SPIRITtUAL PEACE ALAI)' COMFORT. 305 weaker sort) it 'is but few that do attain to assurance of their justi&^ cation and salvation.' t Here are two or three'points which I would have you distinctly to observe, though I lay them all together for brevity.- 1. That it is only a greater measure of grace thatwill ordinarily afford assur- ance. 2. That therefore it is only Ehe stronger, and holier, and more obedient sort of Christians that usually roach to a certainty of salvation. 3. That fewChristians do .reach to a strong or high de- gree of grace. 4. And therefore it is but few Christians that reach to assurance. + For the two first of these it will evidently appear that they are true, by reviewing the reasons which I gave of the last point save one. He that will attain to a certaintyof salvation, must, 1. Have a large measure of grace to be discerned. 2. He must have that grace much in action, and lively action ; for it is not mere habits that are discernible. 3. He must have a clear understanding to be acquainted with the nature of spiritual things,; to lenowwhat is a sound evidence, and how to follow the search, and how to repel particular temptations. 4.' He must have a good acquaintance and familiarity with his own heart, and to that end must be much at home, and be used sometimes to a diligent bliervation of his heart and ways. 5. He must be in a good measure acquainted with, and a conqueror of contradicting temptations. 6. He must have some competent cure of the deceitfulness of the heart, and it must be brought to an open,, plain, ingenuous frame, willing to know the worst, of itself. 7. He must have some cure of that ordinary con- fusion- and tumultuous disorder that is in the thought and affections of men, and getthings into an order in his mind. 8. He must be a man of¡liligence, resolution, and, unwearied patience, that will resolvedly set on the work ofself-'examination; and painfully watch in it, and constantly follow it from time to time till he attain a cer- tainty. 9. He must. be one that is very fearful of sinning, and. careful in close obedient walking with God, and much in sincere and spiritual duty, that he keep not conscience still in accusing and condemning him, and God still offendedwith him, and. his wounds fresh bleeding, and his soul still smarting. 10. He must be a man of much fixedness and constancy of mind, and not of the ordinary mutability of mankind; that so he may not, by remitting his zeal anddiligence, lose the sight of his'evidences, nor, by leaving open his soul to an alteration by every new intruding thought and temptation, let .go his assurance as soon as he attaineth it. All these things in a good' degree are necessary to the attaining of assurance of salvation. . And then do I need to say any more to the confirmation of the third point, That few Christians reach thismeasure of grace? O . vox,. I. 39
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