N01395:245
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.
3 USE. Persons should be very careful at such a time, that they do nothing to quench the Spirit. As we must be careful that we don't provoke God to take away his Spirit, so we must be careful that we don't quench the Spirit. 1 Thes. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. As we may not quench it in our selves, so we may not quench it in others. It is a singular Mercy that the Spirit of God is striving among us, and it is the fruit of Prayer. Many Souls may have occasion for ever to bless God on that Account; and we should make it our great Care that we do nothing to drive away the Spirit. Cant. 2.7. I charge you, O ye Daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes and by the Hinds of the Field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my Love till he please. If we would quench the Spirit, it may be long before he will return.
1. By slighting this Work. Some Men out ⟨p. 205⟩of an irreligious and profane Spirit, are Deriding those that are in trouble of Mind; as if the Persons were over-run with Melancholy, and were more afraid than they have any reason to be, as if they were full of Fancies, and scared themselves needlessly: And some are apt to throw it upon them as if they counterfeited Trouble, and would have the World believe that they were more Religious than they are; as if they had a mind to get Reputation by having recourse to Ministers, and to be thought better than they were. This sometimes has an ill Effect, and discourages Persons. It was foretold of Christ, That he would Encourage and Nourish the least Beginnings. Isai. 42.3. A Bruised Reed shall he not break, and the smoking Flax shall he not quench, till he bring forth Judgment unto Victory. But these Persons that slight this Work, do quench the Spirit; they tempt others to smother Fears and Convictions that are in their Hearts; and they prejudice other Men that they don't consider their dangerous Condition as otherwise they might. Such Troubles are looked on as Ridiculous, and so are Opposite.