[2.] The second caidion is this: Though thou dost not jind every one of those things in thee that do accompany salvation, yet if thou dost find some of those things, ay, though but a few of those thimgs, yea,
1 Philostratus, Vit. Apoll., vi. 39.— G.
2 I have read of a Rhodian, who being cast into a dungeon fnll of adders and snakes, for some horrid crimes by him committed, some persuaded him to rid himself out of that misery by a violent way ; but he answered, No ; for, saith he, as long as I have breath in my nostrils, I will ever hope for my deliverance.
** The Scripture tells you of saints of several sizes : some are babes, some are children, some are young men, some are old men. Now, all these do not attain to the same degree ; but happy is he that hath the least degree.
512 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIII. 32-34.
though hut one of those things that accompanies salvation, that com- preJtends salvation, that borders upon salvation, thy estate is safe, and hapjnness will be thy portion at last. Thy sense and feeling of one of those precious things that accompanies salvation, should be of more power to work thee to conclude that thy estate is good, than any other thing should work thee to conclude that all is naught, and that thou shalt miscarry at last. Do not always side with sin and Satan against thine own precious soul.^
Having thus discovered to you the way and means of attaining to a well-grounded assurance, I shall now hasten to a close.
Shewing the difference between a true and a covniterfeit assurance, between sou/nd assurance a/nd presumption.
(1.) The first difference. A sound and well-grounded assurance is attendedwith a deep admiration of God's transcendent love and favour to the soul in the Lord Jesus. The assured soul is often a-breathing it out thus : Ah, Lord 1 who am I, what am I, that thou shouldst give into my bosom the white stone of absolution, when the world hath given into their bosoms only the black stone of condemnation? Rev. ii. 17.* Lord ! what mercy is this, that thou shouldst give me assurance, give me water out of the rock, and feed me with manna from heaven, when ra9,ny of thy dearest ones spend their days in sighing, mourning and complain- ing for want of assurance. Lord! what manner of love is this, that thou shouldst set me upon thy knee, embrace me in thy arms, lodge me in thy bosom, and kiss me with the sweet kisses of thy blessed mouth, with those kisses that are ' better than wine,' Cant. i. 2, yea, better than life, when many are even weary of their lives because they want what I enjoy? Ps. Ixiii. 3, Ah, Lord ! by what name shall I call this mercy, this assurance that thou hast given me ? It being a mercy that fits me to do duties, to bear crosses, and to improve mercies ; that fits me to speak sweetly, to judge righteously, to give liberally, to act seriously, to suffer cheerfully ,^ and to walk humbly.^ I cannot, says the assured soul, but sing it out with Moses, ' Who is like unto thee, 0 Lord, amongst the gods ? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders t Exod. xv. 2. And with the apostle, ' Oh, the height, the depth, the length and breadth of the love of Christ, which passeth know- ledge,' Eph. iii. 18, 19. If the queen of Sheba, says the assured soul, was so swallowed up in a deep admiration of Solomon's wisdom, great- ness, goodness, excellency and glory, that she could not but admiringly breathe it thus out, ' Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom,' 1 Kings
^ No saints are at all times sensible that all those precious things that accompany salvation are in them. It is not always day with the saints.
=* The white stone given among the Romans was a sign of absolution, and the black stone was a sign of condemnation.
3 Assurance is a wonderful alchemy ; it changeth iron to gold, ignominies to crowns, and all sufferings to delights.
Rom. VIII. 32-34;.] heaven on eaeth. 513
X. 8, Oh then, how should that blessed assurance that I have of the love of God, of my interest in God, of my union and communion with God, of my blessedness here and my happiness hereafter, work me to a deep and serious, to a real and perpetual, admiration of God.^
[2.] The second differeTice. Secoodly, A well-grounded assurance doth always beget in the soul an earnest and an impatient longing after a further, a clearer, and fuller enjoyment of God and Christ. Ps. Ixiii. 1, 'O God, thou art my God' — here is assurance; well, what fol- lows ? — ' early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee ; my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.'^ The assured soul cries out, ' I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ,' PhiHp. i. 23 ; and, ' Make haste, my beloved,' Cant. viii. 14 ; and, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,' Rev. xxii. 17. O Lord Jesus, says the assured soul, thou art my light, thou art my life, thou art my love, thou art my joy, thou art my crown, thou art my heaven, thou art my all. I cannot but long to see that beautiful face that was spit upon for my sins, and that glorious head that was crowned with thorns for my transgressions. I long to take some turns with thee in paradise, to see the glory of thy Jerusalem above, to drink of those rivers of pleasures that be at thy right hand, to taste of all the delicates of thy kingdom, and to be acquainted with those secrets and mysteries that have been hid from all ages, and to be swallowed up in the full enjoyment of thy blessed self, Eph. iii. 5, Col. i. 26.«
[3.] The third difference. Thirdly, A well-grounded assurance is usuaUy strongly assaulted by Satan on all sides.*' Satan is such a grand enemy to joy and peace, to the salvation and consolation, of the saints, that he cannot but make use of all his devices and stratagems to amaze and amuse, to disturb and disquiet, the peace and rest of their souls. No sooner had Jesus Christ heard that lovely voice from heaven, * This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,' Mat. iii. 17 and iv. 1, 2, &c., but he is desperately assaulted by Satan in the wilderness. No sooner was Paul dropped out of heaven, after he had seen such visions of glory that was unutterable, but he was presently assaulted and buffeted by Satan, 2 Cor. ii. 12. Stand up, stand up, assured Christians, and tell me whether you have not found the blast of the terrible one to be as a storm against the wall, Isa. xxv. 4. Since the Lord said unto you. Be of good cheer, your sins are forgjven you, have not you found Satan to play the part both of the lion and the wolf, of the serpent and the fox ? And all to weaken your assurance, and to work you to question the truth of your assurance, and to cast water upon your assurance, and to take oif the freshness and sweetness, the beauty and glory, of your assurance ; I know you have.' His malice, envy, and enmity is such against God's