N01749:132
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.
THE Nature of Saving CONVERSION, AND THE Way wherein it is wrought. › MOTIVES.
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.
1. A Natural Condition is a very sinful Condition. Unconverted men are ungodly men. There be but those two sorts of men in the World, Godly and Ungodly. All ungodly men are utterly destitute of holiness; their natures are corrupted, they are servants of Satan, and live in a way of Rebellion against G••. In this respect they are worse than the beasts of the Earth; their natures are superior, but they are more corrupt than brute creatures. Upon this account they are vile in the eyes of God: If any of them be in an honourable station outwardly; yet they are abominable to God. Some think that God takes delight in them because of his bounty to them; but they are mistaken; God looks on them as filthy and abominable; and they are a continual provocation to God. Psal. 7.11. God is angry with the wicked every day.
1. Your hearts are full of sin. Some men carry themselves more orderly and religiously than others; but their hearts are desperately wicked: Eccl. 9.3. The hearts of the sons of men are full of Evil. Some are under greater divine restraints than others are; but the same abominations that break out in other men, are in them; they have the seeds of all ⟨p. 95⟩wickedness in them; the natural mind is enmity against God, Rom. 8.7. They are enemies to the authority of God, and to the wisdom, and power, and justice of God; year to the very being of God. They have a preparedness to all that wickedness that is perpetrated in the world, if God did not restrain them: As face answereth to face in water, so doth the heart of man to man. Many times if they be told before hand what workings of heart they should have, they would say as Hazael, Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing? If they were in Cains circumstances, and God should suffer them, they would do as bad as he did. If they were in Pharaoh's circumstances, and left of God, they would be as cruel, false and hard-hearted as he. If they were in the like circumstances with Doeg, though they condemn him for his hypocrisy, flattery and cruelty, they would do every whit as bad as he. If they were in the like circumstances as Judas was, whatever indignation they have against him, they would be as false, and impudent, and as very traitors as he. Yea, if they were under the circumstances that the fallen Angels are, they would be as very Devils as they. A Serpent when benumme with cold, is a Serpent still. A Lion in a grate is the same fierce creature that he was before. A Swine that is washed is a Swine still, Some of them have a regular conversation; but a spirit of uncleanness, and intemperance, and