318 The twelfth Sign PART III. is Opportunity to fee which preponderates. When a Man is brought to the dividing of Paths, the one of which leads to Chrift, and the other to the Objets of his Lulls, to fee which Way he will go, or is brought, and as it were let between Chrift and the World, Chrift on the right Hand, and the World on the left, fo that if he goes to one he muff leave the other, to fee which his Heart inclines moll to, or which preponderates in his Heart ; this is juft the fame Thing as laying Chrift and the World in two oppofite Scales : and his going to the one, and leaving the other, is just the fame Thing, as the finking of one Scale, and riling of the other. A Man's Prtaice therefore, under the Trials of God's Providence, are as much the proper Ex- periment and Evidence of the fuperiour Inclination of his Heart, as the Motion of theBalance, with different Weights, in oppofite Scales, is the proper Experiment of the fuperiour Weight. Argument Ill. AnotherArgument, that holy Pra6tice, in the Senfe which has been explain'd, is the highefl Kind of Evidence of the Truth of Grace to the Confciences of Chriflians, is, that in Pradlice, Grace, in Scripture Style, is Paid to be made perfefl, or to be fnifed. So the Apoftle fames lays, Jam. 2. 22. Seeil thou how Faith wrought with his ll'orks; and by Works was Faith made perfe5l, or finished (as the Word in the Original properly fignifies.) So the Love of God is laid to be made perfea, or fanifhed, in keeping his Commandments ; z John 2. 4, s. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not his Com- mandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him ; but whofo keepeth his Word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected. The Commandment of Chrift which the Apoftle has efpecial Refpea to, when he here fpeaks of our keeping his Commandments, is (as I observed before) that great Commandment of his, which Refpedls Deeds of Love to our Brethren as appears by the following Verfes. Again, the Love of God is Paid to be perfected, in the fame Senfe, Chap. 4. 12. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his Love is perfected in us. Here doubtlefs the Apoftle has ftill Refpea to loving one another, in the fame Manner that he had explain'd in the preceeding Chapter, fpeaking of loving one another, as a Sign of the Love of God, Verfe 17, r 8. T4'bofo bath this World's Goods, and f utteth up his Bowels, &c., how dwelleth the Love of God in him? My little Children, let us not love in Word, neither in Tongue, but in Deed (or in Work) and in Truth. By thus loving in Work, the Apoftle fays the Love of God is perfected in us. Grace is laid to be perfected or finished in holyPraElice, as there- in it is brought to its proper Effect, and to that Exercife which is the End of the Principle ; the Tendency and Defign of Grace, herein is reached, and its Operation compleated and crown'd. As the Tree is made perfect in.the Fruit : 'Tis not perfected in the Seeds being planted in the Ground ; it is not perfected in the firft quickning of the
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