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Posted by on January 14, 2008, 7:21 pm
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the venture of any censorious
thoughts, which might be entertained of me to my disadvantage. That
distant persons may be under as great advantage as may be to judge for
themselves of this matter, I would be a little more large and
particular.
SECTION II. The Manner of Conversion Various, Yet Bearing a Great
Analogy.
I therefore proceed to give an account of the manner of persons being
wrought upon; and here there is a vast variety, perhaps as manifold as
the subjects of the operation; but yet in many things there is a great
analogy in all.-Persons are first awakened with a sense of their
miserable condition by nature, the danger they are in of perishing
eternally, and that it is of great importance to them that they speedily
escape and get into a better state. Those who before were secure and
senseless, are made sensible how much they were in the way to ruin, in
their former courses. Some are more suddenly seized with convictions-it
may be, by the news of others' conversion, or some thing they hear in
public, or in private conference-their consciences are smitten, as if
their hearts were pierced through with a dart. Others are awakened more
gradually, they begin at first to be something more thoughtful and
considerate, so as to come to a conclusion in their minds, that it is
their best and wisest way to delay no longer, but to improve the present
opportunity. They have accordingly set themselves seriously to meditate
on those things that have the most awakening tendency, on purpose to
obtain convictions; and so their awakenings have increased, till a sense
of their misery, by God's Holy Spirit setting in therewith, has had fast
hold of them. Others who before had been somewhat religious, and
concerned
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