N01446:66
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 it is his best way to improve the Convictions ⟨p. 12⟩that he has. Sometimes persons are wont to argue, that it will be to no purpose for them to strive. If they have not greate• Convictions, they shall but tire themselves to no purpose; and they conceive it best for them to tarry, till they have stronger Convictions a but the Seaman is wont to hoist his Sails, and improve the Wind he has, whether it be less or more: if men improve moderate Convictions, they may get forward, and do that which will further their Conversion: and if they do improve lesser Convictions, that is the way to have more: it is their duty to do it, and in that way God owns them; to him that hath shall be given. Some that have complained of the smallness of their Convictions, have within a while changed their note, and complained as much of the greatness of them, that they have been such, that they could hardly live under them.
A Person that is under the work of Conversion, is subject to many affrightments, and discouraging TEMPTATIONS, a dreadful sound is in his Ears: all such persons have not the same temptations, and they have them not in any certain order; but care must be taken to give suitable support and advise to them according to the variety of their temptations. ONE TEMPTATION is, That he is not ELECTED; but God has Overlooked him, and appointed him to Condemnation; this sometimes lies upon the heart with great weight: In this Case he may be told,
1. That those things that make him fear that he is not Elected, are no certain signs of it, there be no certain tokens of reprobation upon him. Those things that he takes to be signs are very, uncertain; the greatness of his sins don't argue Reprobation: Many that have been guilty of great Sins have been Elected. His being of Elderly years don't argue it; sometime God turns such to himself,