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1. Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and in a state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish;

Job 8:13-14 Matthew 7:22-23

Job 8:13-14 KJV Read in context

¹³So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish: ¹⁴Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

Matthew 7:22-23 KJV Read in context

²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,

1 John 2:3 1 John 3:14 1 John 3:18-19 1 John 3:21 1 John 3:24 1 John 5:13

1 John 2:3 KJV Read in context

³And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 3:14 KJV Read in context

¹⁴We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:18-19 KJV Read in context

¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 3:21 KJV Read in context

²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

1 John 3:24 KJV Read in context

²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 5:13 KJV Read in context

¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

which hope shall never make them ashamed.

Romans 5:2 Romans 5:5

Romans 5:2 KJV Read in context

²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:5 KJV Read in context

⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith,

Hebrews 6:11 Hebrews 6:19

Hebrews 6:11 KJV Read in context

¹¹And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Hebrews 6:19 KJV Read in context

¹⁹Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel;

Hebrews 6:17-18

Hebrews 6:17-18 KJV Read in context

¹⁷Where in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: ¹⁸That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made,

2 Peter 1:4-5 2 Peter 1:10-11

2 Peter 1:4-5 KJV Read in context

⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2 Peter 1:10-11 KJV Read in context

¹⁰Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: ¹¹For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God;

Romans 8:15-16

Romans 8:15-16 KJV Read in context

¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.

1 John 3:1-3

1 John 3:1-3 KJV Read in context

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it;

Isaiah 50:10 Psalm 88 Psalm 77:1-12

Isaiah 50:10 KJV Read in context

¹⁰Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Psalm 88 KJV Read in context

¹O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: ²Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; ³For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. ⁴I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: ⁵Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. ⁶Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. ⁷Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. ⁸Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. ⁹Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. ¹⁰Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. ¹¹Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? ¹²Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? ¹³But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. ¹⁴LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? ¹⁵I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. ¹⁶Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. ¹⁷They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. ¹⁸Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Psalm 77:1-12 KJV Read in context

¹I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. ²In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. ³I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. ⁴Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ⁵I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. ⁶I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. ⁷Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? ⁸Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? ⁹Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. ¹⁰And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. ¹¹I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. ¹²I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto:

1 John 4:13 Hebrews 6:11-12

1 John 4:13 KJV Read in context

¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Hebrews 6:11-12 KJV Read in context

¹¹And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: ¹²That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance;

Romans 5:1-2 Romans 5:5 Romans 14:17 Psalm 119:32

Romans 5:1-2 KJV Read in context

¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:5 KJV Read in context

⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 14:17 KJV Read in context

¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 119:32 KJV Read in context

³²I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

so far is it from inclining men to looseness.

Romans 6:1-2 Titus 2:11-12 Titus 2:14

Romans 6:1-2 KJV Read in context

¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Titus 2:11-12 KJV Read in context

¹¹For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2:14 KJV Read in context

¹⁴Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it,

Song of Solomon 5:2-3 Song of Solomon 5:6

Song of Solomon 5:2-3 KJV Read in context

²I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. ³I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

Song of Solomon 5:6 KJV Read in context

⁶I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit;

Psalm 51:8 Psalm 51:12 Psalm 51:14

Psalm 51:8 KJV Read in context

⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Psalm 51:12 KJV Read in context

¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:14 KJV Read in context

¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

by some sudden or vehement temptation,

Psalm 116:11 Psalm 77:7-8 Psalm 31:22

Psalm 116:11 KJV Read in context

¹¹I said in my haste, All men are liars.

Psalm 77:7-8 KJV Read in context

⁷Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? ⁸Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

Psalm 31:22 KJV Read in context

²²For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

by God's withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light,

Psalm 30:7

Psalm 30:7 KJV Read in context

⁷LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

yet are they never destitute of the seed of God

1 John 3:9

1 John 3:9 KJV Read in context

⁹Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

and life of faith,

Luke 22:32

Luke 22:32 KJV Read in context

³²But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived,

Psalm 42:5 Psalm 42:11

Psalm 42:5 KJV Read in context

⁵Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 42:11 KJV Read in context

¹¹Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.

Lamentations 3:26-31

Lamentations 3:26-31 KJV Read in context

²⁶It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. ²⁷It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. ²⁸He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. ²⁹He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. ³⁰He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. ³¹For the Lord will not cast off for ever: