N01446:68
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.
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, Mal. 4.5, 6. Gods leaving of him still in a Natural Estate, though he has sought God a long while does not show it; Israel was a great while travelling from Egypt to Canaan.
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, Mal. 4.5, 6. Gods leaving of him still in a Natural Estate, though he has sought God a long while does not shew it; Israel was a great while travelling from Egypt to Canaan.
2. That it is a sinful thing for him to draw any conclusions about his Election. It is a secret reserved in Gods own Breast, and he cannot determine any thing understandingly about it: Deut. 29.29. Secret things belong unto the Lord our God. When he undertakes to conclude that he is not Elected, he acts presumptuously: his conclusion may be false for ought he knows; he pretends to know what he is ignorant of.