A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Such an evidence, conviction, and persuasion of Acceptance with God as are exclusive of all contrary reasonings, that suffer the Soul to hear nothing of Objections, that free and quiet it from all assaults are neither mentioned in the Scripture, nor consistent with that state wherein we walk before God, nor possible on the account of Satan's will and ability to tempt, or of our own remaining unbelief. Assurance encourageth us in our ⟨p. 288⟩Combat, it delivereth us not from it. We may have peace: with God, when we have none from the assaults of Satan. Now unless a man do duly consider the tenor of the Covenant wherein we walk with God, and the nature of that Gospel Obedience which he requires at our hands, with the state and Condition which is our Lot and portion whilst we live in this World, the daily sense of these things, with the trouble that must be undergone on their account, may keep him in the dark unto himself, and hinder him from that establishment in believing which otherwise he might attain unto. On this account some as holy persons as any in this World, being wholly taken up with the consideration of these home bred perplexities, and not clearly acquainted with the way and tenor of assuring their Souls before God according to the Rule of the Covenant of Grace, have passed away their days in a bondage frame of spirit, and unacquaintance with that strong consolation which God is abundantly willing that all the Heirs of promise should receive. ¹5. Evangelical Assurance is not a thing that consisteth in any point, and so incapable of variation. It may be higher or lower, greater or less, obscure or attended with more Evidence. It is not quite lost; when it is not quite at its highest. God sometimes marvellously raiseth the Souls of his Saints with some close and near approaches unto them; gives them a sense of his Eternal Love; a taste of the embraces of his Son, and the inhabitation of the Spirit, without the least intervening disturbance, then this is their Assurance. But this life is not a season to be always taking wages in; our work is not yet done, we are not always to abide in this Mount; we must down again into the battle, fight again, cry again, complain again; Shall the Soul be thought now to have lost its assurance? Not at all, it had before assurance with Joy, Triumph, and Exultation;

Such an evidence, conviction, and perswasion of Acceptance with God as are exclusive of all contrary reasonings, that suffer the Soul to hear nothing of Objections, that free and quiet it from all assaults are neither mentioned in the Scripture, nor consistent with that state wherein we walk before God, nor possible on the account of Sathans will and ability to tempt, or of our own remaining unbelief. Assurance encourageth us in our