按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
removed。 ＇38＇
Take advice of a minister of Christ this very day。 Seek durable
richesa treasure that cannot be taken from youa city which hath
lasting foundations。 Do as the Apostle Paul did。 Give yourself to the
Lord Jesus Christ； and seek that incorruptible crown He is ready to
bestow。 Take His yoke upon you； and learn of Him。 e away from a
world which will never really satisfy you； and from sin which will bite
like a serpent； if you cleave to it； at last。 e to the Lord Jesus as
lowly sinners； and He will receive you； pardon you； give you His
renewing Spirit； fill you with peace。 This shall give you more real
fort than the world has ever done。 There is a gulf in your heart
which nothing but the peace of Christ can fill。 Enter in and share our
privileges。 e with us； and sit down by our side。
（2） Lastly； let me turn to all believers who read these pages； and
speak to them a few words of brotherly counsel。
The main thing that I urge upon you is thisif you have not got an
assured hope of your own acceptance in Christ； resolve this day to seek
it。 Labour for it。 Strive after it。 Pray for it。 Give the Lord no rest
till you 〃know whom you have believed。〃
I feel； indeed； that the small amount of assurance in this day； among
those who are reckoned God's children； is a shame and a reproach。 〃It
is a thing to be heavily bewailed；〃 says old Traill； 〃that many
Christians have lived twenty or forty years since Christ called them by
His grace； yet doubting in their life。〃 Let us call to mind the earnest
〃desire〃 Paul expresses； that 〃every one〃 of the Hebrews should seek
after full assurance； and let us endeavour； by God's blessing； to roll
this reproach away。 （Heb。 vi。 11。）
Believing reader； do you really mean to say that you have no desire to
exchange hope for confidence； trust for persuasion； uncertainty for
knowledge？ Because weak faith will save you； will you therefore rest
content with it？ Because assurance is not essential to your entrance
into heaven； will you therefore be satisfied without it upon earth？
Alas； this is not a healthy state of soul to be in； this is not the
mind of the Apostolic day！ Arise at once and go forward。 Stick not at
the foundations of religion： go on to perfection。 Be not content with a
day of small things。 Never despise it in others； but never be content
with it yourself。
Believe me； believe me； assurance is worth the seeking。 You forsake
your own mercies when you rest content without it。 The things I speak
are for your peace。 If it is good to be sure in earthly things； how
much better is it to be sure in heavenly things！ Your salvation is a
fixed and certain thing。 God knows it。 Why should not you seek to know
it too？ There is nothing unscriptural in this。 Paul never saw the Book
of Life； and yet Paul says； 〃I know and am persuaded。〃
Make it then your daily prayer that you may have an increase of faith。
According to your faith will be your peace。 Cultivate that blessed root
more； and sooner or later； by God's blessing； you may hope to have the
flower。 You may not perhaps attain to full assurance all at once。 It is
good sometimes to be kept waiting： we do not value things which we get
without trouble。 But though it tarry； wait for it。 Seek on； and expect
to find。
There is one thing； however； of which I would not have you
ignorant：You must not be surprised if you have occasional doubts；
after you have got assurance。 You must not forget you are on earth； and
not in heaven。 You are still in the body； and have indwelling sin： the
flesh will lust against the spirit to the very end。 The leprosy will
never be out of the walls of the old house till death takes it down。
And there is a devil； too； and a strong devil： a devil who tempted the
Lord Jesus； and gave Peter a fall； and he will take care you know it。
Some doubts there always will be。 He that never doubts has nothing to
lose。 He that never fears possesses nothing truly valuable。 He that is
never jealous knows little of deep love。 Be not discouraged： you shall
be more than conqueror through Him that loved you。 ＇39＇
Finally； do not forget that assurance is a thing which may be lost for
a season； even by the brightest Christians； unless they take care。
Assurance is a most delicate plant。 It needs daily； hourly watching；
watering； tending； cherishing。 So watch and pray the more when you have
got it。 As Rutherford says； 〃Make much of assurance。〃 Be always upon
your guard。 When Christian slept in the arbour； in Pilgrim's Progress；
he lost his certificate。 Keep that in mind。
David lost assurance for many months by falling into transgression。
Peter lost it when he denied his Lord。 Each found it again undoubtedly；
but not till after bitter tears。 Spiritual darkness es on horseback；
and goes away on foot。 It is upon us before we know that it is ing。
It leaves us slowly； gradually； and not till after many days。 It is
easy to run down hill。 It is hard work to climb up。 So remember my
cautionwhen you have the joy of the Lord； watch and pray。
Above all； grieve not the Spirit。 Quench not the Spirit。 Vex not the
Spirit。 Drive Him not to a distance； by tampering with small bad habits
and little sins。 Little jarrings between husbands and wives make
unhappy homes； and petty inconsistencies； known and allowed； will bring
in a strangeness between you and the Spirit。
Hear the conclusion of the whole matter。
The man who walks with God in Christ most closely will generally be
kept in the greatest peace。
The believer who follows the Lord most fully and aims at the highest
degree of holiness will ordinarily enjoy the most assured hope； and
have the clearest persuasion of his own salvation。
NOTE
（referred to at page 107）
Extracts from English Divines； showing that there is a difference
