Sermons preached

4. Endeavour to arrive at the highest Degree of Assent. Faith is or should be strongly persuaded of what it believeth. It is an Evidence, not a Conjecture, not a Surmise, but a firm Assurance. We should certainly know what we believe. We know thou art a Teacher sent from God, Joh. 3. 2. We know, and are sure, that thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God, Joh. 6. 69. 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know, that we have a Building of God. 1 Joh. 5. 2. We know, that we shall see him as he is. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord, knowing that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. Invisible things revealed by God should be certainly known, because God hath told us such clear firm Apprehensions become us. Faith is not a bare Conjecture, but a certain Knowledge: not we think, we hope well, but we know, is the Language of Faith. It is not a bare Possibility we go upon, nor a probable Opinion, but a certain infallible Truth. I put you upon this, partly, because we have a great Argument in the Text, If Job could see it so long before it came to pass, should we not now see it? Believers of old make us ashamed, who live in the clear Sun-shine of the Gospel. Job lived long before the Gospel was revealed; the Redemption of Souls was at that time a great Mystery, being sparingly revealed to a few. But one of a thousand could bring this Message to a condemned Sinner, that God had found a Ransom, Job 33. 23. Partly, to ⟨p. 227⟩put you upon earnest Prayer to God, and other holy Means. The Spirit opens our Eyes, and inclines our Hearts. Eph. 1. 17, 18. I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my Prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, in the knowledge of Him: The Eyes of your Understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints.