A65285:1271
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Quest. 4. What are the differences between true Assurance and Presumption?
Resp. 1. They differ in the method or manner of working: Divine Assurance flows from Humiliation for Sin; (I speak not of the measure of Humiliation, but the Truth.) There are in Palermo Reeds growing in which there is a Sugared Juice: A Soul humbled for Sin is the Bruised Reed in which grows this sweet Assurance. God's Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage, before it be a Spirit of Adoption; but Presumption ariseth without any humbling work of the Spirit. How camest thou by thy Venison so soon? The Plough goes before the Seed be sown; the Heart must be ploughed up by Humiliation and Repentance, before God sows the Seed of Assurance.
Resp. 1. They differ in the method or manner of working: Divine Assurance flows from Humiliation for Sin; (I speak not of the measure of Humiliation, but the Truth.) There are in Palermo Reeds growing in which there is a Sugred Juice: A Soul humbled for Sin is the Bruised Reed in which grows this sweet Assurance. God's Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage, before it be a Spirit of Adoption; but Presumption ariseth without any humbling work of the Spirit. How camest thou by thy Venison so soon? The Plow goes before the Seed be sown; the Heart must be plowed up by Humiliation and Repentance, before God sows the Seed of Assurance.
2. He who hath a real Assurance, will take heed of that which will weaken and darken his Assurance; he is fearful of the Forbidden Fruit; he knows though he cannot sin away his Soul, yet he may sin away his Assurance: But he who hath the Ignis Fatuus of Presumption, doth not fear defiling his Garments; he is bold in sin, Jer. 3.4, 5. Wilt thou not cry unto me my Father, behold thou hast done evil things as thou couldest. Balaam said, My God, yet a Sorcerer. A Sign he hath no Money about him, who fears not to Travel all Hours in the Night; a sign he hath not the Jewel of Assurance, who fears not the works of Darkness.