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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 for their salvation, have been awakened in a new manner; and
made sensible that their slack and dull way of seeking, was never like
to attain that purpose.
These awakenings when they have first seized on persons, have had two
effects; one was, that they have brought them immediately to quit their
sinful practices; and the looser sort have been brought to forsake and
dread their former vices and extravagances. When once the Spirit of God
began to be so wonderfully poured out in a general way through the town,
people had soon done with their old quarrels, backbitings, and
intermeddling with other men's matters. The tavern was soon left empty,
and persons kept very much at home; none went abroad unless on necessary
business, or on some religious account, and every day seemed in many
respects like a Sabbath-day. The other effect was, that it put them on
earnest application to the means of salvation, reading, prayer,
meditation, the ordinances of God's house
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