hand, to entangle them, and block up their way. Sometimes the distemper
of melancholy has been evidently mixed; of which, when it happens, the
tempter seems to take great advantage, and puts an unhappy bar in the
way of any good effect. One knows not how to deal with such persons;
they turn every thing that is said to them the wrong way, and most to
their own disadvantage. There is nothing that the devil seems to make so
great a handle of, as a melancholy humor; unless it be the real
corruption of the heart.

But it is very remarkable, that there has been far less of this mixture
at this time of extraordinary blessing, than there was wont to be in
persons under awakenings at other times; for it is evident that many who
before had been exceedingly involved is such difficulties, seemed now
strangely to be set at liberty. Some persons who had before, for a long
time, been exceedingly entangled with peculiar temptations of one sort
or other, unprofitable and hurtful distresses, were soon helped over
former stumbling-blocks, that hindered their progress towards saving
good; convictions have wrought more kindly, and they have been
successfully carried on in the way to life. And thus Satan seemed to be
restrained, till to