N01749:76
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.
1. When God gives spiritual light and reveals his Grace and the Glory of Christ to the Soul, that discovers those things that they saw under the work of preparation.
1. That will discover the terribleness of Damnation. One thing that Sinners are sensible of under the work of preparation is, that the wrath of God is terrible: And they are wont to cry out as he, What must I do to be saved, Act. 16.30. And as David, There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger, nor any rest in my bones because of my sin, Psal. 48.3. They see they have exposed themselves to the heavy wrath of God, and are liable to damnation, which is intolerable. Isai. 33.14. Who can dwell with devouring fire who can dwell with everlasting burnings? And the sense of this is wont to fill them with Terror; they are afraid of dying quickly, and they are urged in spirit to cry to God, and beg the pardon of their Sins. This stirs them up carefully to reform their lives, and leave off all sinful practices, and to resist temptations. This makes them sensible of the vanity of the world. And ⟨p. 55⟩when gospel light is let into men, they will see the terribleness of the wrath of God for Sin. If they did not see that, they would not see the necessity of coming to Christ for Salvation; but when they see the truth of the Gospel, they will be convinced of that; for then they will see the faithfulness of God, and the truth of the threatenings of the law: Then they will believe the greatness of Christ's sufferings, and thereby see the terrible wrath of God for Sin. Luk. 23.31. If these things be done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? In the sorrows of Christ they will discern how intolerable the wrath of God is, and what need there is of deliverance from it.