True grace, distinguished from the experience of devils; in a sermon, preached before the…

'Tis manifest, therefore, that too much Stress has been laid by many Persons, on a great Work of the Law, preceding their Comforts: Who seem not only to have looked on such a Work of the Law, as necessary to precede Faith, but also to have esteemed it as the chief Evidence of the Truth and Genuineness of succeeding Faith and Comforts. By this Means it is to be feared, very many have been deceived, and established in a false Hope. And what is to be seen in the Event of Things, in Multitudes of Instances, confirms this. It may be safely allowed, not to be so usual for great Convictions of Conscience, to prove abortive, and fail of a good Issue, as for lesser Convictions; and that more generally, when the Spirit of GOD proceeds so far with Sinners, in the Work of the Law, as to give 'em a great Sight of their Hearts, and of the Heinousness of their spiritual Iniquities; and to convince 'em that they are without Excuse and that all their Righteousness can do nothing to merit GOD's Favours; but that they lie justly exposed to GOD's eternal Vengeance without Mercy; a Work of saving Conversion follows. But we can have no Warrant to say, it is universally so, or to lay it down as an infallible Rule, that when Convictions of Conscience have gone thus far, saving Faith, and Repentance will surely follow. If any should think they have Ground for such a Determination, because they can't conceive what End GOD should have, in carrying a Work of Conviction to such a Length, and so preparing the Heart for Faith; and after all, never giving saving Faith to the Soul; I desire it may be considered, where will be the End of our Doubts and Difficulties, if we think ourselves sufficient to determine, so positively and particularly concerning GOD's Ends and Designs in what he does. It may be asked such an Objector, what is GOD's End in giving a Sinner any Degree of the Strivings ⟨p. 21⟩of his Spirit, and Conviction of Conscience; when he afterwards suffers it to come to nothing, and to prove in vain? If He may give some Degree that may finally be in vain; who shall set the Bounds, and say how great the Degree shall be? Who can, on sure Grounds, determine, that when a Sinner has so much of that Conviction, which the Devils and damned in Hell have; true Faith and eternal Salvation, will be the certain Consequence.

'Tis manifest, therefore, that too much Stress has been laid by many Persons, on a great Work of the Law, preceding their Comforts: Who seem not only to have look'd on such a Work of the Law, as necessary to precede Faith, but also to have esteem'd it as the chief Evidence of the Truth and Genuiness of succeeding Faith and Comforts. By this Means it is to be fear'd, very many have been deceiv'd, and establish'd in a false Hope. And what is to be seen in the Event of Things, in Multitudes of Instances, confirms this. It may be safely allowed, not to be so usual for great Convictions of Conscience, to prove abortive, and fail of a good Issue, as for lesser Convictions; and that more generally, when the Spirit of GOD proceeds so far with Sinners, in the Work of the Law, as to give 'em a great Sight of their Hearts, and of the Heniousness of their spiritual Inquities; and to convince 'em that they are without Excuse and that all their Righteousness can do nothing to merit GOD's Favours; but that they lie justly exposed to GOD's eternal Vengeance without Mercy; a Work of saving Conversion follows. But we can have no Warrant to say, it is universally so, or to lay it down as an infallible Rule, that when Convictions of Conscience have gone thus far, saving Faith, and Repentance will surely follow. If any should think they have Ground for such a Determination, because they can't conceive what End GOD should have, in carrying a Work of Conviction to such a Length, and so preparing the Heart for Faith; and after all, never giving saving Faith to the Soul; I desire it may be considered, where will be the End of our Doubts and Difficulties, if we think ourselves sufficient to determine, so positively and particularly concerning GOD's Ends and Designs in what he does. It may be asked such an Objector, what is GOD's End in giving a Sinner any Degree of the Strivings