A book club to encourage reading of Reformed Christian Classics at around 10-20 pages a time.
February 18, 2010
Christian's great interest - Guthrie - I - Part 1, Chapter 1
Required reading The Christian's great interest by William Guthrie (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read 'To the Reader', the Introduction and Chapter One. My summary Today we begin a new title by William Guthrie. In his introduction Guthrie says that the book is divided into two parts. The first part looks at 'How a person may know if he hath a true and special interest in Christ and whether he doth lay just claim to God's favour and salvation.' The second part will look at 'what course he should take for making sure of God's friendship and salvation' In Chapter One Guthrie begins by examining things premised for the better understanding of the trial itself. Five things are given: (i) A man's interest in Christ may be known; (ii) To be savingly in covenant with God is of the highest importance; (iii) We must allow our state to be determined by Scripture; (iv) There are reasons why so few attain to a distinct knowledge of their interest in Christ (e.g. ignorance, deceitfulness, slothfulness, no fixed idea of what would satisfy them, dependence on changeable evidence); (v) Some mistakes concerning an interest in Christ can be removed. What grabbed me The part on slothfulness was helpful:'The third thing which hindereth the knowledge of an interest in Christ in many, is, a spirit of sloth and careless negligence. They complain that they know not whether they be in Christ or not: but as few take pains to be in him, so take few pains to try if they be in him. It is a work and business which cannot be done sleeping: “Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: know ye not your own selves?” &c. The several words used there, namely, examine, prove, know—say that there is a labour in it: “Diligence must be used to make our calling and election sure.” It is a business above flesh and blood: the “holy anointing which teacheth all things,” must make us “know the things freely given to us of God.” “Shall the Lord impart a business of such great concern, and not so much as to be inquired after to do it for men?” Be ashamed, you who spend so much time in reading romances, in adorning your persons, in hawking and hunting, in consulting the law concerning your outward state in the world, and it may be in worse things than these; be ashamed you that spend so little time in the search of this, Whether ye be as heir of glory or not? whether you be in the way that leadeth to heaven, or that way which will land you in darkness for ever? You who judge this below you, and unworthy of your pains any part or minute of your time, it is probable, in God’s account, you have judged yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, so that you shall have no lot with God’s people in this matter.' People who complain that they don't know whether they are a Christian often haven't made any effort to actually examine themselves. Reading Guthrie's book looks like a step in the right direction for self-examination. Next week's reading Continue reading Part 1 by reading Chapter Two.
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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