Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A61663
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The tryal of assurance set forth in a sermon preached at Boston upon a lecture day July 7th. 1698 / by Solomon Stoddard ...
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Stoddard, Solomon, 1643-1729.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing S5710; ESTC R39702
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10,000
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24
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sure bottom 2 Cor. 13.5 Examinâ—â— your selves prove your own selves this flattering â—eep that you are fallen into does you much hurt his makes you neglect a good confidence and â—xposes you to live a careless life without any â—â—eat matter of the life of religion 2. If you be not sincere it may prove your â—hine some men that take notice of their conâ—cientiousness do conclude themselves godly â—hen they are ungodly and fall short of a principle of grace they are destitute of faith and â—â—ve Joh. 5.42 I know you that you have not the â—â—ve of God in you but because they imagine that â—hey are sincere they rest in their present attainments Joh. 9.41 because you say we see therefore â—our sin remaineth when they are stirred up to â—et sincerity they hope they have it already they â—ope others will take the warning and that their children will hearken but they think themselves â—re out of danger counsels and warnings are â—ost upon them they bless themselves in their present estate they think their disease is cured and so give over the use of means they think â—hey are provided for Eternity and so they are â—t rest they are under some endeavours to get â—nore knowledge and more grace but not to be Converted hence this work is neglected when once they have taken up such a conceit that they â—re godly they have got their deaths wound if â—nercy do not prevent they live carelesly and when they come to dye they will be shut out of the Kingdom of God there will be no rooâ—â— for them in heaven Mat. 25.12 Depart from inâ—â— I know you not Isa 50.11 all you that kindle a fiâ—â— and compass your selves about with sparks walk 〈◊〉 the light of your fire and in the sparks which you haâ—â— kindled this shall ye have of mine hand ye shall down in sorrow USE IV. Of Direction To Saints how to get the knowledge of your sincerity by getting such visibâ—â— actings of grace that you may know them ceâ—â—tainly to be the acts of saving grace it is a greâ—â— exercise to some Saints whether they be sinceâ—â— Saints they labour in it for many years and oâ—â— Minister gives signs and they try themselves 〈◊〉 them and another gives signs and they try themselves by them and sometimes they think thâ— see the signs of Saints and sometimes the sign of hypocrites and they don't know what 〈◊〉 make of themselves the best way is to get suâ— exercise of grace that you may know it to 〈◊〉 grace don't let grace lie in a withering condiâ—â— on let it flourish that it may act visibly thâ— you may certainly know it your walk withoâ—â— this will never clear up your good condition Consider 1. There is good use of sign provided they be true signs warranted by â—â—ght interpretation of the Scripture though â—â—any signs that men give are very fallible it if the signs be good there is very good â—e to be made of them though a man may â—k signs of signs endlessly yet they are of â—â—od advantage to beget a probable knowledge 〈◊〉 a mans good estate many persons are inâ—uraged and supported by them 1 Joh. 3.14 â—â—ereby we know that we are passed from death 〈◊〉 life because we love the brethren and they â—e a further confirmation to those that have â—â—d Assurances of their sincerity when they â—â—d Scripture signs falling in with those evidences which they have formerly received they â—â—e further established thereby 2. But the visible actings of Grace will â—â—isfy all sorts of Christians We may distinguish Christians into two sorts some are persons 〈◊〉 great understanding and knowledge they â—â—ve a deep insight into those ways of deceit â—â—d hypocrisy that the heart is subject to â—â—d they are apt to be puzled with questions â—â—d doubts that fly over the heads of others â—â—ey are afraid of such deceits as other men â—â—n't suspect but when they have plain visible â—â—â—rkings of Grace that they know to be Grace â—â—is fully satisfyes them Thou knowest that I â—â—e thee Joh. 21.17 Others are weak and ignorant and can't give many signs of true Grace nor distinctly take them up when they are laid down yet when they plainly see the visible actings of saving Grace the thing is puâ— beyond question A weak woman is as weâ— satisfyed that she loves her child as the wisefâ— man in the land though she can't make a largâ— discourse upon it nor prove it by infallible signâ— because she seels her love so it is in this case 3. Though the visible actings of Grace may be counterfeited yet they that have them may know that they have them There is nothing but may be counterfeited men may counterfeit themselves to be great men and holy men Golâ— and Silver and Jewels may be counterfeited So these visible actings of Grace men may have very strong affections where there is no love or godly sorrow Matt. 8.19 Master I will follow thee whither soever thou goest 1 Sam. 24. 16. Saul lift up his voice and wept Men may say Hosanna to day and Crucify to morrow Yet those that have the visible acting of Grace know it He that dreams thinks he is awake but he that is awake knows he is awake though there be counterfeits yet the â—â—ible actings may be known at the time 4. If men have such visible actings of Grace but now and then they will be of great use to them as long as they live though they may be after that Exposed to great Temptations yet these actings of Grace that they have â—een will be stay to them they will worâ— an abiding hope in the heart they will often have occasion to call to mind the years of the right hand of the most high and their Song in the night If a man should live many year after he will not forget this Psal 63.2 That I may see thy power and glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary If he has great Temptations from deadness and from Gods with drawings this will come to mind and so he will have hope and the more such acts are repeated the more advantage he is under to have a settled Assurance of his sincerity FINIS