N01446:85
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.
4. That his best way is to make haste to get into a Converted Condition. If he were once Converted, he would not be in so much danger to fall into great Transgressions; because he would have then an holy principle to resist temptations to Sin; and then he would have an Interest in the Favour of God; & it would be more hopeful that God would preserve him.
2. Another Temptation is, That he shall get a false hope, and so satisfy himself that he is in a good Estate, when he is far from it; he understands that it is so with many: Prov. 30.12. Rev. 3.17. In this Case the Minister may tell him,
2. Another Temptation is, That he shall get a false hope, and so satisfie himself that he is in a good Estate, when he is far from it; he understands that it is so with many: Prov. 30.12. Rev. 3.17. In this Case the Minister may tell him,
1. That he is indeed in danger of it, both because of the pride of his spirit, ready to magnify his own performances; and because of his fears of Hell, the tediousness of those fears make him ready to catch at any appearances of Conversion, and therefore he had need be exceeding ⟨p. 19⟩careful; it is good for him to understand what Conversion is, and what Preparation there must be in order thereunto; and if there be appearances to him at any time as if he were Converted, his way is to examine them thoroughly, and get the help of some that are skilful before he settle himself much in that persuasion.