N01446:93
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.
I may add to this Case another that now and then happens, that he says he has heard some voice, seen some shape, felt something on him; this I apprehend at least sometimes to be only the effect of strong imagination: a strong fancy may make men to imagine such things; as it is with persons in their dreams, and with distracted persons; all Sensation is in the brain, and therefore by some disorder of that, men may think they see, feel, or hear things which they do not see, feel or hear.
4. Another Temptation is, That it is best to destroy himself; many have been urged to this, some have attempted it, and some have performed it, as Judas did. In this Case the Minister may tell him,
1. That the Devil is very active in this temptation, though he has that in his own heart, that may lead him to it; yet it's Satan that stirs him up thereunto. The Devil entered into Judas when he betrayed Christ, and was ⟨p. 21⟩not gone out of him when he destroyed himself. The Devil has a double design in it; one is to secure the man, he is afraid he shall lose him, now he is troubled about his Condition, and is taking pains for Salvation. Satan is jealous lest he will escape out of his hands, and labours to make him destroy himself, that he may presently secure him, then there will be no danger of his running away. The other design is to bring a reproach upon trouble of Conscience, and discourage others from giving way to Convictions. If there be but one such Instance in a Town, that will make many others to stifle Convictions, lest they should come to the like End.
1. That the Devil is very active in this temptation, though he has that in his own heart, that may lead him to it; yet it's Satan that stirs him up thereunto. The Devil entred into Judas when he betrayed Christ, and was