Solomon Stoddard (1643–1729) on God Begging and His True Invitations

And God makes a proposal to you, and gives you liberty to be saved, if you will accept of Jesus Christ. He does not tell you that his heart is hardened against you; but he tells you that you shall be welcome, if you will come to Christ. Rev. xxii. 17. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Yea, he doth beseech you to come for salvation. God is of infinite majesty, yet he intreats you to be saved. He condescends to your infirmity, and stoops so low as to plead with you; he becomes as it were a petitioner to you; he begs of you to come, and urges it as a courtesy to come, with tender-heartedness prays you to come. 2 Cor. v. 20. "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Solomon Stoddard, A Guide to Christ (Northampton: Printed by Andrew Wright, 1816), 195

2. It [conversion] may [also] be wrought by Gospel Invitations and Commands. There by several gracious Invitations in the Gospel. Rev. 22.17. The spirit and the bride say come, and let him that is athirst come: and whoever will, let him take the waters of life freely. Rev. 3.18. I counsel thee it buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayst be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayst be clothed. In these Invitations God deals truly and uprightly: God doth not make vain & fallacious pretentions of kindness, but tells his very heart to Men; He don't go about to lead them into a snare, and make appearances as if he were more kind and gracious than he is. There be also positive commands. 1 Joh. 3.2. This is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Joh. 6.29. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him, whom he hath sent. God has put forth his divine authority; He don't only allow us but requires us to believe on Jesus Christ: and he will not command to trust in a broken reed; he will not enjoin us to trust in a lie. And if you have seen the Grace of God in these Invitations, so that notwithstanding your great unworthiness, and your provocations, you have been bold to accept his offers, and if you have seen the truth of the Gospel in those commands, that it must needs be a safe thing to trust in Christ, and from the encouragement of Gods Word, venture on Christ, you are Converted.

Solomon Stoddard, "Sermon III: That the Gospel is the Means of Conversion," in Three Sermons Lately Preached at Boston (Boston in N.E.: Printed by B. Green, for Daniel Henchman [...], 1717), 88–89.

Bio:

Wiki