The Preface

The Preface.

There is no question whatsoever, that is of greater importance to mankind, and that it more concerns every individual person to be well resolved in, than this, What are the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favor with God, and entitled to his eternal rewards? Or, which comes to the same thing, What is the nature of true religion? And wherein do lie the distinguishing notes of that virtue and holiness, that is acceptable in the sight of God. But though it be of such importance, and though we have clear and abundant light in the word of God to direct us in this matter, yet there is no one point, wherein professing Christians do more differ one from another. It would be endless to reckon up the variety of opinions in this point, that divide the Christian world; making manifest the truth of that of our Savior, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life, and few there be that find it.

The consideration of these things has long engaged me to attend to this matter, with the utmost diligence and care, and exactness of search and inquiry, that I have been capable of: It is a subject on which my mind has been peculiarly intent, ever since I first entered on the study of divinity. —But as to the success of my inquiries, it must be left to the judgment of the reader of the following treatise.

I am sensible it is much more difficult to judge impartially of that which is the subject of this discourse, in the midst of the dust and smoke of such a state of controversy, as this land is now in, about things of this nature: As it is more difficult to write impartially, so it is more difficult to read impartially. —Many will probably be hurt in their spirits, to find so much that appertains to religious affection, here condemned: And perhaps indignation and contempt will be excited in others, by finding so much here justified and approved. And it may be, some will be ready to charge me with inconsistence with myself, in so much approving some things, and so much condemning others; as I have found, this has always been objected to me by some, ever since the beginning of our late controversies about religion. It is a hard thing to be a hearty zealous friend of what has been good and glorious, in the late extraordinary appearances, and to rejoice much in it; and at the same time, to see the evil and pernicious tendency of what has been bad, and earnestly to oppose that. But yet, I am humbly, but fully persuaded, we shall never be in the way of truth, nor go on in a way acceptable to God, and tending to the advancement of Christ's kingdom, until we do so. There is indeed something very mysterious in it, that so much good, and so much bad, should be mixed together in the Church of God: As it is a mysterious thing, and what has puzzled and amazed many a good Christian, that there should be that which is so divine and precious, as the saving grace of God, and the new and divine nature, dwelling in the same heart, with so much corruption, hypocrisy and iniquity, in a particular saint. Yet neither of these, is more mysterious than real. And neither of them is a new or rare thing. It is no new thing, that much false religion should prevail, at a time of great reviving of true religion; and that at such a time, multitudes of hypocrites should spring up among true saints. It was so in that great reformation, and revival of religion, that was in Josiah's time; as appears by Jeremiah 3:10 and 4:3, 4 and also by the great apostasy that there was in the land, so soon after his reign. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit upon the Jews, that was in the days of John the Baptist; as appears by the great apostasy of that people, so soon after so general an awakening, and the temporary religious comforts and joys of many; John 5:35. Ye were willing, for a season, to rejoice in his light. So it was in those great commotions that were among the multitude, occasioned by the preaching of Jesus Christ: Of the many that were then called, but few were chosen; of the multitude that were roused and affected by his preaching, and at one time or other appeared mightily engaged, full of admiration of Christ, and elevated with joy, but few were true disciples, that stood the shock of the great trials that came afterwards, and endured to the end: Many were like the stony ground, or thorny ground; and but few, comparatively, like the good ground: Of the whole heap that was gathered, great part was chaff, that the wind afterwards drove away; and the heap of wheat that was left, was comparatively small; as appears abundantly, by the history of the New Testament. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit that was in the Apostle's days; as appears by Matthew 24:10, 11, 12, 13. Galatians 3:1 and 4:11, 15. Philippians 2:21 and 3:18, 19. And the two Epistles to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Testament. And so it was in the great Reformation from Popery. —It appears plainly to have been in the visible Church of God, in times of great reviving of religion, from time to time, as it is with the fruit trees in the spring; there are a multitude of blossoms; all which appear fair and beautiful, and there is a promising appearance of young fruits; but many of them are but of short continuance, they soon fall off, and never come to maturity.

Not that it is to be supposed that it will always be so. For though there never will, in this world, be an entire purity; either in particular saints, in a perfect freedom from mixtures of corruption; or in the Church of God, without any mixture of hypocrites with saints, and counterfeit religion, and false appearances of grace, with true religion and real holiness: Yet, it is evident, that there will come a time of much greater purity in the Church of God, than has been in ages past: it is plain by those texts of Scripture. Isaiah 52:1. Ezekiel 44:6, 7, 9. Joel 3:17. Zechariah 14:21. Psalm 69:32, 35, 36. Isaiah 35:8, 10. Chapter 4:3, 4. Ezekiel 20:38. Psalm 37:9, 10, 11, 29. And one great reason of it will be, that at that time, God will give much greater light to his people, to distinguish between true religion and its counterfeits; Malachi 3:3. And he shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver; that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. With Verse 18, which is a continuation of the prophecy of the same happy times, then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.

