The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God

The Imprudences and Errors that have attended this Work, are the less to be wondered at, if it be considered, that it is chiefly young Persons that have been the Subjects of it, who have less Steadiness ⟨p. 77⟩and Experience, and are in the Heat of Youth, and much more ready to run to Extremes. Satan will keep Men secure as long as he can; but when he can do that no longer, he often endeavours to drive them to Extremes, and so to dishonour God, and wound Religion that Way. And doubtless it has been one Occasion of much of the Misconduct there has been, that in many Places, People that are the Subjects of this Work of God's Spirit, see plainly that their Ministers have an ill Opinion of the Work; and therefore with just Reason, durst not apply themselves to 'em as their Guides in this Work; and so are without Guides: and no Wonder that when a People are as Sheep without a Shepherd, they wander out of the Way. A People, in such Circumstances especially, stand in great and continual Need of Guides, and their Guides stand in continual Need of much more Wisdom than they have of their own. And if a People have Ministers that favour the Work, and rejoice in it, yet 'tis not to be expected that, either People or Ministers should know so well how to conduct themselves in such an extraordinary State of Things, while it is new, and what they never had any Experience of before, as they may, after they have had Experience, and Time to see the Tendency, Consequences and Issue of Things. The happy Influence of Experience is very manifest at this Day, in the People among whom God has settled my Abode. The Work of God that has been carried ⟨p. 78⟩on there this Year, has been much purer than that which was wrought there six Years before: It has seemed to be more purely spiritual; freer from natural and corrupt Mixtures, and any Thing savouring of enthusiastic Wildness & Extravagance: It has wrought more by deep Humiliation and Abasement before God and Men; and they have been much freer from Imprudences and Irregularities. And particularly there has been a remarkable Difference in this Respect, That whereas many before, in their Comforts and Rejoicings, did too much forget their Distance from God, and were ready in their Conversation together of the Things of God, and of their own Experiences, to talk with too much of an Air of Lightness, and something of Laughter;

The Imprudences and Errors that have attended this Work, are the less to be wonder'd at, if it be considered, that it is chiefly young Persons that have been the Subjects of it, who have less Steadiness