N01395:165
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.
Luke 4.18. And recovery of Sight to the Blind.
IN this Clause mind 1. The Character of those that he is to Preach to, viz. Those that are Blind. There is 1. A Bodily Blindness, which ariseth from several Causes, when Men are not able to discern Bodily Objects, either through the want of Organs, or the Indisposition of them. ⟨p. 133⟩Sometimes they cannot see from the want of Light, or from the Interposition of some Opaque Body; But Blindness riseth from some Default in the Body. 2. A Spiritual Blindness, when Men cannot see God, or any Spiritual Thing. Thus it is with Ungodly Men. 3. Epist. Joh. 11. He that doth Evil, hath not seen God. Rev. 3.17. Thou art Poor, and Blind, and Naked. This Blindness may be the greater, by reason of contracted evil Habits, and the Temptation of Satan. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not. 2. What he was to Preach, viz. Recovery of Sight. Adam had Spiritual Understanding, but we have lost it, and must have our Sight recovered. Q. How was he to Preach the Recovery of Sight? He was not properly to offer it to them, though he offers further degrees of Sight to his People. Rev. 3.18. I Counsel thee to buy of me Gold tried in the Fire, white Raiment, and to anoint thy Eyes with Eye-salve, that thou mayst see. Yet he must see before he can come to Christ. Men must come to Christ Understandingly. Joh. 6.45. Every one that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto Christ. But that which he Preaches, is, ⟨p. 134⟩