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 importance of assurance。 Do not do me the injustice to
say； I teach that none are saved except such as can say with Paul； 〃I
know and am persuadedthere is a crown laid up for me。〃 I do not say
so。 I teach nothing of the kind。
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a man must have； beyond all question； if
he is to be saved。 I know no other way of access to the Father。 I see
no intimation of mercy； excepting through Christ。 A man must feel his
sins and lost estatemust e to Jesus for pardon and salvationmust
rest his hope on Him； and on Him alone。 But if he only has faith to do
this； however weak and feeble that faith may be； I will engage； from
Scripture warrants； he shall not miss heaven。
Never； never let us curtail the freeness of the glorious Gospel； or
clip its fair proportions。 Never let us make the gate more strait and
the way more narrow than pride and the love of sin have made it
already。 The Lord Jesus is very pitiful； and of tender mercy。 He does
not regard the quantity of faith； but the quality： He does not measure
its degree； but its truth。 He will not break any bruised reed； nor
quench any smoking flax。 He will never let it be said that any perished
at the foot of the cross。 〃Him that eth unto Me；〃 He says； 〃I will
in no wise cast out。〃 （John vi。 37。） ＇25＇
Yes！ Though a man's faith be no bigger than a grain of mustard seed； if
it only brings him to Christ； and enables him to touch the hem of His
garment； he shall be savedsaved as surely as the oldest saint in
paradisesaved as pletely and eternally as Peter； or John； or Paul。
There are degrees in our sanctification。 In our justification there are
none。 What is written； is written； and shall never fail： 〃Whosoever
believeth on Him；〃not whosoever has a strong and mighty
faith〃Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed。〃 （Rom。 x。 11。）
But all this time； be it remembered； the poor believing soul may have
no full assurance of his pardon and acceptance with God。 He may be
troubled with fear upon fear； and doubt upon doubt。 He may have many an
inward question； and many an anxietymany a struggle； and many a
misgivingclouds and darknessstorm and tempest to the very end。
I will engage； I repeat； that bare simple faith in Christ shall save a
man； though he may never attain to assurance； but I will not engage it
shall bring him to heaven with strong and abounding consolations。 I
will engage it shall land him safe in harbour； but I will not engage he
shall enter that harbour in full sail； confident and rejoicing。 I shall
not be surprised if he reaches his desired haven weather…beaten and
tempest…tossed； scarcely realizing his own safety； till he opens his
eyes in glory。
I believe it is of great importance to keep in view this distinction
between faith and assurance。 It explains things which an inquirer in
religion sometimes finds it hard to understand。
Faith； let us remember； is the root； and assurance is the flower。
Doubtless you can never have the flower without the root； but it is no
less certain you may have the root and not the flower。
Faith is that poor trembling woman who came behind Jesus in the press；
and touched the hem of His garment。 （Mark v。 25。） Assurance is Stephen
standing calmly in the midst of his murderers； and saying； 〃I see the
heavens opened； and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God。〃
（Acts。 vii。 56。）
Faith is the penitent thief； crying； 〃Lord； remember me。〃 （Luke xxiii。
42。） Assurance is Job； sitting in the dust； covered with sores； saying；
〃I know that my Redeemer liveth〃 （Job xix。 25）； 〃Though He slay me； yet
will I trust Him。〃 （Job xiii。 15。）
Faith is Peter's drowning cry； as he began to sink： 〃Lord save； me！〃
（Matt。 xiv。 30。） Assurance is that same Peter declaring before the
Council in after times； 〃This is the stone which was set at nought of