It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ, all along, hitherto. It is plainly by this means, principally, that he has prevailed against all revivings of religion, that ever have been, since the first founding of the Christian church. By this, he hurt the cause of Christianity, in, and after the apostolic age, much more than by all the persecutions of both Jews and heathens: The Apostles, in all their epistles, show themselves much more concerned at the former mischief, than the latter. By this, Satan prevailed against the Reformation, begun by Luther, Zwingli, and others, to put a stop to its progress, and bring it into disgrace; ten times more, than by all those bloody, cruel, and before, unheard-of persecutions of the Church of Rome. By this principally, has he prevailed against revivals of religion, that have been in our nation since the Reformation. By this he prevailed against New England, to quench the love, and spoil the joy of her espousals, about an hundred years ago. And I think, I have had opportunity enough to see plainly, that by this, the devil has prevailed against the late, great revival of religion in New England, so happy and promising in its beginning: Here most evidently has been the main advantage Satan has had against us; by this he has foiled us; It is by this means, that the daughter of Zion in this land, now lies on the ground, in such piteous circumstances, as we now behold her; with her garments rent, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, and weltering in the blood of her own wounds, and in no wise able to arise; and this, so quickly after her late great joys and hopes. Lamentations 1:17. Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: The Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries shall be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. I have observed the devil prevail the same way, against two great revivings of religion in this country. —Satan goes on with mankind, as he began with them: He prevailed against our first parents, and cast them out of Paradise, and suddenly brought all their happiness and glory to an end, by appearing to be a friend to their happy Paradisaic state, and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So the same cunning serpent, that beguiled Eve through his subtlety, by perverting us from the simplicity that is in Christ, hath suddenly prevailed to deprive us of that fair prospect, we had a little while ago, of a kind of paradisaic state of the Church of God in New England.

After religion has revived in the Church of God, and enemies appear, people that are engaged to defend its cause, are commonly most exposed, where they are least sensible of danger. While they are wholly intent upon the opposition that appears openly before them, to make head against that, and do neglect carefully to look all round them, the devil comes behind them, and gives a fatal stab unseen; and has opportunity to give a more home stroke, and wound the deeper, because he strikes at his leisure, and according to his pleasure, being obstructed by no guard or resistance.

And so it is likely ever to be in the Church, whenever Religion revives remarkably, 'till we have learned well to distinguish between true and false Religion, between saving Affections and Experiences, and those manifold fair Shows, and glistening Appearances, by which they are counterfeited; the Consequences of which, when they are not distinguished, are often inexpressibly dreadful. By this Means, the Devil gratifies himself, by bringing it to pass, that That should be offered to God, by Multitudes, under a Notion of a pleasing acceptable Sacrifice to him, that is indeed above all Things abominable to him. By this Means, he deceives great Multitudes about the State of their Souls; making them think they are something, when they are nothing; and so eternally undoes them. And not only so, but establishes many, in a strong Confidence of their eminent Holiness, who are in God's Sight, some of the vilest of Hypocrites. By this Means, he many Ways, damps and wounds Religion in the Hearts of the Saints, obscures and deforms it by corrupt Mixtures, causes their religious Affections woefully to degenerate, and sometimes for a considerable Time, to be like the Manna, that bred Worms and stank; and dreadfully ensnares and confounds the Minds of others of the Saints, and brings them into great Difficulties and Temptations, and entangles them in a Wilderness, out of which they can by no Means extricate themselves. By this Means, Satan mightily encourages the Hearts of open Enemies of Religion, and strengthens their Hands, and fills them with Weapons, and makes strong their Fortresses; when at the same Time, Religion and the Church of God he exposed to them, as a City without Walls. By this Means, he brings it to pass, that Men work Wickedness under a Notion of doing God Service, and so sin without Restraint, and with earnest Forwardness and Zeal, and with all their Might. By this Means, he brings in, even the Friends of Religion, insensibly to themselves, to do the Work of Enemies, by destroying Religion, in a far more effectual Manner, than open Enemies can do, under a Notion of advancing it. By this Means the Devil scatters the Flock of Christ, and sets them one against another, and that with great Heat of Spirit, under a Notion of Zeal for God; and Religion by Degrees, degenerates into vain Jangling; and during the Strife, Satan leads both Parties far out of the right Way, driving each to great Extremes, one on the right Hand, and the other on the Left, according as he finds they are most inclined, or most easily moved and swayed, 'till the right Path in the Middle, is almost wholly neglected. And in the midst of this Confusion, the Devil has great Opportunity to advance his own Interest, and make it strong in Ways innumerable, and get the Government of all into his own Hands, and work his own Will. And by what is seen of the terrible Consequences of this counterfeit Religion, when not distinguished from true Religion, God's People in general have their Minds unhinged and unsettled, in Things of Religion, and know not where to set their Foot, or what to think or do; and many are brought into Doubts, whether there be any Thing at all in Religion; and Heresy, and Infidelity and Atheism greatly prevail.

Therefore, it greatly concerns us to use our utmost Endeavors, clearly to discern, and have it well settled and established, wherein true Religion does consist. 'Till this be done, it may be expected that great Revivals of Religion, will be but of short Continuance. 'Till this be done, there is but little Good to be expected, of all our warm Debates, in Conversation and from the Press, not knowing clearly and distinctly, what we ought to contend for.

