The tryal of assurance set forth in a sermon preached at Boston upon a lecture day July 7th. 1698 / by Solomon Stoddard ...

The TRYAL of Assurance.

John 21.17.

— Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?

THE falls of the People of God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 darken their sincerity: they are as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cloud covering their uprightness: th•••• do make their sincerity questionab•••• unto others: some that take notice of their fa•••• are ready to suspect, and others are ready to de•••• their sincerity; standers by are apt to impu•••• their falls to their Hypocrisy and the reignin•• power of sin; as if they had now prove•• themselves to be Hypocrites. They are read•• to say of them, as David said of Doeg, Lo th•• is the man that made not God his trust. And th••••

••••••s make their sincerity questionable to them∣••••••ves: if they have seen something of upright∣••••ss in themselves before, now they fear, they ••••re mistaken: they think if there had been ••••y Grace, that would have preserved them ••••••m falling: their falls wound their Consciences ••••d disturb their Peace. They think if God ••••d loved them, he would not have suffered ••••••m to fall into such sin: it seems to them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be the fruit of Gods hatred: they are apt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 think that their sins have turned away the ••••••rt of God from them, and that he cannot ••ight in them: they think moreover that if ••••••y had loved God, they could not have been ••••••wn to sin so against him. Satan is, wont to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prove their falls unto their discouragement; ••••d raises such mists, that day is turned into night 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to them. Upon this occasion Christ puts this ••••estion to Peter: the Disciples might be unsa∣••••fyed with him, because of his fall; and he ••••ight be dissatisfyed with himself: but hereby ••hrist is leading of him into the Examination 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his own sincerity. You may conceive Christs ••••eaning thus: Peter you have made a Profes∣sion many years: but in the time of my affliction, ••••ou shamefully denied me; you formerly professed ••••at you would dye with me, before you would ••••ny me, but as soon as the Temptation came; ••••u presently denyed me: and as if it were ••••t enough to do it once, you did it a second

and a third time: and as if plain denying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not been enough, you did it with Cursing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Swearing: is there any love in your heart u•••• me? you shewed some affection but now, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 throwing your self into the Sea, but is it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love? have I your heart? am I the object 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your love? you professed more love than other Disciples; but do you indeed love me?

DOCTRINE. If a man do's not certainly know, that he performed one act of Saving Grace, he can be certain of his Sincerity from his Walk.

The Tryal of sincerity is a great and weight work. Ministers had need be careful in giv•••• Rules of Tryal; and People had need be care•••• in applying Rules of Tryal: the Doctrine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 propounded to prevent mistakes in this mat•••• Godly men are described in the Scripture to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men, that walk in the law of the Lord; men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit: but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is impossible for any man to evidence his since•••• from hence; unless he certainly knows that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 has performed some act or acts of saving Gra•••• A man may have a probable knowledge of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sincerity, though he do not certainly know 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he has performed any act of saving Grace: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this is all that he can attain to by his walk 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈◊〉〈◊〉 do not know that he has performed any one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of saving Grace. There be many acts of ••••ing Grace; as to believe in Christ, to love ••••d and Christ, to hate sin, to make the Glory 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God one's end: and if a man don't certainly ••••ow any such thing by himself: he will never ••••••able from his walk to prove himself to be ••••aint. If a thing shine like fire in the night, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you cannot know it to be fire from thence; ••••ess you see in it some property of fire. If a ••••••ng acts as if it had life, yet you cannot know 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thence, that it has life, unless you know ••••••e action to be a Vital action. You cannot ••••ow that a man do's miracles, unless you know ••••••e one action to be miraculous: So here.

In order to the clearing of this, I shall first ••••••mise three things.

• 1. They that walk in a way of holiness are ••••cere: all that walk in a way of obedience are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right. Walking in Gods ways is the Character 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Saint Psal. 119.1. Blessed are the undefiled in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 way, who walk in the law of the Lord. An holy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is a certain sign of a holy heart. A life of obe∣dience shows a principal of Grace: they that live ••••ife of humility, love and faith are real Saints; ••••y are such indeed as they do profess themselves 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be: though they have many infirmities and cor∣ruptions, yet they are sincere Saints. An holy life ••••••ore than any Hypocrite can attain unto: he

• may counterfeit Holiness and have the image 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it; but falls utterly short of an holy life: an ho•••• life is a life of sincerity and flows from a principle of sincerity: other principles may make a ma•••• live a moral and religious life: Prudence, Pri•••••• and slavish fear may produce much out ward co•••••• formity, and many inward affections: but on•••• a principle of Grace can inable a man to live 〈◊〉〈◊〉 holy life: all that live holily are regenerate me•••• Eph. 2.10. Created in Christ Jesus unto good wor••••
• 2. They that walk in a way of unholiness a•••• not sincere: they that lead an unholy life a•••• not upright: a principle of Grace will keep 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man from ways of sin. 1 Joh. 3.9. He that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remain•••• in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of Go•••••• he has so much fear that he can't live a life 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sin, he hates sin so that he cannot live a life 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sin: Some that are sincere have a less degree of sincerity than others; but the least degree 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sincerity will preserve a man from an unholy li•••• Psal. 18.23. I was also upright before him and I k•••••• my self from mine iniquity. An unholy life she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the reigning power of sin. Joh. 8.34. He that co•••••• mitteth sin, is the servant of sin. They that are se••••∣ing any Lust are not serving of the Lord: if m•••••• make great pretensions of sincerity, yet lead unh•••••• lives, there is no sincerity in them: if they ha•••••• great affections and hopes, yet they have no ••••••¦cerity;

• they profess one thing and practise ano∣ther. If men serve their Pride or their Coveteous∣ness, or their Voluptuousness, they are not sincere, ••••ey are utterly destitute of a principle of Grace: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they have shews of Grace, yet they are but Hy∣••••crites, and will be damned at the last day. Luke 13.27. Depart from me, all ye workers of ••••iquity.
• 3. Many men seem to themselves to walk in a ••••ay of Holiness, yet don't certainly know that ••••er they did perform an act of saving grace; ••••ough all that make an high profession don't ••••em to themselves to lead an holy life, yet a∣••••ndance of them do: they are consciencious of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their ways, have many religious affections; ••••••urn for sin, rejoyce in Sabbaths, are thank∣•••••• for mercies; are afflicted under the Tokens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods Anger, are desirous of the Conversion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 others: it seems to them, that they live in ••••ne degree as Saints of old did: they think they ••••lk holily, yet many of these persons don't cer∣••••••nly know that ever they did perform one act 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saving grace, several of them never did per∣••••m one act of saving grace, therefore they can∣•••••• know that they have: and some that have ••••e it, are in the dark about it; they are under ••••bts and uncertainties about it: the Question 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Whether such persons can know from their ••••lk, that they are sincere. This the Doctrine ••••s deny, and it may thus be cleared up.

Argument 1. It is the acting of Grace tha•• makes and shews the Walk to be holy: it is no•••• the orderliness of mens walk that shews it to be•••• holy; nor the affectionateness of mens hearts i•••••• Religion, that shews their walk to be holy; no•••• the long continuance of good carriages, nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good behaviour in a day of temptation; nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 savoury spirit; these things may all be, yet the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 walk not be holy: if there be the acting of love 〈◊〉〈◊〉 faith and repentance, then the walk is holy: bu•••• all that men do is done in hypocrisy, if there b•••• not the acting of grace: if there be no grace i•••• their prayers, in their fastings, in their discourses, all is in hypocrisy: conscienciousness don't prove their walk to be sincere: the young man in the Gospel was conscientious: Mat. 19.20. all these things have I done from my youth. Zeal don't prove it, a man may be zealous, yet not upright: Rom. 10.2. they be the actings of grace that make and shew the walk to be holy; if it be not a life of faith and love, it is not a holy life: Gal. 2.20. the life that I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God: therefore he that don't know that he has performed an act of grace, can't know that he has an holy walk: he that don't know that he has that which is the life of an holy walk, and essential to it, can't know that his walk is holy.

2. It is harder to know an holy walk than one act of grace: it is harder for any man to discern

that he leads an holy life, then that he performs a gracious act: for an holy life does consist of ma∣ny gracious actions; and it is harder to discern that a man has done many, then that he has done one: it is harder to find out many profitable herbs in the field than one; harder to discern many trains of Wheat among the Chaff, than one: it is harder to find many Evidences of a good E∣state than one; to the discerning of many acts of trace, there is required more observation and ex∣amination, then to the discerning of one act of grace; if it be difficult to find one, it will be more difficult to find two, ten, an hundred: there∣fore he that don't know that he has performed one act of grace, does not know that he leads an holy life. I may allude to that, Jer. 12.5. if thou hast run with the foot men and they have wearied thee, how wilt thou contend with horses.

