Re: Prueba

instances of some
who have lived in this way for many years together; and these
circumstances had various consequences, with various persons, and with
the same persons, at various times. Some continue in great encouragement
and hope, that they shall obtain mercy in a steadfast resolution to
persevere in seeking it, and in an humble waiting in it before God. But
very often, when the lively sense of the sufficiency of Christ and the
riches of divine grace, begins to vanish, upon a withdrawment of divine
influences, they return to greater distress than ever. For they have now
a far greater sense of the misery of a natural condition than before,
being in a new manner sensible of the reality of eternal things, the
greatness of God, His excellency, and how dreadful it is to be separated
from Him, and to be subject to His wrath; so that they are sometimes
swallowed up with darkness and amazement. Satan has a vast advantage in
such cases to ply them with various temptations, which he is not wont to
neglect: in such a case, persons very much need a guide to lead them to
an understanding of what we are taught in the word of God concerning the
nature of grace, and to help them to apply it to themselves.

I have been much blamed and censured by many, that I should make it my
practice, when I have been satisfied concerning persons' good estate, to
signify it to them. This has been greatly misrepresented abroad, as
innumerable other things concerning us, to prejudice the country against
the whole affair. But let it be noted, that what I have undertaken to
judge of, has rather been qualifications, and declared experiences, than
persons. Not but that I have thought it my duty, as a pastor, to assist
and instruct persons in applying Scripture-rules and characters to their
own case (in which, I think, many greatly need a guide); and I have,
where the case appeared plain, used freedom in signifying my hope of
them to others. But I have been far from doing this concerning all tha