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that persons of the greatest understanding, and
who had studied most about things of this nature, have been more
confounded than others. Some such persons declare, that all their former
wisdom is brought to nought, and that they appear to have been mere
babes, who knew nothing. It has appeared, that none have stood more in
need of instruction, even of their fellow-Christians, concerning their
own circumstances and difficulties, than they: and it seems to have been
with delight, that they have seen themselves thus brought down, and
become nothing; that free grace and divine power may be exalted in them.
It was very wonderful to see how persons affections were sometimes
moved-when God did as it were suddenly open their eyes, and let into
their minds a sense of the greatness of His grace, the fullness of
Christ, and His readiness to save-after having been broken with
apprehensions of divine wrath, and sunk into an abyss, under a sense of
guilt which they were ready to think was beyond the mercy of God. Their
joyful surprise has caused their hearts as it were to leap, so that they
have been ready to break forth into laughter, tears often at the same
time issuing like a flood, and intermingling a loud weeping. Sometimes
they have not been able to forbear crying out with a loud voice,
expressing their great admiration. In some, even the view of the glory
of God's sovereignty, in the exercises of His grace, has surprised the
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