Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 1 · Sermon 5
SERMON V.
Handling the Adjuncts of Aſſurance, viz. The Poſsibility, Excellency, Difficulty and Neceſsity of having it.
2 COR. 13. 5.
Examine your ſelves, whether ye be in the Faith.
THis Text (as is proved) is a ſure foundation of that profitable and neceſſary Doctrine, viz. The Certainty that a godly man may have of that Grace which is wrought in him, I come to adde two more Propoſitions, which may further declare the nature of this Truth,
As firſt, There are three things when we ſpeak of Certainty, that are confounded by ſome Divines, and accurately distinguiſhed by others; and they are Fides, Fiducia, 13.and Certitudo, Faith, Affiance or Confidence, and Aſſurance. In the writings of many Authors theſe are ſpoken of promiſcuouſly, as the ſame thing; yea Faith is by many learned men defined to be a full perſwaſion of the heart, &c. which definition though it was maintained by them out of a good intent againſt all Popiſh doubtings, yet it is not a Truth in the thing; for many have Faith, yea juſtifying Faith, who have none of this Aſſurance; and this definition hath plunged many tender Conſciences into ſad Labyrinths, as if they had no Faith at all, becauſe no Aſſurance at all: But of this more hereafter. Others therefore ſpeak more diſtinctly, and alſo conſonantly to that place of Scripture, Epheſ. 3. 11. where Faith in Chriſt is ſaid to have three effects, 1. Affiance or Confidence. 2. Boldneſs or Aſſurance, and both theſe come from Faith. 3. foreign, Readineſs of acceſſe to call upon God in times of adverſities, ſo that a believer is made Gods favourite, and it is not againſt Law (as Esthers was) to go in and ſpeak to this great King. Now whether Faith, Confidence and Aſſurance differ onelyonly as ſo many degrees; as a Childe, a Youth and a Man; or whether they differ as ſeveral kinds, is to ſubtil a diſpute. This is certain, That unleſſe our Faith go ſo far as in a ſpecial manner to apply Chriſt to us, it cannot juſtifie us, or do us any good: Others were in the croud beſides the woman that had the bloudy flux, but ſhe touching of him did partake of vertue from him. Though an Iſraelite had looked upon all other Objects as well as the brazen Serpent, yet beholding that only did cure him; So though our Faith be carried out to the whole Word of God, yet it is the applying and reſting upon Chriſt that doth juſtifie us: Let not then a gracious heart deſpair as if it had no intereſt in Chriſt, becauſe it hath not yet attained to Aſſurance, God that hath begun to make thee deſire Chriſt, that hath ſupported thee under thy fears and guilt, will at laſt give thee Aſſurance; for God beſtoweth theſe mercies by degrees, even as Boaz did to Ruth; he firſt gave her gleanings, then her meals, and laſtly his own ſelf. God may come unto thee in mighty ruſhing winds before he come in a ſtill quiet voice, Nil tam certum, quam quod ex dubio certum, nothing is ſo certain, as that which is ſo after doubting. The ſhaking of the Trees by mighty windes, doth make the root more firm, and ſo may theſe temptations be a foundation of greater joy and boldneſs.
