N01749:138
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.
And can you content your selves to be in a perishing condition? Can you stand still till the wrath of God overtake you? What will it signify for you to eat and drink, and get land and cattle, and spend away a few years after a troublesome manner; and then sink down into the bottomless Pit? A dying time will come; Can you think of it without horror? Don't it make you tremble to consider it? Will it not be a burden too heavy for you? It is an awful thing to think of the damnation of neighbours; And can you bear the thoughts of your own damnation? One would think you should not be able to take any comfort in your choicest enjoyments, ⟨p. 100⟩because it is like to be your portion at last to lie down in sorrow. Don't you think that Cain, and Saul, and Judas, and the sinners in the old world were in a doleful estate; and are you willing to be one among the rest? Can you bear to hear that sentence, Mat. 24.1. Depart ye cursed, &c. Is not the wrath of God too heavy for you? Is not hell fire too hot for you? You shun reproach, you avoid pain, you hate poverty; and are you able to bear hell? When you come to lie in torment, can you satisfy your self that you have had your good things? Will you be able to applaud your self as having acted the part of a wise man? Will you glory in your wisdom, and bless your self for loitering away your time? One hours experience of the pains of hell will effectually teach you that peace with God is worth your care and labour; and that working out your Salvation is no intolerable burden. If the Doctrine of Hell be a dream, if when you died your soul would be resolved into it's first principles, if there were no hell but only in the imaginations of doting men, you might bless your self in your way: But if there be a God in heaven that will execute vengeance upon ungodly men, your neglecting to get into a converted condition is highest madness, and folly: You act like the man possessed with the devil, that cast himself sometimes into the fire, and sometimes into the water. One would think that you should be saying to your self as they, Isai. 33.14. Who ⟨p. 101⟩among us can dwell with the devouring fire? Am I patient enough, am I strong enough, am I stout enough to bear everlasting Burnings? Are you more hardy than the devils, who believe and tremble? When men are in great pains, they hope that they will abate after a while: