pleasant places, and I have a goodly heri- tage." 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 con- tentment. Get but assurance, and you will be out of the weekly bill of murmurers, you will be discontented no more. No- thing can come amiss to him that hath as- surance? God is his. Hath he lost a friend ? his father lives. Hath he lost his only child ? God hath given him his only Son. Hath he scarcity of bread? God hath given him the finest of the wheat, the bread of life. Arc his comforts gone? he hath the Comforter. Doth he meet with storms on the sea? he knows where to put in for harbour, — God is his por- tion, and heaven is his haven. This assu- rance gives sweet contentment in every condition.
Effect t). Assurance would bear up the heart in sufferings, it would make a Chris- tian 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 come patience but from assurance ? Rom. v. 3., " Tribulation worketh patience," v. 5., because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts," with cheerfulness. Assurance is like the mari- ner's lantern on the deck, which gives light in a dark night. Assurance gives the light of comfort in affliction, Heb. x. 34., Ye " took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves," &.c. there was as- surance. He that hath assurance, can re- joice in tribulation ; he can gather grapes of thorns, and honey out of the lion's carcase. Latimer said, " When I sit alone, and can have a settled assurance of the state of my soul, and know that God is mine, I can laugh at all troubles, and nothing can daunt me."
Effect 7. Assurance would pacify a trou-
bled conscience : he who hath a disturbed vexatious conscience, carries an hell about him, Eheu quis intus scorpia ! but assurance cures the agony, and allays the fury of con- science ; conscience, that before was turned into a serpent, now is like a bee that hath honey in its mouth, — it speaks peace, — trnnquillus Deus, tranquillat omnia, Tertui- When God is pacified toward us, then con- science 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.
Effect 8. Assurance would strengthen us against the fears of death. Such as want it, cannot die with comfort ; they are in CEquiUihrio, — they hang in a doubtful sus- pense what should become of them after death, — but he who hath assurance hath an ha])py and joyful passage out of the world, he knows he is passed from death to life, he is carried full sail to lieaA'en ! Though he cannot resist death, yet he overcomes it
Quest. 6. What shall they do that want assurance ?
Ans \st. Such as want assurance, let them labour to find grace. When the sun denies light to the earth, it may give forth its in- fluence ; 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 gracCf and so have a right to assur- ance ?
Ans. If we can resolve two queries, 1. Have we high appreciations of Jesus Christ ? 1 Pet. ii. 7., " To you that belicA'e he is» precious." Christ is all made up of beau- ties and delights ; our praises fall short of his worth, and is like spreading canvas upon cloth of gold. How precious is his blood and incense ! The one pacifies our conscience, the other perfumes our ])rayers. Can we say Ave have endearing thoughts of Christ? Do we esteem him our pearl of price, our bright morning-star ? Do we count all our earthly enjoyments but as dung in comparison of Christ ? Phil. iii. 8. Do we prefer the worst things of Christ, before the best things of the world ; the re- proaches of Christ before the world's em- braces ? Heb. xi. 2G. — Query 2. Have we
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ijpi indwelling of tlie Spirit? 2 Tim. i. 14., •« Tho Holy Gliost wliic'h dwclloth in us."
Quest. Hoic may we hninr that ice have the indurlfinr/ presence of the Spirit ?