immediate revelation, without any use of
the memory; but yet there seems plainly to be an immediate and
extraordinary influence, in leading their thoughts to such and such
passages of Scripture, and exciting them in the memory. Indeed in some,
God seems to bring texts of Scripture to their minds no otherwise than
by leading them into such frames and meditations as harmonize with those
Scriptures; but in many persons there seems to be something more than
this.
Those who, while under legal convictions, have had the greatest terrors,
have not always obtained the greatest light and comfort; nor have they
always light most suddenly communicated; but yet, I think, the time of
conversion has generally been most sensible in such persons. Oftentimes,
the first sensible change after the extremity of terrors, is a calmness,
and then the light gradually comes in; small glimpses at first, after
their midnight darkness, and a word or two of comfort, as it were softly
spoken to them. They have a little taste of the sweetness of divine
grace, and the love of a Savior, when terror and distress of conscience
begin to be turned into an humble, meek sense of their own unworthiness
before God. There is felt, inwardly, sometimes a disposition to praise
God; and after a little while the light comes in more clearly and
powerfully. But yet, I think, more frequently, great terrors have been
followed with more sudden and great light and comfort; when the sinner
seems to be as it were subdued and brought to a calm, from a kind of
tumult of mind, then God lets in an extraordinary sense of His great
mercy through a Redeemer.
Converting influences very commonly bring an extraordinary conviction of
the reality and certainty of the great things of religion; though in
some this is much greater some time after conversion, than at first.
FAQ
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
