had never obtained any comfortable evidence of a good state. Several
such persons, in this extraordinary time, have received light; but many
of them were some of the last. They first saw multitudes of others
rejoicing, with songs of deliverance in their mouths, who before had
seemed wholly careless and at ease, and in pursuit of vanity; while they
had been bowed down with solicitude about their souls. Yea, some had
lived licentiously, and so continued till a little before they were
converted; and yet soon grew up to a holy rejoicing in the infinite
blessings God had bestowed upon them.

Whatever minister has a like occasion to deal with souls, in a flock
under such circumstances, as this was in the last year, I cannot but
think he will soon find himself under a necessity, greatly to insist
upon it with them, that God is under no manner of obligation to show
mercy to any natural man, whose heart is not turned to God: and that a
man can challenge nothing either in absolute justice, or by free
promise, from any thing he does before he has believed on Jesus Christ,
or has true repentance begun in him. It appears to me, that if I had
taught those who came to me under trouble any other doctrine, I should
have taken a most direct course utterly to undo them. I should have
directly crossed what was plainly the dri