My Design is to contribute my Mite, and use my best (however feeble) Endeavors to this End, in the ensuing Treatise. Wherein it must be noted, that my Design is somewhat diverse from the Design of what I have formerly published, which was to show the distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God, including both his common, and saving Operations; but what I aim at now, is to show the Nature and Signs of the gracious Operations of God's Spirit, by which they are to be distinguished from all Things whatsoever that the Minds of Men are the Subjects of, which are not of a saving Nature. If I have succeeded in this my Aim, in any tolerable Measure, I hope it will tend to promote the Interest of Religion. And whether I have succeeded to bring any Light to this Subject, or not, and however my Attempt may be reproached, in these captious, censorious Times, I hope in the Mercy of a gracious and righteous God, for the Acceptance of the Sincerity of my Endeavors, and hope also, for the Candor and Prayers of the true Followers of the Meek and charitable Lamb of God.

THE PREFACE.

There is no question whatsoever, that is of greater importance to mankind, and that it more concerns every individual person to be well resolved in, than this, What are the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favor with God, and entitled to his eternal rewards? Or, which comes to the same thing, What is the nature of true religion? and wherein do lie the distinguishing notes of that virtue and holiness, that is acceptable in the sight of God. But though it be of such importance, and though we have clear and abundant light in the Word of God to direct us in this matter, yet there is no one point, wherein professing Christians do more differ one from another. It would be endless to reckon up the variety of opinions in this point, that divide the Christian world; making manifest the truth of that of our Saviour, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life, and few there be that find it.

The consideration of these things has long engaged me to attend to this matter, with the utmost diligence and care, and exactness of search and inquiry, that I have been capable of: It is a subject on which my mind has been peculiarly intent, ever since I first entered on the study of divinity. But as to the success of my inquiries, it must be left to the judgment of the reader of the following treatise.

I am sensible it is much more difficult to judge impartially of that which is the subject of this discourse, in the midst of the dust and smoke of such a state of controversy, as this land is now in, about things of this nature: As it is more difficult to write impartially, so it is more difficult to read impartially. Many will probably be hurt in their spirits, to find so much that appertains to religious affection, here condemned: And perhaps indignation and contempt will be excited in others, by finding so much here justified and approved. And it may be, some will be ready to charge me with inconsistency with myself, in so much approving some things, and so much condemning others; as I have found, this has always been objected to me by some, ever since the beginning of our late controversies about religion. It is a hard thing to be a hearty zealous friend of what has been good and glorious, in the late extraordinary appearances, and to rejoice much in it; and at the same time, to see the evil and pernicious tendency of what has been bad, and earnestly to oppose that. But yet, I am humbly, but fully persuaded, we shall never be in the way of truth, nor go on in a way acceptable to God, and tending to the advancement of Christ's kingdom, till we do so. There is indeed something very mysterious in it, that so much good, and so much bad, should be mixed together in the Church of God: As it is a mysterious thing, and what has puzzled and amazed many a good Christian, that there should be that which is so divine and precious, as the saving grace of God, and the new and divine nature, dwelling in the same heart, with so much corruption, hypocrisy and iniquity, in a particular saint. Yet neither of these, is more mysterious than real. And neither of them is a new or rare thing. It is no new thing, that much false religion should prevail, at a time of great reviving of true religion; and that at such a time, multitudes of hypocrites should spring up among true saints. It was so in that great reformation, and revival of religion, that was in Josiah's time; as appears by Jeremiah 3:10 and 4:3, 4, and also by the great apostasy that there was in the land, so soon after his reign. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit upon the Jews, that was in the days of John the Baptist; as appears by the great apostasy of that people, so soon after so general an awakening, and the temporary religious comforts and joys of many; John 5:35. You were willing, for a season, to rejoice in his light. So it was in those great commotions that were among the multitude, occasioned by the preaching of Jesus Christ: Of the many that were then called, but few were chosen; of the multitude that were roused and affected by his preaching, and at one time or other appeared mightily engaged, full of admiration of Christ, and elevated with joy, but few were true disciples, that stood the shock of the great trials that came afterwards, and endured to the end: Many were like the stony ground, or thorny ground; and but few, comparatively, like the good ground: Of the whole heap that was gathered, great part was chaff, that the wind afterwards drove away; and the heap of wheat that was left, was comparatively small; as appears abundantly, by the history of the New Testament. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit that was in the apostle's days; as appears by Matthew 24:10, 11, 12, 13. Galatians 3:1 and 4:11, 15. Philippians 2:21 and 3:18, 19. And the two epistles to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Testament. And so it was in the great Reformation from popery. It appears plainly to have been in the visible church of God, in times of great reviving of religion, from time to time, as it is with the fruit trees in the spring; there are a multitude of blossoms; all which appear fair and beautiful, and there is a promising appearance of young fruits; but many of them are but of short continuance, they soon fall off, and never come to maturity.