Secondly, The Aſſurance Gods people have of their eſtate of grace, is not ſo high 14.and full as that it excludes all doubting, for there is nothing Perfect in us in this life, whether it be Duty or Conſolation, but as the Fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit in regard of Sanctification, ſo it doth alſo in reſpect of Conſolation; We ſee David ſubject to many Convulſion-fits, his Pſalms ſometimes diſcover Confidence and Aſſurance, ſometimes again Dejection and great Diffidence, ſo that Samſon with his Hair grown, and his Hair cut, doth not more differ from himſelf in ſtrength and weakneſs, then David doth. We do not therefore maintain or plead for ſuch an Aſſurance that excludeth all Doubting, all Conflicts and Agonies, ſuch as the glorified Saints in Heaven have, but ſuch a certainty as is grievouſly aſſaulted by Satan the Prince of darkneſs, and by the unbelief of our own hearts; and although we make Doubting as a grievous ſin, yet we ſay it cannot be avoided, becauſe of that remainder of corruption which is ſtill in us, inſomuch that it's a received Maxim in Practical Divinity, grounded alſo upon Scripture, That he which never Doubted never Believed; as he that will ſay he is never Proud, it is a ſign he was never Humble; now the ground of this Truth is from that fountain of ſinne that is ſtill in every man; ſo that he can neither do any Duty, or partake of any Comfort without the dregs of corruption; there is the leaven of ſinne that doth ſowr both. There is ſome Gall in all our Honey; and by this means godly Aſſurance (as is to be ſhewed) doth differ from all that carnal confidence and preſumption which is in wicked men; and we may juſtly ſay to them that which Iſaac did to Jacob, when he brought his counterfeit Veniſon, How comeſt thou by it ſo ſoon? This Land of Canaan is not ſo eaſily poſſeſſed, yea as the Aegyptians did moſt oppreſſe the Iſraelites when they were getting out of their power, ſo doth the Devil moſt buffet and aſſault thoſe who have eſcaped his ſnares: And as the Trees that are fulleſt of fruit have their boughes moſt broken; ſo the people of God that carry about with them the richeſt Treaſures of Gods Grace, have the greateſt encounters from Satan. We read the Devil tempting Chriſt upon this very Point, Whether he were the Son of God. It is no wonder then if he do frequently try thy ſtrength and comfort. Beſides, the failing in our Duties is a ground of coming ſhort in our Comforts. Hence commonly the moſt active Chriſtian hath the greateſt Comfort, and he that walketh looſly and lazily, is fulleſt of Doubts; as the waters that runne ſwiftly breed no vermine, no croaking Frogs, but thoſe that are ſluggiſh, and are conſtagnated in a Pool.
Before we come to the practical Queſtions about this Aſſurance of Grace, we The Adjuncts of Aſſurance. I. The Poſſibility of it. 1.will conſider theſe Adjuncts of it. 1. The Poſſibility of it. 2. The Excellency of it. 3. The Difficulty of it. 4. The Neceſſity of it.
Firſt, The Poſſibility of it is ſeen, in that the people of God have enjoyed it. When David doth ſo often call God his God and his Portion, acknowledging with joy and thankfulneſſe that he had forgiven his ſins, doth not this ſuppoſe a Certainty? When that man ſaid, O Lord, I believe, Did he ſpeak he knew not what? And Paul, how often doth he manifeſt ſuch an Aſſurance! and leſt it ſhould be thought he had it by ſome ſpecial Revelation, he doth Rom. 8. inferre this Aſſurance from thoſe grounds, which are common to all the people of God, do not therefore think it impoſſible, ſaying, Who will go up to Heaven and bring a Revelation for me, that God is my God? for thou haſt the ſame wayes to obtain it, as the people of God have had heretofore.
Again ſecondly, The Poſſibility of it is ſeen in that a man may be aſſured of his 2.dogmatical Faith; That is, a man may be aſſured that he doth believe ſuch Principles of Religion upon a divine ground; and if ſo, why not alſo that he loveth God and his children upon true Motives; as alſo that his Repentance hath all true Ingredients into it. And indeed if a man could not tell whether he did believe upon ſupernatural grounds, he could not truly but upon a bold venture ſay, he did believe in God in deed, that there is a Church of God, or a Reſurrection of our bodies.
Thirdly, The Poſſibility of it appeareth from the Inſtitution of Sacraments, as Signs and Seals particularly to witneſſe Gods love to us; So that as the appointing 3.of Seals among men doth argue an intent of making bargains and contracts ſure: Thus God appointing Sacraments in a viſible particular Application, doth hereby declare his Will, that his Children ſhould be ſure; ſo that to overthrow Aſſurance is to take away the Sacraments; As a man doth prize that wax which is made up in a ſeal to confirm his inheritance to him, more then all the wax in the world; ſo do Chriſtians look upon bread and wine conſecrated and ſet apart for that uſe of ſignification and obſignation of the benefits of Chriſt, more then all other bread and wine.
Laſtly, If Aſſurance were not poſſible, the defect would be either in the Object, or in the Means to attain it, or in the Subject. In the Object there can be no defect, 4.as all ſay, for Gods Promiſes are in Chriſt Yea and Amen; and no iota or tittle of Gods Word in the promiſing part of it, can any more paſſe away, then in the preceptive or threatning part of it. Then there can be no defect in the means to obtain it; for there is the Spirit of God efficiently to work it; There are the Sacraments appointed on purpoſe to confirm us; There are Miniſters to inſtruct and inform about it. Neither is there any defect in the ſubject, for although the heart of a man be naturally deceitfull and full of crafty wickedneſs, ſo that the Scripture cals him a fool who truſteth in it; yet being now renewed by Gods Spirit, that guile and hypocriſie is in a great meaſure removed, and he doth not ſee and diſcern by his own ſtrength meerly, but by the Spirit of God enabling and guiding of him; So that as Gods Spirit working by the Law, doth convince a man in particular of his ſins, filleth him with deſpair of himſelf and every thing he doth, makes him to ſee he is an undone and a loſt man; ſo the ſame Spirit through the Promiſe of the Goſpel, doth perſwade us of Gods love, revealing it outwardly in the Word, and ſhedding it abroad inwardly in our hearts.
