k of
their own knowledge and experience; or ever directed to a divine
principle, or agent, placed of God in man, to help him; and how to know
it, and wait to feel its power to work that good and acceptable will of
God in them?

Some of them, indeed, have spoken of the spirit, and the operations of it
to sanctification, and performance of worship to God; but where and how
to find it, and wait in it, to perform our duty to God, was yet as a
mystery to be declared by this farther degree of reformation. So that
this people did not only in words, more than equally press repentance,
conversion, and holiness, but did it knowingly and experimentally; and
directed those, to whom they preached, to a sufficient principle; and
told them where it was, and by what tokens they might know it, and which
way they might experience the power and efficacy of it to their souls'
happiness. Which is more than theory and speculation, upon which most
other ministers depend: for here is certainty; a bottom upon which man
may boldly appear before God in the great day of account.

V. They reached to the inward state and condition of people; which is an
evidence of the virtue of their principle, and of their ministering from
it, and not from their own imaginations, glosses, or comments upon
scripture. For nothing reaches the heart, but what is from the heart; or
pierces the conscience, but what comes from a living conscience; insomuch
as it hath often happened, where people have under secrecy revealed their
state or condition to some choice friends, for advice or ease, they have
been so particularly directed in the ministry of this people, that they
have challenged their friends with discovering their secrets, and telling
their preachers their cases, to whom a word hath not been spoken. Yea,
the very thoughts and purposes of the hearts of many have been so plainly
detected, that they have, like Nathaniel, cried out, of this inward
appearance of Christ, "Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of
Israel." And those that have embraced this divine principle, have found
this mark of its truth and divinity, that the woman of Samaria did of
Christ when in the flesh, to be the Messiah, viz. It had told them all
that ever they had done; shown them their insides, the most inward
secrets of their hearts, and laid judgment to the line, and righteousness
to the plummet; of which thousands can at this day give in their witness.
So that nothing has been