System。 〃True assurance is built upon a Scripture basis： presumption
hath no Scripture to show for its warrant； it is like a will without
seal and witnesses； which is null and void in law。 Presumption wants
both the witness of the Word and the seal of the Spirit。 Assurance
always keeps the heart in a lowly posture； but presumption is bred of
pride。 Feathers fly up； but gold descends； he who hath this golden
assurance； his heart descends in humility。〃Watson's Body of Divinity。
1650。 〃Presumption is joined with looseness of life； persuasion with a
tender conscience； that dares sin because it is sure； this dares not
for fear of losing assurance。 Persuasion will not sin； because it cost
her Saviour so dear； presumption will sin； because grace doth abound。
Humility is the way to heaven。 They that are proudly secure of their
going to heaven do not so often e thither as they that are afraid of
going to hell。〃Adams on Second Epistle of Peter。 1633。
＇21＇ 〃They are quite mistaken that think faith and humility are
inconsistent； they not only agree well together； but they cannot be
parted。〃Traill。
＇22＇ 〃To be assured of our salvation；〃 Augustine saith； 〃is no arrogant
stoutness； it is our faith。 It is no pride； it is devotion。 It is no
presumption； it is God's promise。〃Bishop Jewell's Defence of the
Apology。 1570 〃If the ground of our assurance rested in and on
ourselves； it might justly be called presumption； but the Lord and the
power of His might being grounded thereof； they either know not what is
the might of His power； or else too lightly esteem it； who account
assured confidence thereon presumption。〃Gouge's Whole Armour of God。
1647。 〃Upon what ground is this certainty built？ Surely not upon
anything that is in us。 Our assurance of perseverance is grounded
wholly upon God。 If we look upon ourselves； we see cause of fear and
doubting； hut if we look up to God； we shall find cause enough for
assurance。〃Hildersam on John iv。 1632。 〃Our hope is not hung upon
such an untwisted thread as； I imagine so；' or It is likely'； but the
cable； the strong rope of our fastened anchor； is the oath and promise
of Him who is eternal verity。 Our salvation is fastened with God's own
hand； and Christ's own strength； to the strong stake of God's
unchangeable nature。〃Rutherford's Letters。 1637。
＇23＇ 〃Never did a believer in Jesus Christ die or drown in his voyage
to heaven。 They will all be found safe and sound with the Lamb on Mount
Zion。 Christ loseth none of them； yea； nothing of them。 （John vi。 39。）
Not a bone of a believer is to be seen in the field of battle。 They are
all more than conquerors through Him that loved them。〃 （Rom。 viii。
37。）Traill。
＇24＇ The reader who would like to hear more about this point is
referred to a Note at the end of this paper； in which he will find
extracts from several well…known English Divines； supporting the view
here maintained。 The extracts are too long for insertion in this page。
＇25＇ 〃He that believeth on Jesus shall never be confounded。 Never was
any； neither shall you； if you believe。 It was a great word of faith
spoken by a dying man； who had been converted in a singular way；
betwixt his condemnation and execution： his last words were these；
spoken with a mighty shout： Never man perished with his face towards
Christ Jesus。'〃Traill。
＇26＇ 〃The greatest thing that we can desire； next to the glory of God；
is our own salvation； and the sweetest thing we can desire is the
assurance of our salvation。 In this life we cannot get higher than to
be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed。 All saints
shall enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth； some saints enjoy a
heaven while they are here on earth。〃Joseph Caryl。 1653。
＇27＇ 〃It was a saying of Bishop Latimer to Ridley； When I live in a
settled and steadfast assurance about the state of my soul； methinks
than I am as bold as a lion。 I can laugh at all trouble： no affliction
daunts me。 But when I am eclipsed in my forts； I am of so fearful a
spirit that I could run into a very mouse…hole。〃Quoted by Christopher
Love。 1653。 〃Assurance will assist us in all duties： it will arm us
against all temptations； It will answer all objections； it will sustain
us in all conditions into which the saddest of times can bring us。 If
God be for us； who can be against us？'〃Bishop Reynolds on Hosea xiv。
1642。 〃We cannot e amiss to him that hath assurance。 God is his。
