taste； even in their lifetime。 There are lengths and breadths of peace
and consolation there； which it has not entered into your heart to
conceive。 There is bread enough and to spare in our Father's house；
though many of us certainly eat but little of it； and continue weak。
But the fault must not be laid to our Master's charge： it is all our
own。
And； after all； the weakest child of God has a mine of forts within
him； of which you know nothing。 You see the conflicts and tossings of
the surface of his heart； but you see not the pearls of great price
which are hidden in the depths below。 The feeblest member of Christ
would not change conditions with you。 The believer who possesses the
least assurance is far better off than you are。 He has a hope； however
faint； but you have none at all。 He has a portion that will never be
taken from him； a Saviour that will never be taken from him； a Saviour
that will never forsake him； a treasure that fadeth not away； however
little he may realize it all at present。 But； as for you； if you die as
you are； your expectations will all perish。 Oh； that you were wise！ Oh；
that you understood these things！ Oh； that you would consider your
latter end！
I feel deeply for you in these latter days of the world； if I ever did。
I feel deeply for those whose treasure is all on earth； and whose hopes
are all on this side of the grave。 Yes！ when I see old kingdoms and
dynasties shaking to the very foundationwhen I see； as we all saw a
few years ago； kings and princes and rich men and great men fleeing for
their fives； and scarce knowing where to hide their headswhen I see
property dependent on public confidence melting like snow in the
spring； and public stocks and funds losing their valuewhen I see
these things； I feel deeply for those who have no better portion than
this world can give them； and no place in that kingdom which cannot be
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