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sin away his soul, yet he may sin away his assurance; but he who hath the ignis fatuus of presumption, doth not fear defiling his

ANS. He hath that which bears up his heart from sinking, he hath such an earnest of the Spirit, that he would not part with it for the richest prize, but his assurance, garments, he is bold in sin, Jer. iii. 4, 5, though it be infallible, it is not perfect." Wilt thou not cry unto me, my Father?

There will be sometimes a trepidation or trembling; he is safe, yet not without fears and doubts as a ship lies safe at anchor, yet may be a little shaken by the wind. If a Christian had no doubtings, there would be no unbelief in him; had he no doubtings there would be no difference between grace militant and grace triumphant. Had not David his ebbings sometimes as well as flowings? Like the mariner, who sometimes cries out, stellam video,-'I see a star;' sometimes the star is out of sight. Sometimes we hear David say, "Thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes," Ps. xxvi. 3; but at another time he was at a loss, Ps. Ixxxix. 49, "Lord, where are thy former loving-kindnesses?" And there may fall out an eclipse in a Christian's assurance, to put him upon longing after heaven, then there shall not be the least doubting, then the banner of God's love shall be always displayed upon the soul, -then the light of God's face shall be without clouds, and have no sun-setting, then the saints shall have an uninterrupted assurance, and be ever with the Lord.

QUEST. 4. What are the differences between true assurance and presumption?

ANS. 1. They differ in the method or manner of working: divine assurance flows from humiliation for sin, I speak not of the measure of humiliation, but the truth. There are in Palermo, reeds growing, in which there is a sugared juice: a soul humbled for sin is the bruised reed, in which grows this sweet assurance. God's Spirit is a spirit of bondage, before it be a spirit of adoption; but presumption ariseth without any humbling word of the Spirit: How camest thou by the venison so soon.' The plough goes before the seed be sown; the heart must be ploughed up by humiliation and repentance, before God sow the seed of assurance.

A. 2. He who hath a real assurance, will take heed of that which will weaken and darken his assurance; he is fearful of the forbidden fruit; he knows, though he cannot

Behold, Thou hast done evil things as thou couldst!" Balaam said, My God, yet was a sorcerer. It is a sign he hath no money about him, who fears not to travel all hours in the night; 'tis a sign he hath not the jewel of assurance, who fears not the works of darkness.

A. 3. True assurance is built upon a scripture basis; the word saith, "The effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance for ever," Isa. xxxii. 17. A Christian's assurance is built upon this scripture; God hath sown the seed of righteousness in his soul, and this seed hath brought forth the harvest of assurance; but presumption is a spurious thing, it hath not scripture to show for its warrant,-it is like a will without seal and witnesses, which is null and void in law, presumption wants both the witness of the word, and the seal of the Spirit.

A. 4. Assurance flowing from sanctification always keeps the heart in a lowly posture: 'Lord,' saith the soul, what am I, that, passing by so many, the golden beams of thy love should shine upon me? St Paul had assurance is he proud of this jewel? No, Eph. iii. 8, "To me who am less than the least of all saints." The more love a Christian receives from God, the more he sees himself a debtor to free grace, and the sense of his debt keeps his heart humble; but presumption is bred of pride. He who presumes, disdains; he thinks himself better than others, Luke xviii. 11, "God, I thank thee, I am not as other men are, nor as this Publican." but gold descends; he who hath this golden assurance, his heart descends in humility.

Feathers fly up,

QUEST. 5. What is it may excite us to look after assurance?

ANS. To consider how sweet it is, and the noble and excellent effects it produceth :

1. How sweet it is. This is the manna in the golden pot,-the white stone,--the wine of paradise which cheers the heart.

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How comfortable is God's smile! The sun is gence begets assurance, so assurance begets
more refreshing when it shines out, than diligence. Assurance will not (as the Pa-
when it is hid in a cloud,—it is a prælibation pists say) breed security in the soul, but in-
and a foretaste of glory,--it puts a man industry; doubting does discourage us in God's
heaven before his time; none can know how service, but the assurance of his favour breeds
delicious and ravishing it is, but such as have
felt it, as none can know how sweet honey
is, but they who have tasted it.

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joy,
For the joy of the Lord is your
strength," Neh. viii. 10. Assurance makes
us mount up to heaven, as eagles, in holy du-
ties; it is like the Spirit in Ezekiel's wheels,
that moved them, and lifted them up. Faith
would make us walk, but assurance would
make us run: we should never think we could
do enough for God. Assurance would be as
wings to the bird,-as weights to the clock,
to set all the wheels of obedience a-running.

