to make Election sure, exhorts also, 2 Pet. 1.5, 6. to adde to Faith, Vertue, to Vertue, Knowledge, &c. a large enumerati∣on, or induction of graces is required to clear up this assurance, and certainly that is a matter of no ease.
Thirdly, (that I may hasten) this is difficult, in regard of the great progresse, that an Hypocrite, or a Cast-away, may make in the wayes of Christianity, and yet never attaine to this assurance; He may have some degrees of Illumination, Heb. 6.4. much like a Coruscation, that a suddaine flash of Lightning maketh in the Ayre; He may have good wishes as Balaam, Numbers 23.10. A sight of sinne as Cain had, Gen. 4.13. Confesse sinne as Judas did, Matthew 27.4. have zeale as Jehu had, 2 Kings 10.16. in these, and in like o∣ther gifts may a very Cast-away make a great progresse; But no child of God can have any reall comfort in any thing, wherein he cannot say, he hath (yet) therein gone beyond a Cast-away; and yet, but in the ground, or rule, or end of do∣ing, these things are hardly discernable each from other: All which, and much more that might be added to the same pur∣pose, shew, though not the utter impossibility, yet surely the very great difficulty of attaining unto this assurance, that a man can say, as S. Paul doth here, in a particular application unto his soule, Christ loved [me] and gave himselfe for [me,] and henceforth is laid up for [me] a Crown of Righteousnesse.
There yet remaines but one Pearle more in the Cabinet of this Text, which I shall onely offer to your short notice, and so conclude, it is that due qualification which renders other Chri∣stians, as well as it did S. Paul, capable of the Crown of Righteous∣nesse; they must be such, as who do love the Lord Christ's se∣cond appearing in the day of Judgement. And, indeed, it is the property of none but Saints, to love it, and long for it. See Phil. 1.23. Rev. 22.20. Amen even so come Lord Jesus.
Some cautions, notwithstanding, must be here remembred, sith it's possible that times may fall out, when we tremble at the thought, or mention of it; as when conscience is wounded afresh with some gross act of sin: this made David afraid, yea, to roar out, and to make a noyse through the disquietnesse of his spirit, Psal. 38.8. Psal. 55.2. and, under that state of soul,