this was not true grace, they
have been much afraid lest they should be deceived with common
illuminations and flashes of affection, and eternally undone with a
false hope. But when they have been better instructed, and so brought to
allow of hope, this has awakened the gracious disposition of their
hearts into life and vigor as the warm beams of the sun in the spring
have quickened the seeds and productions of the earth. Grace being now
at liberty, and cherished with hope, has soon flowed out to their
abundant satisfaction and increase.

There is no one thing that I know of which God has made such a means of
promoting His work amongst us, as the news of others' conversion. This
has been owned in awakening sinners, engaging them earnestly to seek the
same blessing, and in quickening saints. Though I have thought that a
minister declaring his judgment about particular persons' experiences,
might from these things be justified; yet I often signify to my people
how unable man is to know another's heart, and how unsafe it is to
depend merely on the judgment of others. I have abundantly insisted,
that a manifestation of sincerity in fruits brought forth, is better
than any manifestation they can make of it in words alone: and that
without this, all pretences to spiritual experiences are vain. This all
my congregation can witness. And the people in general have manifested
an extraordinary dread of being deceived; being exceeding fearful lest
they should build wrong. Some of them have been backward to receive
hope, even to a great extreme, which has occasioned me to dwell longer
on this part of the narrative.

Conversion is a great and glorious work of God's power, at once changing
the heart, and infusing life into the dead soul; though the grace then
implanted more gradually displays itself in some than in others. But as
to fixing on the preci