N01749:84
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.
2. They see the foundation of love. When their eyes are opened to see the gloriousness of God, they must needs see the reason why they should love him: for all the attributes of God, are lovely; his Grace is lovely; his Mercy is very endearing that he has a heart to pardon Sin; and to provide a way of Salvation for Sinners; his Glory is renowned upon that account. Mic. 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, pardoning iniquity, —c. God is mightily praised in the Church upon that account, that his mercy endured for ever. His Justice also is a lovely excellent property, his name is celebrated upon that account; the church praises him upon that consideration: Rev. 19.2. That true and righteous are his judgments. So his Holiness is lovely; the Seraphims cry before him, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts. His Wisdom is lovely; that is his glory that he searches the heart and tries the reins of the children of men. Jer. 17.10. His Power is lovely. Psal. 21.13. Be thou exalted Lord by thy own Strength, so will we sing and praise thy Power. His Faithfulness is lovely; that is his commendation, that his faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Psal. 36.5. that he remembers his covenant from generation to generation. He is ⟨p. 61⟩praise worthy because of all his attributes; he therein excels all men and Angels; he deserves to be loved with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength. All his Attributes are Perfections, and we have reason to delight in him. He is so excellent on the account of them that we have reason to make it the business of our lives to glorify him; we have reason to take a complacency in him, and choose him for our portion. When men see those attributes, they see upon what account he may justly challenge their love.
2. They see the foundation of love. When their eyes are opened to see the gloriousness of God, they must needs see the reason why they should love him: for all the attributes of God, are lovely; his Grace is lovely; his Mercy is very endearing that he has a heart to pardon Sin; and to provide a way of Salvation for Sinners; his Glory is renowned upon that account.