Not that it is to be supposed that it will always be so. For though there never will, in this world, be an entire purity; either in particular saints, in a perfect freedom from mixtures of corruption; or in the church of God, without any mixture of hypocrites with saints, and counterfeit religion, and false appearances of grace, with true religion and real holiness: Yet, it is evident, that there will come a time of much greater purity in the church of God, than has been in ages past: it is plain by those texts of Scripture. Isaiah 52:1. Ezekiel 44:6, 7, 9. Joel 3:17. Zechariah 14:21. Psalm 69:32, 35, 36. Isaiah 35:8, 10. Chapter 4:3, 4. Ezekiel 20:38. Psalm 3[reconstructed: 7]:9, 10, 11, 2[illegible]. And one great reason of it will be, that at that time, God will give much greater light to his people, to distinguish between true religion and its counterfeits; Malachi 3:3. And he shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of [reconstructed: Levi], and purge [reconstructed: them] as gold and silver; [reconstructed: that they] may [reconstructed: offer] to the [reconstructed: Lord] an offering in righteousness. With verse 18, which is a continuation of the prophecy of the same happy times, then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God, and him that serves him not.

It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ, all along, hitherto. It is plainly by this means, principally, that he has prevailed against all revivings of religion, that ever have been, since the first founding of the Christian church. By this, he hurt the cause of Christianity, in, and after the apostolic age, much more than by all the persecutions of both Jews and heathens: The apostles, in all their epistles, show themselves much more concerned at the former mischief, than the latter. By this, Satan prevailed against the Reformation, begun by Luther, Zwingli, and others, to put a stop to its progress, and bring it into disgrace; ten times more, than by all those bloody, cruel, and before, unheard of persecutions of the church of Rome. By this principally, has he prevailed against revivals of religion, that have been in our nation since the Reformation. By this he prevailed against New England, to quench the love, and spoil the joy of her espousals, about a hundred years ago. And I think, I have had opportunity enough to see plainly, that by this, the devil has prevailed against the late, great revival of religion in New England, so happy and promising in its beginning: Here most evidently has been the main advantage Satan has had against us; by this he has foiled us; it is by this means, that the daughter of Zion in this land, now lies on the ground, in such piteous circumstances, as we now behold her; with her garments rent, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, and weltering in the blood of her own wounds, and in no wise able to arise; and this, so quickly after her late great joys and hopes. Lamentations 1:17. Zion [reconstructed: spreads] forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: The Lord has commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries shall be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. I have observed the devil prevail the same way, against two great revivings of religion in this country. Satan goes on with mankind, as he began with them: He prevailed against our first parents, and cast them out of Paradise, and suddenly brought all their happiness and glory to an end, by appearing to be a friend to their happy paradisaic state, and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So the same cunning serpent, that beguiled [reconstructed: Eve] through his subtlety, by perverting us from the simplicity that is in Christ, has suddenly prevailed to deprive us of that fair prospect, we had a little while ago, of a kind of paradisaic state of the church of God in New England.

After religion has revived in the church of God, and enemies appear, people that are engaged to defend its cause, are commonly most exposed, where they are least sensible of danger. While they are wholly intent upon the opposition that appears openly before them, to make head against that, and do neglect carefully to look all round them, the devil comes behind them, and gives a fatal stab unseen; and has opportunity to give a more home stroke, and wound the deeper, because he strikes at his leisure, and according to his pleasure, being obstructed by no guard or resistance.

And so it is likely ever to be in the church, whenever religion revives remarkably, until we have learned well to distinguish between true and false religion, between saving affections and experiences, and those manifold fair shows, and glistening appearances, by which they are counterfeited; the consequences of which, when they are not distinguished, are often inexpressibly dreadful. By this means, the Devil gratifies himself, by bringing it to pass, that that should be offered to God, by multitudes, under a notion of a pleasing acceptable sacrifice to him, that is indeed above all things abominable to him. By this means, he deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls; making them think they are something, when they are nothing; and so eternally undoes them: And not only so, but establishes many, in a strong confidence of their eminent holiness, who are in God's sight, some of the vilest of hypocrites. By this means, he many ways, damps and wounds religion in the hearts of the saints, obscures and deforms it by corrupt mixtures, causes their religious affections woefully to degenerate, and sometimes for a considerable time, to be like the manna, that bred worms and stank; and dreadfully ensnares and confounds the minds of others of the saints, and brings them into great difficulties and temptations, and entangles them in a wilderness, out of which they can by no means extricate themselves. By this means, Satan mightily encourages the hearts of open enemies of religion, and strengthens their hands, and fills them with weapons, and makes strong their fortresses; when at the same time, religion and the church of God he exposed to them, as a city without walls. By this means, he brings it to pass, that men work wickedness under a notion of doing God service, and so sin without restraints, and with earnest forwardness and zeal, and with all their might. By this means, he brings in, even the friends of religion, insensibly to themselves, to do the work of enemies, by destroying religion, in a far more effectual manner, than open enemies can do, under a notion of advancing it. By this means the Devil scatters the flock of Christ, and sets them one against another, and that with great heat of spirit, under a notion of zeal for God; and religion by degrees, degenerates into vain jangling; and during the strife, Satan leads both parties far out of the right way, driving each to great extremes, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, according as he finds they are most inclined, or most easily moved and swayed, until the right path in the middle, is almost wholly neglected. And in the midst of this confusion, the Devil has great opportunity to advance his own interest, and make it strong in ways innumerable, and get the government of all into his own hands, and work his own will. And by what is seen of the terrible consequences of this counterfeit religion, when not distinguished from true religion, God's people in general have their minds unhinged and unsettled, in things of religion, and know not where to set their foot, or what to think or do; and many are brought into doubts, whether there be any thing at all in religion; and heresy, and infidelity and atheism greatly prevail.

