Christian's great interest - Guthrie - II - Part 1, Chapter 2

Required reading
The Christian's great interest by William Guthrie (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue reading Part 1 by reading Chapter Two, 'The various way by which men are drawn to Christ.'

My summary
Guthrie continues his First Part of the book looking 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.'

In this Chapter Guthrie outlines the various ways by which men are drawn to Christ.

People can be drawn without a conscious preparatory work of the law in three ways:
(i) Some are called from the womb (the Biblical example being John the Baptist);
(ii) Some are called in mature life, in a sovereign gospel-way (the Biblical example being Zaccheus)
(iii) Some are graciously called as death approaches (the Biblical example being the thief on the cross).

But generally people are prepared for Christ by the work of the law:
(i) The Lord lays siege to them;
(ii) The Lord overcomes a special stronghold in the garrison - a refuge of lies;
(iii) They become careful about their salvation;
(iv) The Lord infuses in their mind the possibility of their salvation;
(v) Desire is quickened;
(vi) They consider in themselves what they must do;
(vii) They resolve to pray.

Then to close the Chapter Guthrie looks at the difference between the preparatory work of the law which leads to salvation and the temporary convictions of those who relapse.  Hypocrites and reprobates will generally:
(i) Confine themselves to a few very gross transgressions;
(ii) Do not see themselves as totally corrupt;
(iii) Allow other business to distract them from their conviction of sin.

What grabbed me
I found the section on the difference between convictions of the reprobate and Christians very helpful.  Particularly the first point about their fixation only on major sin: 'The convictions of hypocrites and reprobates are usually confined to some few very gross transgressions.  Saul grants no more but the persecuting of David. [1 Sam 26:21]  Judas grants only the betraying of innocent blood [Matthew 27:4]; but usually those convictions by which the Lord prepareth His own way in the soul, although they may begin at one or more gross particular transgressions, yet they stop not; but the man is led on to see many breaches of the law, and "innumerable evils compassing Him" [Ps 40:12], as David speaketh in the sight of his sin.  And withhal, that universal conviction, if I may call it so, is not general, as usually we hear senseless men saying, "that in all things they sin"; but it is particular and condescending, as Paul afterwards spake of himself: he not only is the chief of sinners, but particularly, he was a blasphemer a persecutor. [1 Tim 1:13]'

Most insightful.  Yes, we are to recognise the big sins we have committed.  But it doesn't stop there if we are on the road to salvation.  The little sins aggravate us as well.

Next week's reading
Continue reading Part 1 by reading Chapter 3.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.