_Q._ 2. Do we empty men of their own ♦righteousness, as we did at first? Do we sufficiently labour, when they begin to be convinced of sin, to take away all they lean upon? Should we not then endeavour with all our might to overturn their false foundations? ♦ “rightousness” replaced with “righteousness” _A._ This was at first one of our principal points. And it ought to be so still. For, till all other foundations are overturned, they cannot build upon Christ? _Q._ 3. Did we not _then_ purposely throw them into convictions? Into strong sorrow and fear? Nay, did we not strive to make them inconsolable? Refusing to be comforted? _A._ We did. And so we should do still. For the stronger the conviction, the speedier is the deliverance. And none so soon receive the peace of God, as those who steadily refuse all other comfort. _Q._ 4. Let us consider a particular case. Was you, _Jonathan Reeves_, before you received the peace of God, convinced, that notwithstanding all you did, or could do, you was in a state of damnation? _J. R._ I was convinced of it, as fully as that I am now alive. ♦_Q._ 5. Are you sure that conviction was from God? ♦ “A.” replaced with “Q.” _J. R._ I can have no doubt but it was. _Q._ 6. What do you mean by a state of damnation? _J. R._ A state, wherein if a man dies he perisheth for ever. _Q._ 7. How did that conviction end? _J. R._ I had first a strong hope that God _would_ deliver me: and this brought a degree of peace. But I had not that solid peace of God, till Christ was revealed in me. _Q._ 8. But is not such a trust in the love of God, tho’ it be as yet without a distinct sight of God, reconciled to me thro’ Christ Jesus, a low degree of justifying faith? _A._ It is an earnest of it. But this abides, for a short time only: nor is this the proper Christian faith. _Q._ 9. By what faith were the apostles clean, before Christ died? _A._ By such a faith as this; by a _Jewish_ faith. For _the Holy Ghost was not then given_. _Q._ 10. Of whom then do you understand those words――(_Isaiah_ l. 10.) _Who is there among you that feareth the Lord? That obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?_ _A._ Of a believer under the _Jewish_ dispensation: one in whose heart God hath not yet shined, to give him the light of the glorious love of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. _Q._ 11. Who is a _Jew_ (inwardly)? _A._ A _servant_ of God: one who sincerely obeys him out of fear. Whereas a Christian (inwardly) is a _child_ of God; one who sincerely obeys him out of love. But was not you sincere before Christ was revealed in you? _J. R._ It seemed to me that I was in some measure. _Q._ 12. What is sincerity? _A._ Willingness to know and do the whole will of God. The lowest species thereof seems to be _faithfulness in that which is little_. * _Q._ 13. Has God any regard to man’s sincerity?