N01749:184
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.
USE III. Of direction to godly men, how you may know your sincerity; viz. by renewing the visible actings of grace. Many signs are given of holiness, that will not bear examination; and there is danger that many are deceived thereby. Some godly, and some ungodly men that find them in themselves may be comforted thereby, but they beget no assurance: And some men that find them in themselves, remain at a loss whether they be godly or no. The way to know your godliness, is to renew the visible exercises of grace. When a man sees that he loves God, and believes in Jesus Christ, he will not be unsatisfied about his godliness. If he has been in the dark, and in great temptations just before, yet this will beget assurance.
USE III. Of direction to godly men, how you may know your sincerity; viz. by renewing the visible actings of grace. Many signs are given of holiness, that will not bear examination; and there is danger that many are deceived thereby. Some godly, and some ungodly men that find them in themselves may be comforted thereby, but they beget no assurance: And some men that find them in themselves, remain at a loss whether they be godly or no. The way to know your godliness, is to renew the visible exercises of grace. When a man sees that he loves God, and believes in Jesus Christ, he will not be unsatisfyed about his godliness. If he has been in the dark, and in great temptations just before, yet this will beget assurance.
Here you may observe,
1. If you do not know that you live in sin, that can be no evidence of your godliness: As you cannot condemn your […], so you cannot justify your selves, Some persons examine themselves […] they live in any known sin; and […] •est enquiry they do not find […] do not find that they […] •f any duty, or in the […]. Their hearts do no […] hey