Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Moreover the Romanists urge, That the Doctrine of Assurance puffs up Pride, and opens a gap to Licentiousness. Unto which my answer is a flat Denial: If our Saviour had thought, that Assurance would make men like Devils in Pride, or Beasts in Licentiousness, he would never have said, as he did to the Paralytic, Thy sins be forgiven thee, Mat. 9.2. Had they told us, That such a Worm as Pride would breed out of the Doctrines of Merit and Supererogatory Works, it might easily have been believed; but that it should drop from such an Honeycomb of Free-Grace, as the Doctrine of Assurance is, is not reasonably to be imagined. Here's nothing of Merit, nothing of our own, all is pure mere Grace; the Believers Faith and Repentance is of Grace, and the Assurance of Pardon and Salvation is Grace upon Grace, Sealing-Grace upon Sanctifying: And whatever perverse abuse may be made of these, the natural tendency thereof is not to Pride; for a man after such Graces to forget the great Fountain, and set up an Idol of Self-excellency, is extremely unreasonable. Just as if he should say, Now I am in the bosom of Grace, but I would be cast out, and be held afar off; Now I have the warm Beams of Gods Favour, but I would fain be in the Dark again; Who would argue thus? Will it not be much more proper, in an humble admiration ⟨p. 396⟩to say as David did, Who am I? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Sam. 7.18. Thy Love, O God, first made me a Vessel of Faith, and then filled me with the Oil of Holy Joy; What am I to be such a Receiver? All that I am is too small a return; nothing of self may remain for an Idol. Had they said, That Licentiousness might have been fathered on the Sale of Pardons and Indulgences, it had been very right; These made Germany and other parts groan with all manner of wickedness: But to lay it at the door of Assurance, is abominable. Machiavel was out in his Politics, when he would have Princes Rule by Fear; but he advised so, because he knew well enough, That following his Rules they could not be Loved, and therefore he would persuade them, that it was better to be feared. The true Obedience (for I look not on that which a man is haled unto as such) springs out of Love, for that fulfils the Law; and our Love springs out of Gods, for We love him, because he first loved us,