A Guide to Christ; Or, the Way of Directing Souls That Are Under the Work of Conversion

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827 edition. Excerpt: ... A guide to Christ Solomon Stoddard The following Sketch of the character of the author of thii work, is taken from "Allen's American Biographical and Historic it Dictionary." DEGREES Solomon Stoddard, minister, of Northampton, Massachusetts, was born in Boston in 1643, and was the eldest son of Anthony Stoddard, esuuire. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1662 He was afterwards appointed a fellow. His health being impaired, he went to Barbadoes, as chaplain to Gov. Serle, and preached to the dissenters on that island near two years. After his return, being ordained September 11. 1672, as successor to Mr. Mather at Northampton, he continued in that place till his death, February 11, 1729, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. As a preacher, his discourses were plain, experimental, searching, and argumentative. He was blessed with great success. He used to say, that he had live harvests; and in these revivals there was a general cry, what must I do to be saved? He was so diligent in his studies, that he leit a considerable number of sermons, which he had never preached. He wrote so fine a hand, that one hundred and fifty of his discourses are contained in a small duodecimo, manuscript volume, which with the greatest ease may be carried in the pocket. He published the doctrine of instituted churches, London, 4to. 1700, in which he advanced some sentiments that were not very well received in this country, such as the following; that the Lord's table should be accessible to all persons not immoral in their lives; that the power of receiving and censuring members is vested, exclusively, in the elders of the church; and that synods have power to excommunicate and deliver from church censures. He published also the danger