N01037:18
The danger of speedy degeneracy, held forth in a sermon preached at the lecture…
The danger of speedy degeneracy, held forth in a sermon preached at the lecture in Boston the 5th. of July, 1705. / By Solomon Stoddard Pastor of the church at Northampton.
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1705
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The principal occasion is, that Godly men Dye, and there rises up an Unconverted Generation in their room: many other things may meet together to help forward this Degeneracy; there be many temptations that fall in to promote this corruption, as the example of Neighbouring Nations, the temptation of Wealth, the evil Opinions that are broached by particular persons; but the main reason of the degeneracy is ⟨p. 7⟩that Good men dye, and go to Heaven one after another, and there rises up another Generation that are Unconverted, and they corrupt themselves; they are born in Sin, and continue in their natural condition; they profess holiness, but are not holy, and so the Land is corrupted; Judg. 2. 10. There arose another Generation that knew not the Lord.
This occasions Degeneracy these ways.
1. Hence they want Grace to restrain them in a Day of Temptation. In length of time there will arise considerable temptations, but if a people be gracious, it is hopeful, that they will withstand those temptations: Gracious men will not live in evil ways: 1 Joh. 2. 9. He cannot sin, because he is born of God: they have a principle of faith, and do believe the dangerousness of evil ways, and will be afraid: Job 31. 23. Destruction from God was a terror to me; and they hate sinful ways, and cannot endure them, they are like green wood that will not take the fire so readily as others: but if a temptation comes, carnal men have not grace to restrain them, they have natural consciences, and a care of their reputation, but they want the principal thing to restrain them; it may be they will be commanded to do that which is sinful, and they have not grace to withstand the command: