N09311:185
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.
1. This shows that there was at the time a principle of grace. The habits of grace are not immediately to be seen, but only by their workings. If there be a gracious act, there ⟨p. 125⟩must be a gracious principle; if there be not an antecedent one, there must be at least a concomitant one; for while a man remains in his natural condition, he cannot act graciously; Rom. 8.7. The natural mind is enmity to God, and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. If a man loves God, he is disposed to love him; if he believes in Christ, he is disposed to believe in Christ. It is impossible to do those actions without a disposition to them; and that disposition is a principle or habit of grace. Every man that acts graciously is a new creature: Until the heart be changed, it will not carry graciously. Any act of grace is a sure token of regeneration: If a man believes in Christ, he is certainly born of God; Joh. 1.12, 13. To them that received him gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. If a man breaths, and sees, and hears, and walks, he is certainly a living man. Where there is an act of life, there is a principle of life; 1 Joh. 37. He that doth righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Every effect must have a proper cause. If the heart were utterly opposite to believing, loving or repenting, he would not believe, love or repeat. The heart of a man is always inclined to what he chooses. The mind may understand a thing that he is not inclined to understand; but the Will never chooses without an inclination so to do. If there be a change ⟨p. 126⟩in the behaviour of the heart, there is a change in the disposition of the heart.
1. This shews that there was at the time a principle of grace. The habits of grace are not immediately to be seen, but only by their workings. If there be a gracious act, there ⟨p. 125⟩must be a gracious principle; if there be not an antecedent one, there must be at least a concomitant one; for while a man remains in his natural condition, he cannot act graciously;