Effect 4. Assurance would be a golden shield to beat back temptation: assurance triumphs over temptation. There are two sorts of temptations Satan useth: 1. He tempts to draw us to sin; now the being as

2. The noble and excellent effects it produceth: 1. Assurance will make us love God, and praise him: (1.) Love him. Love is the soul of religion,-the fat of the sacrifice, and who can love God so, as he who hath assurance? The sun reflecting its beams on a burning-glass, makes the glass burn that which is near to it: so assurance (which is the reflection of God's love upon the soul) makes it burn in love to God. St Paul was assured of Christ's love to him, Gal. ii. 20, "Who loved me:" and how was his heart fired with love? he valued and ad-sured of our justification would make this mired nothing but Christ, Phil. iii. 8. As temptation vanish. What, Satan? shall I sin Christ was fastened to the cross, so he was against him who hath loved me, and washed fastened to Paul's heart. (2.) Praise him. me in his blood! Shall I return to folly after Praise is the quit-rent we pay to the crown God hath spoken peace? Shall I weaken my of heaven. Who but he who hath assur- assurance, wound my conscience, grieve my ance of his justification, can bless God, and Comforter? Avoid, Satan, tempt no more!' give him the glory of what he hath done for 2. Satan would make us question our interhim! Can a man in a swoon or apoplexy, est in God; he tells us we are hypocrites, praise God that he is alive? Can a Christian, and God doth not love us. Now there is no staggering with fears about his spiritual con- such shield against this temptation as assurdition, praise God that he is elected and jus-ance. What, Satan? Have I a real work of tified? No: "The living, the living, he grace in my heart, and the seal of the Spirit shall praise thee," Isa. xxxviii. 19. Such to witness it, and dost thou tell me God doth as are enlivened with assurance, they are not love me? Now I know thou art an imthe fittest persons to sound forth God's praise.

postor, who goest about to disprove what I sensibly feel. If faith resists the devil, assurance would put him to flight.

Effect 2. Assurance would drop sweetness into all our creature-enjoyments; it would Effect 5. Assurance would make us conbe as sugar to wine, an earnest of more; it tented though we have but a little in the gives a blessing with the venison; as guilt world; he who hath enough is content; he embitters our comforts, it is like drinking out who hath sun-light is content though he of a wormwood cup, so assurance would in- want torch-light. A man that hath assurdulcerate and sweeten all health, and the as-ance, hath enough, in uno salvatore omnes surances of God's love are sweet riches, and florent gemmæ ad salutem. He hath the with the assurance of a kingdom are delect-riches of Christ's merit,-a pledge of his able, nay, a dinner of green herbs, with the assurance of God's love, is princely fare. Effect 3. Assurance would make us active and lively in God's service; it would excite prayer, quicken obedience. As dili-ance;" "the lines are fallen to me in plea

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love, an earnest of his glory; he is filled with the fulness of God,-here is enough, and having enough he is content, Ps. xvi. 5, "The Lord is the portion of my inherit

sant places, and I have a goodly heritage.' Assurance will rock the heart quiet; the reason of discontent, is either because men have no interest in God, or do not know their interest. St Paul saith, "I know whom I have believed,” 2 Tim. i. 12. There was the assurance of his interest. And, 2 Cor. vi. 10, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing," &c. There was his contentment. Get but assurance, and you will be out of the weekly bill of murmurers, you will be discontented no more. Nothing can come amiss to him that hath assurance? God is his. Hath he lost a friend? his father lives. Hath he lost his only child? God hath given Effect 8. Assurance would strengthen us him his only Son. Hath he scarcity of against the fears of death. Such as want bread? God hath given him the finest of it, cannot die with comfort; they are in the wheat, the bread of life. Are his com- æquilibrio,-they hang in a doubtful susforts gone? he hath the Comforter. Doth he meet with storms on the sea? he knows where to put in for harbour,-God is his portion, and heaven is his haven. This assurance gives sweet contentment in every condition.

." bled conscience: he who hath a disturbed vexatious conscience, carries a hell about him, Eheu quis intus scorpia! but assurance cures the agony, and allays the fury of conscience; conscience, that before was turned into a serpent, now is like a bee that hath honey in its mouth,-it speaks peace,―tranquillus Deus, tranquillat omnia, TERTUL. When God is pacified toward us, then conscience is pacified. If the heavens are quiet, and there are no winds stirring thence, the sea is quiet and calm; so if there be no anger in God's heart,-if the tempest of his wrath do not blow,-conscience is quiet and serene.

pense what should become of them after death, but he who hath assurance hath a happy and joyful passage out of the world, he knows he is passed from death to life, he is carried full sail to heaven! Though he cannot resist death, yet he overcomes it. QUEST. 6. What shall they do that want assurance?

