N01749:97
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.
The other is by special discoveries of divine truths. They are led into Christ's chambers, as the 'phrase is, Cant. 1.4. God breaks into the heart by divine light, and gives great discoveries of his faithfulness, of his holiness, his grace, the delight he takes in the sacrifice of Christ, and many other things. 2 Cor. 4.6. God hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. Both these ways of conviction seem to be intimated, Eph. 1.17. That God may give unto you, the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
The difference between those convictions that rise from the improvement of natural reason, and that do arise from spiritual reason, lies in these two things.
1. Natural reason doth not discover the Certainty of divine things. Sanctified reason doth see them to be sure, Joh. 6.69. We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God. Joh. 17.8. They have known that I came from thee, and they have believed that •hou hast sent me. Heb. 11.1. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. 1 Thes. 2.13. They received the word not as the word of man, but as it is indeed the word of God. But natural reason doth not discover the Certainty of divine truths: That can perceive the connection between one divine truth and another, and perceive how one thing follows certainly from another; but it doth not perceive the certainty of any. Carnal mens reasoning is from supposition; they reason very rationally, but they do not see that which is the foundation of their reasoning to be certain. Carnal men and Godly men do both of them argue from the divine Nature of Christ. Both carnal men and godly do strongly argue, that if Christ be the Son of God, there is a divine virtue in his sufferings; and that it is safe relying on him. But here lies the difference; the godly man knows that Christ is the Son of God,