sensible act of grace (though most
commonly He is), but sometimes He is the object of the mind only
implicitly. Thus sometimes when persons have seemed evidently to be
stripped of all their own righteousness, and to have stood
self-condemned as guilty of death, they have been comforted with a
joyful and satisfying view, that the mercy and grace of God is
sufficient for them-that their sins, though never so great, shall be no
hindrance to their being accepted; that there is mercy enough in God for
the whole world, and the like-when they give no account of any
particular or distinct thought of Christ. But yet, when the account they
give is duly weighed, and they are a little interrogated about it, it
appears that the revelation of mercy in the gospel is the ground of
their encouragement and hope; and that it is indeed the mercy of God
through Christ that is discovered in them, and that it is depended on in
Him, and not in any wise moved by any thing in them.

Sometimes disconsolate souls have been revived, and brought to rest in
God, by a sweet sense of His grace and faithfulness, in some special
invitation or promise; in which nevertheless there is no particular
mention of Christ, nor is it accompanied with any distinct thought of
Him in their minds: but yet, it is not received as out of Christ, but as
one of the invitations or promises made of God to poor sinners through
His Son Jesus. And such persons afterwards have had clear and distinct
discoveries of Christ, accompanied with lively and special actings of
faith and love towards Him.

Frequently, when persons have first had the gospel-ground of relief
discovered to them, and have been entertaining their minds with the
sweet prospect, they have thought nothing at that time of their being
converted. To see that there is an all-sufficiency in God, and such
plentiful provision made in Christ, after they have been borne down and^M