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This place, 1 John iii. 20, is to be understood of judging of particular actions, namely, whether a man love his brother, not in word and tongue only, but in deed and truth, according to the exhortation, 1 John iii. 18 - 22; which, if his conscience could testify for him, then it might assure his heart before God, and give it boldness to pray unto him, in confidence to receive whatsoever he did ask according to his will. But if his own conscience could condemn him of not loving his brother in deed and in truth; then God, who is greater than his heart, knowing all things, must needs condemn him therein much more. This is the full scope of the place. Yet this I must needs say, that the Holy Ghost has instanced in such an act, namely, of hearty loving the brethren, which is an infallible sign of being in a state of grace: whereby, except in case of extreme melancholy, or violent temptation, a man may judge, whether at present he be translated from death to life.

If any shall think the place to be understood of judging the person, he must distinguish between that judgment which the heart gives rightly, and that which it gives erroneously. But suppose that, you trying yourselves by this, your hearts do condemn you of not loving the brethren, can you conclude hence, that you shall be finally damned? God forbid. All that you can infer, is this; you cannot have boldness to pray unto him until you love them; nor can you assure yourselves that you will have your petitions granted. And the worst you can conclude is, that now for the present, you are not in a state of grace, or at least you want proof of being in a state of grace. You must then use all God's means of being ingrafted into Christ, and must love the children of God, that you may have proof thereof. Did Paul love the brethren, when he breathed out threatening, Acts viii. 3; and was, as he himself saith, Acts xxvi. 10, 11, mad against them? Was he at that time a reprobate? Acts ix. 15. Did he not afterwards, being converted, so love God's people, that he could be content to spend, and be spent himself, for them? 2 Cor. xii. 15. So,