The apostle in pursuing his end and design in this Epistle, goes on in the next and seven following verses, to speak of some clear scriptural evidences of the truth and reality of spiritual faith and love, wrought in the minds of such as were regenerated by the Spirit of the living God, which made an essential difference between them and all other professors of the gospel whatsoever. As all this was written under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit ; so no part of it is to be overlooked, or contemned. It is all pure truth : it is for use : it stands as it ought, and where it should : it is to answer a vast. design-to separate the precious from the vile-to have, under the hand and seal of the infallible Spirit, what the fruits and effects are, which the new birth produceth. And, on the contrary, what will ever be found in unregenerate professors, let their profession be ever so high and glittering. There are in the outward visible church of Christ, two sorts of persons : one, who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, and who walk before the Lord unto all well pleasing; the other, who have no root in them ; consequently they can produce no fruit : they never did ; but inasmuch as at their first appearance of being greatly concerned in their minds about eternal things, and leaving obtained so much knowledge of the truth, externally, as to be able there from to collect materials to compose a confession of their faith, they were looked on by some true saints, as being wrought upon by sovereign grace : hence they were admitted to Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They being thus in union to the churches of Christ in the apostle's days, and never producing any spiritual fruit, our apostle is led, by the unerring Spirit, to point these out, by way of distinguishing them from the real children of the most high God. He doth so in the words before us he speaks here of two sorts of persons : of one who professed the knowledge of Christ, yet kept not his commandments; of another, who not only professed Christ but kept his commandments also ; thereby giving outward and clear open proof, by keeping Christ's word, that the love of God dwelt in his heart-that he was under the power and omnipotent sweetness and influence of the same. This is the outline of these words, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But who so keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know that we are in him. I would here observe, it would most certainly cast light on what is thus, and further expressed throughout this epistle, on the subject of what is styled, marks, signs, proofs, and evidences of a true work of God upon the soul ; if what our Lord was pleased to deliver in his own ministry was more closely attended unto : especially in his account of the sower and the seed : of the different hearers, of the different effects the preaching the word produced in them. See Matt. xiii. 3-8; also our Lord's explanation thereof, in the same chapter, verses 18-23. We must not style our Lord's explanation of his own parable a legal one; as if we wanted to get rid of it : neither must we style the Epistle before us so either: nor does the Epistle of James deserve that title. We should take care, not to weaken the authority of any part of the Scriptures of truth. It should ever be kept, in remembrance, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2. Tim. iii. 16, 17. As I am to explain my text, and shew and express what is to be considered as expressed and contained in it, I will aim at the same in the following order, to the intent the whole of what is in it may be apprehended : yet I will recite my text before I give you my plan. He that saith., I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepethh his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. In the which sentence the following particulars are to be set before us.

1. Here is first described a mere professor; who saith of and for himself, I know Christ ; yet he keepeth not the Lord's commandments; which proves him to be only a mere professor. The apostle calls him liar to his face ; and roundly and positively asserts the truth is not in him : read his own words for this, he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

2. The essential difference of one who knows Christ. He is described as one who keepeth the word of Christ. How this operates within and upon him, and what it produces within him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love o f God perfected.

