N01749:146
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.
they become like the salt that has lost its savour. Some persons settle at length in a way of carnal confidence, build their hopes upon the sand. There be many Pharisaical Professors, that glory in themselves, and speak peace to themselves, when there is no peace. They are deceived with false appearances of love, and faith, and think themselves something, when they are nothing. Some others spend their days like Israel, in the wilderness; they wander about from mountain to hill, seeking rest and finding none: They beat upon the coast, but never enter into the harbour: They are striving, and death comes and puts an end to all their hopes. But those that get into a converted condition, have many difficulties to grapple with before they do obtain; and they are under a necessity to labour much in it. Mat. 11.12. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
5. It is hopeful if you strive, that you may obtain. He that ploughs, ploughs in hope. If there were no hope of obtaining, men would not be prevailed with to seek. Hope made the king of Nineveh seek the savour of God, ⟨p. 109⟩Jonah 3.9. Despair kills the heart, and cramps the powers of nature, and makes men deaf to persuasions; but hope makes men pray, and strive, and run ventures, and endure hardship. Hopes of a cure makes the sick use medicines. Hopes of a harvest makes the husbandman to till his ground. Hopes of arriving at the port, makes the mariner hoist his sails. Hopes of victory makes the soldier fight. And God encourages men to seek him from the hopes of success. Isai, 55.6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Men are wont to give way to a discouraged spirit, partly from dark appearances, partly from frowardness, partly from slothfulness: But they do very ill, for it is hopeful that they may obtain. For,
5. It is hopeful if you strive, that you may obtain. He that ploughs, ploughs in hope. If there were no hope of obtaining, men would not be prevailed with to seek. Hope made the king of Nineveh seek the savour of God,