N01395:169
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. 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. Rom. 3.23. Man has Sinned, and has fallen short of the Glory of God. And as the Will is depraved, so the Mind likewise. It is made Evident also from hence, that God has made great Provision that we may recover our Sight. He has made it the Office of Jesus Christ, to give Light and Understanding to us. Isai. 49.6. I will give thee also to be a Light unto the Gentiles. Joh. 9.39. For Judgment came I into the World, that they that see not, might see. He shows our Blindness by the sorrowful Effects of it, living a Sinful and Corrupt ⟨p. 137⟩Life. He teaches us, That they that know him, will trust in him, love and obey him; and that they that do live otherwise, do not know him. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him. And hereby he shows us our Blindness, in revealing things that our Reason and Consciences tell us must be so. And yet we cannot see nor believe them. There is such Evidence, that we must say, it can't be otherwise: And yet we are not able to give Entertainment to them. We are silenced, yet not convinced.
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 darkned, 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.