A Body of Practical Divinity

Effect 4. Assurance would be a Golden Shield to beat back Temptation: Assurance Triumphs over Temptation: There are two sorts of Temptation Satan useth. 1. He tempts to draw us to Sin: Now the being assured of our Justification would make this Temptation vanish. What Satan, shall I Sin against him who hath loved me, and washed me in his Blood? Shall I return to Folly after God hath spoken Peace? Shall I weaken my Assurance, wound my Conscience, grieve my Comforter? Avoid Satan, Tempt no more. 2. Satan would make us question our Interest in God, he tells us we are Hypocrites, and God doth not love us. Now there is no such Shield against this Temptation as Assurance. What Satan, have I a real Work of Grace in my Heart, and the Seal of the Spirit to witness it, and dost thou tell me God doth not love me? Now I know thou art an Impostor, who goest about to disprove what I sensibly feel. If Faith resists the Devil, Assurance would put him to flight.

Effect 5. Assurance would make us contented, though we have but a little in the World: He who hath Enough is Content: He who hath Sun-light is Content, though he wants Torch-light. A Man that hath Assurance hath enough: In uno salvatore omnes florent gemmae ad salutem. He hath the Riches of Christs Merit, of his Love, an Earnest of his Glory, he is filled with the Fullness of God, here is enough, and having enough he is Content, Psal. 16.5. The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance: The Lanes are fallen unto me in a pleasant place, and I have a goodly Heritage. Assurance will rock the Heart quiet; the reason of Discontent, is either because Men have no Interest in God, or do not know their Interest: St. Paul, I know whom I have believed, 2 Tim. 1.12. There was the Assurance of his Interest; and 2 Cor. 6.10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, &c. There was his Contentment: Get but Assurance, and you will be out of the weekly Bill of Murmurers, you will be discontented no more. What can come amiss to him that hath Assurance God is his; Hath he lost a Friend? His Father lives; Hath he lost his only Child? God hath given him his only Son: Hath he Scarcity of Bread? God hath given him the finest of the Wheat, the Bread of Life. Are his Comforts gone? He hath the Comforter. Doth he meet with Storms on the Sea? He knows where to put in for Harbour. God is his Portion, and Heaven is his Haven. Thus Assurance gives sweet Contentment in every Condition.