3. If the holiness of mens actions can't be dis∣cerned severally, it can't be discerned in conjuncti∣on: if a man looks upon his actions severally, and cannot say that this or that or any one was an holy action; he cannot say concerning any acti∣on, that it was an act of saving faith, or saving love; how can he when he looks upon his carria∣ges together, say they are holy, if there be no one action that he can say is sincere; how can he say that his walk is sincere: if a man sees an heap of corn, how can he say, it is an heap of wheat, when he does not know, that there is one grain

of wheat there: the sincerity of his walk depends upon the sincerity of particular actions; and if that be hidden from him, how can he say his walk is sincere: if for ought he knows every pray∣er and duty be done in hypocrisy; then for ought he knows, his whole life is a life of hypocrisy: if he can instance in no action that is certainly otherwise, it may be so for ought that he knows; if he can't answer to this question. Joh. 21.17. Lovest thou me? or to that, Joh. 9.35. dost thou believe on the Son of God? or some such like; he cannot tell that he lives an holy life: therefore such a man can't prove his sincerity from his walk. No walk can be evidential, but what is made up of acts of grace; therefore if he sees none, he can have no evidence from his walk.

4. If there be no act of grace, there is no sin∣cerity; therefore if he sees no act of grace, he sees no sincerity; when there is no act of grace, there is no principle of grace: though a man walk in print, yet there is no sincerity; many carry themselves very fairly, but if there be no grace, there is no uprightness in them, Joh. 5.42. I know you, that you have not the love of God in you; it is all counterfeit walk: they are like men upon the Stage, that personate other kind of men; so these men walk like Saints, and talk like Saints; but if there be no act of grace, they are no Saints, they want that which does constitute a Saint, therefore if a man do not know any act of grace

in himself, he can't know himself to be a Saint, though he walk like an Angel.

5. The multiplication of such acts as are com∣mon to Saints and hypocrites, don't shew him to are sincere; prayer is common to Saints and hypo∣crites. Psal. 78.34. When he slew them, then they tought him, they returned and enquired early after God; therefore if a man do this a thousand times, it don't prove him to be a Saint; so morality is com∣mon to Saints and hypocrites. Mat. 19.20. and if a man carries morally, twenty years together, it don't shew him to be a Saint; so zeal, so delight in Sabbaths; if an hypocrite may do these things, then the multiplication of them, and walking in such a way is no evidence; that which is com∣mon, let it be multiplied never so often, don't be∣come saving: multiply cyphers, and they make no number: therefore there can be no evidence of a good estate from a mans walk, unless he knew some act of grace; if he can't discern some act of saving grace, he must be at a loss about his sincerity.

USE I.

See the reason why many Professors are unsa∣tisfied about their sincerity; though they have a pretty good conversation, are conscientious, affe∣ctionate, zealous, yet they are full of fears, they are often perplexed, and don't know what to

make of themselves; it seems to them that their walk is pretty much according to rule, but they do not know that ever they did perform any act of saving grace; they can't answer to such que∣stions, Lovest thou me? Joh. 21.17. Or dost th•••• believe on the Son of God? Joh. 9.35. this does create a deal of perplexity to them; and they are afraid what will become of themselves, after al•• their profession. And there are three sorts o•• them.

• 1. Some Professors never did see any act o•• grace in themselves; they never had any: and therefore could not see any: they have had affe∣ction, but no love; sorrow, but not godly sorrow encouragement, but no faith. There be many Professors that are utterly destitute of gracious car∣riages, they have the resemblance of them, bu•• they never had any exercise of grace; they are spiritually dead, and never did perform any act o•• spiritual life; thus it was with Saul, Doeg, Achito∣phel, Judas and Demas, they were only the picture•• of Saints, and imitated the actions of Spiritual Life, but did not perform them; an evil tree can't bring forth good fruit, men can't gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles: Mat. 7.16, 18 they can't see acts of grace: men cannot see that which is not.
• 2. Some Professors never did certainly know that they have performed any act of saving grace they have discovered the workings of grace some

