VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 153
able unto such a work. If they utterly fail herein, however any out of darkness and self-love may flatter and deceive themselves, yet others have a rule to judge them by. But this now we have in daily experience, as there was the same also from the first preaching of the gospel,—men may give such an account of the work of the grace of God in them as themselves may believe to be saving, and such as others who have reason to be concerned in them may rest in and approve; in this apprehension they may walk in a course of profes- sion many days, it may be all their days, and yet at last be found utter strangers from Christ. But yet this happens not from the nature of the thing itself, as though our union with Christ in this life were absolutely indiscernible, or at least attended with such darkness and inextricable difficulties, as that it is impossible to make a true and undeceiving judgment thereof; but mistakes herein pro- ceed from the blindness of the minds of men, and the deceitfulness of sin, with some secret inclination to rest in self or sin, that is in them. And these are such effectual causes of self-deceivings in this matter, that the Scripture abounds in commands and cautions for our utmost diligence in our search and inquiry, whether we are made partakers of Christ or no, or whether his Spirit dwell in us or no: which argue both the difficulty of attaining an assured confi- dence herein, as also the danger of our being mistaken, and yet the certainty of a good issue upon the diligent and regular use of means unto that purpose; for,—
Secondly, There may be certain and undeceiving evidences of a present participation of Christ; or, which is all one, men may have a certainty sufficient at present to support and comfort them in their obedience, and which in the issue will neither fail them nor make them ashamed, that they are “ partakers of Christ.” And this in our passage must necessarily be briefly confirmed. We speak of them who are really believers, who have received saving faith as a gift from God. “Now faith is AwiZouévay dadoracis, mpayudrwy ehey- x05 0b Breroutvwy,” Heb. xi. 1. It is that which gives subsistence unto the things believed in our minds, and is such an argument of them as will not deceive. There is nothing can possibly give the mind a more undeceiving assurance than that which causeth its object to subsist in it, which unites the mind and the truth believed in one subsistence. This faith doth in spiritual things. Hence our apostle ascribes unto it, as its effect, rafpnoiay xal apocmywyny év werodqoc:, Eph. iii. 12,—a “ grounded boldness,” with a “ confident trust;” which are the highest expressions of the mind’s assurance. And if this be not enough, he asserts a sAnpogopia, as that which it may be regularly improved into, Heb. vi. 11, x. 22; that is, such a persuasion as fills the mind with all the assurance that the nature of it is capable of. For as a ship can have no impression from the
154 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP, III.
wind further than it is able to receive in its sails, no more are we capable of any impression of the certainty of divine truths or things believed other than the nature of our minds can admit of; which is, that there must still be an allowance of some doubts and fears, by reason of its own imperfection. But if the expressions before used may fail us, it is certain that we can be certain of nothing,—no, not of this that we are certain of nothing; for they are expressions of the highest certainty and assurance that the mind of man is capable of. It is, then, in the nature of faith itself, rightly exercised and improved, to evidence this matter unto our souls.
Again, The Holy Ghost himself, who neither can deceive nor be deceived, gives peculiar testimony to our sonship or adoption, which is a consequent of our union with Christ; for none have any power to become the sons of God but such as are united unto him, John i. 12. This testimony is asserted, Rom. viii. 15, 16, “ Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God.” And wherein soever this testimony doth consist, or by what means soever it be granted unto us,—concerning which I shall not here dispute,—it is a testimony sure and infallible in itself, and bringing assurance to the mind to which it is granted, sealing unto it its son- ship, adoption, and union. And when the Holy Spirit giveth this “new name,” of a son of God, unto any believer, he knows it, though others understand it not, Rev. ii. 17; for he makes his own testi- mony evident unto us, without which his care and love towards us would be lost, and the end of our peace and comfort be frustrated. Hence we are said to “receive the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God,” 1 Cor. ii. 12. It is the Spirit of God whereby the good things mentioned are be- stowed on us and wrought in us; but this is but part of his work and office towards us,—he doth moreover distinctly satisfy and assure us that we are indeed made partakers of those good things.