A treatise of effectual calling and election In XVI. sermons, on 2 Peter 1.10.…

Thirdly, true assurance is more or less in a mans spirit, by how much more or less that man keeps in communion with God. If a man doth remit in his converse with God, and grow careless and formal, and a stranger to God, he shall grow a stranger to himself in the end, and to his comforts also: but if a man keep close to God, and keep close to duties, can retire and recollect himself to converse with God in a more solemn and serious manner, is preparedly and fruitfully exercised in Ordinances, can pour out his soul into Gods bosom; that man is in the way to have his comforts raised up. Whereas now for men that have false comfort and persuasions, whether they are much or little with God, all is one to them, their comforts are at the same stand still. Come to a man that hath false comforts, and at all times he is alike peremptory, he is in the same persuasion he was 3.4.7. years ago. Ask him any week in the year, any day in the week, any hour in the day, and he will tell you he hath the same comforts, and the same evidences still: he had a strong faith in God, and he hath it still; he had strong hopes to be saved, and so he hath still; he is still peremptory in his comforts, though he never so much alter in communion with his God: this is an argument thy persuasions are false, because a Christians ⟨p. 126⟩communion and converse with God doth feed his comforts. Now as the body, by how much the more or less it is fed, by so much the more it is weakened or strengthened: so it is with your comforts; so much as they are cherished by your walking with God, so much they grow weak or strong. Now let a wicked man grow never so vile, and never so sinful, it interrupts not his peace; he hath hopes and assurance still, and he will trust in God still, though he sin ever; this is an argument his comforts are unsound. You have a lively picture of this, Mic. 3.11. The heads of the people judge for reward, the Priests teach for hire, and the Prophets divine for money: and yet they will lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? That is, though they have these sins among them, and did walk thus and thus, yet they would hope in God God to be saved for all this. Why, Beloved, thou wilt find God to fail thee; though he never failed an assured Christian, yet he will fail that man that leans upon him, when he belongs not to him.

Thirdly, true assurance is more or lesse in a mans spirit, by how much more or lesse that man keeps in communion with God. If a man doth remit in his converse with God, and grow carelesse and formal, and a stranger to God, he shall grow a stranger to himselfe in the end, and to his comforts also: but if a man keep close to God, and keep close to duties, can retire and recollect himselfe to converse with God in a more solemn and serious manner, is preparedly and fruitfully exercised in Ordinances, can poure out his soule into Gods bosome; that man is in the way to have his comforts raised up. Whereas now for men that have false comfort and perswasions, whether they are much or little with God, all is one to them, their comforts are at the same stand still. Come to a man that hath false comforts, and at all times he is alike peremptory, he is in the same perswasion he was 3.4.7. years ago. Ask him any week in the year, any day in the week, any hour in the day, and he will tell you he hath the same comforts, and the same evidences still: he had a strong faith in God, and he hath it still; he had strong hopes to be saved, and so he hath still; he is still peremptory in his comforts, though he never so much alter in communion with his God: this is an argument thy perswasions are false, because a Christians