N01625:43
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.
3. Your best works have matter of condemnation in them. The best works of Men are sinful. Isai. 64.6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. There is pride, dullness, selfishness that doth attend them; and can you imagine that those things that do deserve condemnation, do deserve deliverance from condemnation? Are those works meritorious that are punishable? Do those things that deserve Hell, deserve Heaven? Perfect Obedience is the price of Heaven, but with what assurance can Men depend on that Obedience which is imperfect? Do Men think that they pay for Heaven by such works as purchase Hell? Has God changed the price of Heaven? Will such actions as were wont to provoke the Justice of God, now pacify his Justice?
3. Your best works have matter of condemnation in them. The best works of Men are sinful. Isai. 64.6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. There is pride, dulness, selfishness that doth attend them; and can you imagine that those things that do deserve condemnation, do deserve deliverance from condemnation? Are those works meritorious that are punishable? Do those things that deserve Hell, deserve Heaven? Perfect Obedience is the price of Heaven, but with what assurance can Men depend on that Obedience which is imperfect? Do Men think that they pay for Heaven by such works as purchase Hell? Has God changed the price of Heaven? Will such actions as were wont to provoke the Justice of God, now pacify his Justice?
4. Your works don't answer the Law. The Law is a standing rule: As God bound us by his Law, so he bound himself, he made a Law for himself, and will not depart from it. Math. 5.18. Not one jot or tittle of the Law shall pass but all shall be fulfilled. And by this ⟨p. 22⟩rule, your works will not justify you. The Law threatens the curse for sin.