cannot perceive it； they cannot believe it。 It is just so with many a
precious Christian： his desires after spiritual riches are so strong；
that they take away the very sense of his growing rich in spirituals。
Many Christians have much worth within them； but they see it not。 It
was a good man that said； The Lord was in this place and I knew it
not。'Again； this ariseth sometimes from men neglecting to cast up
their accounts。 Many men thrive and grow rich； and yet； by neglecting
to cast up their accounts； they cannot tell whether they go forward or
backward。 It is so with many precious souls。 Again； this ariseth
sometimes from the soul's too frequent casting up of its accounts。 If a
man should cast up his accounts once a week； or once a month； he may
not be able to discern that he doth grow rich； and yet he may grow
rich。 But let him pare one year with another； and he shall clearly
see that he doth grow rich。Again； this sometimes ariseth from the
soul's mistakes in casting up its accounts。 The soul many times
mistakes： it is in a hurry； and then it puts down ten for a hundred；
and a hundred for a thousand。 Look； as hypocrites put down their
counters for gold； their pence for pounds； and always prize themselves
above the market； so sincere souls do often put down their pounds for
pence； their thousands for hundreds； and still prize themselves below
the market。〃Thomas Brooks。 1661。 （Unsearchable Riches）
__________________________________________________________________
VII。
ASSURANCE
〃I am now ready to be offered； and the time of my departure is at
hand。〃
〃I have fought a good fight； I have finished my course； I have kept the
faith：
〃Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness； which the
Lord； the righteous Judge； shall give me at that day： and not to me
only； but unto all them also that love His appearing。〃2 Tim。 iv。 6；
7； 8。
IN the words of Scripture which head this page； we see the Apostle Paul
looking three waysdownward； backward； forward； downward to the
gravebackward to his own ministryforward to that great day； the day
of judgment！
It will do us good to stand by the Apostle's side a few minutes； and
mark the words he uses。 Happy is that soul who can look where Paul
looked； and then speak as Paul spoke！
（a） He looks downward to the grave； and he does it without fear。 Hear
what he says：
〃I am ready to be offered。〃I am like an animal brought to the place
of sacrifice； and bound with cords to the very horns of the altar。 The
drink…offering； which generally acpanies the oblation； is already
being poured out。 The last ceremonies have been gone through。 Every
preparation has been made。 It only remains to receive the death…blow；
and then all is over。
〃The time of my departure is at hand。〃I am like a ship about to
unmoor and put to sea。 All on board is ready。 I only wait to have the
moorings cast off that fasten me to the shore； and I shall then set
sail； and begin my voyage。
These are remarkable words to e from the lips of a child of Adam
like ourselves！ Death is a solemn thing； and never so much so as when
we see it close at hand。 The grave is a chilling； heart…sickening
place； and it is vain to pretend it has no terrors。 Yet here is a
mortal man who can look calmly into the narrow 〃house appointed for all
living；〃 and say； while he stands upon the brink； 〃I see it all； and am
not afraid。〃
（b） Let us listen to him again。 He looks backward to his ministerial
life； and he does it without shame。 Hear what he says：
〃I have fought a good fight。〃There he speaks as a soldier。 I have
fought that good fight with the world； the flesh； and the devil； from
which so many shrink and draw back。
〃I have finished my course。〃There he speaks as one who has run for a
prize。 I have run the race marked out for me。 I have gone over the
ground appointed for me； however rough and steep。 I have not turned
aside because of difficulties； nor been discouraged by the length of
the way。 I am at last in sight of the goal。
〃I have kept the faith。〃There he speaks as a steward。 I have held
fast that glorious Gospel which was mitted to my trust。 I have not
mingled it with man's traditions； nor spoiled its simplicity by adding
my own inventions； nor allowed others to adulterate it without
withstanding them to the face。 〃As a soldier a runnera steward；〃 he
seems to say； 〃I am not ashamed。〃
That Christian is happy who； as he quits the world； can leave such
testimony behind him。 A good conscience will save no manwash away no
sinnor lift us one hair's breadth toward heaven。 Yet a good
conscience will be found a pleasant visitor at our bedside in a dying
hour。 There is a fine passage in Pilgrim's Progress which describes Old
Honest's passage across the river of death。 〃The river；〃 says Bunyan；
〃at that time overflowed its banks in some places； but Mr。 Honest in
his lifetime had spoken to one Good Conscience to meet him there； the
which he also did； and lent him his hand； and so helped him over。〃 We
may be sure there is a mine of truth in that passage。
（c） Let us hear the Apostle once more。 He looks forward to the great
day of reckoning； and he does it without doubt。 Mark his words：
〃Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness； which the
Lord； the righteous Judge； shall give me at that day： and not to me
only； but unto all them also that love His appearing。〃〃A glorious
reward；〃 he seems to say； 〃is ready and laid up in store for meeven
that crown which is only given to the righteous。 In the great day of
judgment the Lord shall give this crown to me； and to all beside me who
have loved Him as an unseen Saviour； and longed to see Him face to
face。 My work on earth is over。 This one thing now remains for me to
look forward to； and nothing more。〃
Let us observe that the Apostle speaks without any hesitation or
distrust。 He regards the crown as a sure thing； as his own already。 He
declares with unfaltering confidence his firm persuasion that the
righteous Judge will give it to him。 Paul was no stranger to all the
circumstances and acpaniments of that solemn day to which he
referred。 The great white thronethe assembled worldthe open
booksthe revealing of all secretsthe listening angelsthe awful
sentencethe eternal separation of the lost and savedall these were
things with which he was well acquainted。 But none of these things
moved him。 His strong faith overleaped them all； and he only saw Jesus；
his all…prevailing Advocate； and the blood of sprinkling； and sin
washed away。 〃A crown；〃 he says； 〃is laid up for me。〃 〃The Lord Himself
shall give it to me。〃 He speaks as if he saw it all with his own eyes。
Such are the main things which these verses contain。 Of most of them I
shall not speak； because I want to confine myself to the special
subject of this paper。 I shall only try to consider one point in the
passage。 That point is the strong 〃assurance of hope；〃 with which the
Apostle looks forwards to his own prospects in the day of judgment。
I shall do this the more readily； because of the great importance which
attaches to the subject of assurance； and the great neglect with which；
I humbly conceive； it is often treated in this day。
But I shall do it at the same time with fear and trembling。 I feel that
I am treading on very difficult ground； and that it is easy to speak
rashly and unscripturally in this matter。 The road between truth and
error is here especially a narrow pass； and if I shall be enabled to do
good to some without doing harm to others； I shall be very thankful。
There are four things I wish to bring forward in speaking of the
subject of assurance； and it may clear our way if I name them at once。
I。 First； then； I will try to show that an assured hope； such as Paul
here expresses； is a true and Scriptural thing。
II。 Secondly； I will make this broad concessionthat a man may never
arrive at this assured hope； and yet be saved。
III。 Thirdly； I will give some reasons why an assured hope is
exceedingly to be desired。
IV。 Lastly； I will try to point out some causes why an assured hope is
so seldom attained。
I ask special attention of all who take an interest in the great
subject of this volume。 If I am not greatly mistaken； there is a very
close connection between true holiness and assurance。 Before I close
this paper I hope to show my readers the nature of that connection。 At
present； I content myself with saying； that where there is the most
holiness； there is generally the most assurance。
I。 First； then； I will try to show that an assured hope is a true and
Scriptural thing。
Assurance； such as Paul expresses in the verses which head this paper；
is not a mere fancy or feeling。 It is not the result of high animal
spirits； or a sanguine temperam