N01395:236
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. When the Church is in a withering Condition, ⟨p. 196⟩we must not conclude that it will be always so. If Iniquity prevails much among a People, and they don't regard the threatenings of God's Word, don't make Improvement of Judgments, but go on every one in his own way, as the Horse rusheth into the Battle, the Gospel is made light of, and Profaneness and other Wickedness increase in the Land, and the whole Head is Sick, and the whole Heart Faint, yet it doth not follow that it will be always thus, and that Religion will be lost, and the Kingdom of God be taken from them. Sometimes it is so, but it doth not from thence appear that it will be so: All that are Sick don't Die; Religion may recover; Holiness may get up again; there may be a flourishing Summer after an hard Winter. Religion revived in the Time of Josiah, and in the Time of John the Baptist. There may in a little time be another Face of Things; God may raise up Instruments, and bless their Endeavours for the recovery of Religion. Hos. 14.5, 6, 7. I will be as the Dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the Lily, and cast forth his Roots as Lebanon. His Branches shall spread, and his Beauty shall be as the Olive-Tree, and his Smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his Shadow ⟨p. 197⟩shall return, they shall revive as the Corn, and grow as the Vine; the Scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon.
2. When the Church is in a withering Condition, ⟨p. 196⟩we must not conclude that it will be always so. If Iniquity prevails much among a People, and they don't regard the threatnings of God's Word, don't make Improvement of Judgments, but go on every one in his own way, as the Horse rusheth into the Battle, the Gospel is made light of, and Prophaness and other Wickedness increase in the Land, and the whole Head is Sick, and the whole Heart Faint, yet it doth not follow that it will be always thus, and that Religion will be lost, and the Kingdom of God be taken from them. Sometimes it is so, but it doth not from thence appear that it will be so: All that are Sick dont Die; Religion may recover; Holiness may get up again; there may be a flourishing Summer after an hard Winter. Religion revived in the Time of Josiah, and in the Time of John the Baptist. There may in a little time be another Face of Things; God may raise up Instruments, and bless their Endeavours for the recovery of Religion.