Therefore, it greatly concerns us to use our utmost endeavors, clearly to discern, and have it well settled and established, wherein true religion does consist. Until this be done, it may be expected that great revivings of religion, will be but of short continuance. Until this be done, there is but little good to be expected, of all our warm debates, in conversation and from the press, not knowing clearly and distinctly, what we ought to contend for.

My design is to contribute my mite, and use my best (however feeble) endeavors to this end, in the ensuing treatise. Wherein it must be noted, that my design is somewhat diverse from the design of what I have formerly published, which was to show the distinguishing marks of a work of the Spirit of God, including both his common, and saving operations; but what I aim at now, is to show the nature and signs of the gracious operations of God's Spirit, by which they are to be distinguished from all things whatsoever that the minds of men are the subjects of, which are not of a saving nature. If I have succeeded in this my aim, in any tolerable measure, I hope it will tend to promote the interest of religion. And whether I have succeeded to bring any light to this subject, or no, and however my attempt may be reproached, in these captious, censorious times, I hope in the mercy of a gracious and righteous God, for the acceptance of the sincerity of my endeavors, and hope also, for the candor and prayers of the true followers of the meek and charitable Lamb of God.

The Preface.

There is no question of greater importance to humanity than this: What are the distinguishing qualifications of those who are in favor with God and entitled to His eternal rewards? Or, to put it another way: What is the nature of true religion, and wherein lie the distinguishing marks of the virtue and holiness that are acceptable in God's sight? Yet, despite its importance, and despite the clear and abundant light God's Word gives us on this matter, there is no other point on which professing Christians differ more from one another. It would be endless to list all the opinions dividing the Christian world on this question — making plain the truth of our Savior's words: "Narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it."

These realities have long compelled me to pursue this matter with the utmost diligence, care, and precision — as much as I have been capable of. It is a subject that has occupied my mind intensely ever since I first began studying theology. But whether my inquiries have succeeded must be left to the judgment of the reader of this treatise.

I am aware that it is far more difficult to judge impartially on this subject in the midst of the controversy now surrounding it in this land — just as it is more difficult to write impartially, and more difficult to read impartially. Many readers will likely be troubled to find so much that relates to religious affection condemned here. Others may feel indignation or contempt at finding so much justified and approved. Some may even charge me with inconsistency — approving so much on one hand and condemning so much on the other — as I have found objected to me ever since our recent controversies about religion began. It is a hard thing to be a wholehearted, zealous friend of what has been good and glorious in the recent extraordinary spiritual events, and to rejoice greatly in them — while at the same time seeing the evil and destructive tendency of what has been bad, and earnestly opposing it. Yet I am fully persuaded — humbly, but without reservation — that we will never walk in truth, nor proceed in a way acceptable to God and advancing Christ's kingdom, until we do exactly that. There is indeed something very mysterious about so much good and so much bad being mixed together in the Church of God. It is just as mysterious — and just as puzzling and troubling to many sincere Christians — that saving grace and the new, divine nature can dwell in the same heart alongside so much corruption, hypocrisy, and sin in a particular believer. Yet neither of these is more mysterious than it is real. And neither is new or rare. It is nothing new for much false religion to flourish during a great revival of true religion, or for multitudes of hypocrites to spring up among true believers at such a time. This happened in the great reformation and revival of religion in Josiah's time, as Jeremiah 3:10 and 4:3-4 show — along with the great apostasy that fell on the land so soon after his reign. It happened during the great outpouring of the Spirit on the Jews in the days of John the Baptist, as seen in the rapid apostasy of that people after such a widespread awakening, and in the temporary religious feelings and joys of many (John 5:35): 'You were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.' It happened amid the great stirrings among the multitudes caused by Jesus Christ's preaching: of the many who were called, few were chosen; of the crowds roused and moved by His preaching — who at one time or another seemed deeply engaged, full of wonder at Christ and elevated with joy — few were true disciples who stood the test of the great trials that came afterward and endured to the end. Many were like the rocky soil or thorny ground, and only a few were like the good soil. Of the whole harvest gathered, a great portion was chaff that the wind afterward drove away, and the remaining wheat was comparatively small — as the history of the New Testament abundantly shows. This also happened during the great outpouring of the Spirit in the apostles' days, as Matthew 24:10-13, Galatians 3:1 and 4:11, 15, Philippians 2:21 and 3:18-19, the two letters to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Testament make clear. And so it was in the great Reformation from Catholicism. It has plainly been the pattern in the visible Church of God during great revivals of religion throughout history: it is like fruit trees in spring — a multitude of blossoms appear, all looking fair and beautiful, with a promising show of young fruit; but many last only a short time, fall off quickly, and never come to maturity.

