N01749:143
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.
4. There is much difficulty in the way of conversion. Thus are we taught by Christ; Mat. 7.14. Strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Indeed we read of some that have been converted on a sudden, that took no great pains to be converted; So the Jailer, Act. 16. the Woman of Samaria, Joh. 4. Many of the Gentiles; Acts 13. It may possibly be so now with Some on their sick beds; and therefore there is sufficient encouragement for Ministers to advise them, and pray for them. God can suddenly let in so much light as is sufficient for their Conversion. But if God do not wonderfully ⟨p. 105⟩prevent it, ordinarily there is much difficulty in the way; and Christ Jesus makes that argument for men to labour after it. Luk. 3.14. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. There be abundance of difficulties in the way, so that except persons labour in it, they are never like to be converted: Many seek and and are not able to enter. Their Ignorance makes the work difficult; they are in great danger to take wrong paths; their reason misleads them, and they get out of the right way, and so make a great deal of work for themselves. Their love to carnal things makes the work difficult; there is much opposition from a worldly Spirit, that makes them dull and sluggish, that swallows up a great deal of time, that fills them full of care. Their Pride is a great hinderance; it fills with conceits of their own sufficiency. Their fearfulness creates a great deal of difficulty, and they are ready to be discouraged. They have a great deal of frowardness; and they are ready to be disgusted and prejudiced. The blindness of their minds hinders them from seeing their way. A Spirit of self love leads them in wrong paths. And Satan is laying many snares for them, works on their corruptions, and takes all occasions to strengthen their lusts.
4. There is much difficulty in the way of conversion. Thus are we taught by Christ;