Obj. If I knew that I were elected, or that Christ died for me, then I could believe.
' Secret things belong unto God, revealed things to us,' saith Moses. Thy duty is, when thou art sought for, invited, entreated, and commanded to be reconciled, then to come in and yield obedience, and in yielding thereof, thou shalt find the fruit of Christ's redemption, that thou art one for whom he gave himself. Thus much is for those who want this parti cular assurance.
Well then, to draw to an end, for those that pretend they have a par- ticular faith and assurance of salvation, by this they shall know it. These things will follow.
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1. Then thnit /(^.s-/ n care to lire hi/ faith in the Son of God dailij, and in all estates and conditions ; and where this faith and assurance is, it is with care and conscience of duty always. Herein it is distinguished from a false conceit. Where there is no conscience of duty, there is no assurance of particular faith. This particular hath its ground from the general, from the word of God. The word saith that Christ gave himself for all helievers ; now I know I do believe : he loves all those that love him ; and I know I love him, therefore I am beloved of him. Thus true faith goes to the con- ditions of the word. Those that live in courses contrary to the word have not this faith. ' Be not deceived,' saith the Scripture : ' neither whore- monger, adulterer, nor unclean person, shall mhcrit the kingdom of God,' 1 Cor. vi. 9. But I am such a one, saith a wicked man, and yet I think to enter into heaven, and that God will be merciful. No ; in this case he will not be merciful, because one thus concludes wrongly, by a diabolical persuasion, contrary to the word.
2. Again, This is nith conjiict. You may know particular application where it is, to be good, because it is with conflict against temptations. A man never enjoys his own assurance of Christ's particular love, but with a great deal of conflict. There are two grounds that faith lays :
(1.) That general truth, that whosoever casts himself upon Christ shall be saved.
(2.) The particular application hereof — but I cast myself upon Christ, therefore I shall be saved.
This particular application, w'hich is the work of faith, is mightily assaulted, more than the general. The devil is content that a man should believe the former, but he troubles us in the application, ' but I believe.' He hinders, what he may, the reflect act, that we may not say, I know I believe. Thus, wheresoever the sense of Christ's love is, there is a mighty conflict before it comes. The devil labours by all means to hinder appli- cation, for he knows that particular faith brings Christ home, which is all in all. But false Christians go on in a smooth course, are not thus assaulted from day to day. They hope well, not considering that whilst the strong man keeps the hold, all things are in peace ; whereas there is no Christian but he finds his particular faith strongly assaulted, more than his general : which is the reason why these two equal truths are not equally believed, because Satan doth hinder the application, the minor part assuming more than the general. Those who have no conflict may fear they have no faith at all, God in wTath and justice sufleriug them to go on in a smooth unin- terrupted state. But all who have experience know what this spiritual con- flict with an unbelieving heart means, when it comes to application.
3. Again, a man may know his faith to be true Inj his ivill in guess to search himself, and to he searched by others. He that hath a true sound faith, and particular assurance from thence, is willing oftentimes to search his heart. He would be better and better, labouring to examine himself and to be examined of others. Those who are wilUng to go on in a still smooth course, because they will not break the peace of their own deluding false hearts, rather thinking all well than to put themselves to the trial, w^e may know this is but presumption. Where there is true application there is always willingness to search our own evidence ; nay, a Christian will be willing, when he cannot find his own evidence, to have the help of other Christians to read his evidence for him, and to tell him of his estate, and is inquisitive, especially when he meets with the skilful in those things.
4. Again, This particular faith it is u-ith a high 2)rizing and admiration of
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the love of God in Christ, ' who loved me, and gave himself for me.' It is a sign that he hath no interest in this love, that prizes and values other things above it. If one had any assurance of this, he would value it above all other things in the world. He knows that howsoever Christ gives other things, riches, kingdoms, and honours to castaways, that yet Christ gives himself to none but his dear children. Therefore when he knows that he hath interest in Christ, he values him above all things in the world ; will part with all rather than with his interest in him, when others go on with a general conceit that Christ died for them and loves them, or howso- ever, that yet come what will, they will go on in their pleasures and profits, though their hearts tell them there is something higher in their souls than Christ and his love. You see then that we may all come in who will. There is ground enough to draw them on, if they be not false to their own comfort, and how we may try whether we be assured or not.