(1.) It is the duty of every believer to labour after an assurance of a personal interest in forgiveness, and to be diligent in the cherishing and preservation of it when it is attained. The apostle exhorts us all unto it, Heb. x. 22, " Let us draw near in full assur- ance of faith ;" that is, of our acceptance with God through forgive- ness in the blood of Jesus. This he plainly discourseth of; and this principle of our faith and confidence he would have us to hold fast unto the end, chap. iii. 14. It is no small evil in behevers not to be pressing after perfection in believing and obedience. Ofttimes some sinful indulgence to self, or the world, or sloth, is the cause of it.
414 AN EXPOSITION urox rsALM cxxx. [Yer. 4.
Hence few come up to gospel assurance. But yet most of our piivi- leges, and upon the matter all our comforts, depend on this one tiling. A little by the way, to encourage unto this duty, I sliall desire you to consider both whence this assurance is produced and what it doth produce, — what it is the fruit of, and what fruit it bears: —
[1 .] It is, in general, the product of a more plentiful communica- tion of the Spirit than ordinary, as to a sense and participation of the choice fruits of the death of Christ, procured for those who are justified by their acceptance of the atonement. It flourisheth not without his seahng, witnessing, establishing, and shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts. See Rom. v. 1-5. And what believer ought not to long for and press after the enjoyment of these things? Nay, to read of these things in the gospel, not experiencing them in our own hearts, and yet to sit down quietly on this side of them, without continual pressing after them, is to despise the blood of Christ, the Spirit of grace, and the whole work of God's love. If there are no such things, the gospel is not true ; if there are, if we press not after them, we are despisers of the gospel. Surely he hath not the Spirit who would not have more of him, all of him that is promised by Christ. These things are the "hundredfold" that Christ hath left us in the world to counterpoise our sorrows, troubles, and losses ; and shall we be so foolish as to neglect our only abiding riches and treasures, — in particular, as it is the product of an exer- cised, vigorous, active faith? That om- faith should be such alwaj-s, in every state and condition, I suppose it our duty to endeavour. Not only our comforts but our obedience also depends upon it. The more faith that is true and of the right kind, the more obedience ; for all our obedience is the obedience of faith.
[2.] For its oiun fruit, and what it produceth, they are the choicest actings of our souls towards God, — as love, delight, rejoicing in the Lord, peace, joy, and consolation in ourselves, readiness to do or suffer, cheerfulness in so doing. If they grow not from this root, yet their flourishing wholly deper.ds upon it; so that surely it is the duty of every believer to break through all difliculties in pressing after this particular assurance. The objections that persons raise against themselves in this case may be afterward considered.
(2.) In ordinarij dispensations of God towards us, and dealings with us, it is mostly \hy^ our own negligence and sloth that we come short of this assurance. It is true it depends in a peculiar manner on the sovereignty of God. He is as absolute in giving peace to behevers as in giving grace to sinners. This takes place and may be proposed as a relief in times of trial and distress. He createth light and causeth darkness, as he pleaseth. But yet, considering Avhat promises are made unto us, what encouragements are given u^, what love and
Ver.4.] FORGIVENESS EEVEALED A SUPPORT TO THE SOUL. 415
tenderness there is in God to receive us, I cannot but conclude that ordinarily the cause of our coming short of this assurance is where I have fixed it. And this is the first thing that is supposed in the fore- going assertion.
2. It is supposed that there is or may he a saving persuasion or dis- covery of forgiveness in God, where there is no assurance of any par- ticidar interest therein, or that our own sins in particular are pardoned. This is that which hath a promise of gracious acceptance with God, and is therefore saving: Isa. 1. 10, "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obej^eth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Here is the fear of the Lord and obedience, with a blessed encouragement to rest in God and his all-sufficiency, yet no assurance nor light, but darkness, and that walked in or con- tinued in for a long season; for he cannot walk in darkness, meet with nothing but darkness, without any beam or ray of light, as the words signify, who is persuaded of the love of God in the pardon of his sins. And yet the faith of such a one, and his obedience spring- ing from it, have this gracious promise of acceptance with God. And innumerable testimonies to this purpose might be produced, and in- stances in great plenty. I shall only tender a little evidence unto it, in one observation concerning the nature of faith, and one more about the proposal of the thing to be believed, or forgiveness. And, —