Thomas Shepard, The Sound Believer

Carla Ann McGill (Independent Scholar - North America)

Ed. by Emory Elliott, University of California, Riverside
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.1: American (US) Writing and Culture: The Colonial Period, 1604-1783.
Vol. editors: Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University), Scott Slawinski (Western Michigan University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1645

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Religion and Spirituality (any)
- Sermon

Resources

The Sound Believer. Or, a Treatise of Evangelical Conversion, like The Sincere Convert, went through many printings beginning in 1645 and extending through 1798. The two works are similar in that they both focus on the process of conversion, seeking to inform the prospective or uncertain believer of the efficacy of seeking salvation. Since conversion was a complex process that could be delineated by specific stages, each distinct from the other, the description of the work of grace upon the soul of the individual was of primary importance to Puritan communities. In the New England churches, the matter became even more important due to the fact that church membership required a public confession of faith.

The first …

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789 words

Citation: McGill, Carla Ann. "The Sound Believer". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 January 2003 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=7788, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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