N01395:168
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.
The Demonstration. 1. They have those Truths revealed to them, that they should see. Where the Gospel is Preached, Spiritual Truths are brought to Light. Act. 11.14. He shall tell thee Words, whereby thou and all thy House shall be saved. God and Christ, and the way of Salvation are made known by the Gospel. 2 Tim. 1.10. He hath brought Life and Immortality by the Gospel to Light. The Gospel teaches those Spiritual Doctrines that are necessary to Salvation. There is a clear Explication of the Properties of God's Nature, of the lost Estate of Man, of the Work of Redemption by Christ; his Person, his Offices, his Humiliation, and his Exaltation, and of the Covenant of Grace, and the Condition of Salvation. 1. Cor. 2.10. God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. Yea, these Things are not barely told, but there is a great deal of Evidence and Demonstration of them: So that hereby Men come to have a Literal Knowledge of them, even of all things that are needful to Salvation. 2 Tim. 3.15. The Holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise unto Salvation. Yea, Men have such Conviction of them, as makes them concerned to get a spiritual Understanding of them. ⟨p. 136⟩This is one great Help: The Object that they should see, is fairly presented before them in the Gospel.
2. They have a Conviction set before them, that they are Blind. In the Gospel, there is a Declaration of Man's Blindness. There is a Divine Testimony that Men are Blind. Men naturally are Ignorant of it, but God gives Witness to it. Eph. 4.18. Having their Understandings darkened, being alienated from the Life of God, through the Ignorance that is in them, because of the Blindness of their Heart. Besides, there they may learn how they come to be Blind, that by the fall of Adam, their whole Nature is Corrupted.