Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

It was very wonderful to see after what manner Persons Affections were sometimes moved and wrought upon, when God did as it were, suddenly open their Eyes and let into their Minds, a sense of the Greatness of his Grace, and Fullness of Christ, and his readiness to save, who before were broken with Apprehensions of divine Wrath, and •unk into an Abyss under a sense of Guilt, which they were ready to think was beyond the Mercy of God: their joyful Surprise has caused their Hearts as it were to leap, so that they have been ready to break forth into Laughter, Tears often at the same time issuing like a Flood, and intermingling a loud Weeping: and sometimes they han't been able to forbear crying out with a loud Voice, expressing their great Admiration. In some even the View of the Glory of God's Sovereignty in the Exercises of his Grace has surprised the Soul with such Sweetness, as to produce the same Effects. I remember an Instance of one▪ who, reading something concerning God's sovereign way of saving Sinners, as being self-moved, and having no regard to Men's own Righteousness as the Motive of his Grace, but as magnifying himself and abasing Man, or to that purpose, felt such a sudden Rapture of Joy and Delight in the Consideration of it: and yet then suspected himself to be in a Christless Condition, and ⟨p. 37⟩had been long in great Distress for fear that God would not have mercy on him.

It was very wonderful to see after what manner Persons Affections were sometimes moved and wrought upon, when God did as it were, suddenly open their Eyes and let into their Minds, a sense of the Greatness of his Grace, and Fulness of Christ, and his readiness to save, who before were broken with Apprehensions of divine Wrath, and •unk into an Abyss under a sense of Guilt, which they were ready to think was beyond the Mercy of God: their joyful Surprize has caused their Hearts as it were to leap, so that they have been ready to break forth into Laughter, Tears often at the same time issuing like a Flood, and intermingling a loud Weeping: and sometimes they han't been able to forbear crying out with a loud Voice, expressing their great Admiration. In some even the View of the Glory of God's Sovereignty in the Exercises of his Grace has surprized the Soul with such Sweetness, as to produce the same Effects. I remember an Instance of one who, reading something concerning God's sovereign way of saving Sinners, as being self-moved, and having no regard to Men's own Righteousness as the Motive of his Grace, but as magnifying himself and abasing Man, or to that purpose, felt such a sudden Rapture of Joy and Delight in the Consideration of it: and yet then suspected himself to be in a Christless Condition, and