Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

But that I may afford some further help to true Christians, in their inquiries into th••• state; I shall propose and briefly answer same cases o• doubts, which may possibly hinder some persons from the comfortable […] of their happy state. The children's bread must not be with held; […] while it is reached to them, the dogs should snatch at it.

But that I may afford some further help to true Christians, in their inquiries into th••• state; I shall propose and briefly answer same cases o• doubts, which may possibly hinder some persons from the comfortable 〈…〉 of their happy state. The children's bread must not be with held; 〈…〉 while it is reached to them, the dogs should snatch at it.

CASE I. I doubt if I be regenerate, because I know not the precise time of my conversion; nor can I trace the particular steps, in the way in which it was brought to […]. Ans. Th•' it is very desirable, to be able to give an account of the beginning and the gradual advances of the Lord's work upon our souls, as some saints can distinctly do, (how beit the manner of the Spirit's working is still a mystery) yet this is not necessary to evidence the truth of grace. Happy he that can say, in this ca•e, as the blind man in the gospel, One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see, Likeas when we see flames, we know there is fire; tho' we know not how or when it began: so the truth of grace in us may be discerned: tho' we know not how, or when, it was dropped into our hearts. If thou canst perceive the happy change, which is wrought on thy soul: if thou findest thy mind is enlightened, thy will inclined to comply with the will of God in all things; especially to fall in with the divine plan of salvation through' a crucified Redeemer: in vain dost thou trouble thyself, and refuse comfort, because thou knowest not how and what way it was brought about.