t6 what are no Signs PART. II, But then I 'Nvóuld afk them, whether or no it is not their Duty to love all loch as they are bound to think are the Children of God, from all that they can fee in them, to a very great Degree, tho' God, from other Things which he fees, that are out of Sight to them, knows 'em not to be fo. 'Tis Men's Duty to love all whom they are bound in Charity to look upon as the Children of God, with a vaftly dearer Af- feEtion than they commonly do. As we ought to love Chrift to the utmoft Capacity of our Nature, -fo 'tis our Duty to love thof who we think are fo near and dear to him as his Members, with an ex- ceeding dear Affeaion, as Chrift has loved us ; and therefore it is Sin in us not to love them fo. We ought to pray to God that he would, by his Spirit keep us from Sin, and enable us to do our Duty : And may not his Spirit anfwer our Prayers, and enable us to do our Duty, in a particular Inftance, without lying ? If he can't, then the Spirit of God is bound not to help his People to do their Duty in fame Intiances, becaufe he can't do it without being a Spirit of F dlhood. But furely God is fo fovereign as that comes to, that he may enable us to do our Duty when he pleafes, and on what Occafion he pleafes. When Perfons think others are his Children, God may have other Ends in caufing their exceedingly endeared Love to flow out to them, befides revealing to them whether their Opinion of 'em be right or no : He may have that merciful End in it, to enable them to do their Duty, and to keep them from that dreadful infinite Evil, Sin. And will they fay God 'hall not fhow 'em that Mercy in fuch a Cafe ? If I am at a Diftance fromHome, and hear, that in my Ahfence, my Houle is burnt, but my Family have, in fame extraordinary Manner, all efcaped the Flames ; and every Thing in the Circumftances of the Story, as I hear it, makes it appear very credible ; It would be Sin in me, in fuch a Cafe, not to feel a very great Degree of Gratitude to God, tho' the Story indeed be not true. And is not God fo fove- reign, that he may if he pleafes, Phew me that Mercy on that Occa- fion, and enable me to do my Duty in a much further Degree than I ufed to do it, and yet not incur the Charge of Deceitfulnefs, in con- firming a FaIfhood ? 'Tis exceeding manifef+, that Error or Miftake may be the Occa- fion of a gracious Exercife, and confequently a gracious Influence of the Spirit ofGod, be Rom. T¢, 6. Re that eateth to theLord,he eateth, andgiveth God Thanks ; and he that eateth not to the Lord, he eateth not, andgiveth God 'Thanks. The Apoftle is fpeaking of thole, who thro' erroneous and needlefs Scruples, avoided eating legally uncleanMeats. -- --By this it is very evident, that there may be true Exercifes ofGrace, a true Refpe&t to the Lord, and particularly, a true Thank- fulnefs, which may be occafion'd, both by an erroneous Judgment and P.raaice. And confequently, an Error may be the Occafion of . thole truly holy Exercifés that are from the infallible Spirit of God. And
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