like those spoken of in Deuteronomy； even 〃the days of heaven upon the
earth。〃 （Deut。 xi。 21。） ＇26＇
III。 I pass on to the third thing of which I spoke。 I will give some
reasons why an assured hope is exceedingly to be desired。
I ask special attention to this point。 I heartily wish that assurance
was more sought after than it is。 Too many among those who believe
begin doubting and go on doubting； live doubting and die doubting； and
go to heaven in a kind of mist。
It would ill bee me to speak in a slighting way of 〃hopes〃 and
〃trusts。〃 But I fear many of us sit down content with them； and go no
further。 I should like to see fewer 〃peradventurers〃 in the Lord's
family； and more who could say； 〃I know and am persuaded。〃 Oh； that all
believers would covet the best gifts； and not be content with less！
Many miss the full tide of blessedness the Gospel was meant to convey。
Many keep themselves in a low and starved condition of soul； while
their Lord is saying； 〃Eat and drink abundantly； O beloved。〃 〃Ask and
receive； that your joy may be full。〃 （Cant。 v。 1； John xvi。 24。）
（1） Let us remember then； for one thing； that assurance is to be
desired； because of the present fort and peace it affords。
Doubts and fears have power to spoil much of the happiness of a true
believer in Christ。 Uncertainty and suspense are bad enough in any
conditionin the matter of our health； our property； our families； our
affections； our earthly callingsbut never so bad as in the affairs of
our souls。 And so long as a believer cannot get beyond 〃I hope；〃 and 〃I
trust；〃 he manifestly feels a degree of uncertainty about his spiritual
state。 The very words imply as much。 He says 〃I hope；〃 because he dares
not say； 〃I know。〃
Now assurance goes far to set a child of God free from this painful
kind of bondage； and thus ministers mightily to his fort。 It enables
him to feel that the great business of life is a settled business； the
great debt a paid debt； the great disease a healed disease； and the
great work a finished work； and all other business； diseases； debts；
and works； are then by parison small。 In this way assurance makes
him patient in tribulation； calm under bereavements； unmoved in sorrow；
not afraid of evil tidings； in every condition content； for it gives
him a fixedness of heart。 It sweetens his bitter cups； it lessens the
burden of his crosses； it smooths the rough places over which he
travels； it lightens the valley of the shadow of death。 It makes him
always feel that he has something solid beneath his feet and something
firm under his handsa sure friend by the way； and a sure home at the
end。 ＇27＇
Assurance will help a man to bear poverty and loss。 It will teach him
to say； 〃I know that I have in heaven a better and more enduring
substance。 Silver and gold have I none； but grace and glory are mine；
and these can never make themselves wings and flee away。 Though the fig
tree shall not blossom； yet I will rejoice in the Lord。〃 （Habak。 iii。
17； 18。）
Assurance will support a child of God under the heaviest bereavements；
and assist him to feel 〃It is well。〃 An assured soul will say； 〃Though
beloved ones are taken from me； yet Jesus is the same； and is alive for
evermore。 Christ； being raised from the dead； dieth no more。 Though my
house be not as flesh and blood could wish； yet I have an everlasting
covenant； ordered in all things and sure。〃 （2 Kings iv。 26； Heb。 xiii。
8； Rom。 vi。 9； 2 Sam。 xxiii。 5。）
Assurance will enable a man to praise God； and be thankful； even in
prison； like Paul and Silas at Philippi。 It can give a believer songs
even in the darkest night； and joy when all things seem going against
him。 ＇28＇ （Job xxxv。 10； Psalm xlii。 8。）
Assurance will enable a man to sleep with the full prospect of death on
the morrow； like Peter in Herod's dungeon。 It will teach him to say； 〃I
will both lay me down in peace and sleep； for Thou； Lord； only makest
me to dwell in safety。〃 （Psalm iv。 8。）
Assurance can make a man rejoice to suffer shame for Christ's sake； as
the Apostles did when put in prison at Jerusalem。 （Acts v。 41。） It will
remind him that he may 〃rejoice and be exceeding glad〃 （Matt。 v。 12）；
and that there is in heaven an exceeding weight of glory that shall
make amends for all。 （2 Cor。 iv。 17。）
Assurance will enable a believer to meet a violent and painful death
without fear； as Stephen did in the beginning of Christ's Church； and
