34o Believers mayknow themfelvet pfal. i 300 tuai ; that we may watch over them with pitty and compaf- lion. Thefe and the like are the only ends for which we are at any time called to the confideration of the fpiritual condi- tion of one another, if thefe be negleded the other is ufelefs. And here !yes a great aggravation of that neglect, in that fuch a way is made for the avoidance of it. Here lyes the life or death of all Church Society. All Church Society and Relation is built on this fupfofïtion, that the members of it are all Rege- nerate , fume lay this foundatirn ita Baptifm only, profefling that all that are baptized are Regenerate. Others require a far- ther Satisfa&ion in the real work it fell. But all build on the fame foundation ; that all Church members are to be Regene- rate. And to what end is this ? Namely that they may all mu- tually perform thole duties one towards another, which are incumbent mutually on Regenerate perlons. If thefe are omitted, there is an End of all profitable ufe of Church So- ciety. Churches without this are but meer husks and (hells of Churches, Carkafl^es without fouls. For as there is no real Vnion unto Chritt without faith, fo there is no real Vnion among the members of any Church without Love, and that aging its fell in all the Duties mentioned. Let not this Ordi- nance be in vain. But we muff return from this digrefiìon, to that which lies before us, which is concerning what a man may difcern con- cerning bu own being Regenerate or born again. I fay then, Believers Secondly, Men may come toan affured Satinfat ory perfwafion array know that themfelves are regenerate, and that fuch, as is fo far infalli- themfelves hie, as that it will not deceive them, when it is brought unto be born of the tryal. For there are many Duties whole performance in £ God. faith unto the glory of God, and the Edification of our own fouls, duth depend on this perfwafion and Conviction. As, i. A due feufe of our Relation unto God, and an anfwerable comportment of our fpiritsand hearts towards him. He that is born again, it born of God. He is begotten of God by the immortal feed of the Word. Without a perfwafion hereof bow can a manon.gtounds of faithcarry himfelf towards God Obis Father ? and how .great apart of out Obedience towards him
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