RULES FOR OBTAINING FORGIVENESS. 283 perish every moment; my sins are strong, active, rest- less, yea, outrageous; they give me no rest, no liberty, and but little success do I gain in resisting them. As- surance is for conquerors, for them that live at rest and peace. I lie grovelling on the ground all my days, and must needs be uncertain what will be the issue." But when such an one bath said all he can, he will not be able to make more woful complaints of this than Paul has done before him, Rom. 7; and yet he closes the dis- course of it with as high an expression of assurance as any person need seek after, ver. 25, and chap. 8 : 1. But if men will think they can have no assurance, be- cause they have that without which it is impossible they should have any, it is hard to give them relief. A little cruse of salt of the Gospel cast into the bitter waters will make them sweet and wholesome. Sense of the guilt of sin may consist with faith of its pardon and forgiveness in the blood of Christ. Godly sorrow may dwell in the heart at the same time with joy in the Holy Ghost, and groaning after deliverance from the power of sin, at the same time with a gracious per- suasion that sin shall not " have dominion over us, be- cause we are not under the law, but grace." 4. Doubtings, fears, temptations, if not ordinarily pre- vailing, are consistent with gospel-assurance. Though the devil's power be limited in reference to the saints, yet his hands are not tied; though he cannot prevail against them, yet he can assault them : and although there be not an evil heart of unbelief in believers, yet there will still be unbelief in their hearts. Such an evidence and persuasion of acceptance with God as ex- clude all contrary reasonings, as suffer the soul to hear
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