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

There is a vast difference, as has been observed in the Degree, and also in the particular Manner of Persons Experiences, both at, and after Conversion; some have Grace working more sensibly in one way, others in another. Some speak more fully of a Conviction of ⟨p. 49⟩the Justice of God in their Condemnation; others more of their consenting to the way of Salvation by Christ; some more of the Actings of Love to God and Christ: Some more of Acts of Affiance, in a sweet and assured Conviction of the Truth and Faithfulness of God in his Promises; others more of their choosing and resting in God as their whole and everlasting Portion, and of their ardent and longing Desires after God, to have Communion with him; others more of their abhorrence of themselves for their past Sins, and earnest Longings to live to God's Glory for the time to come: Some have their Mind fixed more on God; others on Christ, as I have observed before, but it seems evidently to be the same Work, the same Thing done, the same habitual Change wrought in the Heart; it all tends the same way, and to the same End: and 'tis plainly the same Spirit that breathes and acts in various Persons. There is an endless Variety in the particular manner and circumstances in which Persons a•• wrought on, and an opportunity of seeing so much of such a Work of God, will show that God is further from confining himself to certain Steps, and a particular Method, in his Work on Souls, than it may be some do imagine. I believe it has occasioned some good People amongst us, that were before too ready to make their own Experiences a Rule to others, to be less censorious and more extended in their Charity. The Work of God has been glorious in its Variety, it has the more displayed the manifoldness and unsearchableness of the Wisdom of God, and wrought more Charity among his People.

There is a vast difference, as has been observ'd in the Degree, and also in the particular Manner of Persons Experiences, both at, and after Conversion; some have Grace working more sensibly in one way, others in another. Some speak more fully of a Conviction of ⟨p. 49⟩the Justice of God in their Condemnation; others more of their consenting to the way of Salvation by Christ; some more of the Actings of Love to God and Christ: Some more of Acts of Affiance, in a sweet and assured Conviction of the Truth and Faithfulness of God in his Promises; others more of their choosing and resting in God as their whole and everlasting Portion, and of their ardent and longing Desires after God, to have Communion with him; others more of their abhorrence of themselves for their past Sins, and earnest Longings to live to God's Glory for the time to come: Some have their Mind fixed more on God; others on Christ, as I have observed before, but it seems evidently to be the same Work, the same Thing done, the same habitual Change wrought in the Heart; it all tends the same way, and to the same End: and 'tis plainly the same Spirit that breathes and acts in various Persons. There is an endless Variety in the particular manner and circumstances in which Persons a wrought on, and an opportunity of seeing so much of such a Work of God, will shew that God is further from confining himself to certain Steps, and a particular Method, in his Work on Souls, than it may be some do imagine. I believe it has occasion'd some good People amongst us, that were before too ready to make their own Experiences a Rule to others, to be less censorious and more extended in their Charity. The Work of God has been glorious in its Variety, it has the more displayed the manifoldness and unsearchableness of the Wisdom of God, and wrought more Charity among his People.