measure of their graces and comforts'; have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wound. ed; hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves".

CHAPTER XVIII.

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation. ALTHOUGH hypocrites, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and estate of salvation"; which hope

1 Psal. li. 8, 10, 12. Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.-Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.-Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

m Mark vi. 52. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves for their heart was hardened. Mark xvi. 14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven, as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him, after he was risen. Psalm xcv. 8.

■ Psal. xxxii. 3, 4. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old, through my roaring all the day long: for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Psal. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

• 2 Sam. xii. 14. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee, shall surely die.

P Psal. lxxxix. 31, 32. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments: then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 1 Cor. xi. 32. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

I. Job viii. 14. Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. Deut. xxix. 19. I shall have

of theirs shall perish: yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God; which hope shall never make them ashamed".

II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible: hopee; but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto

peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. John viii. 41. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication, we have one Father, even God.

Mat. vii. 22, 23. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Job viii. 13.

1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John iii. 14, 18, 19, 21, 24.

d Rom. v. 2, 5. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

II. e Heb. vi. 11, 19. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail.

Heb. vi. 17, 18. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in

which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God: which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption'.

III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it: Yet, being enabled which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.

2 Pet. i. 4, 5, 10, 11. Whereby are given unto us exceed ing great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all dili gence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge.Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall ne ver fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 John iii. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life; because we love the brethren. 1 John ii. 3. and 2 Cor. i. 12.

h Rom. viii. 15, 16. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

i Eph. i. 13, 14. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, 9 until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 2 Cor. i. 21, 22. Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who 0 hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our

hearts.

III. Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth 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. 1 John v. 13. These things have I writ

by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto'. And therefore it is the duty of every one, to give all diligence to make his calling and election surem; that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance": So far is it from inclining men to looseness.

ten unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. See Psalm lxxxviii. throughout, and lxxvii. to the 12th verse.

11 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Heb. vi. 11, 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Eph. iii. 17, 18, 19.

m 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

n Rom. v.

1, 2, 5. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.-And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Psalm cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Psalm iv. 6, 7. Eph. i. 3, 4.

• Rom. vi. 1, 2. What shall we say then? shall we continue

IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation; by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light: Yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be

in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Tit. ii. 11, 12, 14. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.-Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

IV. P Cant. v. 2, 3, 6. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?-I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Psalm li. 8, 12, 14. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.-Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Compare the above with Psalm lxxvii. first ten verses, and Mat. xxvi. 69, 70, 71, 72. Psal. xxxi. 22. Psal. lxxxviii. throughout, and Isa. 1. 10.