as his Body is nourished and fupported by the other,

A Second Scripture Mark of our having received the Holy Ghoft is not commit ting Sin.

Whofoever is born of God, fays St. John, finneth not, neither can he fin, because his Seed remaineth in him- -Neither can he

fin

This Expreffion does not imply the Impoffibility of a spiritual Man's Sinning. For we are told, that in many Things we offend all-It means only thus much; that a Man that is really born again of God, doth not wilfully commit Sin, much lefs live in the habitual Practice of it. For how fhall he that is dead to Sin, as every converted Perfon is, live any longer therein.

It is true, a Man that is born again of God. may thro' Surprize or Violence of a Temptation, fall into an Act of Sin: Witness the Adultery of David, and Peter's Denial of his Mafter. But then like them, he quickly rifes again, goes out from the World and weeps bitterly; wafnes the Guilt of Sin away by the Tears of a fincere Repentance, joined with Faith in the Blood of Jefus Chrift; takes double Heed to his Ways for the future, and perfects Holiness in the Fear of God.

The Meaning of this Expreffion of the Apofle, that a Man that is born again of God cannot commit Sin, has been fitly illuftrated in the Example of a covetous Wordling, to the general Bent of whofe Inclinations, Li

* Law's Chriflian PerfeFisn.

berality

berality and Profufenefs are directly oppofite. But if upon fome unexpected fudden Occafion, he does play the Prodigal, he immediately repents him of his Fault, and returns with double Care to his Savingness again And fo is every one that is born again. To commit Sin is as contrary to the habitual Frame and Tendency of his Mind, as Generosity is to the Inclinations of a Mifer. But if at any Time he is drawn into Sin, he immediately with double Zeal returns to his Duty, and brings forth Fruits meet for Repentance. Whereas the unconverted Sinner is quite dead in Trefpaffes and Sinsor if he does abftain from the grofs Acts of it, from worldly felfish Motives, yet there is fome Right Eye he will not pluck out; fome Right Hand which he will not cut off; fome fpecious Agag that he will not facrifice for God; and thereby he is convinced that he is but a meer Saul; and confequently whatever Pretenfions he may make to the contrary, has not yet received the Holy Ghost.

A Third Mark whereby we may know whether or not we have received the Holy Ghost isour Conquest over the World-For whoever is born of God, fays the Apostle, overcometh the World-By the World we are to understand, as St. John expreffes it, all that is in the World, the Luft of the Eye, the Luft of the Flesh, the Pride of Life And by overcoming of it is meant our renouncing these, fo as not to follow or be led by them- -For whosoever is born from above, has his Affections fet on Things above: He feels a divine

At

Attraction in his Soul, which forcibly draws his Mind Heavenwards; and as the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks, fo doth it make his Soul to long after the Enjoyment of his God.

Not that he is fo taken up with the Affairs of another Life, as to neglect the Business of this. No, a truly fpiritual Man dares not stand any Day idle: But then he takes Care, tho' he laboureth for the Meat which perisheth, first to fecure that which endureth to everlasting Life. Or if God has exalted him above his Brethren, yet like Mofes, Jofeph, and Daniel, he notwithftanding looks upon himself as a Stranger and Pilgrim upon Earth- -Having received a Principle of New Life, he walks by Faith and not by Sight-- -And his Hopes being full of Immortality, he can look on all Things here below as Vanity and Vexation of Spirit-In fhort, tho' he is in, yet is not of the World; And as he was made for the Enjoyment of God, fo nothing but God can fatisfy his Soul.

The ever bleffed Jefus was a perfect Instance of overcoming the World. For tho' he went continually about doing Good, and always lived in a Prefs, yet wherever he was, his Converfation tended Heavenwards. In like Manner he that is joyned to the Lord in one Spirit, will fo order his Thoughts, Words and Actions aright, that he will evidence to all, that his Converfation is in Heaven.

On the contrary, an unconverted Man being of the Earth is earthly: And having no fpiri

tual

tual Eye to difcern fpiritual Things, is always fecking for Happiness in this Life, where it never was, will, or can be found- -Being not born again from above, he is bowed down by a Spirit of natural Infirmity; the Serpent's Curfe becomes his Choice, and he eats of the Duft of the Earth all the Days of his Life.

A Fourth Scripture Mark of our New Birth, or of our having received the Holy Ghoft isour loving one another.

We know, fays St. John, we are paffed from Death unto Life, because we love the Brethren

And by this, fays Jefus Chrift, shall all Men know that you are my Difciples, if ye have Love one towards another- Love is the fulfilling of the Gofpel, as well as the Law. For God is Love, and whofoever dwelleth in God dwelleth in Love.

But by this Love we are not to understand, a Softnefs and Tenderness of meer Nature, or a Love founded on worldly Motives (for this a natural Man may have) but a Love of our Brethren proceeding from a Love towards GodLoving all Men in general because God loves all Men, and loving good Men in particular, for the Grace we fee in them, and because they love our Lord Jefus in Sincerity.

This is Chriftian Charity, and that new Commandment which Chrift gave his Difciples. New not in its Object, but in the Motive and Example whereon it is founded, even Jefus Christ. This is that Love which the primitive Christians were fo renowned for, that it became a Proverb, See how thefe Chriftians love one another.

ther. And without this Love, tho' we fhould give all our Goods to feed the Poor, and our Bodies to be burnt, it would profit us nothing.

Further, this Love is not confined to any particular Set of Men, but is Impartial and Catholick. A Love that embraces God's Image wherever it beholds it, and that delights in. nothing fo much as to fee Chrift's Kingdom

come.

This is the Love wherewith Jefus Chrift loved Mankind-He loved all, even the worst of Men, as appears by his weeping over the obftinately Perverfe; but wherever he faw the leaft Appearance of the Divine Likeness, that Soul he loved in particular,

Thus we

read, that when he heard the young Man fay, All thefe Things have I kept from my Youth, that fo far he loved him. And when he faw any noble Instance of Faith, tho' in a Centurion, a Syrophenician, Aliens to the Common-wealth of Ifrael, how is he said to marvel at it, as Man, to rejoyce in it, fpeak of and commend it! So alfo every fpiritual Difciple of Jefus Chrift will cordially embrace all that worship God in Spirit and in Truth, howfoever they may differ as to the Appendages of Religion, and Things not effentially neceffary to Salvation.

I confefs indeed that the Heart of a natural Man is not thus enlarged all at once; and a Perfon may really have received the Holy Ghoft, (as Peter no doubt had when he was unwilling to go to Cornelius) tho' he be not arrived to this But then we affirm, where a Perfon

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