A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences.: Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell.

Many reasons wherefore the Lord doth not give assurance speedily.

1. BEcause assurance is meat for strong men, babes are not able to bear it, and di∣gest it.

2. He doth not give it speedily, because we are apt to seek it more for our selves, then we do for his honour; as the Sun doth, as it were, put out the light of the Moon, stars, fire and candle. So the glory of God must put out all other ends; the ser∣vant that minds his wages more then his work, must not wonder if his master be slack in paying him; and sure it is, that he that is most mindfull of Gods honour, God will be most mindfull of his com∣fort.

3. Another reason why he doth not speedily give in assurance is, that when they have it they may the more highly prize it, and the more carefully keep it, and the more wisely improve it, and the more

affectionately and effectually bless God for it; none sets such a prize upon light, as he that hath lain a long time in darkness.

4. That we might live purely upon Christ, we are apt to rest upon every thing below Christ, viz. to rest upon creatures, to rest upon gifts or graces, duties and Divine manifestations, or celestial conso∣lations, and to rest upon gracious evidences: now the Lord to cure his people of these distempers, ma∣ny times leaves his children of light to walk in dark∣ness; but let us consider, that although the enjoy∣ment of assurance doth make most for our comfort, as we have said before: yet the living purely upon Christ in the want of assurance, doth make most for his glory; no Christian to him that in the want of visibles, can live upon an invisible God.

5. The Lord most times will have his people make a constant progress in holiness before he gives them this happiness of assurance, for assurance in a sense is the daughter of holiness.