Q. 13. What are the evidences of regeneration? A. Little or no evidence of regeneration is to be derived from an ability to specify the time, place, manner, and other circumstances of the change. The principal evidences are, 1. A deep sense, that the doctrines of the Bible are true; 2. A delight in religious company and conversation; 3. Happiness in publick, private, and secret worship; 4. Pleasure in reading the Bible and other religious books, and in meditating upon divine subjects; 5. Joy at the prosperity of Zion, and a desire, that the cause of Christ should flourish and triumph; 6. Humility and meekness in deportment; 7. Benevolence to all men, and love of complacency towards Christians; 8. Hatred to sin and love of holiness, and desire after it; 9. Obedience to the commands of God in daily life.(3)

Q. 14. Do the renewed in heart ever entertain doubts of their regeneration?

(j) John 3. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Rom. 8. 14, 16. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another. Ps. 84. 2. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Ps. 119. 97. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Ps. 102. 14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. Matt. 11. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart. Mark 12. 31. And the second is like, namely, this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 1 John 3.14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 1 John 3. 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 John 2. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

A. They do; and their doubts arise either from their not understanding in what regeneration consists, or from a view of the great remaining sinfulness of their hearts, or from the weakness of their Christian graces, or from misjudging respecting the nature of their religious affections. But when under these doubts, it becomes Christians to examine themselves by the evidences of religion, to be much in prayer to God for more spiritual light and life, and to live nearer to Him in holy obedience.

Q. 15. At what time of life do the greater part of Christians experience religion?

A. Much the greatest number no doubt are renewed in youth, or the younger part of life, though some are regenerated in infancy and a few in old age.

CHAPTER XIV.

Holy Love.

Q. 1. How is holy love distinguished?

A. It is distinguished into love of benevolence, and love of complacency, according to the object on which it terminates.

2

Q. 2. What is meant by love of benevolence? A. It means desire for, and delight in, the happiness of all percipient beings, or beings susceptible of pleasure and pain, whether rational or irrational, holy or unholy; and of every such individual in particular, so far as is consistent with the happiness of the whole.

Q. 3. In what proportion should the love of benevolence be exercised towards beings, susceptible of happiness or misery?

A. The proportion should be according to their capacity for happiness or misery, other things being equal. God is to be loved more than all His creatures, because of the infinitude of His being. Angels are to be loved more than men, and men more than beasts. This benevolent love regards and desires the happiness of self, as much as of any other being of the same capacity for happiness or misery, other things being equal; and it will act most vigorously towards those beings capable of happiness or misery, most in view, and with which, it is most conversant and most connected, because of the relation thus sustained, and the duties thence arising.(")

(a) Mark 12. 30, 31. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all

Q. 4. By what term is this love of benevolence usually denominated?

A. It is generally called disinterested benevolence or affection, because it is exercised without partiality, that is, it is exercised towards beings according to their intrinsick, relative, and comparative worth and importance, in the scale of existence.

Q. 5. How is disinterested benevolence or affection regarded by mankind in general?

A. It is highly applauded by the great, the wise, the good, and the patriotick, but is practised by only few. Mankind generally, approve of the doctrine in theory, but condemn it in practice.

Q. 6. What is meant by love of complacency? A. It means pleasure and delight in beings for their virtue, goodness, or holiness. Of this kind is the love of God to His holy creatures, and their love towards Him, and towards each other. In this love is included the brotherly affections of Christians, or the delight Christians have in Christians as such.

Q. 7. What is the ground for distinguishing this holy love into love of benevolence, and love of complacency?

A. This is the ground of distinction; when it has for its object the good of all beings, susceptible of pleasure or pain, it is called love of benevolence; when it has for its object moral excellence, it is called love of complacency. Thus a being, susceptible of pleasure or pain, is a proper object for the love of benevolence; and a being susceptible of pleasure or pain, possessed of holiness, is a proper object for the love of benevolence and complacency both.

Q. 8. Are all mankind bound to exercise this holy love?

A. They are; as obedience to the moral law

thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely, this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

and conformity to God. This duty is enjoined by reason and Revelation.(b)

Q. 9. How ought this holy love to be viewed by all intelligent beings?

A. It ought to be viewed as most excellent and lovely, and as constituting the true glory of men, the true glory of angels, and the true glory of Jehovah Himself.

(b) Rom. 13. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 1 John 4. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Matt. 5. 43-45. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Ps. 11. 7. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. Isa. 43. 4. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. Matt. 22. 37-39. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 1 Cor. 13. 4, 5. Charity (love) suffereth long and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. John 13. 34, 35. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Love the brotherhood. Rom. 12. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Philip 2. 3, 4. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Rom. 13. 8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. Hosea 10. 1. Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself. 1 Cor. 10. 24, 33. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that many may be saved. Matt. 7. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.