N01749:183
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.
2. If a principle of grace were once there, it is always there. It was otherwise▪ under the covenant of works: Adam's grace was perfect but mutable; for he did not fulfil the condition of the covenant; if he had once done that, his grace would have been immutable. But under the new covenant, if a man be once godly, he always will be godly; for every one who is godly, has fulfilled the condition of the covenant […] may decay, but it will never […] may wither, but never die. […] •ay be lost, but saving […] If grace be once begun it […] •.6. I am confident of this […] that ⟨p. 138⟩hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it to the day of Christ. The power of God is engaged for the preservation of grace. Once godly and always godly; 1 Pet. 1.5. Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation. Sometimes they are afraid they shall fall away, but whether they have more strength or less strength, they shall never fall away; God's Covenant is their security. Such men may have great temptations; Heretics may endeavour to seduce them, vicious men may seek to debauch them, worldly men may entice them, persecutors may seek to fright them out of their religion; but nothing can be two hard for them. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it, Cant. 8.7. They may have temptation to pride, to presumption, to discouragement; but if they be led into temptation, they will be delivered from evil. A principle of grace is like a living fountain; Joh. 4.14. Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I had gave him, shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. False hearted men may fall away, but tho•• […] •re under • •ill be more than Conqu•• […] e once godly, he will […] he lives an hundred and […] face be begun here, it […] aven.