Secondly, The Neceſſity of it appeareth, 1. From the Nature of Faith. It II. The Neceſſity of it. 1.is of an eſtabliſhing and ſetling Nature. It is a Pillar and an Anchor to the ſoul, and although Aſſurance is a ſeparable effect from it, yet the Scripture makes Doubting and Fear to be oppoſite to believing. Hence is truſting in God compared to rolling our ſelves upon him, to ſtaying the minde, to reſting of the heart, &c. So that by ſtrong and cuſtomary Acts of believing on Chriſt, and patiently waiting, we come at laſt to be aſſured.
2. There is a Neceſſity from Gods Glory. It is not enough that God doth work Grace in us, and ſanctifie us; but we are to know this, that we may praiſe and 2.bleſſe God for it: Can a man in his ſleep, or in a ſwound, when his ſenſes are ſtupified, praiſe God that he liveth? no more can a Chriſtian ſtaggering with uncertainties, and lying in all darkneſſe of minde: how therefore ſhould this quicken us up to obtain this Mercy! How much Glory doth God loſe by thy fears! As David argued, Doe the dead praiſe thee? So doe thou ſay, O Lord, Do they in darkneſſe and that have no light, glorifie thee for thy goodneſs to them!
3. Hereby we ſhall have more Joy and Peace in our hearts: Oh what an Hell muſt every mans heart be that hath not ſome little light at leaſt of this in 3.his Soul? What Legions of tormenting Doubts muſt needs poſſeſſe him, till he have ſome ſupport this way? How can a man be ſick, be in dangers, be under the ſtroke of death, who hath no knowledge of any Good that God hath wrought in him? See how this ſupported Hezekiah in his ſickneſſe, Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee with a true heart. And thus Paul is animated to look Death in the face, becauſe he knew He had fought a good fight: and is not this the complaint of many languiſhing on their death-beds? Oh if they had Aſſurance, how willingly could they depart out of this world!
4. In the Uſefulneſſe of it, hereby we ſhall be enlarged and quickned up to all 4.holy Duties. He that hath this Hope purifieth himſelf, even as God is pure, 1 John 3. 3. And Having theſe Promiſes, ſaith the Apoſtle, viz. of God being our God, and we his people, Let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit, 2 Cor. 7. 1. We believe, therefore we ſpeak; and therefore it is an opinion againſt manifeſt Experience, that Aſſurance of Gods Love will beget Preſumption and carnal Security, whereas indeed this will be like fire in our bowels, wings to our Souls: Doth not the Childes Knowledge and Aſſurance that his Father loves him, beget all willingneſſe, and readineſſe of Obedience? And is not the Rule, Si vis amari, ama, Love if thou wouldst be loved? When therefore the Soul ſhall be perſwaded that God in great Love hath wrought ſuch mercies for him, Will not this make him ſeven times more enflamed to God?
In the third place, We have the Difficulty, few do attain unto it, and that from III. The difficulty of getting Aſſurance. 1.theſe grounds,
Firſt, Where the ſenſe and feeling of the guilt of ſinne is, there we preſently look upon God as an Enemy, think of him as of a Man that cannot forgive, but will certainly avenge. Thus Cain and Judas, how prone were they to deſpair! And therefore the word to Aſſure, 1 John 3. 19. ſignifieth Perſwade, implying that our Hearts have many froward and peeviſh Objections; and we are many times as Rachel mourning, and would not be comforted.
Secondly, It ariſeth from the deſperate Hypocriſie and falſeneſſe of our Hearts. 2.This is urged by the Papiſts too farre, as if it were ſuch a Deep, that the Spirit of God alſo could not aſſure us what we are; but thus farre it manifeſteth, That Comfort or Aſſurance is not a Flower that groweth in our Garden, but if the Spirit of God ſhould not both work Grace in us, and give us eyes to diſcern it, we ſhould remain in a dark Chaos.
