of Faith. 201 but a preparatory Work May not the Lord at the very firfl Work, or Stroke, convey an im-O mortal Seed of Grace unto the Soul. Auf. What God may do is not gueftion- ed, but of many under a preparatory Work we have no Ground to think they have a- ny fairing Grace, and de faElo ; for fornetimes Many have no more, yea foIne, who fray long in the Place of the breaking forth of Chip drew, are long kept back,and afterwards prove eminent Chriflians : It was no hard Mat- ter to fay either of the Jailor, or of the 000 in As,while under a preparatory Work, that they had no more for the Time, and till we fee them profefs, and exprefs their Faith in Chrift, we are not to think them Believers. Obj. 8. Lydia, Zacchcus, and the Samari- tans had no fuch preparatory Works at all, who yet believed : 1 herefore there may be a believing without fuch working of the Law. Anf. Mr. Shepherd tells you, That it is ill arguing in this Care, from Negatives to Pofitives, to fay Scripture Both not menti- on filch a Thing in fuch a Place : There- fore there was no fuch Thing, is unfafe Ar- guing. Zacchc145, the Sarnaritans, and Lydia Might have had Heart- Exercifes anent Sin and Mifery, though it be not, in there Places which declare their Converton in general on- . ly,pa,rticularly and pxprefly mentioned. And that
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