N01395:158
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.
2. In some, it is from love to that Drudgery that Satan puts them to. They love their Sins; they love to serve the World; they love to indulge their Lusts: Their Lusts ⟨p. 128⟩are like a Right Eye: They say as they, Jer. 2.25. I have loved Strangers, and after them I will go. They have little Reason to be fond of their Service; 'tis base and low, beneath Rational Creatures. They do bereave their Souls of Comfort: It Wounds their Consciences; it exposes them to Wrath. They might live Pleasantly, and Honourably, and so as is agreeable to Conscience. The benefit of serving God is very great. Psal. 19.11. In keeping thy Commandments is great Reward. But they don't know how to part with their Sins; they are bewitched with the World, and their Life is bound up in Carnal Enjoyments, and they are not willing to be delivered: they are naturalized to their Sins, and it is like Death to part with them.
3. In some, it is from their not believing that God will deliver them. Some cry for Deliverance, but don't accept the Offers. They are Fearful and Unbelieving. Rev. 21.8. They scare themselves, because of the Anger of God; they scare themselves, because of the Threatenings of the Word, and because of the badness of their Hearts. They hear that Christ has satisfied Justice for Sin; that God is willing to be reconciled ⟨p. 129⟩to Sinners, but they dare not adventure themselves on Christ; they think if their Hearts were better, and they could Bleed freely for their Sins, and had a more fervent Spirit of Love to God, his Heart would be mollified towards them, and he would be more inclinable to give Salvation to them: But as they are, they dare not accept, they think it would be Presumption; without all Reason, they call in Question the Word of God. One would think God's Word should satisfy them.