hat some "receive
the word with joy," and "for a while believe," but as they have "no root,"
they "in time of temptation fall away." This leads him to examine himself,
and to prove himself, whether he be in the faith. This indeed is what the
apostle has enjoined us all to do, thereby showing that a man may be in
Christ Jesus, and yet be doubtful of his salvation; and, on the other
hand, that a man may have a complete assurance of his salvation, and yet
be still "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." It is
from the fruits of the Spirit, therefore, that in himself as well as in
others, the believer discovers the presence of the Spirit. "Both in
philosophy and divinity, yea, in common sense, it is allowed to reason
from the effects to the causes. Here is burning, therefore here is fire.
Here is the blossoming of trees and flowers, therefore it is spring, and
the sun is turning again in his course. Here is perfect day light,
therefore the sun is risen. Here is good fruit growing; therefore here is
a good tree. 'Tis a consequence no less sure and infallible, here is
unfeigned love to the brethren, therefore here is regeneration. Here are
spiritual motions, affections, desires, acts, and operations, therefore
here is spiritual life."(58)

These were plainly the sentiments of Binning. He distinguished, with
logical precision, between faith in Christ and its consequences. In regard
to the doctrine of the Antinomians, he says, "That every man is bound to
persuade himself at the first, that God hath loved him, and Christ
redeemed him, is the hope of the hypocrite,--like a spider's web, which,
when leaned to, shall not stand. That man's expectation shall perish, he
hath kindled sparks of his own,--a wild fire, and walketh not in the true
light of the word, and so must lie down in sorrow."(59) Employing language
very similar to that of Gillespie, which it would almost seem he had
before him at the moment, he also says, "If the question be, as it is
indeed, about the grounds of our assurance, and knowledge of our own
faith, certainly it is clear as the noonday, that as the good tree is
known by the fruits thereof, and the fire by the heat thereof, so the
indwelling of faith in the heart is known by its purifying of the heart
and working by love. It makes a man a new creature, so that he and others
may see the difference. Neither is this any derogation to the free grace
of Christ, or any establishing of our own right