Caution 1. Not that the saints have al- ways the same certainty, or that they have such an assurance as excludes all doubtings and conflicts; there will be flowings and ebbings in their comforts, as well as in their graces. Was it not so in David ? Some- times we hear him say, God's loving-kind- ness was before his eyes, Ps. xxvi. 3. As it is a proverbial speech, " I have such a thing in my eye, I see it just before me." But at another time, " Where are thy for- mer loving-kindnesses?" Ps. Ixxxix. 49. These doubtings and convulsions God suf- fers in his children sometimes, that they may long the more for heaven, where they shall have a constant spring-tide of joy.
Caution 2. Not that all believers have the same assurance. 1. Assurance is rather the fruit of faith, than faith : now as the root of the rose or tulip may be alive, where the flower is not visible, so faith may live in the heart, where the flower of assurance
doth not appear. 2. Assurance is difficult to be obtained ; it is a rare jewel, but hard to come bv ; not many Christians have this jewel. Go^ sees it good sometimes to with- draw assurance from his people, that they may walk humbly. Satan doth what he can to way-lay and obstruct our assurance ; he is called ' the red dragon,' Rev. xii. 3. If he cannot blot a Christian's evidence, yet sometimes he casts such a mist before his eyes, that he cannot read his evidence , the devil envies that God should have uny glory, or the soul any comfort. That we want assurance, the fault for the most is our own ; we walk carelessly, neglect our spiritual watch, let go our hold of promises, comply with temptations ; no wonder then if we walk in darkness, and are at such a loss, that we cannot tell whether Christ be ours or not. Assurance is very sweet ; this wine of paradise cheers the heart.
Assurance is very useful, it will put us upon service for Christ. (1.) It will put us upon active obedience. Assurance will not — as the Papists say — breed security in the soul, but agility ; it will make us mount up with wings, as eagles, in holy duties ; faith makes us living, assurance makes us lively ; if we know that Christ is ours, we shall never think we can love him enough, or serve him enough, 2 Cor. v. 14., " The love of Christ constrains us." (2.) Assu- rance will put us upon passive obedience, Rom. V. 3, 5., " We glory in tribulation, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." Mr. Fox speaks of a woman in Queen Mary's days, who when the ad- versaries threatened to take her husband from her, she answered, " Christ is my husband ;" when they threatened to take away her children, she answered, " Christ is better to me than ten sons ;" when they threatened to take away all from her, saith she, " Christ is mine, and you cannot take away him from me." No wonder St. Paul was willing to be bound and die for Christ, Acts xxi. 13. ; when he knew that Christ loved him, and had given himself for him, Gal. iii. 20. Though I will not say, Paul was proud of his chain, yet he was glad of it, he wore it as a chain of pearl.
Quest. But how shall I get this jewel of assurance ?
CHRIST ALL IN ALL.
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Ans. 1. Make duty familiar to you. When the spouse sought Christ diligently, she found him joyfully, Cant. iii. 4.
A. 2. Preserve the virginity of conscience. When the ghiss is full you will not pour wine into it, but when it is empty : so when the soul is cleansed from the love of every sin, now God will pour in the sweet wine of assurance, Hob. x. 22., " Let us draw near in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience."
A. 3. Be much in the actings of faith ; the more active the child is in obedience, the sooner he hath his father's smile; if faith be ready to die. Rev. iii. 2. If it be like armour hung up, or like a sleepy habit in the soul, never look for assurance.
A. 4. If Chi'ist be all, then make him so to you. (].) Make Christ all in your un- derstanding, be ambitious to know nothing but Christ, 1 Cor. ii. 2. What is it to have knowledge in physic ? To be able with Es- culapius and Galen to discourse of the caus- es and symptoms of a disease, and what is proper to a])ply, and in the mean time to be ignorant of the healing under Christ's wings ? \Miat is it to have knowledge in astronomy, to discourse of the stars and planets, and to be ignorant of Christ, that bright morning-star which leads to heaven ? What is it to have skill in a shon, and
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