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; [1] which hope of theirs shall perish: [2] 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 the state of grace, [3] and
may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God; which hope shall never
make them ashamed. [4]
- This
certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded
upon a fallible hope; [5] but an infallible assurance of faith, founded
upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, [6] the inward
evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, [7] the
testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we
are the children of God; [8] which Spirit is the earnest of our
inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption. [9]
- 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; [10] yet, being enabled 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. [11] And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all
diligence to make his calling and election sure; [12] 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, [13 the proper fruits of this assurance: so far is it from
inclining men to looseness. [14]
- 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; [15] 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 revived, [16] and by the which, in the meantime, they are
supported from utter despair. [17]
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