Thirdly, It ariſeth from our proneneſſe to walk negligently and careleſly. We 3.are beaten down with many Temptations, and therefore do quickly loſe our hopes; for this Aſſurance is preſerved in the continual exerciſe of Grace. Hence the Apoſtle uſeth two words foreign, The rather give all Diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Implying that if we walk not carefully in the uſe of all the means of Grace, which God hath appointed, we cannot obtain it; but now, how are we in coldneſs, lukewarmneſs, earthlineſs, &c. often, and ſo grieve that Spirit of God which would ſeal us?
Fourthly, It is Difficult from outward Cauſes, as firſt from Satan, who hath fiery 4.Darts, is a Manſlayer from the beginning, and endeavours to keep in doubts and fears, that ſo at laſt we may be even wearied out, and rage againſt God. When the Devil cannot hinder us in our Duties, he doth it in our Comforts and Conſolations; as the Spirit of God is the Comforter, becauſe of that ſpecial benefit it brings to the people of God; So the Devil is the Tempter, and watcheth the opportunity to throw bitter wormwood into every condition we are in: As the Pirates do beſet and wait for thoſe ſhips that are fulleſt of gold, and other treaſures; yea therefore never are wicked men caſt down with thoſe fears and troubles as the godly are; They know not the meaning of ſpiritual Temptations, nor what it is to have the light of Gods countenance denied them.
2. On Gods part, he makes it difficult, That hereby his favour may be the more prized. The Church that had careleſly put off her Beloved, afterwards makes great and vehement enquiry after him, and cannot finde him. Though it ariſe not from the Doctrine of Aſſurance, to make us careleſs and negligent; yet ſometimes this may be abuſed through our corruption.
Laſtly, Here is the Excellency of this Priviledge ſeveral wayes;
Firſt, This keeps up excellent Fellowſhip and Acquaintance with God. The Church IIII. The excellency of this priviledge. 1.that could ſay, I am my welbeloveds, and my welbeloved is mine, did abound in ſpiritual Society with Chriſt: Hence the Church glorieth in this expreſſion four or five times; whereas fears and doubts keep us aloof off, and make us ſlaviſhly trembling about him.
Secondly, It will work a Filial and an Evangelical frame of heart. The Spirit 2.of Adoption enabling us to call God Father, makes us alſo have the humble diſpoſition of Sons; Hereby we are carried out to do him ſervice for pure intentions and motives.
Thirdly, It will ſupport, although there be nothing but outward miſery and trouble. In thoſe times when we cannot be aſſured of any thing, ſuch as theſe are, not aſſured 3.of our eſtates, ſafety or lives; yet if aſſured of the grace of God wrought in our ſouls, this will be like a wall of Marble that cannot be beaten down. Thus Rom. 8. Paul triumpheth over all difficulties upon this ground.
Fourthly, It will much enflame in Prayer, when we are aſſured of Gods love. This 4.kindles Deſires, encreaſeth Hopes to ſpeed, and ſo makes the Soul more importunate; and in this reſpect David doth encourage himſelf in prayer many times: If Experience breeds Hope, much more will Aſſurance.
Fifthly, It makes a man walk with much tenderneſſe againſt ſinne; As being that only evil, which would put him out of the heaven he is in, for having now the 5.Experience how ſweet the Lord is, and how greatly his favour is to be prized, he will take heed that he do not rob himſelf of ſo great a treaſure as that is. How do men fear to diſpleaſe thoſe who can if they will, keep all their earthly Evidences from them? and ſhall we not much rather God, who can deny us our heavenly Evidence?
Sixthly, His heart will be impatient and earneſt till the coming of Chriſt. When he ſhall have a full poſſeſſion and accompliſhment of all Glory, I deſire to depart, 6.ſaith Paul, and to be with Chriſt. If the beginnings be thus wonderful and excellent, What will Heaven it ſelf be, when all fears ſhall be abandoned! If Seneca ſaid of his wiſe man, Majore parte illic eſt, unde deſcendit, He is more in Heaven then in Earth; this is much more true of the godly.
Seventhly, A full acquieſcency and reſting in God and Chriſt, as ſufficient for every kinde of want, ſo as They deſire nothing in Heaven but him, and nothing in Earth 7.beſides him, and hereby having drunk of this water they thirſt no more, but all their happineſs is in him. Bleſſed is the man that is partaker of ſuch a priviledge, and happy is he who in this manner hath God for his God, and Chriſt for his Chriſt.