All of Guthrie’s teaching and pastoral experience were poured into The Christian’s Great Interest – his only book. The remarkable fact that it has gone through more than eighty editions and been translated into several languages testifies to its value. This book describes in a clear and attractive style what it means to be a Christian, and how to become one. This book is all about Christ: the Christian’s great interest should be Christ; the unbeliever needs to develop an interest in Christ. It describes in a simple, clear, and attractive style what it means to be a Christian, and how to become one. Preaching on Revelation 22:2, C. H. Spurgeon once said: our Lord Jesus Christ is life from the dead, and life to his own living people. He is All-in-All to them.
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A copy in the collection, so you can check your own against it.
Question 1: How shall a man know if he has a true and special interest in Christ, and whether he has, or may lay claim to, God's favour and salvation?
Chapter 1
THINGS PREMISED FOR THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRIAL ITSELF
1. A man's interest in Christ may be known
2. To be savingly in covenant with God is of the highest importance
3. We must allow our state to be determined by Scripture
4. Reasons why so few attain to a distinct knowledge of their interest in Christ:
(1) Ignorance of God and His ways
(2) Dealing deceitfully with God and their own consciences
(3) Slothfulness and Negligence
(4) Their having no fixed idea of what evidence would satisfy them
(5) Their dependence on changeable evidence
5. Some mistakes concerning an interest in Christ removed
Chapter 2
THE VARIOUS WAYS BY WHICH MEN ARE DRAWN TO CHRIST
SECTION I
Some are drawn without a conscious preparatory work of the law
1. Some are called from the womb
2. Some are called in mature life, in a sovereign gospel-way
3. Some are graciously called as death approaches
SECTION II
Men are ordinarily prepared for Christ by the work of the law
SECTION III
The difference between that preparatory work of the law which leads to salvation and the temporary convictions of those who relapse
Chapter 3
OF FAITH AS AN EVIDENCE OF AN INTEREST IN CHRIST
1. Mistakes as to what faith is
2. True saving faith described
3. Further explanations concerning saving faith
4. The difference between the faith of hypocrites and true saving faith
Chapter 4
OF THE NEW CREATURE AS AN EVIDENCE OF AN INTEREST IN CHRIST
1. The whole man must be to some extent renewed
2. He must be renewed, to some extent, in all his ways
3. The supposed unattainableness of such a renewal
Chapter 5
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRUE CHRISTIAN AND THE HYPOCRITE
Chapter 6
REASONS WHY SOME BELIEVERS DOUBT THEIR INTEREST IN CHRIST
1. Doubts because of prevailing sin answered
2. Doubts arising from a want of Christian experience answered
3. Conclusion
Part 2: How to attain a saving interest in Christ
INTRODUCTION
QUESTION 2: What shall they do who want the marks of a true and saving interest in Christ already spoken of, and neither can nor dare pretend unto them?
Chapter 1
SOME THINGS PREMISED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE IGNORANT
Chapter 2
WHAT IT IS TO CLOSE WITH GOD'S GOSPEL PLAN OF SAVING SINNERS BY CHRIST JESUS, AND THE DUTY OF SO DOING
1. What it is to accept of, and close with, the gospel offer
2. This is the duty of those who would be saved
3. What is required of those who would believe on Christ Jesus and be saved
4. What is involved in the duty, together with its various aspects
5. The effects and outcomes of saving faith
Chapter 3
OBJECTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES EXPLAINED AND ANSWERED
1. The sinner's baseness rendering it presumption to come to Christ
2. The singularity of his sin barring the way
3. Special aggravations of sin a hindrance
4. Sins not named are a barrier
5. The sin against the Holy Ghost alleged:
(1) What it is not
(2) What it is
(3) Conclusions bearing on the objection
6. The want of power to believe considered as a hindrance
7. Unfruitfulness a hindrance
8. Ignorance concerning personal covenanting a hindrance - the nature of that duty
9. Doubts as to the inquirer's being savingly in covenant with God answered
Chapter 4
CONCERNING PERSONAL COVENANTING WITH GOD IN CHRIST
1. Certain things premised concerning personal covenanting:
(1) The thing itself is warrantable
(2) The preparation needed
(3) How the duty of covenanting is to be performed
(4) What should follow this solemn act
2. A want of proper feeling considered as an obstacle
3. The fear of backsliding a hindrance to covenanting
4. Past experience of fruitlessness considered
Conclusion
THE WHOLE TREATISE RESUMED IN A FEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Appendix: Extracts from the Sermons of William Guthrie
