witli it for the richest prize, — but his as- surance, though it be infallible, it is not perfect. There will be sometimes a trepi- dation 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 doubt- ings, there would be no unbelief in him ; had he no doubtings there would be no dif- ference 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,
Ans. He hatli that which bears up Ins forbidden fruit ; he knows, though he can- heart from sinking, — he hath such an ear- j not sin away his soul, yet he may sin away nest of the Spirit, that he would not part liis assurance ; but he who hath the ic/nis
^ fatuus of presumption, doth not fear defil- ing his garments, he is bold in sin, Jer. iii. 4, 5., " Wilt thou not cry unto me, my Father? 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, wlio 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 ef- fect 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 righ- teousness in his soul, and this seed hath brought forth the harvest of assurance ; but presumption is a spurious thing, it hath not scripture to shew for its warrant, — it is like a Avill without seal and witnesses, which is null and void in law, — presump- tion wants both the witness of the word, and the seal of the Spirit.
A. 4. Assurance flowing from sanctifi- cation 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." Tlie 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 ; lie thinks himself better than others, Luke xviii. 11., " God, I thank thee, I am not as other men are, nor as this Publican." Feathers fly up, but gold descends ; he who hath this golden assurance, his heart de- scends in humility.
Quest. 5. IVIiot is it mat/ excite us to huh 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
where are thy former loving-kindnesses ?" And there may fall out an eclipse in a Christian's assurance, to put him upon lonffin^ 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 gun-setting, — then the saints shall have an Tm interrupted assurance, and be ever with the Lord.
Quest. 4. What are the differences be- tween true assurance and prcsianption ?
Ans. \. 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 tlie truth. Tliere 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 Sj)irit is a spirit of bondage, before it be a spirit of adoption ; but presumption ariseth without any humbling word of the Spirit: ' How earnest thou by the venison so soon.' The plough goes before the seed be sown ; the heart must be plowed up by humiliation and repentance, before (Jod sow the seed of
assurance.
//. 2. He who hath a real assurance, will take heed of that which will weaken and daik.'u his assurance ; he is fearful of the
in the golden pot, — the white stone, — the wine of i)aradise which cheers the heart
OF ASSURANCE.
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How comfortable is God's smile ! The sun is more refresliing wlicn it sliines out, tlian wlien it is liid in a cloud, — it is a pruiliba- tion and a foretaste of glory, — it puts a man in heaven before his time ; none can know how 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.