3. This produces infallible evidence of such an one's being in Christ: outwardly and manifestatively. Hereby know we that we are in Him. In going through these heads, I hope, through the good hand of my God upon me, to do justice to the words now before me. I am

1. To describe a mere professor of Christ; who saith for himself, I know Christ. Yet notwithstanding this, keepeth not the Lord's commandments; which proves him to be only a mere professor. This man the apostle calls liar to his face: and roundly and positively asserts the truth is not in him: the words for my guide are, he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

The subject is expressed in the singular number: it may be because a profession of Christ., is a personal act. The confession is made by the person individually : it is made in the case of a were professor, from theoretical hearsay knowledge, and from reading and hearing the scriptures of truth. The knowledge received is altogether ideal : it is but a notion of the truth : there is no reality of it in the mind. The mere professor is but a mere imitator of those who know Christ : so as to lay hold of their words: to value himself on saying the same things : in using the same expressions: of holding the same doctrines: of being a partaker of the same ordinances : of having, it may be, no outward blemish : or if he has, either moral blemish, or is evidently wholly and altogether without the practice of holiness, he has enough to say in his own excuse, and on his own behalf. I know Christ, says he, and that is enough for me I will have nothing to do, to tack this, that, and the other, to the work of Christ: it is completely finished : I am saved : I will give myself no farther concern about it: our apostle had heard of such an one: he deciphers him : he says he may be known by this-he does not keep our Lord's commandments. By which, in the generality of the expression, I conceive the person pays no regard to any thought, word, or act of his own; but is just as ever he was before his boast of knowing Christ, under the influence of his own will ; so that with regard to walking as one with Christ ; as beloved by Christ; as saved in Christ; as having communion with Christ ; he knows nothing of it : he gives himself no concern about it. What he professes of Christ, and to know of Him, and why he so boldly affirms he knows Him ; all arises from some floating ideas and imaginations in his own weak and un-renewed apprehensions of some truths and doctrines contained in the everlasting gospel, of the which he never had the slightest true apprehension. Yet he is very confident, like Solomon's fool, more wise in his own sight than seven men who can render a reason : yet he will talk boldly : yea, freely and fully : and in the conceptions of some, very gloriously. Such there were in the apostle's time ; such there most certainly are in our time : they may however be known ; they may be easily discovered. For what is there in any of us professing Christ, or saving, individually, I know Christ, if our lives and conversations give the lie to this ? Nothing. It is worth nothing, all outward profession, if we do not give full and clear outward evidence to others, that we have been with Jesus. The apostle does not rank a mere professor, amongst the saints : he will not admit he shall be so much as mentioned with them : nor at the same time, except it be to shew and prove the essential difference there is between them. What then must be a mere, Christ less professor? one says, such is the blackest sight next to hell: no doubt it must be so : it cannot be otherwise : yet such are always disposed to hold fast this lie in their right hand. It may be, some individuals hold it fast in their dying moments; I know him : I know Christ. But how is this to be proved by you: since, 0 mere professor of Christ, it was never thy study or any part of thy employment, to testify any cleaving or attachment to the Lord Jesus Christ, in any one of his commandments. It is on this account the apostle brings his charge against thee, and fastens the same on thee. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Reader-Hearer-It is not keeping all the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, will give us the true knowledge of Christ : this must wholly proceed from the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. It is He is the revealer and testifier of the Lord Jesus Christ to the regenerated and enlightened mind. But none can prove they are the partakers of Christ, but as they walk in union and communion with Christ .Jesus : all there can he no walking in fellowship with our Lord, but there will be a most blessed profession of Christ maintained in an outward life and conversation ; which cannot be, but by an obedience rendered to his most holy commandments. By the which I should conceive might be understood the various precepts and commands, given forth by our Lord Jesus in the days of his flesh, and in his resurrection state, as they are from Him, and in their own nature and design, immutable, and obligatory on his saints, so long as they shall remain this side heaven. To disregard all these, therefore ; to pay no attention unto them ; to profess to know Christ, and at the same