The moral and religious miscellany; or, Sixty-one aphoretical essays, on some of the most important Christian doctrines and virtues. By Hugh Knox, D.D. in St. Croix. ; [Seven lines of quotations in Latin]

ESSAY XVII. Whether CHRISTIANS may be fully assured of GOD'S eter∣nal LOVE, in this LIFE?

1. BY a full assurance of GOD'S love, we mean,

Such a firm and well-grounded persuasion of his love to us, of the truth of grace in us, and of the cer∣tainty of our future glory and happiness, as excludes all doubts and fears, and as affords just ground of joy and triumph.

The Apostle terms it, The full assurance of hope* 1.1.

2. WE do not suppose that every believer attains to this privilege; for, we do not suppose that assurance is of the essence of faith. To believe and trust in Christ, is one thing, and to be persuaded and assured that we do believe and trust in him, agreeable to the gospel command is another and a very different thing: The first is a di∣rect, the second a reflex act of faith: By the first we are actually in the way of salvation; by the second we know and are comfortably assured that we are so; and the first may be and often is, without the second† 1.2.

3. THIS comfortable assurance of GOD'S eternal love is not, in its own nature permanent; but may be, and of∣ten is lost for a time, either through falls and miscarriages, or an unwatchful and uncircumspect life, or for other reasons and purposes known only to GOD. Nay, it may be doubted, whether any Christian ever enjoyed this privilege uninterruptedly for many years, or even months together. Nor indeed is it necessary, as it is not essential to salvation. It is necessary to our salvation, that we should always trust in GOD; but it is not equal∣ly necessary, that we should always know that we do so.

4. GOD may have wise and gracious reasons for with∣holding this comfortable assurance wholly from some Christians, and for interrupting it often in others; name∣ly, to humble and preserve them from spiritual pride; to chastize them for carelessness and unwatchfulness, and to exercise them in the graces of godly sorrow, re∣pentance, patience, dependance, and a painful diligence in the work of religion.

5. CHRISTIANS may also forfeit this comfortable as∣surance, by their miscarriages and indiscretions; by grieving the holy Spirit and resisting his motions and impulses, and by neglecting the duties of meditation, self-examination, prayer, and the other instrumental or∣dinances of GOD'S appointment.

6. BUT this assurance is a privilege certainly attainable by Christians, because it has been actually attained by numbers of GOD'S people. It appears that Job* 1.3, Da∣vid† 1.4, St. Paul and all the other apostles had this com∣fortable assurance‡ 1.5.

7. IT was one principal design of writing the scrip∣tures, that we might come to this comfortable assurance,

and we are repeatedly exhorted and commanded to seek for it and obtain it, which proves that it is attainable* 1.6.

8. THERE are numberless conditional promises of sal∣vation laid down in scripture, the conditions whereof, if we can be persuaded that we have been enabled to fulfil them, we may be equally assured of eternal life, and that we are in a state of salvation. For instance; he that believeth, repenteth, is converted and born of GOD, shall be saved.

This is the record, that GOD hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son: He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life; but the wrath of GOD abideth on him.

If, therefore, I have obtained a rational assurance, that I have believed, or received the Son of GOD by faith; that I have repented, and am truly regenerated and born again of the Spirit, I am equally assured of eternal life.

9. THE scriptures abound with marks and characters of true believers and real converts. E. g.

This is the love of GOD, that ye keep his commandments. We know that we have passed from death unto life, be∣cause we love the brethren. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, &c. and they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with its lusts. There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. As many as are led by the Spirit of GOD, they are the sons of GOD. Every man, who hath this hope in himself, purifyeth himself, as GOD is pure, &c.

Now, if we are rationally and upon good grounds persuaded that we have these marks and characters, we may be equally assured of spiritual life in possession, and eternal life in reversion.

10. THE witness of the Spirit may also concur with and shine upon this evidence, and give us an irresistable persuasion, that this is indeed our happy case* 1.7.

11. THE following things seem necessary to this as∣surance: (1.) There must be promises of life and salva∣tion revealed, as objects of our faith.—(2.) There must be marks and characters revealed, as a rule whereby we may examine and try ourselves, and know our state.— (3.) These marks and evidences of grace must be dis∣covered, in an ordinary way, by frequent, diligent, and impartial self-examination, which is the only rational ex∣pedient on our part to come at self-knowledge.—(4.) It is necessary, that we should discern in ourselves these marks and evidences, to which the promises of salvation are made: And, (5.) In order to remove all doubt and un∣certainty, it seems necessary, in most cases, that the Spi∣rit should shine upon his own work, and give his concur∣ring testimony; and for this we should earnestly pray, while we examine.

12. THERE is an extraordinary witness of the Spirit, which seems distinct from this, and which is much more rare and uncommon; wherein, without any self-exami∣nation, reflection or reasoning, the Spirit of GOD imme∣diately shines on the soul, with such an irresistable and over∣powering light, and with such sensible first-fruits of hea∣venly glory, as puts the persons thus highly favoured, infinitely above all doubt of the safety of their state. This often happens to eminently holy men, upon the near approach of death.

13. THE very lowest degree of this assurance is not to be expected without true faith, and a conscientious re∣gard to GOD'S commandments, accompanied with self-examination, and careful serious reflections on our tem∣per, frame and actions, compared with the word of GOD.

14. IT is the duty of every Christian, to labour to ob∣tain this comfortable assurance of the safety and happi∣ness of his state, for the following reasons: (1.) Without it he can have no rational hope, or joy in the holy Ghost. (2.) He cannot, with truth and sincerity, bear an ho∣nourable testimony to religion, or encourage and com∣fort others from his own experience. (3.) He cannot praise GOD or rejoice in him, as he ought; nor be so chearful in his service, or so examplary in his own life, as he otherwise might. (4.) His death cannot be ho∣nourable to christianity, nor edifying to saints or sinners; as he must go down to the grave, in a state of doubt and hesitancy.

15. To obtain this comfortable assurance, is, for ordi∣nary, a work which requires much labour, diligence and perseverance; but when obtained, it will abundantly re∣compence the labour of a whole lifetime.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. vi. 11.
• † 1.2

  Isa. l. 10.
• * 1.3

  Job xix. 23,—27.
• † 1.4

  2 Sam. xxiii. 5. and his psalms passim.
• ‡ 1.5

  2 Tim. i. 12.—iv. 7, 8. 2 Cor. iv. 17.—••. 1, 6, 7, 8. Philip. i. 19,—23. 1 John iii. 2, 3, &c.
• * 1.6

  John xx. 31. 1 John i. 4.—v. 13. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Gal. vi. 3, 4, &c.
• * 1.7

  Rom. v. 1,—5.—viii. 15,—17.