• times in themselves, but not so plainly, as to be able to speak roundly up to it, as Peter did, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee? Joh. 21.17. they understand that there is a great deal that does resemble grace, that is not grace; and so they doubt whether it be of the right kind: they know that there is a temporary faith, Luk. 8.13. some believe for a time, and then fall away; and there may be strong desires and delight, where there is no sincere love; here may be great pangs of affection, without any up∣rightness, and the acts of grace were not so clear, as some others do speak of, hence they are not fully satisfied; as when one sees a man at a great distance, he is at some loss whether it be a man.
• 3. Some have certainly seen the workings of grace, but through temptations since, they have lost the certainty of that knowledge; at the time they knew they did believe in Christ, and that they loved God, and could say as David, Psalm 116.1. I love the Lord; and as, Psal. 46.1. The Lord is my strength and refuge: but afterwards they have not so full and clear a remembrance of it: and God brings them into affliction, and unbelief prevails, and now they are suspicious that they were mistaken; besides, God don't hear their prayers, they have sought him many a time for such & such a mercy, and he has denied them at last: besides, they find a dead heart, corrup∣tion strong, and have had no such plain working

• of Grace a pretty while, accordingly they are full of fears whether they are not mistaken: they say, if there were no deceit in it, how comes it to be so and so with me?

USE. II.

Others cannot be certain of a mans sincerity from his Conversation: if others see men carry well, they presently say, they are good men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but they don't know it from thence; there i•• indeed ground enough for Charity; but not for Assurance: for whatever mens Conversation be if they don't see the actings of Grace, they can not be assured that the man is a Godly man. It is not good to depend upon the judgment o•• others, for they do not know, whether a man be sincere or not. All the external acts of Cha∣rity, Piety, Justice and Sobriety, may be per∣formed by a man that has no Grace; Prudence and Conscience may produce them all: and one that has no Grace may carry as well in the eye of the world, as he that has it. Peter does but suppose Silvanus to be faithful. 1 Pet. 5.12.

Consider 1. The inward actings of Grace are invisible to others. A man may look into his own heart, and see the actings and workings that are there; but he can't look into the hearts of others; men can't tell what actings there be

••n their understandings and wills: men can't ••ee when they act, nor what they act, nor what they act upon; nor how they act: men can't ••ell whether they chuse or refuse. Jer. 17.9. The heart is deceitful above all things, who can know it?

2. Men cannot by words or actions make the actings of grace so visible to others, that they can distinguish them: if a man talke gra∣ciously and walk graciously, he can't make another certain that he does so: another that sees the external action, can't certainly distin∣guish it from a formal action; if he satisfy a∣nother, yet he can't assure another, that it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gracious action: a man may speak like an Angel, yet not have charity; he may give all his goods to feed the poor; and his body to be bur∣ied, and yet not have charity, 1 Cor. 3.1, 2, 13.

USE III.

Of Warning, That you be not confident of your sincerity from your walk, without the certain knowledge that you have performed any act of saving grace: some men will be confident that they are in a good estate, though they do not know that ever they be∣lieved in Christ, or have exercised any true love to God: all that they have to say for

themselves is, that they have a consciencious ca•• to do their duty, and are many times affected i•• a religious way, and hope, they do trust in Chri•••• and make the glory of God their end; and the find affection to the people of God: but this yo•• may be sure of, you can't conclude your sincerit•• from your walk, unless you know that you hav•• performed some act or acts of saving grace: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you do know that, then you have reason to con∣clude your walk to be holy: where there is on act of saving grace, there will be more: there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the principle, but without this you cannot con∣clude it.

Consider 1. If you be sincere, this confidence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meer flattery; good men sometimes think the are good upon such foundations as will not hold as because God does the things that they hav•• prayed for; because he smiles upon then in his Providence; because others think they ar•• Saints: so this is one way of flattery: if you be up•••• right, yet you can't tell it from your walk, if you do not know that you exercise grace: for ought any thing that you know, your life is a life o•• hypocrisy: men may do all that you know you do, and yet be hypocrites; your walk can't be evidential to you, if you do not see the acts o•• grace, your confidence is presumption; men must go upon a sure bottom, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examin•••• your selves, prove your own selves; & this flattering &

••eep that you are fallen into does you much hurt: his makes you neglect a good confidence, and ••xposes you to live a careless life, without any ••••eat matter of the life of religion.