time to pay no attention to what the Lord hath called for, and commanded his people to attend unto, as set before them in his written word, for them to practice, and thereby give outward evidence, that they are called to the practice of holiness ; this is so contrary to the will of Christ, that John with all his meekness cannot forbear saving, with some good degree of warmth, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. These words are not dropped from John, to be recited to a child of God : they do not belong to him. They are for a mere professor ; yet insomuch as they could not be conveyed to the one, but the other must. hear of the same, hence in the next verse he speaks wholly to the latter. A man who saith, I know Him, (i. c. Christ,) and keepeth not his commandments, the apostle calls liar to his face. He cannot but be so: for his not keeping His commandments is a plain proof he does not love him : and it is impossible to know Christ, and not love him ; yea, must know Him, and have some glimpses of his glory, before we can love Him. He must also open his heart to us, and reveal some communications of his love to our minds, before our hearts are drawn out in love to Him which, when this hath taken place, we cannot but delight in Him, and in his blessed ordinances and commandments also. As a mere professor of Christ and his gospel, is wholly and only what he is by declaring for himself, I know Christ, and hath nothing as an outward evidence and proof thereof to give to justify his profession, so he hereby gives himself the lie. The apostle brands him in the hand, and marks him a liar : not content with this, he adds thereto, and the truth is not in him. He is not the subject of the grace of God ; neither is he wrought upon by the Spirit of God ; he does not know the Truth as it is in Jesus; neither has he received the grace of God in truth. It, is all profession without any foundation to bear it up : it cannot, therefore, be but what it is-a mere profession without the least inward spiritual knowledge of Christ. There is nothing in the mere professor, for fruit to grow or be produced from therefore to expect. it, is without any reason. It is only from the holy, spiritual, and divine nature, conveyed by the Spirit of God to the regenerate, any spiritual fruit can possibly be brought forth to the praise and glory of his most holy Name. I will close this head with the words with which I began it. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. I will also immediately proceed to my

2nd particular, in which the essential difference of one who knows Christ is described, and how he differs from the former. Our text describes him, as one who keepeth the word of Christ. How this operates on him, and within him ; and what it also produces. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.

It may not be amiss to put both these verses in their full and proper contrast. Thereby, it may be, they will the more clearly be seen and understood. Here one says, I know him: the other without so saying, proves it. To the one, the keeping the Lord's commandments is of no importance : to the other, it is. The not keeping Christ's commandments by the one, proves the person a liar : by keeping the word of Christ in heart, and remembrance, the love of God is perfectly proved in the other. By keeping the commandments of God, is proved to a certainty and demonstration, such and such are in Christ, and have hereby the knowledge of it. By the neglect of the sum total of them, and in not paying the least regard to them, it is proved in the opposite case, there is no truth in that person. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth. his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. These words, and this declaration of the apostle's are most true, and as clear as a sun-beam : there is nothing dark in it. He is not speaking of Christ as a Saviour ; nor of him as the immediate object of faith : he is speaking of those who professed they had fled to Him for refuge-To those who declared freely: and publicly before the church, their confession of Him. He is distinguishing the truth and reality of the profession, between the one and the other. He deals in the gracious effects produced in the minds of some of these who professed Christ, having an internal work of grace wrought in their souls, from the word and Spirit; and those who had not, although they grade the same confession, and profession. He shews how the one is deceived the other is approved. The one and the other, fully evidence, what they are not, and what they are. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whose keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby known we that we are in him. It. is all holy apostolical : it therefore demands great reverence : no part. of it should be overlooked. It is absolutely necessary it. should have its full and proper place : its full weight and meaning should be ascertained ; otherwise it is not giving every part and passage of scripture, its proper place, weight., and due. I have gone over the former words, and have only the latter to encounter. The essential difference of both these verses, most certainly is this-the one is expressive of a mere professor, the other gives an account of a possessor ; of one in whom Christ dwelleth: whose description is introduced with a But ; to signify he is most directly different from the former : who, though he said, I know Christ, yet he could give no real proof and evidence of this : whereas, such an one spoken of in the words which are now to be spoken of', could : so here lay a vast contrast, between them : the one and the other made the same profession : there was no difference in this respect. The one said, I know Christ: the other declared for himself the same. The one neglected all internal evidences of this, and outward evidences of the inward reality thereof, in outward life and conversation : the other did not. Hence it is the But comes in, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But who so keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in him. Now as there is this most essential difference between the mere professor and the real saint, that the one knows Christ truly and spiritually, and the other does not, so the one neglected the commandments of Christ; but the true believer is here spoken of, and described as one who keeps the word of Christ. By the word of Christ., most undoubtedly the word of the gospel is to be understood : this is the very medium by which Christ is received into the mind : it cannot therefore be, but it must lie near the true believer's heart : it must. most assuredly be very near unto him : it must be very precious onto him : it cannot, but be his daily food -his daily feast-his daily portion : to make use of it.; to meditate on it. ; to take into his mind fresh sights of the Lord Jesus Christ there from ; and to be furnishing his spiritual faculties from the same. He keepeth Christ's word in remembrance : he attends to the voice of his commandment, hearkening to the voice of his word. All in it, which concerns Him; such as looking to Him, hearing his blessed voice, casting every care and burthen on Him, rolling ourselves wholly off ourselves, and out of ourselves on the Lord Jesus Christ; this is attended unto by a real believer ; that is in a measure, not to any degree of perfection in any one Instance. The words of Christ, the commandments of Christ, the precepts of Christ, the promises of Christ, dwell in the mind of a real believer ; through the grace of the eternal Spirit. This operates in the mind, within the mind, and on the mind, so as for him who is one with Christ, and Christ one with him, to feel and have in himself, the realizing virtue and efficacy of the same within him. It produces in him some blessed and increasing, thoughts, views, and apprehensions of the Lord Jesus Christ-in the dignity of his Person-the greatness of his love-the glory of his salvation-the nature of his gospel-the excellencies of his offices-the inexhaustible fullness of his grace-the relation he stands in to each of his believing people. It is hereby the believer is increased, within him and without him, with the increase of God. Thus he grows strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. The same word of Christ operates within him, so as to deaden and subdue carnal desires and affections; to quicken and excite inward graces, so as to draw them forth into real act and exercise : as also to raise up the heart and affections into spiritual breathings and aspirations towards the Lord. Thus the love of God which hath been made known unto him, and which hath been shed abroad in the heart, by the Holy Ghost given unto him, is more confirmed in him. He has inwardly and experimentally the love of God, so evangelized in his mind, and realized in his heart, that he cannot but be giving outwardly, in his talk and walk, real evidence to others that he loves the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Thus the love of God is completed in him ; or perfected in him: or, it so operates within him and upon him, as that he is always disposed to think, speak, act, and walk before saints, professors, and sinners, as one in whom the word of God dwelleth : so as that hereby he may properly distinguish himself to whom he belongs ; and walk and act in the name and fear of the Lord, as ever in his immediate eye and presence. All which is the fruit of love and gratitude to Him, for the benefits which he hath received from Him. Thus he that keepeth his commandments, gives full, clear, and outward evidence, that the word of God is in him that the love of God is in his heart: that he hath an inward sense of the love of Christ remaining on his mind : that he is alive to Christ: that he lives in Christ: that he is kept looking unto, and trusting all in Christ, for the whole of his salvation, and for every grace and blessing of the same that he is also come to some good decree and steadfastness in the knowledge and belief of the Truth. The whole whereof is most exactly agreeable with the words which contrast this verse with the former, But who so keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. This is the apostle's account of it. We may well acknowledge him to be a proper judge; and it well becomes us to submit to his judgment. We shall most assuredly advantage thereby he is not here informing- its, what we ought to be: nor what we must he: nor what he would have its to be.