Hath he lost a friend？his father lives。 Hath he lost an only
child？God hath given him His only Son。 Hath he scarcity of
bread？God hath given him the finest of the wheat； the bread of life。
Are his forts gone？he hath a forter。 Doth he meet with
storms？he knows where to put in for harbour。 God is his Portion； and
heaven is his haven。〃Thomas Watson。 1662。
＇28＇ These were John Bradford's words in prison； shortly before his
execution： 〃I have no request to make。 If Queen Mary gives me my life；
I will thank her； if she will banish me； I will thank her； if she will
burn me； I will thank her； if she will condemn me to perpetual
imprisonment； I will thank her。〃 This was Rutherford's experience when
banished to Aberdeen： 〃How blind are my adversaries； who sent me to a
banqueting house； and not to a prison or a place of exile。〃 〃My prison
is a palace to me； and Christ's banqueting house。〃Letters。
＇29＇ These were the last words of Hugh Mackail on the scaffold； at
Edinburgh； 1666： 〃Now I begin my intercourse with God； which shall
never be broken off。 Farewell； father and mother； friends and
relations； farewell； the world and all its delights； farewell； meat and
drinks； farewell； sun； moon and stars。 Wele； God and Father；
wele； sweet Lord Jesus； the Mediator of the new covenant； wele；
blessed Spirit of grace； and God of all consolation； wele； glory；
wele； eternal life； wele； death。 O Lord； into Thy hands I mit
my spirit； for Thou hast redeemed my soul； O Lord God of truth！〃
＇30＇ These were Rutherford's words on his death…bed： 〃O that all my
brethren did know what a Master I have served； and what peace I have
this day！ I shall sleep in Christ； and when I awake I shall be
satisfied with His likeness。〃 1661。 These were Baxter's words on his
death…bed： 〃I bless God I have a well…grounded assurance of my eternal
happiness； and great peace and fort within。〃 Towards the close he
was asked how he did。 The answer was； 〃Almost well。〃 1691。
＇31＇ 〃The least degree of faith takes away the sting of death； because
it takes away guilt； but the full assurance of faith breaks the very
teeth and jaws of death； by taking away the fear and dread of
it。〃Fairclough's Sermon in the Morning Exercises。
＇32＇ 〃Assurance would make us active and lively in God's service： it
would excite prayer； quicken obedience。 Faith would make us walk； but
assurance would make us runwe should think we could never do enough
for God。 Assurance would be as wings to the bird； as weights to the
clock； to set all the wheels of obedience a…running。〃Thomas Watson。
〃Assurance will make a man fervent； constant； and abundant in the work
of the Lord。 When the assured Christian hath done one work； he is
calling out for another。 What is next； Lord； says the assured soul；
what is nest？ An assured Christian will put his hand to any work； he
will put his neck in any yoke for Christhe never thinks he hath done
enough； he always thinks he had done too little； and when he hath done
all he can； he sits down； saying； I am an unprofitable
servant〃。Thomas Brooks。
＇33＇ 〃The true assurance of salvation which the Spirit of God hath
wrought in any heart hath that force to restrain a man from looseness
of life； and to knit his heart in love and obedience to God； as nothing
else hath in all the world。 It is certainly either the want of faith
and assurance of God's love； or a false and carnal assurance of it；
that is the true cause of all the licentiousness that reigns in the
world。〃Hildersam 51st Psalm。 〃None walk so evenly with God； as they
who are assured of the love of God。 Faith is the mother of obedience；
and sureness of trust makes way for strictness of life。 When men are
loose from Christ； they are loose in point of duty； and their floating
belief is soon discovered in their inconstancy and unevenness of
walking。 We do not； with alacrity； engage in that of the success of
which we are doubtful； and； therefore； when we know not whether God
will accept us or not； when we are off and on in point of trust； we are
just so in the course of our lives； and serve God by fits and starts。
It is the slander of the world to think assurance an idle
doctrine。〃Manton's Exposition of James。 1660。 〃Who is more obliged；
or who feels the obligation to observance more cogentlythe son who
knows his near relation； and knows his father loves him； or the servant
that hath great r