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…

The third point now remains, viz. that there is no such inextricable difficulty, darkness or mist in this mark, the love of the brethren; but that the children of God may, and sometimes do clearly and safely assure their hearts by this mark, that they have passed from death to life. Which that it may ⟨p. 269⟩appear, I shall speak first to the Object, the Brethren, then to the Act, which is love.

The third point now remains, viz. that there is no such inextricable difficulty, darknesse or mist in this mark, the love of the brethren; but that the children of God may, and sometimes do clearly and safely assure their hearts by this mark, that they have passed from death to life. Which that it may ⟨p. 269⟩appeare, I shall speak first to the Object, the Brethren, then to the Act, which is love.

Touching the Object, let four things be observed. First. this we certainly know, that there are Saints on earth, we believe the holy universal Church: Now all who have passed from death to life, those and none but those have a true and sincere love to the saints in general, praying heartily for them, sympathizing with their suffering, and rejoicing at their felicity. None but a Saint can say in truth, and with a sincere self-denying affection, If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; If: I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to thereof of my mouth; If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Ps. 137. 5. 6. The Apostle commends praying for all Saints, Eph: 6. 18. and love to all the Saints. Col: 1. 4. I conceive he means, not only all the Saints known to us, but the whole invisible Church of Saints on earth. That prayer and protestation, Psal. 122. 7, 8. when uttered in Spirit and Truth, can proceed from no other, but a gracious renewed heart; peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy Palaces. For my brethren and companions sake, I will now say peace be within thee. This very love to the Saints in general as to the excellent and precious ones of the earth, is a fruit of Sanctification, and a mark of a renewed and gracious estate; even as contrary wise they that have no love to the Saints in their species or kind, that love and esteem men only for some earthly respect and consideration, the Rich, the Honourable, the Mighty, &c. or for some particular humane relation, Parents, Wives, Children, Kindred Friends, Benefactors, &c. much more they that delight in the company and fellowship of the profane and ungodly, prove themselves to be such as have not yet passed from death to life.