N09311:97
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.
MEN are wont to distinguish between rational conviction and spiritual. Which distinction had need to be carefully understood; for man's rational faculty is the subject both of common and spiritual conviction. We have no other faculty capable to receive conviction but our Reason. When the spirit of ⟨p. 64⟩God gives common conviction, he works upon reason; and when he gives spiritual conviction, he likewise works upon reason. Besides, spiritual conviction is rational conviction: Godly men act understandingly and rationally, when they judge God to be worthy to be trusted, loved and obeyed; when they judge Christ to be the eternal Son of God, and an all-sufficient Saviour. Yet the distinction may be allowed if it be thus explained; that rational conviction is that which men by their natural reason do attain; which they may gain by the force of their natural reason, improving the works and word of God; which differs very much from that conviction which men have by the saving work of God's Spirit. Common Illumination is of two sorts; one is from the more common improvements of natural reason, the other from more affecting discoveries wrought by a common work of the Spirit of God. There is a conviction that riseth from the common improvement of natural reason. Thus men see clearly the Protestant religion is better than the Popish: That it must needs be a work of wonderful wisdom and power to make the world, that the sacrifice of the Son of God must needs be of great value, that it was great love for God to give his Son to die: And hundreds of things of the like nature.
Besides these rational convictions there are affecting discoveries of divine truths by the common work of the spirit which make for a time ⟨p. 65⟩considerable impression on the heart. Luk. 14.15 When one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God;