about to deliver out of a Natural Estate. They commonly have some lightsome times, and then returns of darkness: there was no reason to expect that that should last very long; such comforts are like Jonahs Goard, that rise in a night, and perish in a night.