The signs or An essay concerning the assurance of Gods love, and mans salvation…The signes or An essay concerning the assurance of Gods loue, and mans saluation…

That a Christian in this life may be infallibly assured of Gods favour ⟨p. 2⟩to himself in particular, and that he ought to seek this assurance, as a matter of singular necessity, these places of Scripture prove. The Apostle Paul chargeth the Corinthians to Examine themselves, ¹whether they be in the faith, and requireth this proving of themselves with such earnestness, that he saith, know ye not your own selves, how that Christ Jesus is in you, except ye be reprobates? As if he would avouch it, that a man can never have found ⟨p. 3⟩comfort of his election till he get this assured knowledge of Gods favour in Christ. And the Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to use all diligence to make their calling and election sure whatsoever carnal persons speak against it.² Job vehemently desires there were a perpetual record of his words, when he speaks of his assurance, that no man might think he spake passionately, or vaingloriously;³ He knew that his redeemer lived, and that at the last ⟨p. 4⟩day, his very flesh should be raised, & he should see God with joy. By the spirit of God a Christian knows the things of God:⁴ yea to this end have we received this Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things which are freely given us of God: yea it searcheth the deep things of God.⁵ And in the second of the Corinthians Gods children are said to know their glorification: as certainly as by sense and experience, they know, that their bodies, which are their ⟨p. 5⟩earthly tabernacles shall be dissolved: so certainly are they assured of the building of God, not made with hands,