A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

it hath it now, or may have, with wrestling, cries, tears, and supplications. And a mans Assurance may be as Good, as true, when he lies on the earth with a sense of sin, as when he is carried up to the third Heaven with a sense of Love, and foretaste of Glory. In brief, this Assurance of Salvation is ⟨p. 291⟩such a Gracious Evangelical persuasion of Acceptance with God in Christ, and of an interest in the promises of preservation unto the End, wrought in Believers by the Holy Ghost, in and through the exercise of Faith, as for the most part produceth these effects following. ¹1. It gives delight in obedience, and draws out Love in the duties that unto God we do perform. So much Assurance of a Comfortable Issue of their Obedience, of a blessed End of their labours and duties, of their purifying their hearts, and pressing after universal Renovation of mind and life, as may make them Cheerful in them, as may give Love and Delight in the pursuit of what they are engaged in, is needful for the Saints, and they they do not often go without it; and where this is, there is Gospel Assurance. To run as men uncertain, to fight as those that beat the Air, to travel as not any way persuaded of a comfortable entertainment or refreshment at the Journeys End, is a state and condition that God doth not frequently leave his people unto. And when he doth, it is a season wherein he receives very little of Glory from them, and they very little increase of grace in themselves. Many things, as hath been showed, do interpose, many doubts arise and entangling perplexities, but still there is a Comfortable persuasion kept alive, that there is a Rest provided, which makes them willing unto, and cheerful in their most difficult duties. This prevaileth in them, that their labour in the Lord, their watchings, praying, suffering, alms, mortification, fighting against temptation, crucifying the flesh with the lusts thereof, shall not be in vain. This gives them such a delight in their most difficult duties, as men have in a hard Journey towards a desirable home, or a place of Rest. 2. It casts out fear, tormenting fear, such as fills the soul with perplexing uncertainties, hard thoughts of God, and dreadful apprehensions of wrath to come: There are three things spoken concerning that fear which is inconsistent with the Assurance of forgiveness.

it hath it now, or may have, with wrestling, cryes, tears, and supplications. And a mans Assurance may be as Good, as true, when he lyes on the earth with a sense of sin, as when he is carryed up to the third Heaven with a sense of Love, and foretaste of Glory. In brief, this Assurance of Salvation is