N01749:46
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.
Arg. 1. Man's being capable to know God makes him capable to be holy. If man had not a reasonable Soul capable to know God, he could not be capable to be holy. The inferior creatures tho' they have some knowledge and resemblances of Reason, yet are uncapable of the knowledge of God, and accordingly are uncapable of holiness, and accordingly are not under the direction of the Moral Law. But if God makes man capable to know him, he thereby makes him capable of holiness; the reason of it is, because if he actually knows God, he will be holy: The knowledge of God and holiness go together: Psal. 36.10. Stretch forth thy loving kindness to them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. God is so glorious, that if he be known, the heart will be drawn to him: Psal. 36.7. Because of the excellency ⟨image ?⟩•f thy loving kindness, the children of men put their trust in the shadow of thy wings. The excellency of God draws the heart irresistibly to him, when it is known. The knowledge of God is inseparable from holiness. All that know him are holy: The very capacity to know God, makes men capable to be holy, to love him and trust in him. The Angelical Nature is capable to know God, and so capable of holiness, and so the Humane Nature: And when men are renewed in the image of God, they are renewed in knowledge; Col. 3.10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.
Arg. 1. Man's being capable to know God makes him capable to be holy. If man had not a reasonable Soul capable to know God, he could not be capable to be holy. The inferiour creatures tho' they have some knowledge and resemblances of Reason, yet are uncapable of the knowledge of God, and accordingly are uncapable of holiness, and accordingly are not under the direction of the Moral Law. But if God makes man capable to know him, he thereby makes him capable of holiness; the reason of it is, because if he actually knows God, he will be holy: The knowledge of God and holiness go together: Psal. 36.10