52 What are no Signs PART II. taro be poifonous, then poifonous Streams will alto flow out into all thofe Channels. So that the Channels and Streams will be alike, correfponding one with another ; but the great Difference will lye in the Nature of the Water. Or, Man's Nature may be compar'd to a Tree, with many Branches, coming from one Root : If theSap in the Root be good, there will alto be good Sap dif+ributed thro'out the Branches, and the Fruit that is brought forth will be good and wholefome ; but if the Sap in the Root and Stock be poifonous, fo it will be in many Branches, (as in the other Cafe) and the Fruit will he deadly. The Tree in both Cafes may be alike ; there may be an exa`t Refemblance in Shape ; but the Difference is found only in eat- ing the Fruit. 'Tis thus (in fome Meafure at leaft) oftentimes, be- tween Saints and Hypocrites. There is fometimes a very great Si- militude between true and falle Experiences, in their Appearance, and in what is expreffed and related by the Subjects of them : and the Difference between them is much like the Difference between the Dreams of Pharaoh's chief Butler andBaker ; they feem'd to be much alike ; infomuch that when 7ofeph interpreted the chief Butler's Dream, that he fhould be deliver'd from his Imprifonment, and re- ftor'd to the King's Favour, and his honourable Office in the Palace, the chief Baker had raifedHopes and Expectations, and told hisllream alfo ; but he was wofully difappointed and tho' his Dream was fo much like the happy and well-boding Dream of his Companion, yet it was quite contrary in its iffue. VIII. Nothing can certainly be determined concerning the Nature of the Affections by this, that Comforts and Joys feem to follow A- wakenings and Convictions of Confcience, in a certain Order. Many Perfons feem to be prejudiced againff Affections and Expe- riences, that come in fuch a Method, as has been much infifted on by many Divines ; firft, fuchAwakenings,Fears and awfulApprehenfions followed with fuch legal Humblings, in a Senfe of total Sinfulnefs and Helplefnefs, and then, fuch and fuch Light and Comfort : they look upon all fuch Schemes, laying down fuch Methods and Steps, to be of Men's deviling : And particularly if high Affections of Joy follow great Diftrels and Terror, it is made by many an Argument againft thole Affections. But fuch Prejudices and Objections are without Reafon or Scripture. Surely it can't be unreafonable to fuppofe,that before God delivers Perfons from a State of Sin and Expofednefs to eternal Deftruction, he fhould give them fome confiderable Senfe of the Evil he delivers from ; that they may be deliver'd fenfibly, and underftand their ownSalvation,and know fomething of whatGod does does for them. AsMen that are faved are in two exceeding different States, firft a State of Condemnation, and then in a State of Juftifica- tion and Bleffednefs ; and as God in the Work of the Salvation of Mankind,
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