Christian's great interest
THE
CHRISTIAN'S
GREAT INTEREST;
BY WAY OF QUESTION AND ANSWER.
(Printed by the desire of an an Honourable and Pious Lady.)
2 Cor. xiii 5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves; know ye not your own selves. Vow that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.
EDINBURGH:
Printed at the foot of the Old Assembly Close. 1785.
THE
CHRISTIAN'S GREAT INTEREST.
Quest. WHAT is the great business a man hath to do in the world?
Answ. To make sure a saving interest in Christ Jesus, and to walk suitably thereunto.
Q. Have not all the members of the visible church a saving interest in Christ.
A. No verily; yea, but a very few of them have it.
Q. How shall I know if I have a saving interest in him?
A. Ordinarily the Lord prepareth his own way in the soul, by a work of humiliation, and discovereth a man's sin and misery, and exerciseth him so therewith, that he longs for the Physician, Christ Jesus.
Q. How shall I know if I have got a competent discovery of my sin and misery?
A. A competent sight of it makes a man take salvation to heart above any thing in this world: It maketh him disclaim all relief in himself, even in his best things: It maketh Christ, who is the Redeemer, very precious to the soul: It makes a man stand in aw to sin afterwards, and makes him content to be saved upon any terms God pleaseth.
Q. What other way may I discern a saving interest in him?
A. By the going out of my heart seriously and affectionately towards him, as he is held out in the gospel, and this is faith, or believing.
Q. How shall I know if my heart goeth out after him aright, and that my faith is true saving faith?
A. Where the heart goeth out aright after him in true saving faith; the soul pleaseth Christ alone above all things, and pleaseth him in all his three offices, to rule and instruct, as well as to save; and is content to cleave unto him, whatsoever inconveniences may follow.
Q. What other mark of a saving interest in Christ can you give to me?
A. He that is in Christ savingly, is a new creature he is graciously changed and renewed in some measure, in the whole man, and in all his ways, pointing towards all the known commands of God.
Q. What if I find sin now and then prevailing over me?
A. Although every sin deserveth everlasting vengeance, yet if you be afflicted for your failings, confess them with shame of face unto God, resolving to strive against them honestly henceforth and flee unto Christ for pardon, you shall obtain mercy and your interest stands sure.
Q. What shall the man do who cannot lay claim to Christ Jesus, nor any of those marks spoken of?
A. Let him not take rest, until he make sure unto himself a saving interest in Christ.
Q What way can a man make sure an interest in Christ, who never had a saving interest in him hitherto.
A. He must take his sins to heart, and his great hazard thereby, and he must take to heart God's offer of pardon and peace through Christ Jesus, and heartily close with God's offer, by betaking himself unto Christ, the blessed refuge.
Q. What if my sins be singularly hainous, and great beyond ordinary?
A. Whatsoever thy sins be, if thou ⟨wilt⟩ close with Christ Jesus, by faith, thou ⟨shalt⟩ never enter into condemnation.
Q. Is faith in Christ only required ⟨of⟩ men?
A. Faith is the only condition upon which God doth offer peace and pardon unto men: But be assured, faith, if it be true and saving, will not be alone in the soul, but will be attended with true repentance, and a thankful study of conformity to God's image.
Q. How shall I be sure that my heart doth accept of God's offer, and doth close with Christ Jesus?
A. Go, make a covenant expressly, and by word speak the thing unto God.
Q. What way shall I do that?
A. Set apart some bit of time, and having considered your own lost estate, and the relief offered by Christ Jesus, work up your heart to please and close with that offer, and say unto God expressly, that do accept of that offer, and of him to be your God in Christ; and do give up your self to him to be saved in his way, without reservation or exception in any case; and that you henceforth will wait for salvation in the way he hath appointed.
Q. What if I break unto God afterwards?
A. You must resolve on his strength not to break, and watch over your own way, and put your heart in his hand to keep it: and if you break, you must confess it unto God and judge your self for it, and flee to the advocate for pardon, and resolve to do no more so; and this you must do as often as you fail.
Q. How shall I come to full assurance of my interest in Christ, so as it may be above controversy?
A. Learn to lay your weight upon the blood of Christ, and study purity and holiness in all manner of conversation; and pray for the witness of God's Spirit, to join with the blood and the water; and and his testimony added unto there, will establish you in the faith of an interest in Christ.
Q What is the consequence of such closing with God in Christ by heart and mouth?
A. Union and communion with ⟨God's⟩ all good here, and his blessed ⟨fellowship⟩ in heaven for ever afterwards.
Q. What if I slight all these ⟨things⟩ and do not lay them to heart to put them in practice?
A. The Lord cometh with his ⟨angels⟩ in flaming fire, to render vengeance ⟨to⟩ them who obey not this gospel; and ⟨the⟩ judgment shall be greater than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrha; and ⟨so⟩ much the greater that thou has read ⟨this⟩ treatise, for it shall be a witness ⟨against⟩ thee in that day.
But yet, O sinner! now is the ⟨accepted⟩ time, and now is the day of salvation, mercy and grace is yet held out to ⟨you⟩ in the publication of this gospel, fly ⟨then⟩ to the Saviour, who will rejoice over ⟨you⟩ with love. May the Lord give his blessing to this small treatise, that it may prove spirit and life to many souls.
FINIS
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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