This pattern is not how things will always be. Though this world will never see complete purity — either in individual believers, who will always have some mixture of remaining sin, or in the Church of God, which will always have some mixture of hypocrites alongside true believers — it is clear from Scripture that a time of far greater purity is coming to the Church of God, greater than anything seen in ages past. This is plain from the following passages: Isaiah 52:1; Ezekiel 44:6, 7, 9; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 14:21; Psalm 69:32, 35, 36; Isaiah 35:8, 10; Isaiah 4:3, 4; Ezekiel 20:38; Psalm 37:9, 10, 11, 29. One great reason for this purification will be that God will give His people far greater ability to distinguish true religion from its counterfeits, as Malachi 3:3 shows: 'And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.' The following verse (Malachi 3:18) continues the prophecy of the same blessed future: 'Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.'

It is the mixture of counterfeit religion with true religion — when the two are not distinguished — that has given the devil his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ throughout history. This is plainly the chief means by which he has prevailed against every revival of religion since the founding of the Christian church. By this means he did more damage to Christianity during and after the apostolic age than all the persecutions by both Jews and pagans combined. The apostles, in all their letters, show far more concern about the former threat than the latter. By this means Satan did ten times more to stop the progress of the Reformation begun by Luther, Zwingli, and others, and to bring it into disgrace, than all the bloody, cruel, and unprecedented persecutions of the Church of Rome. By this means he has prevailed against revivals of religion in our own nation since the Reformation. By this means he prevailed against New England, quenching the love and spoiling the joy of her early days of devotion about a hundred years ago. And I have had ample opportunity to see clearly how, by this same means, the devil prevailed against the recent great revival of religion in New England — so happy and promising at its beginning. This has plainly been his main advantage over us; by this he has defeated us. It is by this means that the daughter of Zion in this land now lies on the ground in the pitiful condition we now see — her garments torn, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, writhing in the blood of her own wounds, utterly unable to rise — and this so soon after her recent great joys and hopes. As Lamentations 1:17 says: 'Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her; the Lord has commanded concerning Jacob that his adversaries should surround him; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.' I have watched the devil prevail this same way against two great revivals of religion in this country. Satan deals with mankind exactly as he began — he prevailed against our first parents and cast them out of Paradise, suddenly bringing all their happiness and glory to an end, by appearing to be a friend to their blessed state and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So the same crafty serpent who deceived Eve through his cunning has, by turning us aside from the simplicity that is in Christ, suddenly prevailed to strip us of the bright prospect we had a little while ago of a paradise-like state for the Church of God in New England.

When religion has revived in the Church of God and enemies appear, those who are engaged in defending its cause are most vulnerable precisely where they are least aware of the danger. While they are focused entirely on the opposition that appears openly in front of them — rallying against that threat — they neglect to look carefully all around them. At that moment the devil comes from behind and delivers a fatal blow unseen. He has the opportunity to strike more directly and wound more deeply because he attacks at his leisure and entirely on his own terms, with no guard or resistance to stop him.

This pattern will likely continue in the Church whenever religion revives noticeably, until we have learned to distinguish well between true and false religion — between saving affections and experiences, and the many impressive appearances and glittering shows that counterfeit them. When these are not distinguished, the consequences are often unspeakably dreadful. By this means the devil satisfies himself by bringing it about that what is offered to God by multitudes, under the notion of a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice, is in fact what God finds most abominable. By this means he deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls — making them think they are something when they are nothing — and so destroys them eternally. Not only that, but he also confirms many in strong confidence of their outstanding holiness who are, in God's sight, among the vilest of hypocrites. By this means he damages and wounds religion in the hearts of true believers in many ways — obscuring and corrupting it with impure mixtures, causing their religious affections to deteriorate terribly, and sometimes for a long period to become like the manna that bred worms and stank. He also dreadfully ensnares and confuses the minds of other believers, driving them into great difficulties and temptations and tangling them in a wilderness from which they cannot find their way out. By this means Satan powerfully encourages the hearts of open enemies of religion, strengthens their hands, fills them with weapons, and reinforces their strongholds — while at the same time religion and the Church of God are exposed to those enemies like a city without walls. By this means he brings it about that people commit wickedness thinking they are doing God's service, and so they sin without restraint, with earnest zeal and with all their might. By this means he leads even friends of religion, without their realizing it, to do the work of enemies by destroying religion far more effectively than open enemies could — all while believing they are advancing it. By this means the devil scatters Christ's flock and turns members against one another with intense passion, all done under the banner of zeal for God. Religion then gradually degenerates into empty quarreling, and during the strife Satan leads both parties far from the right path — driving each to opposite extremes, one to the right and the other to the left, according to where he finds them most inclined or most easily swayed — until the true middle path is almost entirely abandoned. In the midst of this confusion the devil has great opportunity to advance his own interests in countless ways, seize control of everything, and do exactly as he wishes. And when people see the terrible consequences of this counterfeit religion — when it is not distinguished from true religion — God's people in general have their minds shaken and destabilized in matters of religion, not knowing where to stand, what to think, or what to do. Many are driven to doubt whether there is anything real in religion at all, and heresy, unbelief, and atheism spread widely.

Therefore, it is critically important that we make every effort to see clearly and establish firmly what true religion actually consists of. Until that is done, we should expect that great revivals of religion will be short-lived. Until that is done, little good can come from all our heated debates — in conversation and in print — when we have no clear and definite understanding of what we ought to be contending for.

