N01749:25
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.
MEN that are converted do exercise all manner of Grace; They perform acts of Love, and Fear, and Submission, and godly Sorrow, and Patience, and Humility; but the first act of Conversion is to believe in Jesus Christ. There is no other gracious act that goeth before Faith. In this respect Conversion is wrought after the same manner in all that are converted: After the first act of Grace there is no certain order in the exercise of Graces, but this act of believing in Christ has the preceding in all. Some men don't make a beginning in Godliness in loving God, and others in sorrow for Sin, and others in patience, and others in humility; but they all begin by receiving Christ as offered in the Gospel: False Conversions begin some in one way and some in another, but saving Conversion always begins with believing in Christ. The man did a great deal in Religion before he believed in Christ, but he had no true Love, nor godly Sorrow, nor Humility before: True Holiness takes its rise here, this is their entrance in at the strait gate: There is no sure sign of Election before this, therefore we ⟨p. 16⟩are advised to make our election sure by our calling, 2 Pet. 1.10. This is that which brings men into an estate of Justification: He that believeth on him hath everlasting Life, Joh. 3.36. Whatever went before gave the Man no title to Life Eternal: There is no need of Holiness to go before Faith: If there were need of Holiness before Faith, either it would be to encourage men to believe; but there is encouragement enough without that, the Grace of God offered in the Gospel and the Righteousness of Christ, are sufficient encouragement, tho' men never did one good deed; for God just fieth the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. That is those who have lived an ungodly life 'till the very minute of their closing with Christ: Or else, if there were need of proceeding Holiness, it would be to incline the heart to come to Christ; but there must be some first act of Holiness, and there is no necessity of any proceeding Holiness to incline men to do the first act of Holiness. When God discovers Christ, that inclines the heart to come unto him. Besides, We may consider,
MEN that are converted do exercise all manner of Grace; They perform acts of Love, and Fear, and Submission, and godly Sorrow, and Patience, and Humility; but the first act of Conversion is to believe in Jesus Christ. There is no other gracious act that goeth before Faith. In this respect Conversion is wrought after the same manner in all that are converted: After the first act of Grace there is no certain order in the exercise of Graces, but this act of believing in Christ has the preceeding in all. Some men don't make a beginning in Godliness in loving God, and others in sorrow for Sin, and others in patience, and others in humility; but they all begin by receiving Christ as offered in the Gospel: False Conversions begin some in one way and some in another, but saving Conversion always begins with believing in Christ. The man did a great deal in Religion before he believed in Christ, but he had no true Love, nor godly Sorrow, nor Humility before: True Holiness takes its rise here, this is their entrance in at the strait gate: There is no sure sign of Election before this, therefore we