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…

Fifthly Love is true and sincere, when the action of Love is not without the affection of Love, 1 Cor. 13. 3. and when the affection of Love is not without the action of Love, 1 John. 3 17 when love openeth both the heart and the hand, both the Bowels and the bosom.

Fifthly Love is true and sincere, when the action of Love is not without the affection of Love, 1 Cor. 13. 3. and when the affection of Love is not without the action of Love, 1 Iohn. 3 17 when love openeth both the heart and the hand, both the Bowels and the bosome.

I do not mean that all or any of these marks can be found in any saint on earth, without some mixture, of the contrary corruptions; for we must not look that an imperfect grace (such as love to the Brethren is in this world) must needs be proved by such marks as have no imperfection in them. If the marks be true, then is the grace true, and that is enough to the point which I now assert. But as the grace is not perfect, no more are the marks of it perfect. And as there is no faith here without some unbelief, no repentance without some impenitency, no watchfulness without some security, no contrition without some hardness, no self-denial without some self-seeking; So no love to the Brethren without some want of Love to the Brethren, no marks of true Love without some imperfection and falling short, and no marvel, because no spirit without flesh, no grace without corruption. Feelest thou then those contrary corruptions, those roots of bitterness in thy heart, if thou warrest against them through the strength of Jesus Christ, and endeavourest to have thy love every way such as hath been described, then God looks upon thee, and would have thee to look upon thy self as a lover of the ⟨p. 276⟩