N09311:187
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.
USE 3 Of direction to godly men, how you may know your sincerity; viz. by renewing the visible actings of grace. Many signs are given of holiness, that will not bear examination; and there is danger that many are deceived thereby. Some godly, and some ungodly men that find them in themselves may be comforted thereby, but they beget no assurance: And some men that find them in themselves, remain at a loss whether they be godly or no. The way to know your godliness, is to renew the visible exercises of grace. When a man sees that he loves God, and believes in Jesus Christ, he will not be unsatisfied about his godliness. If he has been in the dark, and in great temptations just before, yet this will beget assurance.
USE 3 Of direction to godly men, how you may know your sincerity; viz. by renewing the visible actings of grace. Many signs are given of holiness, that will not bear examination; and there is danger that many are deceived thereby. Some godly, and some ungodly men that find them in themsevles may be comforted thereby, but they beget no assurance: And some men that find them in themselves, remain at a loss whether they be godly or no. The way to know your godliness, is to renew the visible exercises of grace. When a man sees that he loves God, and believes in Jesus Christ, he will not be unsatisfied about his godliness. If he has been in the dark, and in great temptations just before, yet this will beget assurance.
Here you may observe,
1 If you do not know that you live in sin, that can be no evidence of your godliness: As you cannot condemn your selves, so you cannot ⟨p. 128⟩justify your selves. Some persons examine themselves whether they live in any known sin; and upon the strictest enquiry they do not find that they do. They do not find that they live in the neglect of any duty, or in the commission of any sin. Their hearts do not reproach them: They duly attend prayer, they are careful to sanctify the Sabbath, they live soberly, chastely, justly, they are true to their word, and faithful in their places, they do not know upon the most narrow search that they live in any way of sin, yet they cannot justify themselves from hence;