between faith and assurancethat a believer may be justified and
accepted with God； and yet not enjoy a fortable knowledge and
persuasion of his own safetyand that the weakest faith in Christ； if
it be true； will save a man as surely as the strongest。
（1） 〃The mercy of God is greater than all the sins in the world。 But we
sometimes are in such a case； that we think we have no faith at all； or
if we have any； it is very feeble and weak。 And therefore these are two
things： to have faith； and to have the feeling of faith。 For some men
would fain have the feeling of faith； but they cannot attain unto it；
and yet they must not despair； but go forward in calling upon God； and
it will e at the length： God will open their hearts； and let them
feel His goodness。〃Bishop Larimer's Sermons。 1552。
（2） 〃Weak faith may fail in the applying； or in the apprehension and
appropriating of Christ's benefits to a man's own self。 This is to be
seen in ordinary experience。 For many a man there is of humble and
contrite heart； that serveth God in spirit and truth； yet is not able
to say； without great doublings and waverings； I know and am fully
assured that my sins are pardoned。 Now shall we say that all such are
without faith？ God forbid。
〃This weak faith will as truly apprehend God's merciful promises for
the pardon of sin as strong faith； though not so soundly。 Even as a man
with a palsied hand can stretch it out as well to receive a gift at the
hand of a king as he that is more sound； though it may be not so firmly
and steadfastly。〃Exposition of the Creed； by William Perkins；
Minister of Christ in the University of Cambridge。 1612。
（3） 〃This certainty of our salvation； spoken of by Paul； rehearsed by
Peter； and mentioned by David （Psalm iv。 7）； is that special fruit of
faith； which breedeth spiritual joy and inward peace； which passeth all
understanding。 True it is； all God's children have it not。 One thing is
the tree； and another thing is the fruit of the tree： one thing is
faith； and another thing is the fruit of faith。 And that remnant of
God's elect which feel the want of this faith； have notwithstanding
faith。〃Sermons by Richard Greenham； Minister and Preacher of the Word
of God。 1612。
（4） 〃Some think they have no faith at all； because they have no full
assurance。 Yet the fairest fire that can be will have some smoke。〃The
Bruised Reed； by Richard Sibbes； Master of Catherine Hall； Cambridge；
and Preacher of Gray's Inn； London。 1630。
（5） 〃The act of faith is to apply Christ to the soul； and this the
weakest faith can do as well as the strongest； if it be true。 A child
can hold a staff as well； though not so strongly； as a man。 The
prisoner through a hole sees the sun； though not so perfectly as they
in the open air。 They that saw the brazen serpent； though a great way
off； yet were healed。
〃The least faith is as precious to the believer's soul as Peter's or
Paul's faith was to themselves； for it lays hold upon Christ and brings
eternal salvation。〃An Exposition of the Second Epistle General of
Peter； by the Rev。 Thomas Adams； Rector of St。 Gregory's； London。 1633。
（6） 〃Weak faith is true faithas precious； though not so great as
strong faith： the same Holy Ghost the author； the same Gospel the
instrument。
〃If it never proves great； yet weak faith shall save； for it interests
us in Christ； and makes Him and all His benefits ours。 For it is not
the strength of our faith that saves； but the truth of our faithnot
the weakness of our faith that condemns； but the want of faith； for the
least faith layeth hold on Christ； and so will save us。 Neither are we
saved by the worth or quantity of our faith； but by Christ； who is laid
hold on by a weak faith as well as a strong。 Just as a weak hand that
can put meat into the mouth shall feed and nourish the body as well as
if it were a strong hand； seeing the body is not nourished by the
strength of the hand； but by the goodness of the meat。〃The Doctrine
of Faith； by John Rogers； Preacher of God's Word； at Dedham； in Essex。
1634。
（7） 〃It is one thing to have a thing surely； another thing to know I
have it surely。 We seek many things that we have in our hands； and we
have many things that we think we have lost。 So a believer； who hath a
sure belief； yet doth not always know that he so believeth。 Faith is
necessary to salvation： but full assurance that I do believe is not of
like necessity。〃Ball on Faith。 1637。
（8） 〃There is a weak faith； which yet is true； and although it be weak；
yet； because it is true； it shall not be rejected of Christ。
〃Faith is not created perfect at the first； as Adam was； but is like a
man in the ordinary course of nature； who is first an instrument； then
a child； then a youth； then a man。
〃Some utterly reject all weak ones； and tax all weakness in faith with
hypocrisy。 Certainly these are either proud or cruel men。
〃Some fort and establish those who are weak； saying； Be quiet。 Thou
hast faith and grace enough； and art good enough： thou needest no more；
neither must thou be too righteous。' （Eccles。 vii。 16。） These are soft；
but not safe； cushions： these are fawning flatterers； and not faithful
friends。
〃Some fort and exhort； saying； Be of good cheer： He who hath begun a
good work will also finish it in you； therefore pray that His grace may
abound in you； yea； do not sit still； but go forward； and march on in
the way of the Lord。' （Heb。 vi。 1。） Now this is the safest and best
course。〃Questions； Observations； etc。； upon the Gospel according to
St。 Matthew； by Richard Ward； sometime Student at Cambridge； and
Preacher of the Gospel in London。 1640。
（9） 〃A man may be in the favour of God； in the state of grace； a
justified man before God； and yet want the sensible assurance of His
salvation； and of the favour of God in Christ。
〃A man may have saving grace in him； and not perceive it himself； a man
may h