In the consideration of this we may take notice of three things:
1. That at this time the soul knows the truth of the gospel: he had the notion of it before, but now he sees it to be so indeed: it is a real thing unto him; there is a light let into that soul discovering the truth of the gospel: the soul has not indeed at that time an actual and distinct consideration of all the fundamental truths of the gospel, so as to yield a particular assent to every one of them: but all those foundation truths are radically made known at that time: that is, there is that light put into the soul then, that will make him yield an assent to all those truths, when he comes to have the actual consideration of them, 1 Joh. 2.26. ye have an unction from the holy One, and know all things: and at this time the soul has the actual consideration of some foundation gospel truths; such as the infinite free mercy of God, the virtue of the blood of Christ, or the like; and sees such things as neither his own reason nor Satan could make him to apprehend: and although the soul has not the actual consideration of all foundation, gospel truths, yet he sees so much at that time as satisfies him in the truth of the gospel: for the knowledge ⟨p. 219⟩of the truth of the gospel does not depend upon the knowledge of all those things which must be true, if the gospel be true: the knowledge of some particular gospel truths may abundantly satisfy a mans heart that the gospel is true, so as to encourage him to come to Christ: and although the soul at that time does not give a particular assent to all those gospel truths, which are the Pillars of our Faith, yet he does reject none: the truth of the gospel is discovered unto him: and that not only in general: that there is salvation in Christ for them that come unto him: but also in particular, there is salvation for him, if he will accept of it: he sees that there is a way of salvation for the most unworthy: he sees also that this is offered by God unto him: that there is that preciousness in Christ, that freeness in Gods grace, that faithfulness in Gods Word, that is a sufficient encouragement unto him to venture his soul on Christ: his eyes are opened to see that there is safety for him notwithstanding his unworthiness: he thought he believed the gospel before, but only did not know that God called him:
In the consideration of this we may take notice of three things:
1. That at this time the soul knows the truth of the gospel: he had the notion of it before, but now he sees it to be so indeed: it is a real thing unto him; there is a light let into that soul discovering the truth of the gospel: the soul has not indeed at that time an actual and distinct consideration of all the sundamental truths of the gospel, so as to yield a particular assent to every one of them: but all those foundation truths are radically made known at that time: that is, there is that light put into the soul then, that will make him yield an assent to all those truths, when he comes to have the actual consideration of them, 1 Ioh. 2.26. ye have an unction from the holy One, and know all things: and at this time the soul has the actual consideration of some foundation gospel truths; such as the infinite free mercy of God, the vertue of the blood of Christ, or the like; and sees such things as neither his own reason nor Satan could make him to apprehend: and although the soul has not the actual consideration of all foundation, gospel truths, yet he sees so much at that time as satisfies him in the truth of the gospel: for the knowledg ⟨p. 219⟩of th truth of the gospel does not depend upon the knowledg of all those things which must be true, if the gospel be true: the knowledg of some particular gospel truths may abundantly satisfie a mans heart that the gospel is true, so as to encourage him to come to Christ: and although the soul at that time does not give a particular assent to all those gospel truths, which are the Pillars of our Faith, yet he does reject none: the truth of the gospel is discovered unto him: and that not only in general: that there is salvation in Christ for them that come unto him: but also in particular, there is salvation for him, if he will accept of it: he sees that there is a way of salvation for the most unworthy: he sees also that this is offered by God unto him: that there is that preciousness in Christ, that freeness in Gods grace, that faithfulness in Gods Word, that is a sufficient encouragement unto him to venture his soul on Christ: his eyes are opened to see that there is safety for him notwithstanding his unworthiness: he thought he believed the gospel before, but only did not know that God called him:
