Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. That this assurance is the gift of God, the feeling of it sometimes with-held, sometimes with-drawne from the faithfull.
LAstly, that this full perswasion of faith, assuring our election, and salvation is the gift of God, cannot be denied, and therefore shall not neede any copious, or exact proofe: For we all know, and acknowledge that everie good and perfect gift is from above, Iams 1. 17…and commeth downe from the Father of lights, with whom is no variablenesse, nor shadow of turning. Among which gifts, even the Giver himselfe is the chiefe, and the very summe of all the rest, namely, that blessed Spirit given by the Father (Ioh. 14. 16.) who testifieth to our spirits, that we are Sonnes of God, and Heires with the Lord Jesus Christ: and who bringerh with him as wel that gift of faith (1 Cor. 12. 9.) and the fulnesse of it, as also that spiritual life, and sense whereby wee see, and feele the ex…ellent things which are given us by God,1… Cor. 2.9. things which eye hath not seene, eare h…th not heard, nor ever entred into the heart of man.
Secondly, as it is manifest that it is the gift of God, so is it as apparent that it is not given at all times to all Beleevers. For first, when wee are new borne Babes, wee finde our faith so farre from any full assurance, that others discerne our life in our earnest longings after the Word, and our fervent desires that wee could beleeve, rather than our selves in feeling that wee doe beleeve.
For whereas it is impossible to come to any assurance of our salvation without a spirit of discerning, whereby being able to try things that differ, wee can examine and prove our faith in God, and love to his Saints (and so come to the knowledge of our dwelling in Christ, and that wee are translated from death to life) this spirit of discerning is not ordinarily given to Infants in understanding. Looke as the Children of great Princes (yet in their infancy) much rejoyce in their costly Robes, Coronets, &c. but have not yet discretion to gather thence their Noble parentage and dignity, to which they are borne: so Christian Babes, though they see themselves richly adorned with those heavenly graces of God and doe not a little rejoyce in the preseut estate which they feele, yet cannot in this their infancy, by a reflected act of the judgement, gather thence their sure title, and claime to all those precious promises of God, and their future glorie, which depend on the former.
Secondly, yet further, when the children of God … up to s…me ma…u… ye… i… pleaseth the Lord, (as for many reasons best knowne to his owne wisedome, so certainly for his own glory in them, and their glory in him) to exercise them with many temptations, and manifold trials; so that being encumbred with much wrastling against unbeleefe, and other corruptions, they cannot for the present attaine this certainty. But when the eye of faith is strengthned, and these mists of tentation over-blowne, the faithfull soule seeth cleerely the love of God in Christ, by his holy Spirit leading him to salvation, and evidently discernes his everlasting happinesse sealed up to his soule in the new Covenant.
And yet even then wee are subject to lose, though not the favor of God, yet the sense of his favour, and consequently, that comfortable perswasion of our eternal life. For as some men by much neglect of seasonable refreshings decay in bodily strength, and livelinesse of spirit; and some other by great distemper fall into sicknesse and weaknesse; so the strongest Christian who could say as David, Psa. 23.4,6Though I walk through the shadow of death I will feare no euill, for thou art with me: Surely, goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the daies of my life; yet either by neglect, or coldnes in the means, (Word, Prayer, &c.) or by some grievous sinne may finde that joy of his salvation utterly hidden and clouded; as did also that holy Prophet (Psal. 51.12.) after he had committed that foule sinne upon Vriah and his wife.