340 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. may fail, but the judgment of God is according to righ- teousness. Wherefore, This is what we say : Il may be known in the sedulous use of means appointed for that end to one's self and others, whether he be regenerate or not, so far as is practically essential to either : this may be known, and that assuredly, with reference to any duly in which we are concerned. The discharge of some duties in our- selves and towards others depends on this knowledge, and therefore we may attain it, so far as it is necessary for the discharge of such duties to the glory of God. And here we may notice in few words what duties depend on our judging others to be regenerate, and the principles on which such a judgment may be formed. 1. There are many duties incumbent on us towards professors, which, without admitting a judgment to be made of their state, cannot be performed in faith; and it is solely in reference to these duties that we are called to judge of the state of others. For we are not giving countenance to a rash uncharitable censuring of men's spiritual condition, nor to any judging of any one beyond what our own duty towards him indispensably requires. Thus, if we are to lay down our lives for the brethren, it is essential that we should so far know them so to be, that we may hazard our lives in faith when we are called to do it. We are also to join them in those ordinances wherein we make a solemn profes- sion that we are members of the same body with them, that we have the same Head, the same Spirit, faith and love. We must love them, because they are begotten of God, children of our heavenly Father ; and, there- fore, must on some good ground believe them to be so.
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