The use. The consideration hereof must move us above all things to labour for assurance of our adoption, even to have our consciences, assured out of Gods word, that we are the sons and daughters of God in Christ. The devils drift is to overthrow this persuasion in us, and therefore our endeavour must be, to confirm and settle our hearts herein. This is the charge of the holy Ghost upon every child of God; 2. Pet. 1. 10. Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure, that is, get the assurance thereof sealed up in your hearts, by the comfortable fruition and practise of the saving graces of Gods spirit, joining virtue with your faith, and with your virtue knowledge, with your knowledge temperance, and with temperance patience, and with patience godliness, and with godliness brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness love, vers. 5. 6. 7. And indeed if we would have true peace and comfort in every estate whether adversity or prosperity, let us labour for the knowledge of our adoption: This will be our joy in want, in wealth, in bondage, in freedom, in sickness, in health, in life and in death. Herein is that joy of Christ which never can be taken from us, Joh. 16. 22. We cannot do the Devil a greater pleasure, then to neglect the getting of this assurance; for hereupon he will take occasion (specially in time of distress) fearfully & dangerously to seek to break the neck of our souls; he cares not much otherwaies what men profess, and what knowledge and other common gifts of the spirit they have, so that they want this blessed assurance; and therefore with the Apostle Paul, we must account all other things to be but dross and dung in respect of this excellent knowledge of Christ, 1to be our Saviour and Redeemer. True it is, that unto many this exhortation will seem needless; for ignorant persons that have nothing in them but mere presumption, will brag most of this persuasion; but they that have felt the smart of temptation, do know what it is that will stand us in stead, even that assurance only which is rightly founded upon the word of God; and therefore forsaking the vain conceits of our ignorance, let us with all diligence unfeignedly endeavour to get this resolution; if we cannot of our selves attain unto it, we must use the direction and help of Gods faithful Ministers;
The vse. The consideration heereof must mooue vs aboue all things to labour for assurance of our adoption, euen to haue our consciences, assured out of Gods word, that we are the sonnes and daughters of God in Christ. The diuels drift is to ouerthrow this perswasion in vs, and therefore our endeuour must be, to confirme and settle our hearts heerein. This is the charge of the holy Ghost vpon euerie childe of God; 2. Pet. 1. 10. Giue all diligence to make your calling and election sure, that is, get the assurance thereof sealed vp in your hearts, by the comfortable fruition and practise of the sauing graces of Gods spirit, ioyning vertue with your faith, and with your vertue knowledge, with your knowledge temperance, and with temperance patience, and with patience godlinesse, and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse, and with brotherly kindnesse loue, vers. 5. 6. 7. And indeed if we would haue true peace and comfort in euery estate whether aduersity or prosperitie, let vs labour for the knowledge of our adoption: This will be our ioy in want, in wealth, in bondage, in freedome, in sicknesse, in health, in life and in death. Heerein is that ioy of Christ which neuer can be taken from vs, Ioh. 16. 22. We cannot doe the Diuell a greater pleasure, then to neglect the getting of this assurance; for heereupon he will take occasion (specially in time of distresse) fearefully & dangerously to seeke to breake the necke of our soules; he cares not much otherwaies what men professe, and what knowledge and other common giftes of the spirit they haue, so that they want this blessed assurance; and therefore with the Apostle Paul, we must account all other things to be but drosse and dung in respect of this excellent knowledge of Christ, 1to be our Sauiour and Redeemer. True it is, that vnto many this exhortation will seeme needlesse; for ignorant persons that haue nothing in them but meere presumption, will bragge most of this perswasion; but they that haue felt the smart of temptation, doe know what it is that will stand vs in stead, euen that assurance only which is rightly founded vpon the word of God; and therefore forsaking the vaine conceits of our ignorance, let vs with all diligence vnfeinedly endeuour to get this resolution; if we cannot of our selues attaine vnto it, we must vse the direction and helpe of Gods faithfull Ministers;
- 1Phil. 3. 8.