as Cranmer； Ridley； Hooper； Latimer； Rogers； and Taylor did in our own
land。 It will bring to his heart the texts； 〃Be not afraid of them
which kill the body； and after that have no more that they can do。〃
（Luke xii。 4。） 〃Lord Jesus receive my spirit。〃 （Acts vii。 59。） ＇29＇
Assurance will support a man in pain and sickness； make all his bed；
and smooth down his dying pillow。 It will enable him to say； 〃If my
earthly house fail； I have a building of God。〃 （2 Cor。 v。 1。） 〃I desire
to depart and be with Christ。〃 （Phil。 i。 23。） 〃My flesh and my heart
may fail； but God is the strength of my heart； and my portion for ever。
＇30＇ （Psalm lxxiii。 26。）
The strong consolation which assurance can give in the hour of death is
a point of great importance。 We may depend on it； we shall never think
assurance so precious as when our turn es to die。 In that awful hour
there are few believers who do not find out the value and privilege of
an 〃assured hope；〃 whatever they may have thought about it during their
lives。 General 〃hopes〃 and 〃trusts〃 are all very well to live upon
while the sun shines and the body is strong； but when we e to die；
we shall want to be able to say； 〃I know〃 and 〃I feel〃 The river of
death is a cold stream； and we have to cross it alone。 No earthly
friend can help us。 The last enemy； the king of terrors； is a strong
foe。 When our souls are departing； there is no cordial like the strong
wine of assurance。
There is a beautiful expression in the Prayer…book service for the
Visitation of the Sick： 〃The Almighty Lord； who is a most strong tower
to all them that put their trust in Him； be now and evermore thy
defence； and make thee know and feel that there is none other name
under heaven； through whom thou mayest receive health and salvation；
but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 The pilers of that
service showed great wisdom there。 They saw that when the eyes grow
dim； and the heart grows faint； and the spirit is on the eve of
departing； there must then be knowing and feeling what Christ has done
for us； or else there cannot be perfect peace。 ＇31＇
（2） Let us remember； for another thing； that assurance is to be
desired； because it tends to make a Christian an active working
Christian。
None； generally speaking； do so much for Christ on earth as those who
enjoy the fullest confidence of a free entrance into heaven； and trust
not in their own works； but in the finished work of Christ。 That sounds
wonderful； I dare say； but it is true。
A believer who lacks an assured hope； will spend much of his time in
inward searchings of heart about his own state。 Like a nervous；
hypochondriacal person； he will be full of his own ailments； his own
doubtings and questionings； his own conflicts and corruptions。 In
short； you will often find he is so taken up with his internal warfare
that he has little leisure for other things； and little time to work
for God。
But a believer； who has； like Paul； an assured hope； is free from these
harassing distractions。 He does not vex his soul with doubts about his
own pardon and acceptance。 He looks at the everlasting covenant sealed
with blood； at the finished work； and never…broken word of his Lord and
Saviour； and therefore counts his salvation a settled thing。 And thus
he is able to give an undivided attention to the work of the Lord； and
so in the long run to do more。 ＇32＇
Take； for an illustration of this； two English emigrants； and suppose
them set down side by side in New Zealand or Australia。 Give each of
them a piece of land to clear and cultivate。 Let the portions allotted
to them be the same both in quantity and quality。 Secure that land to
them by every needful legal instrument； let it be conveyed as freehold
to them and theirs for ever； let the conveyance be publicly registered；
and the property made sure to them by every deed and security that
man's ingenuity can devise。
Suppose then that one of them shall set to work to clear his land and
bring it into cultivation； and labour at it day after day without
intermission or cessation。
Suppose in the meanwhile that the other shall be continually leaving
his work； and going repeatedly to the public registry to ask whether
the land really is his ownwhether there is not some mistakewhether
after all there is not some flaw in the legal instruments which
conveyed it to