N09311:112
The nature of saving conversion, and the way
The nature of saving conversion, and the way wherein it is wrought. By the Rev'd. learned, and eminently pious, Mr. Solomon Stoddard of Northampton, New-England, first published A.D. 1719.
Boston: : Printed for and sold by Edmund Sawyer, at his house in Newbury., 1770
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.
I shall only add that consideration▪ that God makes many comfortable Promises to them that have grace; Rom. 2.7. 1 Jam. 12. Isai. 3.10. But if men could not know that they have grace, that would frustrate the design of these promises; that would take away the foundation of their comfort; they would be uncapable of making application of the promises to themselves. How much happiness soever is made over to them in those promises; yet if they could not know their own grace, they must be strangers to their own happiness, and not rejoice in the good that is made over to them.
Quest. How may a godly man know that he has grace?
Answ. 1 He cannot know it in a way of Arguing. We come to the knowledge of many things in a way of reasoning; arguing from things known, to things that are not known. Thus a man may know his justification: He may argue thus, He that hath faith in Christ is justified; or he that has love to God is justified; or he that loves the brethren is passed from death to life: Because there is a certain connection between these graces and a state of justification. Thus a man may know by reasoning, that he had this and that particular grace: He may argue so, If I have the grace of faith, I have the grace of love, or humility; because there is a concatenation of ⟨p. 75⟩graces, and they are inseparable one from another: But they do not know that they are gracious in this manner; the knowledge of their graces does not come in at that door.
Answ. 1 He cannot know it in a way of Arguing. We come to the knowledge of many things in a way of reasoning; arguing from things known, to things that are not known. Thus a man may know his justification: He may argue thus, He that hath faith in Christ is justified; or he that has love to God is justified; or he that loves the brethren is passed from death to life: Because there is a certain connection between these graces and a state of justification. Thus a man may know by reasoning, that he had this and that particular grace: He may argue so, If I have the grace of faith, I have the grace of love, or humility; because there is a concatenation of