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my
practice, when I have been satisfied concerning persons' good estate, to
signify it to them. This has been greatly misrepresented abroad, as
innumerable other things concerning us, to prejudice the country against
the whole affair. But let it be noted, that what I have undertaken to
judge of, has rather been qualifications, and declared experiences, than
persons. Not but that I have thought it my duty, as a pastor, to assist
and instruct persons in applying Scripture-rules and characters to their
own case (in which, I think, many greatly need a guide); and I have,
where the case appeared plain, used freedom in signifying my hope of
them to others. But I have been far from doing this concerning all that
I have had some hopes of; and I believe have used much more caution than
many have supposed. Yet I should account it a great calamity to be
deprived of the comfort of rejoicing with those of my flock who have
been in great distress, whose circumstances I have been acquainted with,
when there seems to be good evidence that those who were dead are alive,
and that those who were lost are found. I am sensible the practice would
have been safer in the hands of one of a riper judgment and greater
experience: but yet, there seems to be an absolute necessity of it on
the forementioned accounts; and it has been found what God has most
remarkably owned and blessed amongst us, both to the persons themselves,
and to others. Grace in many persons, through this ignorance of their
state, and their looking on themselves still as
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