N09311:188
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.
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; 1 Cor. 4.4. I know nothing by my self, yet am I not hereby justified: For men that examines themselves may be ignorant that they live in a way of sin, yet they may live in a way of sin; men's understandings are corrupted, and they may live in pride, worldliness and unbelief, and not know it: They may think those corruptions do not reign when indeed they do reign. Many men that do not know that they live in sin, are fain to suspend their judgment about themselves; they hope from hence that they are holy, but do not know it. Though men do not know that they live in sin, yet God may know that they do: Prov. 30.12. There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not cleansed from their filthiness.
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, chastly, 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;