My aim is to contribute what little I can, using my best — though feeble — efforts toward this end in the treatise that follows. It should be noted that my design here differs somewhat from what I have published before, which was to show the distinguishing marks of a work of the Spirit of God, including both His common and saving operations. What I am now pursuing is to show the nature and signs of the gracious operations of God's Spirit, by which they may be distinguished from everything else that the human mind experiences which is not of a saving nature. If I have succeeded in this aim to any reasonable degree, I hope it will serve to advance the cause of true religion. Whether or not I have shed any light on this subject, and however my attempt may be criticized in these fault-finding and censorious times, I trust in the mercy of a gracious and righteous God for the acceptance of my sincere effort — and I also hope for the charitable judgment and prayers of the true followers of the meek and loving Lamb of God.

The Preface.

There is no question of greater importance to humanity than this: What are the distinguishing qualifications of those who are in favor with God and entitled to His eternal rewards? Or, to put it another way: What is the nature of true religion, and wherein lie the distinguishing marks of the virtue and holiness that are acceptable in God's sight? Yet, despite its importance, and despite the clear and abundant light God's Word gives us on this matter, there is no other point on which professing Christians differ more from one another. It would be endless to list all the opinions dividing the Christian world on this question — making plain the truth of our Savior's words: 'Narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it.'

These realities have long compelled me to pursue this matter with the utmost diligence, care, and precision — as much as I have been capable of. It is a subject that has occupied my mind intensely ever since I first began studying theology. But whether my inquiries have succeeded must be left to the judgment of the reader of this treatise.

I am aware that it is far more difficult to judge impartially on this subject in the midst of the controversy now surrounding it in this land — just as it is more difficult to write impartially, and more difficult to read impartially. Many will likely be troubled to find so much that relates to religious affection condemned here, and others may feel indignation or contempt at finding so much justified and approved. Some may even charge me with inconsistency — approving so much on one hand and condemning so much on the other — as I have found objected to me ever since our recent controversies about religion began. It is a hard thing to be a wholehearted, zealous friend of what has been good and glorious in the recent extraordinary spiritual events, and to rejoice greatly in them — while at the same time seeing the evil and destructive tendency of what has been bad, and earnestly opposing it. Yet I am fully persuaded — humbly, but without reservation — that we will never walk in truth, nor proceed in a way acceptable to God and advancing Christ's kingdom, until we do exactly that. There is indeed something very mysterious about so much good and so much bad being mixed together in the Church of God, just as it is mysterious and puzzling to many sincere Christians that saving grace and the new, divine nature can dwell in the same heart alongside so much corruption, hypocrisy, and sin in a particular believer. Yet neither of these is more mysterious than it is real. And neither is new or rare. It is nothing new for much false religion to flourish during a great revival of true religion, or for multitudes of hypocrites to spring up among true believers at such a time. This happened in the great reformation and revival of religion in Josiah's time, as Jeremiah 3:10 and 4:3-4 show — along with the great apostasy that fell on the land so soon after his reign. It happened during the great outpouring of the Spirit on the Jews in the days of John the Baptist, as seen in the rapid apostasy of that people after such a widespread awakening, and in the temporary religious feelings and joys of many (John 5:35): 'You were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.' It happened amid the great stirrings among the multitudes caused by Jesus Christ's preaching: of the many who were called, few were chosen; of the crowds roused and moved by His preaching — who at one time or another seemed deeply engaged, full of wonder at Christ and elevated with joy — few were true disciples who stood the test of the great trials that came afterward and endured to the end. Many were like the rocky soil or thorny ground, and only a few were like the good soil. Of the whole harvest gathered, a great portion was chaff that the wind afterward drove away, and the remaining wheat was comparatively small — as the history of the New Testament abundantly shows. This also happened during the great outpouring of the Spirit in the apostles' days, as Matthew 24:10-13 and Galatians 3:1 and 4:11, 15 and Philippians 2:21 and 3:18-19 show. And the two letters to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Testament, confirm the same. And so it was in the great Reformation from Catholicism. It has plainly been the pattern in the visible Church of God during great revivals of religion throughout history: it is like fruit trees in spring — a multitude of blossoms appear, all looking fair and beautiful, with a promising show of young fruit; but many last only a short time, fall off quickly, and never come to maturity.

This pattern is not how things will always be. Though this world will never see complete purity — either in individual believers free from all remaining sin, or in the Church of God entirely free from hypocrites and counterfeit religion — it is evident from Scripture that a time of far greater purity is coming to the Church of God than anything seen in ages past. This is plain from Isaiah 52:1; Ezekiel 44:6, 7, 9; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 14:21; Psalm 69:32, 35, 36; Isaiah 35:8, 10; Isaiah 4:3, 4; Ezekiel 20:38; Psalm 37:9, 10, 11, 29. One great reason for this will be that God will give His people far greater ability to distinguish true religion from its counterfeits, as Malachi 3:3 says: 'And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.' The following verse (Malachi 3:18) continues the prophecy of the same blessed future: 'Then you will return and distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.'

