N01749:150
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.
that in the days when many have heard the voice of the Son of God, you have been left; But it is unwarrantable and presumptuous, without Scripture or Reason, to draw any dark conclusions from thence.
(3.) If you be striving, there is a great deal of hope that you will obtain. If men are striving, and will not be discouraged, it is very hopeful that they will in time be converted; especially if they be directed aright, and be not flattered; for diligent seeking is God's way: God's voice unto men is, Seek ye my face; Psal. 27.8. So, Seek the Lord and his face, seek his strength evermore; Psal. 105.4. There is hope that God will own men, when they take the directions of his word. Though natural men when they seek conversion, always do it with a selfish and hypocritical Spirit, and God don't accept it as service to himself; yet it is not strange •e should bless his own appointments. Indeed the seeking of ⟨p. 113⟩God diligently, reforming mens lives, searching into the way of Salvation, has a great tendency to promote Salvation; for it takes them off from their sinful practices, and worldly designs that hindered them from getting into the way of life. They are searching into those things that will conduce to their conversion. Besides, when men are earnestly seeking after that, it is a sign that the Spirit of God is at work with them: And the Spirit is promised to make the means of Grace effectual. Joh. 16.7, 8. If I depart, I will send the Comforter to you; and when he is come he will reprove the world of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment. And when he doth intend to convert, his way is, first to convince of sin; and when he doth convince of sin, many times it is in order to conversion. And indeed many persons have had experience that in a way of labouring after conversion, God has showed mercy on them; while others that have been careless and slighty, have continued in an unconverted condition. Many that have been striving to enter in at the strait gate have obtained; and it is always so, that where there is in any place, an earnest desire to be seeking after peace with God, many do obtain mercy; and if that spirit should continue longer, many more might obtain, according to that,