N01749:20
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.
And this supposition of an antecedent gracious inclination before actual Conversion, is attended with this insuperable difficulty; That a man may have gracious habits, and yet be in a state of condemnation; that he may have a sanctified heart, yet be for a time under the Curse; that his heart may be changed, and yet abide for a time under the Curse. That he may be sanctified yet not justified; for there is no Justification till there is actual Faith. When it is said in Scripture that we are justified by Faith, the meaning is not that we are justified by an habit of Faith, but actual Faith; for that Faith is set forth by words signifying Action; by believing on Christ, receiving Christ, coming to Christ, opening to him: It is said of Abraham, he believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness, Gen. 15.6. The Condition of Justification must be wrought by us; thence it is actual Faith that is intended: A disposition to yield perfect obedience was not the fulfilling the Condition of the Covenant of Works; if that would have done, Adam and Eve would have been justified us soon as they were made. So a disposition to believe is not a fulfilling the Condition of the Covenant of Grace; but actual believing.
And this supposition of an antecedent gracious inclination before actual Conversion, is attended with this insuparable difficulty; That a man may have gracious habits, and yet be in a state of condemnation; that he may have a sanctified heart, yet be for a time under the Curse; that his heart may be changed, and yet abide for a time under the Curse. That he may be sanctified yet not justified; for there is no Justification till there is actual Faith. When it is said in Scripture that we are justified by Faith, the meaning is not that we are justified by an habit of Faith, but actual Faith; for that Faith is set forth by words signifying Action; by believing on Christ, receiving Christ, coming to Christ, opening to him: It is said of Abraham, he believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness, Gen. 15.6. The Condition of Justification must be wrought by us; thence it is actual Faith that is intended: A disposition to yield perfect obedience was not the fulfilling the Condition of the Covenant of Works; if that would have done, Adam and Eve would have been justified us soon as they were made. So a disposition to believe is not a fulfilling the Condition of the Covenant of Grace; but actual believing.