N01749:106
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.
CHAP. XV. Conversion may be known.
Men may have the knowledge of their own conversion. The knowledge that other men have of it is uncertain; because no man can look into the heart of another, and see the workings of grace there: Yet men may know that they are godly. Some ungodly men think that they have grace; but that which is not, cannot be known: Things that are not, are called, things that do not appear, Heb. 11.3. That which is wanting cannot be numbered, Eccl. 1.15. All converted men don't know that they are converted. Tho' grace ⟨p. 79⟩be visible, yet many times it is not seen. Visible things are not always seen; sometimes because it is night, sometimes because they are covered. It is the Calamity, and many times the Iniquity of godly men that they are ignorant of their conversion. They do know that they have corruptions in them, and they may know that they have grace in them. This is very evident, because many godly men have known their good estate. If this knowledge had never been attained, it might more reasonably be questioned, whether it were attainable. Job was abundantly satisfied; Job. 10.7. Thou knowest that I am not wicked: And he was not mistaken, Job. 1.1. So David knew it; Psal. 17.15. As for me, I shall behold his face in righteousness. So Paul; 2 Tim. 4.7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. v. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. And we don't know of one godly man in the Scripture that was under darkness about his sincerity. There be some Scriptures brought to prove the contrary, especially some passages of