N01749:145
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 there is a great deal of difficulty in the work of Humiliation. They are called to come to Jesus Christ, but they will try other methods first, and go about to establish their own righteousness, Rom. 10.3. They dare not venture upon Christ till they have made their hearts better. They say they are no Papists, yet they have great dependence upon their works. Sometimes they fancy they are converted, and please themselves that God is bound in faithfulness to pardon them upon Christ's account: Prov. 12.30. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are not cleansed from their filthiness. Sometimes they think they have taken a great deal of pains, and done a great deal of service, ⟨p. 107⟩and can't conceive that it is a fair thing for God to cast them off. It looks very hard for God to despise all they have done, and reject them: Isai. 58.3. Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest us not? wherefore have we afflicted our souls, and thou takest no knowledge? So••••mes they take notice of the meltings of their heart, their desires of […] their delight in sabbaths: And it seems to them as if God could not be very angry; as if they had melted the heart of God into compassions, and made him more easy, and willing to pardon them; as if God could not find in his heart to cast them off; as if their lamentations could force the pity of God. And when their hearts appear worse, they nourish an hope to bring them to; and take a great deal of pains to work up such frames as may lay bonds on God to save them. They are told, that it is in the pleasure of God to bestow mercy or deny it; but they dread the thoughts of that, and try twenty conclusions before they will submit to God. They strive much to bring God under a necessity to save them. They make objections against God's prerogative: They strive to bring their hearts into a kind of submission, making a righteousness of it; and would submit to prevent submission. There be so many difficulties in the way, that men had need be greatly concerned, and be •orking out their salvation with fear and trembling. There is so much difficulty, ⟨p. 108⟩that many times it is long, and with great strugglings that they do obtain. Some never do obtain: After a great while they grow discouraged, think it is to no purpose, grow cool and indifferent, start some other design, and by degrees are entangled in the pollutions of the world again;