A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

Thirdly, both in Philosophy and Divinity; yea, in common sense 'tis allowed to reason from the effects to the causes, here is burning, therefore here is fire; here is the blossoming ⟨p. 248⟩of trees and flowers, therefore it is spring, and the Sun is turning again in his course; here is perfect day light▪ therefore the Sun is risen; here is good fruit growing, therefore here is a good tree. 'Tis a consequence no less sure and infallible, here is unfeigned love to the brethren, therefore here is regeneration; here are spiritual motions, affections, desires, acts and operations, therefore here is spiritual life.

Thirdly, both in Philosophy and Divinity; yea, in common sense 'tis allowed to reason from the effects to the causes, here is burning, therefore here is fire; here is the blossoming ⟨p. 248⟩of trees and flowers, therefore it is spring, and the Sunne is turning again in his course; here is perfect day light▪ therefore the Sunne is risen; here is good fruit growing, therefore here is a good tree. 'Tis a consequence no lesse sure and infallible, here is unfeigned love to the brethen, therefore here is regeneration; here are spirituall motions, affections, desires, acts and operations, therefore here is spirituall life.

Fourthly, the marks of grace have so much evidence in them, as formeth in others of the Saints and servants of God, a well grounded judgement; yea, persuasion of charity, that those in whom they behold these marks, are in the state of grace and regeneration. If they could see into the hearts of others, to be sure of the sincerity and soundness of their graces, they could have a judgement of certainty concerning them. But this they cannot, for who knows the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him. Sure a Saint may know more of himself then another Saint can know of him, for he is conscious to the sincerity of his own heart in in those things, whereof another Saint sees but the outside. And unless one will say, that a Saint can know no more of himself by marks, then another Saint can know of him by the same marks, it must needs be yielded that, a Saint may certainly and assuredly know himself by the marks of grace which are in him.