N01625:180
Three sermons lately preached at Boston. I. Showing the virtue of Christs blood to…Three sermons lately preached at Boston. I. Shewing the vertue of Christs blood to…
Three sermons lately preached at Boston. I. Showing the virtue of Christs blood to cleanse from sin. II. That natural men are under the government of self-love. III. That the Gospel is the means of conversion. : To which a fourth is added, to stir up young men and maidens to praise the name of the Lord. / By Solomon Stoddard A.M. Pastor of Northampton.Three sermons lately preached at Boston. I. Shewing the vertue of Christs blood to cleanse from sin. II. That natural men are under the government of self-love. III. That the Gospel is the means of conversion. : To which a fourth is added, to stir up young men and maidens to praise the name of the Lord. / By Solomon Stoddard A.M. Pastor of Northampton.
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1717
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.
And it must needs be so:
1. Considering that there is great good offered. That is offered in the Gospel that will satisfy the Soul. Men take a great deal of pains for small things; but the good offered in the Gospel, comprehends all that Men need. The good he offers there is better than Lordships, and Principalities and Kingdoms; he offers that which is better than Long-Life, that which Men stand in necessity of, and ⟨p. 91⟩indeed all that is necessary. He offers more good than we can comprehend; Peace with God passes all Understanding. The Apostle says, Because God could swear by no greater, he swear by himself. So I may say, because he could offer nothing greater, he has offered himself. 1 Pet. 5.10. He hath called us to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus.
2. This good can be attained in no other way. There have been many other ways thought of: They generally centre in Mens own righteousness, but that will not serve their turn. No Man ever did prosper in that way. The Jews did not attain to the Law of righteousness, because they sought it, as it were by the works of the Law, Rom. 9.31, 32. That way is inconsistent with Justice, but God will offer no violence to his law. No jot or tittle of the Law shall pass, but all shall be fulfilled, Mat. 5.18. God will not vary one hairs breadth from the Law. He had rather that his own Son should die, than cast the least contempt on the Law: and if the Law stand in force, the works of the Law can't justify.