Use. Hence issueth this truth, that, a Christian may he assured of his sal- vation in this ivorlcl. For, first of all, grant that we ought particularly to apply, as God offers himself to us, and that no infirmities nor sins hinders this claim, then what foUoweth but a Christian, believing and repenting of his sins daily, may be assured that he is in a state of grace, because there be grounds of particular application. That, therefore, which seems to disable that interest, hinders not at all. And therefore labour to maintain that comfortable state of assurance by all means. The grounds of it is, particular application, notwithstanding of all sins and infirmities whatsoever, because Satan envieth it most, because it is a state wherein we honour God most.
I will not enter largely into the point, because I have spoken of it in other texts ; but, forasmuch as concerneth this time, we must labour for that, without the which we cannot go through that which God calleth us to.
(1.) There he many duties and disjwsitions that God requires which ive can- not he in without assurance of salvation on good grounds. What is that ? God bids us be thankful in all things. How can I know that, unless I know God is mine and Christ is mine ? Can I be thankful for that which I doubt of and think I ought to doubt of? Therefore it is such a state, without which I cannot perform other duty ; and particularly the grand duty of thankfulness. And what a pitiful state is this, that a man should not be thankful for Christ, nor heaven, nor for the state of another world, that there should be such great matters, and yet they cannot thank God for them.
(2.) Again, God enjoineth us to rejoice. * Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice,' Philip, iv. 4. Can a man rejoice that his name is written in heaven, and not know his name is written there ? The disciples were very
480 A HEA\'ENLY CONFERKNCE.
weak now; and yet, notwithstanding all their infirmities, they loved Christ ; they cast themselves upon him, and had not chosen another Saviour. Therefore ' rejoice that your names are written in heaven,' Luke x. 20, and how can a man rejoice that knoweth it not to be so ? By God's writing of the law in a man's heart, he may know his name is written in heaven. Can a man always rejoice if he hath not grounds why ?
(3.) Again, God requires chcerjuhwas. ' God loveth a cheerful giver,' 2 Cor. ix. 7, and a cheerful doer. It is the disposition that is required in everything. ' Give me thy heart' in everything thou dost, Prov. xxiii. 2G. Alas ! how can I perform cheerful service to God, when I doubt whether he be my God and Father or no? Shall not I labour for a heart to yield cheerful obedience ? Doth it not come deadly off? Surely it doth. We ought to comfort ourselves ; and how can a man comfort himself in a con- dition fall of uncertainties ? No comforts are comfortable without this, that God is our God and our Father. Unless we know this, comforts themselves are not comfortable unto us. None of the comforts we have, the comforts of this life, are not comforts to us when the soul saith, Per- haps God feeds me to slaughter ; and, perhaps, I have these mercies as my portion in this world ; and how can he be comfortable when he appre- hendeth not, that they issue from a spring of love ? Alas ! comforts themselves are uncomfortable. And therefore shall not I labour for that without which I cannot be comforted ? especially it being a disposition for our good to be thankful, and cheerful, and joyful, and large-hearted.
(4.) God requires a disposition in us tliat xve should be full of encouraffe- meiits, and strong in the Lord; and that w^e should be courageous for his cause in withstanding his enemies and our enemies. How can there be courage in resisting our corruptions, Satan's temptations ? How can there be courage in suffering persecution and crosses in the world, if there be not some particular interest we have in Christ and in God ? It cannot be so. Unless we will deny obedience to all duty enjoyed,* we must have this assurance which enters into all, which is the spirit that quickeneth and enliveneth all. Therefore labour for it.
Use 2. Else ive shall take aica;/ the (/rounds that God enforceth good duties from in Scripture, as he doth enforce duty from this ground, ' As elect, see ye put on bowels of compassion,' Col. iii. 12. I beseech you, ' by the mercies of God, offer yourselves a sacrifice to God,' Rom. xii. 1. Alas ! I know not whether I shall have mercy or no. Why take away your ground and overthrow your principles ? And therefore shall not we labour for that state of soul wherein we are fitted to be in that disposition, and to perform duty as God would have us ? I therefore beseech you, labour for assurance of salvation.
That we may maintain it the better, see the grounds of it. It is not in our perfection, for then the poor disciples, where had they been ? Alas ! they had dealt unfaithfully with Christ. But the ground of firmness is on God's side, the certainty is on God's part, not ours. Tell them, ' I go to my Father, and my God ; and their Father and their God.' Though we make breaches every day, yet God breaketh not, as Mai. iii. 6, ' Verily, I the Lord am not changeable ; and therefore you are not consumed.' We change, ebb and flow, are to and fro, up and down every day, varying in our dispositions. Though there be some root and seed of grace in us always, yet there is a change in our dispositions every day ; but it holdeth on God's part. And therefore Christ nameth not any qualification in them * Qu. ' enjoined ' ?— Ed.