3. Agreeable to this are all those plain declarations of St. _John_ in his first epistle, _Hereby we know, that we do know him, if we keep his commandments_, chap. ii. ver. 3. _Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we, that we are in him_, that we are indeed the children of God, ver. 5. _If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him_, ver. 29. _We know, that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren_, chap. iii. ver. 4. _Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him_, ver. 18. Namely because we _love_ one another, _not in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Hereby know we, that we dwell in him, because he hath given us of his_ (loving) _Spirit_, chap. iv. 13. And, _Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the_ (obedient) _Spirit which he hath given us_, chap. iii. 24.
4. It is highly probable, there never were any children of God, from the beginning of the world unto this day, who were farther advanced in the grace of God, and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, than the apostle _John_ at the time when he wrote these words, and the _Fathers in Christ_ to whom he wrote. Notwithstanding which, it is evident, both the apostle himself, and all those pillars in God’s temple, were very far from despising these marks, of their being the children of God; and that they applied them to their own souls, for the confirmation of their faith. Yet all this is no other than rational evidence; _the witness of our spirit_, our reason or understanding. It all resolves into this: those who have these marks, are children of God. But we have these marks: therefore we are children of God.
5. But how does it appear, that we have these marks? This is a question which still remains. How does it appear, that we do love God and our neighbour? And that we keep his commandments? Observe, that the meaning of the question is, How does it appear to _ourselves_? (not to _others_.) I would ask him then that proposes this question, how does it appear to you, that you are alive? And that you are now in ease and not in pain? Are you not immediately conscious of it? By the same immediate consciousness you will know, if your soul is alive to God: if you are saved from the pain of proud wrath, and have the ease of a meek and quiet spirit. By the same means you cannot but perceive, if you love, rejoice, and delight in God. By the same, you must be directly assured, if you love your neighbour as yourself; if you are kindly affectioned to all mankind, and full of gentleness and long-suffering. And with regard to the outward mark of the children of God, which is (according to St. _John_) the keeping his commandments, you undoubtedly know in your own breast, if, by the grace of God, it belongs to you. Your conscience informs you from day to day, if you do not take the name of God within your lips, unless with seriousness and devotion, with reverence and godly fear: if you remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy: if you honour your father and mother; if you do to all as you would they should do unto you: if you possess your body in sanctification and honour; and if whether you eat or drink, you are temperate therein, and do all to the glory of God.
6. Now this is properly the _testimony of our own spirit_; even the testimony of our own conscience, that God hath given us to be holy of heart, and holy in outward conversation. It is a consciousness of our having received, in and by the Spirit of adoption, the tempers mentioned in the word of God, as belonging to his adopted children; even, a loving heart toward God and toward all mankind, hanging with child-like confidence on God our father, desiring nothing but him, casting all our care upon him, and embracing every child of man, with earnest, tender affection: a consciousness, that we are inwardly conformed, by the Spirit of God to the image of his Son, and that we walk before him in justice, mercy and truth, doing the things which are pleasing in his sight.
7. But what is that testimony of God’s Spirit, which is super-added to and conjoined with this? How does he _bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God_? It is hard to find words in the language of men, to explain _the deep things of God_. Indeed there are none that will adequately express, what the children of God experience. But perhaps one might say (desiring any who are taught of God, to correct, to soften, or strengthen the expression) the testimony of the Spirit, is an inward impression on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God directly _witnesses to my spirit, that I am a child of God_; that Jesus Christ hath loved _me_, and given himself for _me_: that all my sins are blotted out, and I, even I, am reconciled to God.