Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's…

Now, how exceeding difficult must it be for unsanctified Men to determine, with any Assurance, whether they have moral Sincerity to such a Degree?—How difficult for them to know, whether their Convictions are thus deep? Every one that is used to deal with Souls under Conviction, knows, that when they are indeed under deep Convictions, they are especially apt to complain of the Hardness of their Hearts, and to think their Convictions are not deep.—How difficult to determine, with any Assurance, whether their Assent rises so high, that they can truly be said to believe with all their Hearts? Whether their moral Willingness to be conformed to the Covenant of Grace, be with their whole Heart? And whether they are really engaged with all the Solicitude they can, and are willing to do all that they can? These Things, I am pretty sure, are of vastly more difficult Determination, than whether a Man has any true Holiness, or not. For in the former Case, the Determination is concerning the Degree of Things, that are capable of an infinite Variety of Degrees; some of which are nearer to, and others are further from, the lowest sufficient Degree: And consequently some of the Degrees that are not sufficient, may yet be very near; which renders the Matter of very difficult Determination; unspeakably more so, than when what is to be distinguished, is the Nature of Things, which in all Degrees is widely diverse, and even contrary to that which it is to be distinguished from: As is the Case between saving and common Grace; which Mr. W. himself acknowledges. ^*'Tis more easy to distinguish ⟨p. 161⟩Light from Darkness, tho' there may be innumerable Degrees of Light, than to determine the precise Degree of Light: and so it's more easy to determine, whether a Man be alive, or dead, than whether there be exactly such a certain Degree of Vigour and Liveliness.

Now, how exceeding difficult must it be for unsanctified Men to determine, with any Assurance, whether they have moral Sincerity to such a Degree?—How difficult for them to know, whether their Convictions are thus deep? Every one that is used to deal with Souls under Conviction, knows, that when they are indeed under deep Convictions, they are especially apt to complain of the Hardness of their Hearts, and to think their Convictions are not deep.—How difficult to determine, with any Assurance, whether their Assent rises so high, that they can truly be said to believe with all their Hearts? Whether their moral Willingness to be conformed to the Covenant of Grace, be with their whole Heart? And whether they are really engaged with all the Solicitude they can, and are willing to do all that they can? These Things, I am pretty sure, are of vastly more difficult Determination, than whether a Man has any true Holiness, or not. For in the former Case, the Determination is concerning the Degree of Things, that are capable of an infinite Variety of Degrees; some of which are nearer to, and others are further from, the lowest sufficient Degree: And consequently some of the Degrees that are not sufficient, may yet be very near; which renders the Matter of very difficult Determination; unspeakably more so, than when what is to be distinguished, is the Nature of Things, which in all Degrees is widely diverse, and even contrary to that which it is to be distinguish'd from: As is the Case between saving and common Grace; which Mr. W. himself acknowledges.