He goes beyond all this: telling and expressly declaring what the Spirit of God actually produces in the souls of the regenerated elect. The words are neither delivered as a precept, nor command, nor an exhortation, nor art excitement to the exercise of any grace, or to any duty. No: it is wholly and only a solemn declaration concerning such as knew that Christ was theirs, and that they were his: that such would keep the word of Christ: it would dwell in them: it would abide in them: it would influence them: it would perfect the love of God in them; that is, it would, by their being under the power, influence, and energy of Christ's most precious gospel, appear truly and with the utmost confidence, such as would be fully confirmed by most un-questiouable evidence, that the love of God was perfected in these persons. That there was nothing to prove, that such and such were the real partakers of the love of God, But who so keepeth his word, that is, such an one as keepeth the word of Christ, (for it is He to whom belongs the relative) in him verily is the love of God perfected. In such an one the love of Christ hath its proper place, and produceth its proper effect. As the words have been thus opened, there does not appear anything which, by any means, can take off our minds one single moment from our Lord Jesus Christ whilst there is a sufficiency in them, and the subject of which they treat, to take off our minds from our setting our hearts upon, and being taken with, any who are but mere professors: although it does not become us to speak, or pretend to say what their eternal state before the Lord is, yet it becomes us to deal with them concerning the state we view them to be in .as mere professors: but even there, where there are no external evils connived at, we shall find need to act with care and caution; the Lord will have some such in his visible church ; they have their use and end: they are a means of preserving the corn ; they are as good hedges about standing wheat : or leaves on the trees, which screen the fruit from storms, and too much sun. The words of our Lord should, therefore, be here called to mind. He said respecting the tares and the wheat, " Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Matt. xiii. 30. Errors, and immoral persons, most undoubtedly, should be removed out of the churches. Such as the five foolish virgins ; and doubtless professors answerable unto them, may be found in the congregated churches of Christ amongst us, are, I should conceive, by no means obnoxious to real saints: therefore they may as well remain where they are, as be removed ; seeing they are by no means troublesome, and real saints can receive no essential evil from them. To sum up the present head-a real professor of Christ's gospel is one, who keepeth the word of God: in whose heart the love of God is perfected: who hereby gives outward evidence of the truth and reality of all this ; and hereby is quite opposite unto, and most clearly and evidently distinguished from, the mere nomial professor. This brings me

3. To shew that this essential difference between a mere, and real professor, produces infallible evidence that the real believer is one who is interested in Christ; or, in other words, that where the commandments of Christ are kept, where the word of Christ dwells, in whose heart the love of God is perfected, or so established as for the true and proper fruits of the same to be produced, this evidence and manifestatively proves to immutable certainty, that such an one is in Christ. Hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. It is never to be omitted, and it is, therefore, here again repeated, the apostle is not speaking of the witness of the Holy Ghost to our spirits that we are the sons of God : he is speaking of the internal and external evidence which may be produced of our being born of God: it being quite like unto this, that. we keep in remembrance the word of God: walk as becometh the gospel. All which proceeds from inward and spiritual principles. They, therefore, carry their own evidences with them, proving such and such to be the Lord's ; the outward difference of one professor's walk and conversation, differing so much one from the other, as to prove where and in whom Christ was, and in whom he was not : so that John says, hereby know we that we are in Him. The knowledge of which must have been most divinely satisfactory; more especially as this was an outward standing evidence, such as could not but be taken notice of by some, it might by all who knew them, seeing it was made manifest in their lives, walk, and conversation. This being the case, it was, therefore, so absolutely necessary, for the apostle to mention these fruits and effects of the real knowledge of Christ, as thus expressed. I should not call any of these things the apostle mentions, in and throughout the whole of this subject, the fruits of faith ; I should rather term the same, the natural effects of the workmanship of the Holy Ghost, in producing a new creation in the called people of God : it carries its own testimony with it, of what the Lord had wrought; it is always inherent in the mind : it is so residentiary there, that it becomes to the real children of the most high God, habitual : it is spiritually so. Hereby the renewed mind, being never more at rest and peace, and moving in its own spiritual sphere and activity, when acting in the name of the Lord Jesus and to the praise and glory of his Name, with a view to exalt him and advance his praise and glory ; it became self-evident, it would not admit to be called in question by such as knew Christ, that these very outward and inward evidences were proofs that they knew Him: they were so to themselves : they were so to other believers. Hence. the apostle speaks for himself and all the holy brethren, hereby, know we that we are in him. The word hereby, refers to what the apostle expressed in these words. