which ye heard at the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be, as Cain which was of the devil and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? for his deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Marvel not my brethren though the world hate you.

The law of righteousness is, that we love one another as Christ loved us, and he that hath not this law living in his heart, and when the time is, bringeth not forth the fruits thereof, the same is not of God, but of the devil; whose birth and properties of the same ye see described in Cain, how he resisted God and persecuted the children of God for their belief and works thereof. And as ye see in Cain and his brother Abel, so shall it ever continue between the children of God and of the devil unto the world's end. Wonder not therefore though the world hate you.

We know that we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. All that hate their brethren are murderers, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

If thou love thy brother in Christ, and art ready to do and to suffer for him as Christ did for thee, then thou art sure thereby that thou art the son of God, and heir of life and delivered from death and damnation. So have Christian men signs to know whether they be in a state of grace or no. And on the other side he that hath no power to love his brethren, may be sure that he is in the state of death and damnation. Another is this, let every man look upon his heart, and be sure that he which hateth his brother hath slain him before God and is a murderer. And murderers shall not obtain the kingdom of God. (Gal. v.) But are Cain's brethren and the devil's children, and are heirs of death and ever under damnation.

Compare the regiment of the spiritualty, which have had the temporal sword in their hands now above eight hundred years unto this doctrine of John, and judge whether they have led us truly after the steps of Christ's doctrine.

Hereby we are assured of love, because he left his life for us, and therefore ought we to leave our lives for our brethren. He then that hath the substance of the world, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

recom

If we felt the love of Christ's death, it would sure set our heart on fire to love him again and our brethren for his sake, and should never cease to slay our resisting members until we could not only be well content that our brethren were in a more prosperous state than we, but also until we could bless them when they curse us, and pray for them when they persecute us, and to suffer death We must for them, to testify the word of their soul's health unto them, and with love to overcome them, and to win them unto Christ. If now every Christian man ought to have this rule of his profession before his eyes to learn it, that he should love his brother as Christ did him, to depart with his life for his brother's ensample, how far are they off from good scholars, that cannot find in their hearts to depart with a little of the abundance and superfluity of their temporal goods to help their neighbour's need!

My little children, let us not love in word, nor with the tongue; but with the deed, and of a truth. For thereby we know that we be of the truth, and so shall we certify our hearts in his sight.

If we have power to work, then doth the work certify our hearts that our faith in Christ, and love to God, and our neighbour for his sake, are unfeigned, and that we are

pence evil with good

ness.

And then are we bold And this is it that Peter

true children, and no hypocrites.
in our conscience before God.
meaneth, (2 Pet. i.) where he biddeth us minister in our
faith virtue, godly living, and all manner of good works,
and therewith to make our vocation and election, or our
calling and choosing sure. For the sight of the work doth
certify us, that God hath called us, and chosen us unto
grace and mercy.

I fly

But, and if when the time of working is come, and have no power to work, then will our conscience accuse us of sin and transgression within the heart before God, and so for fear of the rod we dare not be bold, but draw back and stand aloof.

Let a child have never so merciful a father, yet if he break his father's commandments, though he be not under damnation, yet is he ever chid and rebuked, and now and then lashed with the rod by the reason whereof he is never bold in his father's presence. But the child that keepeth his father's commandments, is sure of himself, and bold in his father's presence to speak and ask what he will. They that minister well get them good degree and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus, saith Paul, (1 Tim. iii.) He that worketh, is bold before God and man. For his conscience accuseth him not within, neither have we ought to wite him withal or to cast in his teeth. And as without the sight of the works, James the apostle cannot see thy faith, (James ii.) no more shalt thou ever be sure or bold before God or man.

But if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

If our conscience accuse us of sin, God is so great and so mighty that it cannot be hid.

Dearly beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then we

trust to Godward. And whatsoever we ask, that

shall we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things which are pleasant in his sight.

Keeping of the commandments maketh a man see his faith and to be bold therein. And faith when it is without conscience of sin, goeth into God boldly, and is strong and mighty in prayer to conjure God by all his mercies, and therewith obtaineth whatsoever he asketh, of all his promises. And the text saith, because we keep his commandments. Yea, verily his commandments make us bold. But the keeping of men's traditions and dumb ceremonies make us not bold before God, nor certify our conscience that our faith is unfeigned. Thou shalt not know by sprinkling thyself with holy water, nor kissing the pax, nor with taking ashes, or though thou were anointed with all the oil in Thames street, that thy faith is sure. But, and if thou couldest find in thine heart to bestow both life and goods upon thy neighbour in a just cause, and hast proved it; then art thou sure, that thou lovest Christ, and feelest that thou hast thy trust in his blood.

And this is his commandment, That we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment.

Faith is the first and also the root of all commandments. And out of faith springeth love: and out of love works. And when I break any commandment I sin against love. For had I loved I had not done it. And when I sin against love I sin against faith. For had I earnestly and with a full trust remembered the mercy that Christ hath shewed me, I must have loved. Wherefore when we have broken any commandment, there is no other way to berestored again, than to go through repentance unto our faith again, and ask mercy for Christ's sake. And as soon as we have received faith that our sin is forgiven, we shall

Faith is the root of all ments.

command

immediately love the commandment again, and through love receive power to work.

And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that there dwelleth in us of his Spirit which he gave us.

Through the works we are sure that we continue in Christ, and Christ in us, and that his Spirit dwelleth in us. For his Spirit it is that keepeth us in faith, and through faith in love, and through love in works.

THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

Spirits.

We may not believe

every doc

trine that is taught and preach

ed, but we must first

examine it

with the

touch-stone

of God's word, and so either receive it

DEARLY beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they be of God. For many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Spirits are taken here for preachers, because of the preaching or doctrine, which, if it be good, is of the Spirit of God; and if it be evil, of the spirit of the devil. Now ought we not to believe every man's doctrine unadvisedly, or condemn any man's preaching ere it be heard and seen what it is. But a Christian man's part is to examine, judge and try it, whether it be true or no. Quench not the spirit saith Paul, (1 Thess. the last.) Neither despise prophecyings, but prove all things, and keep that which is good. Destroy not the gifts of the Spirit of God, but try whether they be of God, and good for the edifying of his congregation and keep that which is good and refuse that which is evil. And suffer every perserve God therein, in

:

son that hath any gift of God, to

or reject it. his degree and

estate, after a Christian manner and a due