N01395:13
The efficacy of the fear of Hell, to restrain men from sin. Showed in…The efficacy of the fear of Hell, to restrain men from sin. Shewed in…
The efficacy of the fear of Hell, to restrain men from sin. Showed in a sermon before the inferior court in Northampton, Decem. 3d, 1712. : Together with the benefit of the Gospel, to those that are wounded in spirit. Showed in several sermons, from Luke 4th. 18, 19. On the occasion of a more than ordinary pouring out of the spirit of God. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.The efficacy of the fear of Hell, to restrain men from sin. Shewed in a sermon before the inferiour court in Northampton, Decem. 3d, 1712. : Together with the benefit of the Gospel, to those that are wounded in spirit. Shewed in several sermons, from Luke 4th. 18, 19. On the occasion of a more than ordinary pouring out of the spirit of God. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.
printed by Thomas Fleet for Samuel Phillips, 1713
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.
Q. How is the fear of Hell a powerful Restraint?
A. The fear of Hell discovers the dangerous Nature of Sin. Hell is threatened in the Scripture as the punishment of Sin; Mat. 13.41, 42. They shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them that do Iniquity, and cast them into a Furnace of Fire. Sinful carriages bring Destruction; hence the Man is afraid of Sin, as that which will sink him into Hell. Men are afraid of Poison and the Plague, because they think they will kill them; so they dread Sin, as that which will destroy them: Though they love it, yet they dare not practise it, because of the doleful Consequence of it. They say they shall bring a Curse upon themselves: They see Death in it; hereby they see an unanswerable Argument against ⟨p. 7⟩Sin. A Man saith as he, If I should Sin, I should work falsehood against my own Life. 2. Sam. 18.13, This makes the Temptations to Sin to loose their Power. Men are urged to Sin for their Profit; but they say, what Profit shall I have if I be Damned? Math. 16.26. What is a Man profited if he gain the whole World and loose his own Soul? They are urged to Sin for their Pleasure; but they say, we shall have Pain instead of Pleasure. Prov. 5.4, 5. Her end is bitter as Wormwood, sharp as a two-edged Sword. Her Feet go down to Death, her steps take hold of Hell. They are urged to Sin for their Honour; but they say, This is the way to bring our selves to Shame. Dan. 12.2. Some shall rise to Shame and everlasting Contempt.
A. The fear of Hell discovers the dangerous Nature of Sin. Hell is threatned in the Scripture as the punishment of Sin;