There is a season when by the fresh impression of some Ordinance or Providence of God, mens hearts are awakened, and their affections stirred! It is now with the Souls of men as it is with Fruit-trees in the Spring when they put forth blossoms, if they knit and set, fruit follows; if they be nipped and blasted, no fruit can be expected. For all convictions and motions of the affections are to Grace, much the same thing as blossoms are to Fruit, which are but the rudiment thereof, fructus imperfectus & ordinabilis, somewhat in order to it; and look as that is a critical and hazardous season to Trees, so is this to Souls. I do not say, it is in the power of any Soul to make the work of the Spirit effectual and abiding, by adding his endeavours to the Spirits motions; for then conversion would not be the free and arbitrary act of the Spirit, as it is Joh. 3.8. neither would Souls be born of God, but of the will of man, contrary to Joh. 1.13. And yet it is not to be thought or said, that mens endeavours and strivings are altogether vain, needless, and insignificant; because, though they cannot make the grace of God effectual, his ⟨p. 454⟩Grace can make them effectual; they are our duty, and God can bless them to our great advantage. Now there are among others five remarkable essays, efforts, or strivings of a Soul under the impression and hand of the Spirit, which greatly tend to the fixing, settling, and securing of that great work upon the Soul: and it is seldom known that any Soul miscarries in whom these things are found.
There is a season when by the fresh impression of some Ordinance or Providence of God, mens hearts are awakened, and their affections stirred! It is now with the Souls of men as it is with Fruit-trees in the Spring when they put forth blossoms, if they knit and set, f•uit follows; if they be nipt and blasted, no fruit can be expected. For all convictions and motions of the affections are to Grace, much the same thing as blossoms are to Fruit, which are but the rudiment thereof, fructus imperfectus & ordinabilis, somewhat in order to it; and look as that is a critical and hazardous season to Trees, so is this to Souls. I do not say, it is in the power of any Soul to make the work of the Spirit effectual and abiding, by adding his endeavours to the Spirits motions; for then conversion would not be the free and arbitrary act of the Spirit, as it is Ioh. 3.8. neither would Souls be born of God, but of the will of man, contrary to Ioh. 1.13. And yet it is not to be thought or said, that mens endeavours and strivings are altogether vain, needless, and insignificant; because, though they cannot make the grace of God effectual, his ⟨p. 454⟩Grace can make them effectual; they are our duty, and God can bless them to our great advantage. Now there are among others five remarkable essays, efforts, or strivings of a Soul under the impression and hand of the Spirit, which greatly tend to the fixing, settling, and securing of that great work upon the Soul: and it is seldom known that any Soul miscarries in whom these things are found.
