allowance； I fear there are many believers without an assured hope；
whose case may too often be explained by causes such as these。
（1） One most mon cause； I suspect； is a defective view of the
doctrine of justification。
I am inclined to think that justification and sanctification are
insensibly confused together in the minds of many believers。 They
receive the Gospel truththat there must be something done in us； as
well as something done for us； if we are true members of Christ： and so
far they are right。 But then； without being aware of it； perhaps； they
seem to imbibe the idea that their justification is； in some degree；
affected by something within themselves。 They do not clearly see that
Christ's work； not their own workeither in whole or in part； either
directly or indirectlyis alone the ground of our acceptance with God；
that justification is a thing entirely without us； for which nothing
whatever is needful on our part but simple faithand that the weakest
believer is as fully and pletely justified as the strongest。 ＇35＇
Many appear to forget that we are saved and justified as sinners； and
only sinners； and that we never can attain to anything higher； if we
live to the age of Methuselah。 Redeemed sinners； justified sinners； and
renewed sinners doubtless we must bebut sinners； sinners； sinners； we
shall be always to the very last。 They do not seem to prehend that
there is a wide difference between our justification and our
sanctification。 Our justification is a perfect finished work； and
admits of no degrees。 Our sanctification is imperfect and inplete；
and will be so to the last hour of our life。 They appear to expect that
a believer may at some period of his life be in a measure free from
corruption； and attain to a kind of inward perfection。 And not finding
this angelic state of things in their own hearts； they at once conclude
there must be something very wrong in their state。 And so they go
mourning all their daysoppressed with fears that they have no part or
lot in Christ； and refusing to be forted。
Let us weigh this point well。 If any believing soul desires assurance；
and has not got it； let him ask himself； first of all； if he is quite
sure he is sound in the faith； if he knows how to distinguish things
that differ； and if his eyes are thoroughly clear in the matter of
justification。 He must know what it is simply to believe and to be
justified by faith before he can expect to feel assured。
In this matter； as well as in many others； the old Galatian heresy is
the most fertile source of error； both in doctrine and in practice。
People ought to seek clearer views of Christ； and what Christ has done
for them。 Happy is the man who really understands 〃justification by
faith without the deeds of the law。〃
（2） Another mon cause of the absence of assurance is； slothfulness
about growth in grace。
I suspect many true believers hold dangerous and unscriptural views on
this point； I do not of course mean intentionally； but they do hold
them。 Many appear to think that； once converted； they have little more
to attend to； and that a state of salvation is a kind of easy chair； in
which they may just sit still； lie back； and be happy。 They seem to
fancy that grace is given them that they may enjoy it； and they forget
that it is given； like a talent； to be used； employed； and improved。
Such persons lose sight of the many direct injunctions 〃to increaseto
growto abound more and moreto add to our faith；〃 and the like； and
in this little…doing condition； this sitting…still state of mind； I
never marvel that they miss assurance。
I believe it ought to be our continual aim and desire to go forward；
and our watchword on every returning birthday； and at the beginning of
every year； should be； 〃More and more〃 （1 Thess。 iv。 1）： more
knowledgemore faithmore obediencemore love。 If we have brought
forth thirtyfold； we should seek to bring forth sixty； and if we have
brought forth sixty； we should strive to bring forth a hundred。 The
will of the Lord is our sanctification； and it ought to be our will
too。 （Matt。 xiii。 23； 1 Thess。 iv。 3。）
One thing； at all events； we may depend uponthere is an inseparable
connection between diligence and assurance。 〃Give diligence〃 says
Peter； 〃to make your calling and election sure。〃 （2 Peter i。 10。） 〃We
desire；〃 says Paul； 〃that every one of you do show the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end。〃 （Heb。 vi。 11。） 〃The soul
of the diligent；〃 says Solomon； 〃shall be made fat。〃 （Prov。 xiii。 4。）
There is much truth in the old maxim of the Puritans： 〃Faith of
adherence es by hearing； but faith of assurance es not without
doing。〃
Is any reader of this paper one of those who desires assurance； but has
not got it？ Mark my words。 You will never get it without diligence；
however much you may desire it。 There are no gains without pains in
spiritual things； any more than in temporal。 〃The soul of the sluggard
desireth and hath nothing。〃 （Prov。 xiii。 4。） ＇36＇
（3） Another mon cause of a want of assurance is an inconsistent walk
in life。
With grief and sorrow I feel constrained to say that I fear nothing
more frequently prevents men attaining an assured hope than this。 The
stream of professing Christianity in this day is far wider than it
formerly was； and I am afraid we must admit at the same time it is much
less deep。
Inconsistency of life is utterly destructive of peace of conscience。
The two things are inpatible。 They cannot and they will not go
together。 If you will have your besetting sins； and cannot make up your
minds to give them upif you will shrink from cutting off the right
hand and plucking out the right eye when occasion requires itI will
engage you will have no assurance。
A vacillating walka backwardness to take a bold and decided linea
readiness to conform to the worlda hesitating witness for Christa
lingering tone of religiona flinching from a high standard of
holiness and spiritual lifeall these make up a sure receipt for
bringing a blight upon the garden of your soul。
It is vain to suppose you will feel assured and persuaded of your own
pardon and acceptance with God； unless you count all God's mandments
concerning all things to be right； and hate every sin； whether great or
small。 （Psalm cxix。 128。） One Achan allowed in the camp of your heart
will weaken your hands and lay your consolations low in the dust。 You
must be daily sowing to the Spirit； if you are to reap the witness of
the Spirit。 You will not find and feel that all the Lord's ways are
ways of pleasantness； unless you labour in all your ways to please the
Lord。 ＇37＇
I bless God that our salvation in no wise depends on our own works。 By
grace we are savednot by works of righteousnessthrough
faithwithout the deeds of the law。 But I never would have any
believer for a moment forget that our sense of salvation depends much
on the manner of our living。 Inconsistency will dim our eyes； and bring
clouds between us and the sun。 The sun is the same behind the clouds；
but you will not be able to see its brightness or enjoy its warmth； and
your soul will be gloomy and cold。 It is in the path of well doing that
the day…spring of assurance will visit you； and shine down upon your
heart。
〃The secret of the Lord；〃 says David； 〃is with them that fear Him； and
He will show them His covenant。〃 （Psalm xxv。 14。）
〃To him that ordereth his conversation aright； will I show the
salvation of God。〃 （Psalm l。 23。）
〃Great peace have they which love Thy law； and nothing shall offend
them。〃 （Psalm cxix。 165。）
〃If we walk in the light； as He is in the light； we have fellowship one
with another。〃 （1 John i。 7。）
〃Let us not love in word； neither in tongue； but in deed and in truth；
and hereby we know that we are of the truth； and shall assure our
hearts before Him。〃 （1 John iii。 18； 19。）
〃Hereby we do know that we know Him； if we keep His mandments。〃 （1
John ii。 3。）
Paul was a man who exercised himself to have always a conscience void
of offence toward God and toward man。 （Acts xxiv。 16。） He could say
with boldness； 〃I have fought the good fight； I have kept the faith。〃 I
do not therefore wonder that the Lord enabled him to add with
confidence； 〃Henceforth there is a crown laid up for me； and the Lord
shall give it me at that day。〃
If any believer in the Lord Jesus desires assurance； and has not got
it； let him think over this point also。 Let him look at his own heart；
look at his own conscience； look at his own life； look at his own ways；
look at his own home。 And perhaps when he has done that； he will be
able to say； 〃There is a cause why I have no assured hope。〃
I leave the three matters I have just mentioned to the private
consideration of every reader of this paper。 I a