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is not a mere fancy or feeling。 It is not the result of high animal
spirits； or a sanguine temperament of body。 It is a positive gift of
the Holy Ghost； bestowed without reference to men's bodily frames or
constitutions； and a gift which every believer in Christ ought to aim
at and seek after。
In matters like these； the first question is thisWhat saith the
Scripture？ I answer that question without the least hesitation。 The
Word of God appears to me to teach distinctly that a believer may
arrive at an assured confidence with regard to his own salvation。
I lay it down fully and broadly； as God's truth； that a true Christian；
a converted man； may reach such a fortable degree of faith in
Christ； that in general he shall feel entirely confident as to the
pardon and safety of his soulshall seldom be troubled with
doubtsseldom be distracted with fearsseldom be distressed by
anxious questioningsand； in short； though vexed by many an inward
conflict with sin； shall look forward to death without trembling； and
to judgment without dismay。 ＇19＇ This； I say； is the doctrine of the
Bible。
Such is my account of assurance。 I will ask my readers to mark it well。
I say neither less nor more than I have here laid down。
Now such a statement as this is often disputed and denied。 Many cannot
see the truth of it at all。
The Church of Rome denounces assurance in the most unmeasured terms。
The Council of Trent declares roundly that a 〃believer's assurance of
the pardon of his sins is a vain and ungodly confidence；〃 and Cardinal
Bellarmine； the well…known champion of Romanism； calls it 〃a prime
error of heretics。〃
The vast majority of the worldly and thoughtless Christians among
ourselves oppose the doctrine of assurance。 It offends and annoys them
to hear of it。 They do not like others to feel fortable and sure；
because they never feel so themselves。 Ask them whether their sins are
forgiven； and they will probably tell you they do not know！ That they
cannot receive the doctrine of assurance is certainly no marvel。
But there are also some true believers who reject assurance； or shrink
from it as a doctrine fraught with danger。 They consider it borders on
presumption。 They seem to think it a proper humility never to feel
sure； never to be confident； and to live in a certain degree of doubt
and suspense about their souls。 This is to be regretted； and does much
harm。
I frankly allow there are some presumptuous persons who profess to feel
a confidence for which they have no Scriptural warrant。 There are
always some people who think well of themselves when God thinks ill；
just as there are some who think ill of themselves when God thinks
well。 There always will be such。 There never yet was a Scriptural truth
without abuses and counterfeits。 God's electionman's
impotencesalvation by graceall are alike abused。 There will be
fanatics and enthusiasts as long as the world stands。 But； for all
this； assurance is a reality and a true thing； and God's children must
not let themselves be driven from the use of a truth； merely because it
is abused。 ＇20＇
My answer to all who deny the existence of real； well…grounded
assurance； is simply thisWhat saith the Scripture？ If assurance be
not there； I have not another word to say。
But does not Job say； 〃I know that my Redeemer liveth； and that He
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth； and though after my skin
worms destroy this body； yet in my flesh shall I see God〃？ （Job xix。
26； 26。）
Does not David say； 〃Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death； I will fear no evil： for Thou art with me； Thy rod and Thy staff
they fort me 〃？ （Psalm xxiii。 4。）
Does not Isaiah say； 〃Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is
stayed on Thee； because he trusteth in Thee〃？ （Isaiah xxvi。 3。）
And again； 〃The work of righteousness shall be peace； and the effect of
righteousness quietness； and assurance for ever。〃 （Isaiah xxxii。 17。）
Does not Paul say to the Romans； 〃I am persuaded that neither death；
nor life； nor angels； nor principalities； nor powers； nor things
present； nor things to e； nor height； nor depth； nor any other
creature； shall be able to separate us from the love of God； which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord〃？ （Rom。 viii。 38； 39。）
Does he not say to the Corinthians； 〃We know that if our earthly house
of this tabernacle were dissolved； we have a building of God； an house
not made with hands； eternal in the heavens 〃？ （2 Cor。 v。 1。）
And again； 〃We are always confident； knowing that； whilst we are at
home in the body； we are absent from the Lord。〃 （2 Cor。 v。 6。）
Does he not say to Timothy； 〃I know whom I have believed； and am
persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have mitted to Him〃？
（2 Tim。 i。 12。）
And does he not speak to the Colossians of 〃the full assurance of
understanding〃 （Coloss。 ii。 2）； and to the Hebrews of the 〃full
assurance of faith；〃 and the 〃full assurance of hope〃？ （Heb。 vi。 ii； x。
22。）
Does not Peter say expressly； 〃Give diligence to make your calling and
election sure〃？ （2 Peter i。 10。）
Does not John say； 〃We know that we have passed from death unto life〃？
（1 John iii。 14。）
And again； 〃These things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God； that ye may know that ye have eternal life。〃 （1
John v。 13。）
And again； 〃We know that we are of God。〃 （1 John v。 19。）
What shall we say to these things？ I desire to speak with all humility
on any controverted point。 I feel that I am only a poor fallible child
of Adam myself。 But I must say that in the passages I have just quoted
I see something far higher than the mere 〃hopes〃 and 〃trusts；〃 with
which so many believers appear content in this day。 I see the language
of persuasion； confidence； knowledgenay； I may almost say； of
