2. With regard to the latter, the foundation thereof is laid in those numerous texts of scripture, which describe the marks of the children of God, and that so plain, that he which runneth may read them. These are also collected together, and placed in the strongest light, by many both antient and modern writers. If any need farther light, he may receive it by attending on the ministry of God’s word; by meditating thereon before God in secret, and by conversing with those who have the knowledge of his ways. And by the reason or understanding that God has given him (which religion was designed not to extinguish, but to perfect: according to that of the apostle, _brethren, be not children in understanding; in malice_ (or wickedness) _be ye children; but in understanding be ye men_, 1 Cor. xiv. 20.) Every man applying those scriptural marks to himself, may know, whether he is a child of God. Thus if he know, first, _as many as are led by the Spirit of God_, into all holy tempers and actions, _they are the sons of God_, (for which he has the infallible assurance of holy writ;) secondly, I am thus _led by the Spirit of God_: he will easily conclude, therefore I am a _son of God_. 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.