N09311:120
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.
Paul's meaning is, that the miraculous works of the Spirit are a witness to the Christian religion. The thing that is witnessed is, that sincere Christians are the children of God; that the Christian religion is the true religion; and that all that embrace it indeed are the heirs of eternal life: And the Person that witnesseth is the Holy Ghost; he testifies to it by Miracles and extraordinary Gifts. The mighty works of the Spirit of God in the primitive times, were evidences of the truth of the Christian religion; they were wrought for that very end. Heb. 2 4. God also bearing them witness with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost. 1. Thes. 1 5, Our gospel came unto you, not in word only, but also in power, and in much assurance, and in the Holy Ghost.
3 It is by Intuition or seeing of grace in their own hearts. It is by consciousness; as Peter knew his love to Christ, when he says, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee, Joh. 11.17. And as David knew his love ⟨p. 79⟩to God; Psal. 116.1. I love the Lord, And as Job knew his repentance; Job. 42.6. I abhor my self in dust and ashes, And as Paul knew that he knew Christ; 1. Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed. There is a reflecting power in man: As he can look out and see external objects, so he can look in, and see his own actions. In this manner saints know the corrupt workings of their own hearts: They know their pride, and worldliness, and frowardness, and unbelief; so they know their grace. In this manner they know their natural actions; they know that they think, and what they think about; they know the acts of their wills, what they cause and what they refuse; and the acts of their Affections; they know that they love their children; that they desire meat and drink; that they are afraid of pain and death; that they rejoice in their good things: So, they may have the knowledge by intuition, that they know God and Christ; that they receive the gospel; that they love God and the saints; that they are sorry for their sins. A godly man understanding what it is to love God and to repent, though he cannot give an exact definition of them, yet may be able by his observation to know that he doth so; and may be as able to say, that he loves God, and believes in Christ, as to say, he has pride and worldliness in his own heart. There may indeed be something or more difficulty in it, because many actings of grace are low and weak; on that