certainty。 And I feel； for my own part； if I may take these Scriptures
in their plain obvious meaning； the doctrine of assurance is true。
But my answer； furthermore； to all who dislike the doctrine of
assurance； as bordering on presumption； is this：It can hardly be
presumption to tread in the steps of Peter； and Paul； of Job； and of
John。 They were all eminently humble and lowly…minded men； if ever any
were； and yet they all speak of their own state with an assured hope。
Surely this should teach us that deep humility and strong assurance are
perfectly patible； and that there is not any necessary connection
between spiritual confidence and pride。 ＇21＇
My answer； furthermore； is that many have attained to such an assured
hope as our text expresses； even in modern times。 I will not concede
for a moment that it was a peculiar privilege confined to the Apostolic
day。 There have been in our own land many believers； who have appeared
to walk in almost uninterrupted fellowship with the Father and the
Sonwho have seemed to enjoy an almost unceasing sense of the light of
God's reconciled countenance shining down upon them； and have left
their experience on record。 I could mention well…known names； if space
permitted。 The thing has been； and isand that is enough。
My answer； lastly； is； It cannot be wrong to feel confidently in a
matter where God speaks unconditionallyto believe decidedly when God
promises decidedlyto have a sure persuasion of pardon and peace when
we rest on the word and oath of Him that never changes。 It is an utter
mistake to suppose that the believer who feels assurance is resting on
anything he sees in himself。 He simply leans on the Mediator of the New
Covenant； and the Scripture of truth。 He believes the Lord Jesus means
what He says； and takes Him at His word。 Assurance after all is no more
than a full…grown faith； a masculine faith that grasps Christ's promise
with both handsa faith that argues like the good centurion； If the
Lord 〃speak the word only；〃 I am healed。 Wherefore then should I doubt？
（Matt。 viii。 8。） ＇22＇
We may be sure that Paul was the last man in the world to build his
assurance on anything of his own。 He who could write himself down
〃chief of sinners〃 （1 Tim。 i。 15）； had a deep sense of his guilt and
corruption。 But then he had a still deeper sense of the length and
breadth of Christ's righteousness imputed to him。He who could cry； 〃O
wretched man that I am〃 （Rom。 vii。 24）； had a clear view of the
fountain of evil within his heart。 But then he had a still clearer view
of that other Fountain which can remove 〃all sin and uncleanness。〃 He
who thought himself 〃less than the least of all saints〃 （Ephes。 iii。
8）； had a lively and abiding feeling of his own weakness。 But he had a
still livelier feeling that Christ's promise； 〃My sheep shall never
perish〃 （John x。 28）； could not be broken。Paul knew； if ever man did；
that he was a poor； frail bark； floating on a stormy ocean。 He saw； if
any did； the rolling waves and roaring tempest by which he was
surrounded。 But then he looked away from self to Jesus； and was not
afraid。 He remembered that anchor within the veil； which is both 〃sure
and steadfast。〃 （Heb。 vi。 19。） He remembered the word； and work； and
constant intercession of Him that loved him and gave Himself for him。
And this it was； and nothing else； that enabled him to say so boldly；
〃A crown is laid up for me； and the Lord shall give it to me；〃 and to
conclude so surely； 〃The Lord will preserve me； I shall never be
confounded。〃 ＇23＇
I may not dwell longer on this part of the subject。 I think it will be
allowed I have shown some good ground for the assertion I made； that
assurance is a true thing。
II。 I pass on to the second thing I spoke of。 I said； a believer may
never arrive at this assured hope； which Paul expresses； and yet be
saved。
I grant this most freely。 I do not dispute it for a moment。 I would not
desire to make one contrite heart sad that God has not made sad； or to
discourage one fainting child of God； or to leave the impression that
men have no part or lot in Christ； except they feel assurance。
A person may have saving faith in Christ； and yet never enjoy an
assured hope； such as the Apostle Paul enjoyed。 To believe and have a
glimmering hope of acceptance is one thing； to have 〃joy and peace〃 in
our believing； and abound in hope； is quite another。 All God's children
have faith； not all have assurance。 I think this ought never to be
forgotten。
I know some great and good men have held a different opinion。 I believe
that many excellent ministers of the Gospel； at whose feet I would
gladly sit； do not allow the distinction I have stated。 But I desire to
call no man master。 I dread as much as any one the idea of healing the
the wounds of conscience slightly； but I should think any other view
than that I have given； a most unfortable Gospel to preach； and one
very likely to keep souls back a long time from the gate of life。 ＇24＇
I do not shrink from saying that by grace a man may have sufficient
faith to flee to Christ； sufficient faith really to lay hold on
Himreally to trust in Himreally to be a child of Godreally to be
saved； and yet to his last day be never free from much anxiety； doubt；
and fear。
〃A letter；〃 says an old writer； 〃may be written； which is not sealed；
so grace may be written in the heart； yet the Spirit may not set the
seal of assurance to it。
A child may be born heir to a great fortune； and yet never be aware of
his riches； may live childish； die childish； and never know the
greatness of his possessions。 And so also a man may be a babe in
Christ's family； think as a babe； speak as a babe； and； though saved；
never enjoy a lively hope； or know the real privileges of his
inheritance。
Let no man mistake my meaning when I dwell strongly on the reality；
privilege； and im