ANS. 1st. Such as want assurance, let them labour to find grace. When the sun denies light to the earth, it may give forth its influence; when God denies the light of his countenance, he may give the influence of his grace.

QUEST. How shall we know we have a real work of grace, and so have a right to

assurance?

Effect 6. Assurance would bear up the heart in sufferings, it would make a Christian endure troubles with patience and cheerfulness. With patience, Heb. x. 36, "Ye have need of patience." There are some meats (we say) are hard of digestion, and only a good stomach will concoct them; affliction is a meat hard of digestion, but patience (like a good stomach) will be able to digest it; and whence comes patience but from assurance? Rom. v. 3, "Tribulation ANS. If we can resolve two queries, 1. worketh patience," v. 5, "because the love of Have we high appreciations of Jesus Christ? God is shed abroad in our hearts," with 1 Pet. ii. 7, "To you that believe he is precheerfulness. Assurance is like the mariner's cious." Christ is all made up of beauties and lantern on the deck, which gives light in a delights; our praises fall short of his worth, dark night. Assurance gives the light of and is like spreading canvas upon cloth of comfort in affliction, Heb. x. 34, Ye "took gold. How precious is his blood and incense! joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing The one pacifies our conscience, the other perin yourselves," &c. there was assurance. fumes our prayers. Can we say we have enHe that hath assurance, can rejoice in tribu- dearing thoughts of Christ? Do we esteem lation; he can gather grapes of thorns, and him our pearl of price, our bright morninghoney out of the lion's carcase. Latimer star? Do we count all our earthly enjoyments said, "When I sit alone, and can have a set- but as dung in comparison of Christ? Phil. tled assurance of the state of my soul, and iii. 8. Do we prefer the worst things of Christ, know that God is mine, I can laugh at all before the best things of the world; the retroubles, and nothing can daunt me.” proaches of Christ before the world's emEffect 7. Assurance would pacify a trou- braces? Heb. xi. 26.-Query 2. Have we

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the indwelling of the Spirit? 2 Tim. i. 14,
"The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."
QUEST. How may we know that we have
the indwelling presence of the Spirit?

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dise: one smile of God's face, one glance of his eye, one crumb of the hidden manna is so sweet and delicious, that it deserves our waiting.-3. God hath given a promise that we should not wait in vain, Isa. xlix. 23, "They shall not be ashamed that wait for me." Per

ANS. Not by having sometimes good motions stirred up in us by the Spirit, he may work in us yet not dwell, but by the sanctify-haps God reserves this cordial of assurance for ing power of the Spirit in our heart; the Spirit infuseth divinum indolem,-a divine nature, it stamps its own impress and effigies on the soul, making the complexion of it holy. The Spirit ennobles and raiseth the heart above the world. When Nebuchadnezzar had his understanding given him, he grazed no longer among the beasts, but returned to his throne, and minded the affairs of his kingdom: when the Spirit of God dwells in a man, it carries his heart above the visible orbs, it makes him superna anhelare,-thirst after Christ and glory. If we can find this, then we have grace, and so have a right to assurance.

a fainting time; he keeps sometimes his best wine till last. Assurance shall be reserved as an ingredient to sweeten the bitter cup of death.

QUEST. 7. How may deserted souls be comforted who are cast down for want of assurance? They have the day-star of grace risen in their souls; but as Job complains, “I went mourning without the sun," Job. xxx. 28. They go mourning for want of the sunlight of God's face; their joy is eclipsed, they walk in darkness, and see no light, Isa. 1. 18. How shall we comfort such as lie bleeding in desertion, and are cast down for want of assurance?

ANS. 2d. If you want assurance, wait for it. If the figures are graven on the dial, it is but waiting a while, and the sun shines; when grace is engraven in the heart, it is but waiting a while and we shall have the sunshine of assurance, "He that believeth shall not make haste," Isa. xxviii. 16. He will stay God's leisure. Say not, God hath forsaken you, he will never lift up the light of his countenance; but rather say as the church, Isa. viii. 17, "I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob."-1. Hath God waited for your conversion and will not you wait for his conso-face, he may lend us his ear. lation! How long did he come a wooing to you by his Spirit? He waited till his head was filled with dew: he cried, as Jer. xiii. 27, "Wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?" O! Christian, did God wait for thy love, and canst thou not wait for his ?2. Assurance is so sweet and precious, that it is worth waiting for; the price of it is above rubies, it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir. Assurance of God's love is a pledge of election, it is the angel's banquet: what other joy have they! as Micah said, Judg. xviii. 24, "What have I more ;" so, when God assures the soul of his eternal purposes of love, what hath he more to give? Whom God kisseth he crowns. Assurance is the first fruits of para-be gone from the soul in desertion, but the

