N01749:55
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.
CHAP. IX. The first thing that this Light discovers is the Gloriousness of God.
Many men that have had experience of this spiritual light, are able to give a very poor account how it doth at first work in their heart. The understanding is so quick in it's operations, that the steps of those discoveries that are made to the soul, don't fall under their observation. They may be able to give some account what they saw, that they saw such and such encouragement to come to Christ; but they don't know how they came to be convinced of it. But we have abundant cause to conclude, that the first discovery that is made is of the gloriousness of God. The knowledge of God is the foundation of all religion: Psal. 36.10. Stretch forth thy loving-kindness to them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Joh. 1.3. This is eternal life to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.
MAny men that have had experience of this spiritual light, are able to give a very poor account how it doth at first work in their heart. The understanding is so quick in it's operations, that the steps of those discoveries that are made to the soul, dont fall under their observation. They may be able to give some account what they saw, that they saw such and such encouragement to come to Christ; but they don't know how they came to be convinced of it. But we have abundant cause to conclude, that the first discovery that is made is of the gloriousness of God. The knowledge of God is the foundation of all religion: Psal. 36.10. Stretch forth thy loving-kindness to them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Joh. 1.3. This is eternal life to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.