N01749:88
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. When they see the foundation of holy carriages, they love to carry holily. There ⟨p. 65⟩is naturally an enmity in the heart to holy carriages; Rom. 8.7. The natural mind is enmity to God, is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. But this light makes them love holy carriages. When men see the preciousness of Christ, it mightily suits them to come to him; they take a complacency in coming to Christ. Some men force themselves after a fashion to venture on Christ; but when they see the divine authority of the gospel, they love to come to him, as the hungry man loves to eat, and the thirsty to drink. Acts 16.34. He rejoiced, believing in God. He sees that that makes it pleasant to him; he sees that God is worthy of that honour: He is a God of such grace and faithfulness, that he is worthy to be trusted in; and he sees that the honour of a glorious Mediator is due to Christ; and he sees that it is a safe thing to come to Christ. There is no rest any where else for the sole of his foot, but Christ is a sure foundation, a precious corner stone: His heart takes contentment in relying upon him: All the world shall not persuade him to forsake him, and make choice of any other refuge. Isai. 45.24. Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength. So, the man loves to make the glory of God his end; and he loves to abase himself before God, and look upon himself as vanity, and nothing in comparison of God. The sight of the excellency of ⟨p. 66⟩God and Christ draws his heart; and he loves these holy carriages. There was an antipathy against them in his heart before; but now God and Christ are lovely in his eyes, and he has a mind to come to Christ, and to honour God, and he will not be restrained; for such carriages are pleasant to him. The glory of God and Christ draws the heart sweetly and powerfully, and he rejoiceth therein.
2. When they see the foundation of holy carriages, they love to carry holily. There ⟨p. 65⟩