2. If you be not sincere, it may prove your ••hine; some men that take notice of their con∣••cientiousness do conclude themselves godly, ••hen they are ungodly: and fall short of a prin∣ciple of grace: they are destitute of faith and ••••ve, Joh. 5.42. I know you, that you have not the ••••ve of God in you: but because they imagine that ••hey are sincere, they rest in their present attain∣ments, Joh. 9.41. because you say we see, therefore ••our sin remaineth: when they are stirred up to ••et sincerity, they hope they have it already, they ••ope others will take the warning, and that their children will hearken, but they think themselves ••re out of danger: counsels and warnings are ••ost upon them, they bless themselves in their present estate, they think their disease is cured, and so give over the use of means; they think ••hey are provided for Eternity, and so they are ••t rest: they are under some endeavours to get ••nore knowledge and more grace, but not to be Converted: hence this work is neglected; when once they have taken up such a conceit that they ••re godly, they have got their deaths wound, if ••nercy do not prevent: they live carelesly, and when they come to dye, they will be shut out of

the Kingdom of God: there will be no roo•••• for them in heaven, Mat. 25.12. Depart from in•••• I know you not. Isa. 50.11. all you that kindle a fi•••• and compass your selves about with sparks; walk 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the light of your fire, and in the sparks which you ha•••• kindled, this shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall down in sorrow.

USE IV.

Of Direction: To Saints how to get the know∣ledge of your sincerity; by getting such visib•••• actings of grace, that you may know them ce••••∣tainly to be the acts of saving grace: it is a gre•••• exercise to some Saints, whether they be since•••• Saints, they labour in it for many years; and o•••• Minister gives signs, and they try themselves 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, and another gives signs, and they try them∣selves by them; and sometimes they think th•• see the signs of Saints, and sometimes the sign of hypocrites: and they don't know what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make of themselves: the best way is to get su•• exercise of grace, that you may know it to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grace; don't let grace lie in a withering condi•••• on: let it flourish, that it may act visibly: th•• you may certainly know it: your walk witho•••• this, will never clear up your good condition.

Consider. 1. There is good use of sign provided they be true signs warranted by

••••ght interpretation of the Scripture; though ••••any signs that men give are very fallible: it if the signs be good, there is very good ••e to be made of them; though a man may ••k signs of signs endlessly; yet they are of ••••od advantage to beget a probable knowledge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a mans good estate; many persons are in∣••uraged and supported by them. 1 Joh. 3.14. ••••ereby we know that we are passed from death 〈◊〉〈◊〉 life, because we love the brethren: and they ••e a further confirmation to those that have ••••d Assurances of their sincerity: when they ••••d Scripture signs falling in with those evi∣dences, which they have formerly received, they ••••e further established thereby.

2. But the visible actings of Grace will ••••isfy all sorts of Christians. We may distin∣guish Christians into two sorts; some are persons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great understanding and knowledge, they ••••ve a deep insight into those ways of deceit ••••d hypocrisy that the heart is subject to: ••••d they are apt to be puzled with questions ••••d doubts, that fly over the heads of others; ••••ey are afraid of such deceits as other men ••••n't suspect: but when they have plain visible ••••••rkings of Grace, that they know to be Grace, ••••is fully satisfyes them: Thou knowest that I ••••e thee. Joh. 21.17. Others are weak and ig∣norant and can't give many signs of true Grace,

nor distinctly take them up, when they are laid down: yet when they plainly see the vi∣sible actings of saving Grace, the thing is pu•• beyond question. A weak woman is as we•• satisfyed that she loves her child as the wisef•• man in the land, though she can't make a larg•• discourse upon it, nor prove it by infallible sign•• because she seels her love: so it is in this case.

3. Though the visible actings of Grace may be counterfeited, yet they that have them, may know that they have them. There is nothing but may be counterfeited, men may counterfeit themselves to be great men and holy men: Gol•• and Silver, and Jewels may be counterfeited So these visible actings of Grace; men may have very strong affections; where there is no love or godly sorrow. Matt. 8.19. Master I will follow thee whither soever thou goest. 1 Sam. 24. 16. Saul lift up his voice and wept. Men may say Hosanna to day, and Crucify to morrow Yet those that have the visible acting of Grace know it. He that dreams thinks he is awake, but he that is awake, knows he is awake: though there be counterfeits, yet the ••••ible actings may be known at the time.

4. If men have such visible actings of Grace but now and then, they will be of great use to them as long as they live: though they

may be after that Exposed to great Tempta∣tions, yet these actings of Grace that they have ••een, will be stay to them: they will wor•• an abiding hope in the heart; they will often have occasion to call to mind the years of the right hand of the most high, and their Song in the night. If a man should live many year after, he will not forget this. Psal. 63.2. That I may see thy power and glory, so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary. If he has great Tempta∣tions from deadness and from Gods with draw∣ings; this will come to mind, and so he will have hope: and the more such acts are re∣peated, the more advantage he is under to have a settled Assurance of his sincerity.

FINIS.