ANS. 1. Want of assurance shall not hin

der the success of the saint's prayers. Sin lived in, doth put a bar to our prayer; but want of assurance doth not hinder prayer; we may go to God still in a humble, fiducial manner. A Christian perhaps may think, because he doth not see God's smiling face, therefore God will not hear him; this is a mistake, Ps. xxxi. 22, " I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes, nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication." If we pour out sighs to heaven, God hears every groan; though he doth not show us his

A. 2. Faith may be strongest when assurance is weakest; the woman of Canaan had no assurance but a glorious faith: "O woman, great is thy faith!" Matt. xv. 28. ‘Rachel was more fair, but Leah was more fruitful.' Assurance is more fair and lovely to look upon, but a fruitful faith God seeth it better for us, John xx. 28, believe and feel not.”

"Blessed are they that

A. 3. When God is out of sight, yet he is not out of covenant, Ps. lxxxix. 28, " My covenant shall stand fast." Though a wife doth not see her husband's face in many years, yet the marriage relation holds, and he will come again to her after a long voyage. God may

covenant stands fast. Isa. liv. 10, "The covenant of my peace shall not be removed."Quer. But this promise was made to the Jews, and doth not belong to us, Yes, v. 17, "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord." This is made to all the servants of God, those who are now living, as well as those who lived in the time of the Jews.

QUEST. 8. What should we do to get assurance?

ANS. 1. Keep a pure conscience; let no guilt lie upon the conscience unrepented of; God seals no pardons before repentance. God will not pour in the wine of assurance into a foul vessel, Heb. x. 22, "Let us draw near in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience!" Guilt clips the wings of comfort; he who is conscious to himself of secret sins, cannot draw near to God in full assurance,--he cannot call God father, but judge; keep conscience as clear as your eye, that no dust of sin fall into it.

A. 2. If you would have assurance, be much in the actings of grace, 1 Tim. iv. 7, "Exercise thyself rather unto godliness." Men grow rich by trading; by trading in grace we grow rich in assurance, 2 Pet. i. 10, "Make your election sure." How? "Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge." Keep grace upon the wing, it is the lively faith flourisheth into assurance. No man will set up a great sail into a small boat, but in a large vessel: God sets up the sail of assurance in a heart enlarged with grace.

The blessed ordinances are the banquetinghouse where God displays the banner of assurance. The sacrament is a sealing ordinance; Christ made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: so, in the holy supper, in the breaking of bread God makes himself known to us, to be our God and portion.

QUEST. 9. How should they carry themselves who have assurance?

ANS. 1. If you have assurance of your justification, do not abuse assurance: 1. It is an abusing of assurance, when we grow more remiss in duty; as the musician, having money thrown him, leaves off playing. By remissness, or intermitting the exercises of religion, we grieve the Spirit, and that is the way to have an embargo laid upon our spiritual comforts.-2. We abuse assurance, when we grow presumptuous and less fearful of sin. What! because a father gives his son an assurance of his love, and tells him he will entail his land upon him, shall the son therefore be wanton and dissolute? This were the way to lose his father's affection, and make him cut off the entail; it was an aggravation of Solomon's sin, "his heart was turned away from the Lord, after he had appeared to him twice," 1 Kings xi. 9. It is bad to sin when one wants assurance, but it is worse to sin when one hath it. Hath the Lord sealed his love with a kiss? Hath he left a pledge of heaven in your hand, and do you thus requite the Lord? Will you sin with manna in your mouth? Doth God give you the sweet clusters of assurance to feed on, and will you return him wild grapes? It much pleaseth Satan, either to see us want assurance, or abuse it: this is to abuse assurance, when the pulse of our soul beats faster sin, and slower in duty.

A. 3. If you would have assurance, cherish the Holy Spirit of God. When David would have assurance, he prays, "take not thy Holy Spirit from me," Ps. li. 11. He knew that it was the Spirit only that could make him hear the voice of joy: the Spirit is the Com-in forter, he seals up assurance, 2 Cor. i. 22. Therefore make much of the Spirit, do not grieve it as Noah opened the ark to receive the dove, so should we open our hearts to receive the Spirit, this is the blessed dove which brings an olive branch of assurance in its mouth.

A. 2. If you have assurance, admire this stupendous mercy. You deserved that God should give you gall and vinegar to drink, and hath he made the honey-comb of his love to drop upon you? O fall down and adore his goodness! Say, Lord, how is it that thou shouldest manifest thyself to me, and not to other believers! those whom thou lovest as the apple of thine eye, yet thou holdest them in suspense, and givest

A. 4. Let us lie at the pool of the ordinances, frequent the word and sacrament, Cant. ii. 2, "He brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love." them no assurance of thy love; though

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