N01749:98
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 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, Mat. 16.6. but the carnal man only supposes that Christ is the Son of God. He says the Church believe it, the Old and New Testament give an account of it, and there be many things said that make much for the confirmation of it. He discovered the secret ⟨p. 73⟩thoughts of men, did many miraculous works, rose from the dead. Upon such accounts he supposes him to be the Son of God, and judges it a heinous crime for any to deny it; but he doth not know these things, for he is ignorant of the divine authority of the word, and dare not venture on Christ, for fear it should not be so. So it was with the Jews, they did not believe Moses,