It is the mixture of counterfeit religion with true religion — when the two are not distinguished — that has given the devil his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ throughout history. This is plainly the chief means by which he has prevailed against every revival of religion since the founding of the Christian church. By this means he did more damage to Christianity during and after the apostolic age than all the persecutions by both Jews and pagans combined — the apostles, in all their letters, show far more concern about this threat than the other. By this means Satan did ten times more to stop the progress of the Reformation begun by Luther, Zwingli, and others, and to bring it into disgrace, than all the bloody, cruel, and unprecedented persecutions of the Church of Rome. By this means he has chiefly prevailed against revivals of religion in our nation since the Reformation. By this means he prevailed against New England, quenching the love and spoiling the joy of her early days of devotion about a hundred years ago. And I have had ample opportunity to see clearly that by this same means the devil prevailed against the recent great revival of religion in New England — so happy and promising at its beginning. This has plainly been Satan's main advantage over us; by this he has defeated us. It is by this means that the daughter of Zion in this land now lies on the ground in the pitiful condition we now see — her garments torn, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, writhing in the blood of her own wounds, utterly unable to rise — and this so soon after her recent great joys and hopes. As Lamentations 1:17 says: 'Zion stretches out her hands, and there is no one to comfort her; the Lord has commanded concerning Jacob that his adversaries should surround him; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.' I have watched the devil prevail this same way against two great revivals of religion in this country. Satan deals with mankind exactly as he began — he prevailed against our first parents and cast them out of Paradise, suddenly bringing all their happiness and glory to an end, by appearing to be a friend to their blessed state and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So the same cunning serpent who deceived Eve through his subtlety has, by turning us aside from the simplicity that is in Christ, suddenly prevailed to strip us of the bright prospect we had a little while ago of a paradise-like state for the Church of God in New England.

When religion has revived in the Church of God and enemies appear, those who are engaged in defending its cause are most vulnerable precisely where they are least aware of the danger. While they are focused entirely on the opposition that appears openly in front of them — rallying against that threat — they neglect to look carefully all around them. At that moment the devil comes from behind and delivers a fatal blow unseen, with the opportunity to strike more directly and wound more deeply because he attacks at his leisure and entirely on his own terms, with no guard or resistance to stop him.

This pattern will likely continue in the Church whenever religion revives noticeably, until we have learned to distinguish well between true and false religion — between saving affections and experiences, and the many impressive appearances and glittering shows that counterfeit them. When these are not distinguished, the consequences are often unspeakably dreadful. By this means the devil satisfies himself by bringing it about that what is offered to God by multitudes, under the notion of a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice, is in fact what God finds most abominable. By this means he deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls — making them think they are something when they are nothing — and so destroys them eternally; and not only that, but also confirms many in a strong confidence of their outstanding holiness who are, in God's sight, among the vilest of hypocrites. By this means he damages and wounds religion in the hearts of true believers in many ways — obscuring and corrupting it with impure mixtures, causing their religious affections to deteriorate terribly, and sometimes for a long period to become like the manna that bred worms and stank — and he also dreadfully ensnares and confuses the minds of other believers, driving them into great difficulties and temptations and tangling them in a wilderness from which they cannot find their way out. By this means Satan powerfully encourages the hearts of open enemies of religion, strengthens their hands, fills them with weapons, and reinforces their strongholds — while at the same time religion and the Church of God are exposed to those enemies like a city without walls. By this means he brings it about that people commit wickedness thinking they are doing God's service, and so they sin without restraint, with earnest zeal and with all their might. By this means he leads even friends of religion, without their realizing it, to do the work of enemies by destroying religion far more effectively than open enemies could — all while believing they are advancing it. By this means the devil scatters Christ's flock and turns members against one another with intense passion, all done under the banner of zeal for God; and religion gradually degenerates into empty quarreling. During the strife, Satan leads both parties far from the right path — driving each to opposite extremes, one to the right and the other to the left, according to where he finds them most inclined or most easily swayed — until the true middle path is almost entirely abandoned. In the midst of this confusion the devil has great opportunity to advance his own interests in countless ways, seize control of everything, and do exactly as he wishes. And when people see the terrible consequences of this counterfeit religion — when it is not distinguished from true religion — God's people in general have their minds shaken and destabilized in matters of religion, not knowing where to stand, what to think, or what to do; many are driven to doubt whether there is anything real in religion at all, and heresy, unbelief, and atheism spread widely.

Therefore, it is critically important that we make every effort to see clearly and establish firmly what true religion actually consists of. Until that is done, we should expect that great revivals of religion will be short-lived. Until that is done, little good can come from all our heated debates — in conversation and in print — when we have no clear and definite understanding of what we ought to be contending for.

My aim is to contribute what little I can, using my best — though feeble — efforts toward this end in the treatise that follows. It should be noted that my design here differs somewhat from what I have published before, which was to show the distinguishing marks of a work of the Spirit of God, including both His common and saving operations. What I am now pursuing is to show the nature and signs of the gracious operations of God's Spirit, by which they may be distinguished from everything else that the human mind experiences which is not of a saving nature. If I have succeeded in this aim to any reasonable degree, I hope it will serve to advance the cause of true religion. Whether or not I have shed any light on this subject, and however my attempt may be criticized in these fault-finding and censorious times, I trust in the mercy of a gracious and righteous God for the acceptance of my sincere effort — and I also hope for the charitable judgment and prayers of the true followers of the meek and loving Lamb of God.