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily, or truly, is the love of God perfected.. It is, hereby, fully proved to be genuine, and altogether divine. Hereby know we that we are in him. We cannot but be fully persuaded of this : we would by no means call it into question : we have increasing evidence hereof: we give full and convincing evidence of this by our profession. Hereby know we; we have the evidence of it fit ourselves: we do not want others to prove to us, we are the Lord's disciples: we have the full proof of it in our lives and conversations, Hereby know we that we are in him. It appears to me, I have been led very clearly and plainly, and, I conceive also, with much ease, to give you a spiritual exposition of this scripture before us. Holiness of life and conversation is the very walk and ornament of the believer; it may well be considered, as it should be, his outward garment and ornament : so as that he cannot wear it, and go out and in with it, before men, but the glory of Jesus is advanced : the good of fellow saints promoted : fresh evidences of being one in Christ and with Him, given : and also renewed proof of our being in Christ, afresh gained : so that the whole cannot fail of being very beneficial to the souls and bodies of real saints. Still all this is but an outward evidence of our knowing Christ.; it. is, however, a very substantial one ; it is so good in its place, we cannot willingly part with it; yet we do not look within ourselves for it. No, we give it, and we also take it; but we never substitute it. in the place of Christ. Yet without it we should be ashamed to say, we did belong to Him; because we cannot, by any means, conceive, the Lord has stamped His divine image on us but, it becomes us to reflect the glory thereof on others. The apostle's saying, But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him, implies a knowledge which saints, as saints, have of each other ; so as to conclude concerning each other, that they are in Christ and without this they can have no real satisfaction in and with each other. There can be no union without communion, neither can there be any communion without an union. This is discovered by a close and most hearty attachment to Christ the Head-to his gospel, truths, and ordinances-to a walk agreeable with the same. Where this is manifested, real saints love each other : they cannot but love each other they cannot fail of knowing each other that they are in Christ. Hereby now we that we are in him. This knowledge must have its increasing influence on the minds of such as are saints indeed : we know this so blessedly and effectually, as to be of one heart and of one soul, striving together for the faith of the gospel. I might here observe, how one real evidence of our being partakers of the grace of God, so as to be not only the objects of it, but the subjects of it also, springs from one gracious act, and is followed by more. The true knowledge of Christ goes first : this is the gift of God. In the true knowledge and with the right spiritual apprehension of Christ, we receive him and his great salvation into our minds. This makes way for our acknowledgment of Him, and to confess Him. Then it becomes us to give outward proof and evidence of our faith, openly, before others; which is agreeable with our Lord's command, '' Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Malt. v. 16. So doth a real christian. He being in Christ, by grace and by profession, he believes on Christ: he keeps the commandments of Christ.:he holds fast and maintains the truth of Christ he keepeth his word : the love of God produceth this most blessed effect in him : he knows himself, and he knows others hereby. It is certain to himself that all this is the very fruit and effect of thee indwelling of the Spirit of Christ. This is his outward criterion to look at and judge others by : so it was the apostle's. Such as were so and so influenced by Almighty grace, to cleave with full purpose of heart to the Lord, who had the love of God dwelling in their minds, who were thereby sweetly constrained to attend unto, and keep Christ's word, were the very identical persons of whom John was persuaded, they were in Jesus. If these things are so, then we do not want to reject the use of all evidences concerning a man's state before God. They are for an outward evidence, and serve chiefly by way of discrimination between one and another who profess the Lord Jesus Christ and his truth. Perhaps that is the one sole anal grand design of them : not for us to judge our eternal state by, as to judge of ourselves and others also, how far we give proof to others, of our walking in the Spirit ; and as becomes the commands and precepts of the gospel : and in an especial manner to keep up and maintain a proper and regular distinction, between real possessors of Christ, and such as are only professors. Let this be considered. For we mv be fully persuaded, whether we have the true meaning of the apostle or not, that it could not be the design of the Holy Ghost to lead us off Christ, to look for any thing; in ourselves to recommend us to Him nor to build our confidence of faith in Him, on account of any of these evidences, which, in and of' themselves, were so many substantial fruits and effects of our being born of God. They are spoken of as outward evidences of grace, proceeding- from an inward faculty, which fully proved what they were produced for ; which was to shew the vast difference between one born of God, and another under the same profession of Truth, who was not renewed by the Holy Ghost. I leave what is thus set before You. May the Lord give his own light in the same to your minds ; that you may receive it by his own Holy Spirit's teaching. Amen.