N01749:100
A treatise concerning conversion: showing the nature of saving conversion to God, and the…A treatise concerning conversion: shewing the nature of saving conversion to God, and the…
A treatise concerning conversion: showing the nature of saving conversion to God, and the way wherein it is wrought; together with an exhortation to labour after it. : To which is added, a lecture-sermon had at Boston, July 2. 1719. Wherein the way to know sincerity and hypocrisy is cleared up. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.A treatise concerning conversion: shewing the nature of saving conversion to God, and the way wherein it is wrought; together with an exhortation to labour after it. : To which is added, a lecture-sermon had at Boston, July 2. 1719. Wherein the way to know sincerity and hypocrisy is cleared up. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.
Boston: printed by J.F. i.e for D. Henchman, 1719
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.
Another man argues in like manner, that God would never have appointed such Signs to signify Christ, if he would not have us trust in him. He has not appointed these signs to deceive us; God would never teach his people a false way of Salvation: But his wound is, that he don't know certainly the divine authority of those institutions; he doth not know but they were the inventions of men. So, they both of them argue strongly from the command to believe, ⟨p. 74⟩from the promises of Salvation in a way of believing, from Christ's ascension and sitting at the right hand of God; but the carnal man is uncertain of those things that are foundations of his reasoning; he does not know but there is some mistake: He thinks that there is a great probability of the truth of those things, but he has no assurance: His principles are grounded on an uncertain proposition; and so he knows nothing as he ought to know.
2. Carnal reason doth not receive a right Idea of divine things. Godly men though they have the exercise of spiritual reason, cannot find out the Almighty unto perfection: But yet they do know God and Jesus Christ, Joh. 17.3. They have a true idea of God; they know him to be one of infinite perfection; they know him to be a God of infinite power, grace and faithfulness; they are convinced that he is worthy of that love, faith and submission that he calls for; Psal. 18.3. I will call upon God who is worthy to be praised. They know that divine honour is due to him; Psal. 29.2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. But carnal men have not a right idea of God: They acknowledge that he is infinite in his perfections, and can give some description of his infinite perfections; but they have not a right Idea of his glorious nature, are not sensible what reverence and glory is due to him; and therefore they ⟨p. 75⟩