No Christian attaineth to this full assurance at the first, but in some continuance of time, after that for a long space he hath kept a good conscience before God, and before men: and hath had divers experiences of Gods love and favour towards him in Christ. This Paul declareth to the Romans: lin afflictions God sheds abroad his love in their hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is given to them: but how? by degrees: for from afflictions ariseth patience, from patience cometh experience, from experience hope, and hope never maketh ashamed, or disappointeth him of eternal life. This is evident in Davids practise: mDoubtless, saith he, kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall live a long season in the house of the Lord. Mark this his resolute persuasion: and consider how he came unto it: namely, by experience of Gods favour at sundry times, and after sundry manners. For before he set down this resolution, he numbered up diverse benefits received of the Lord: that nhe fed him in green pastures, and led him by the refreshing waters of Gods word: that he restoreth him and leadeth him in the paths of righteousness: that he strengtheneth him in great dangers, even of death, and preserveth him: that in despite of his enemies, he enriched him with many benefits. By means of all these mercies of God bestowed on him, he came to be persuaded of the continuance of the favour of God towards him. Again David said before King Saul, oLet no mans heart fail because of Goliath: Thy servant will go and fight with the Philistine. And Saul said pto David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a boy, and he is a man of war from his youth. David answered, that he was able to fight with, and to slay the uncircumcised Philistine. And the ground of his persuasion was taken from experience: for thus he said, qThy servant kept his fathers sheep, and there came a Lyon, and likewise a Bear, and took a sheep out of the flock, and rI went out after him and smote him, and took it out of his mouth, and when he arose against me, I caught him by the beard, and smote him and slew him. sSo thy servant slew both the Lyon and the Bear: therefore this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath railed on the host of the living God.
No Christian attaineth to this full assurance at the first, but in some continuance of time, after that for a long space he hath kept a good conscience before God, and before men: and hath had diuers experiences of Gods loue and fauour towards him in Christ. This Paul declareth to the Romanes: lin afflictions God sheds abroad his loue in their hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is giuen to them: but how? by degrees: for from afflictions ariseth patience, from patience commeth experience, from experience hope, and hope neuer maketh ashamed, or disappointeth him of eternall life. This is euident in Dauids practise: mDoubtles, saith he, kindnes and mercie shall follow me all the daies of my life, and I shall liue a long season in the house of the Lord. Mark this his resolute perswasion: and consider how he came vnto it: namely, by experience of Gods fauour at sundrie times, and after sundrie manners. For before he set downe this resolution, he numbred vp diuerse benefits receiued of the Lord: that nhe fedde him in greene pastures, and led him by the refreshing waters of Gods word: that he restoreth him and leadeth him in the paths of righteousnes: that he strengtheneth him in great daungers, euen of death, and preserueth him: that in despight of his enemies, he enriched him with many benefits. By meanes of all these mercies of God bestowed on him, he came to be perswaded of the continuance of the fauour of God towardes him. Againe Dauid saide before King Saul, oLet no mans heart faile because of Goliah: Thy seruant will goe and fight with the Philistine. And Saul said pto Dauid, Thou art not able to goe against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a boy, and he is a man of warre from his youth. Dauid answered, that he was able to fight with, and to slay the vncircumcised Philistine. And the ground of his perswasion was taken from experience: for thus he saide, qThy seruant kept his fathers sheepe, and there came a Lyon, and likewise a Beare, and tooke a sheepe out of the flocke, and rI went out after him and smote him, and tooke it out of his mouth, and when he arose against me, I caught him by the beard, and smote him and slew him.
- lRo. 5.45.
- mPs. 23.6.
- nPsal. 23. 2,3,4.
- o1. Sam. 17. 32.
- pvers. 33.
- qvers. 34.
- rvers. 35.
- svers. 36.
