304 The twelfth Sign PART ILL, here is an Evidence to others of their'incerity in their Profeffion, to which all other Manifeftations are not worthy to be compared. There is doubtlefs a great Variety in the Degrees of Evidence that Profefiors do exhibit of their Sincerity, in their Life and Practice ; as there is a Variety in the Fairnefs and Clearnefs of Accounts Perfons give of the Manner and Method of their Experiences : But undoub- tedly fuel' a Manifeftation as has been defcribed, of a chriftian Spirit in Practice, is vaftly beyond the faireft and brighteft Story of particular Steps and Paflages of Experience, that ever was told. And in general a Manifeftation of the Sincerity of a chriftian Profeilion in PraEtice, is far better than a Relation of Experiences. But yet, Thirdly, It muft be noted, agreeable to what was formerly ob- ferved, That no external Manifeftations and outward Appearances whatfoever, that are vifible to the World, are infallible Evidences of Grace. Thefe Manifeftations that have been mention'd, are the heft that Mankind can have ; and they are fuch as do oblige Chriftians entirely to embrace Profeffors as Saints, and love 'em and rejoice in 'em as the Children of God, and are fufficient to give them as great Satisfaction concerning them, as ever is needful to guide them in their Condua,or for anylntent &Purpofe that needs to be anfwered in this World. But nothing that appears to them in their Neighbour, can be fufficient to beget an abfolute Certainty concerning the State ofhis Soul : For they fee not his Heart, nor can they fee all his external Behaviour ; for much of it is in fecret, and hid from the Eye of the World : And 'tis impoffrble certainly to determine, how far a Man may go in many external Appearances and Imitations of Grace, frown other Principles. Tho' undoubtedly, if others could fee fo much of what belongs to Men's Practice, as their own Confciences may fee of it, it might be an infallible Evidence of their State, as will appear from what follows. Having thus confider'd chriftian Praaice as the be/t Evidence of the Sincerity of Profeffors to others, I now proceed, 2. To obferve that the Scripture alto (peaks of chriftian Practice as a diftinguifhing and fare Evidence of Grace to Perfons own Con- fciences. This is very plain in i John 2. 3. Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. And the Teftimony of our Confciences, with Refpea to our good Deeds, is fpoken of as that which may give us Affurance of our own Godlinefs ; I John 3. 18, i g. My little Children, let us not love in Word, neither in Tongue, but in Deed (in the Original it is EPI'O in Work) and in Truth. /Ind hereby we know that we are of the 2°ruth, and Jhall agree our Hearts be- fore
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