The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. A Caſe. What is to be thought of a man that (as to his own ſenſe, and other mens) lives and dyes without any experience of this Teſtimony?
Qu. SUppoſe I never attain the Teſtimony of the Spirit, but live and dye in a ſtate of darkneſſe, (as to aſſurance of Gods love) what think you of my caſe?
Anſw. 1. I ſuppoſe thou laboureſt after it diligently, and conſtantly, in the uſe of all the means preſcribed, and other ſuch. Otherwiſe I have nothing to ſay to thee in this caſe, but this; that that man is neither fit for aſſurance here, or glory hereafter, that thinks much of his pains to attain them. But ſuppoſing (as I ſaid) I ſay to thee farther.
2. I know no place of Scripture that ſays, No man ſhall enter into the Kingdom of God, that knows not of it before hand. I readily yeeld, the Papiſts teach all believers a doctrine of deſperation, when they tell us, that no man can be aſſured of Salvation till he come to heaven: and I am confident that occaſioned many of our Proteſtant Divines, engaged in the Controverſy againſt them, to make perſwaſion of ſalvation of the eſſence of juſtiſtifying Faith: But I conceive they needed not to have bended the bough ſo much that way, to ſet it ſtraight. 'Tis no good rule for Chriſtian diſputants, which is obſerved by cunning tradeſmen, Iniquum petere, ut aequum ferant, to aske double, that they may perſwade thoſe with whom they deal, to give a ſufficient price. I believe this propoſition, [Some beleevers are, and all believers may be aſſured of t…eir Salvation in this life] well proved, ſufficiently confutes the Papiſts erroneous Theſis, that no believer can be aſſured. And I fear, the maintaining the univerſall neceſſity of actual aſſurance to Salvation will trouble more tender Proteſtants, then it ever confuted Papiſts. But to returne where I left. I ſay to thee, that propoundeſt the Queſtion. Thou needeſt not fear excluſion from heaven for want of that which Scripture requires not as neceſſary to Salvation. I muſt tell thee, that I verily believe, if any of Gods Saints dye without ſome glimpſe or other of Gods love, it is a rare caſe, and I perſwade my ſelfe God ſeldome takes a Saint of his away in ſuch a ſort, except ſuch an one as hath ſo ſhamefully fallen, that it concernes God in point of honour if he ſave him, to let no body know of it. Yet I dare not barre the door of heaven againſt ſuch an one as living holily, dyes comfortleſſe.
3. Labour to accept of, claim, and rely upon the Lord Jeſus for Salvation, on the termes of the Goſpel. 'Tis impoſſible a ſoul ſhould go to Hell, that can cling faſt to any promiſe, truly apprehended according to the intention of the Goſpel. There are three or four promiſes, I perſwade my ſelfe, the reliance whereon hath ferried many humble ſouls to heaven, who have been afraid to ſay in all their lives, I know that I am a child of God: thoſe are, Mat. 11. 28. Jo. 6. 37. Iſai. 55. 1, 2. Apoc. 22. 17.
4. Laſtly, (If thou think this will not ſerve the turne in ſuch a caſe; I think ſuch a thought may condemn the generation of the Righteous. Are there not ſome in the fruits of whoſe holy converſation both publick and private, we ſee abundant cauſe to pronounce them (by a judgement of charity) children of God, would be by this judgment, condemned to Hell? concerning whom it cannot be affirmed, either in their own knowledge, or the knowledge of others, that ever they received this witneſſe in their ſpirits to the laſt moment of their lives. And truly (for my part) I humbly conceive this aſſuring Teſtimony of the ſpirit to be part of our reward (as the Apoſtle calls the Spirit the earneſt of our inheritance, Eph. 1. 14.) and therefore God may chooſe whethe he will give any part of it here or no, as he ſees moſt ſuting his glory and our good. 'Tis for his glory ſometimes that his people are in Jobs caſe, Job. 13. 15.