N01749:158
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.
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.
PROP. I. Hypocrisy is to be known only by their Course of life. […] only by their walk.
PROP. I. Hypocrisy is to be known only by their Course of life. 〈…〉 only by their walk.
For the clearing of this, Consider,
I. Particular Acts of sin are no evidence of hypocrisy.
1. Many internal acts of sin, are no evidence of Hypocrisy. Every godly man has a corrupt principle remaining in him, and that principle don't lie still; but is busy and active. Tho' it be mortified, yet it is full of life, Heb. 12.1. Lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us. It is like a fountain, always springing up. Gal. 5.17. The flesh lusts against the spirit. Rom. 7.21. I find a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. The choicest saints do find every day the stirrings of corruption. If they are alone, if they are in company, if they are in the works of their calling, if they are exercising themselves in the duties of religion, they are always haunted with a corrupt heart. They have a multitude of evil thoughts, desires, delights, fears, sorrows. Unbelief is often stirring; so pride and worldliness, frowardness and envy. There be many stirrings of sin that they don't perceive; but abundance that falls under their observation. A corrupt principle will stir upon all occasions; every thing that occurs will awaken it: Therefore saints are warned to keep their hearts with all diligence. Prov. 33. And godly men have great occasion every day to repent, and to say as Paul,