N01749:68
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. XI. No man is able to give a full Account of all that he saw when this light did first shine into his heart.
There is a great deal of difference in this light as to the clearness of it; all that have this Spiritual light do not see thing• with the like clearness; the discoveries an• more dim in some than in others. There are degrees of natural light, so of the light of reason, so of spiritual light. This light is sometimes called wisdom. Sometimes because of the clearness of it, it is called revelation Eph. 1.17. That God would give unto you t•• Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. But whether the sight be clea• or more obscure, they do all see the truth […] the Gospel; that Christ is a sufficient found• tion for them to build upon, that 'tis safe […] east themselves upon him; that Christ is precious, and that the Gospel is of divine authority. But no man is able to give an exact account of all that he did see at that time The thing was done in the twinkling of an eye; and tho' men never forget it, yet they cannot call to mind all that they were convinced of; no, not if they were to give ⟨p. 49⟩an account the next hour. Men have not at that time the actual understanding of all gospel principles: Indeed they saw that that way of Salvation that they had been for many years instructed in was true; but they have not the actual understanding of them at the very time: Yet they did see, and actually understood at the time, a great deal more than they can remember.
THere is a great deal of difference in this light as to the clearness of it; all that have this Spiritual light do not see thing• with the like clearness; the discoveries an more dim in some than in others. There are degrees of natural light, so of the light of reason, so of spiritual light. This light is sometimes called wisdom. Sometimes becaus of the clearness of it, it is called revelatio