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I mend these four points to the serious consideration of all
professing Christians。 Would you like to feel the Everlasting Arms
around you； and to hear the voice of Jesus daily drawing nigh to your
soul； and saying； 〃I am thy salvation〃？Would you like to be a useful
labourer in the vineyard in your day and generation？Would you be
known of all men as a bold； firm； decided； single…eyed； unpromising
follower of Christ？Would you be eminently spiritually…minded and
holy？I doubt not some readers will say； 〃These are the very things
our hearts desire。 We long for them。 We pant after them： but they seem
far from us。〃
Now； has it never struck you that your neglect of assurance may
possibly be the main secret of all your failuresthat the low measure
of faith which satisfies you may be the cause of your low degree of
peace？ Can you think it a strange thing that your graces are faint and
languishing； when faith； the root and mother of them all； is allowed to
remain feeble and weak？
Take my advice this day。 Seek an increase of faith。 Seek an assured
hope of salvation like the Apostle Paul's。 Seek to obtain a simple；
childlike confidence in God's promises。 Seek to be able to say with
Paul； 〃I know whom I have believed： I am persuaded that He is mine； and
I am His。〃
You have very likely tried other ways and methods and pletely
failed。 Change your plan。 Go upon another tack。 Lay aside your doubts。
Lean more entirely on the Lord's arm。 Begin with implicit trusting。
Cast aside your faithless backwardness to take the Lord at His word。
e and roll yourself； your soul； and your sins； upon your gracious
Saviour。 Begin with simple believing； and all other things shall soon
be added to you。 ＇34＇
IV。 I e now to the last thing of which I spoke。 I promised to point
out some probable causes why an assured hope is so seldom attained。 I
will do it very shortly。
This is a very serious question； and ought to raise in all of us great
searchings of heart。 Few； certainly； of Christ's people seem to reach
up to this blessed spirit of assurance。 Many paratively believe； but
few are persuaded。 Many paratively have saving faith； but few that
glorious confidence which shines forth in the language of St。 Paul。
That such is the case； I think we must all allow。
Now； why is this so？Why is a thing which two Apostles have strongly
enjoined us to seek after； a thing of which few believers have any
experimental knowledge in these fitter days？ Why is an assured hope so
rare？
I desire to offer a few suggestions on this point； with all humility。 I
know that many have never attained assurance； at whose feet I would
gladly sit both in earth and heaven。 Perhaps the Lord sees something in
the natural temperament of some of His children； which makes assurance
not good for them。 Perhaps； in order to be kept in spiritual health；
they need to be kept very low。 God only knows。 Still； after every
allowance； I fear there are many believers without an assured hope；
whose case may too often be explained by causes such as these。
（1） One most mon cause； I suspect； is a defective view of the
doctrine of justification。
I am inclined to think that justification and sanctification are
insensibly confused together in the minds of many believers。 They
receive the Gospel truththat there must be something done in us； as
well as something done for us； if we are true members of Christ： and so
far they are right。 But then； without being aware of it； perhaps； they
seem to imbibe the idea that their justification is； in some degree；
affected by something within themselves。 They do not clearly see that
Christ's work； not their own workeither in whole or in part； either
directly or indirectlyis alone the ground of our acceptance with God；
that justification is a thing entirely without us； for which nothing
whatever is needful on our part but simple faithand that the weakest
believer is as fully and pletely justified as the strongest。 ＇35＇
Many appear to forget that we are saved and justified as sinners； and
only sinners； and that we never can attain to anything higher； if we
live to the age of Methuselah。 Redeemed sinners； justified sinners； and
renewed sinners doubtless we must bebut sinners； sinners； sinners； we
shall be always to the very last。 They do not seem to prehend that
there is a wide difference between our justification and our
sanctification。 Our justification is a perfect finished work； and
admits of no degrees。 Our sanctification is imperfect and inplete；
and will be so to the last hour of our life。 They appear to expect that
a believer may at some period of his life be in a measure free from
corruption； and attain to a kind of inward perfection。 And not finding
this angelic state of things in their own hearts； they at once conclude
there must be something very wrong in their state。 And so they go
mourning all their daysoppressed with fears that they have no part or
lot in Christ； and refusing to be forted。
Let us weigh this point well。 If any believing soul desires assurance；
and has not got it； let him ask himself； first of all； if he is quite
sure he is sound in the faith； if he knows how to distinguish things
that differ； and if his eyes are thoroughly clear in the matter of
justification。 He must know what it is simply to believe and to be
justified by faith before he can expect to feel assured。
In this matter； as well as in many others； the old Galatian heresy is
the most fertile source of error； both in doctrine and in practice。
People ought to seek clearer views of Christ； and what Christ has done
for them。 Happy is the man who really understands 〃justification by
faith without the deeds of the law。〃
（2） Another mon cause of the absence of assurance is； slothfulness
about growth in grace。
I suspect many true believers hold dangerous and unscriptural views on
this point； I do not of course mean intentionally； but they do hold
them。 Many appear to think that； once converted； they have little more
to attend to； and that a state of salvation is a kind of easy chair； in
which they may just sit still； lie back； and be happy。 They seem to
fancy that grace is given them that they may enjoy it； and they forget
that it is given； like a talent； to be used； employed； and improved。
Such persons lose sight of the many direct injunctions 〃to increaseto
growto abound more and moreto add to our faith；〃 and the like； and
in this little…doing condition； this sitting…still state of mind； I
never marvel that they miss assurance。
I believe it ought to be our continual aim and desire to go forward；
and our watchword on every returning birthday； and at the beginning of
every year； should be； 〃More and more〃 （1 Thess。 iv。 1）： more
knowledgemore faithmore obediencemore love。 If we have brought
forth thirtyfold； we should seek to bring forth sixty； and if we have