A96226:116
The humble advice of the Assembly of Divines, now
The humble advice of the Assembly of Divines, now by authority of Parliament sitting at Westminster, concerning a confession of faith, presented by them lately to both houses of Parliament. A certain number of copies are ordered to be printed only for the use of the members of both houses and of the Assembly of Divines, to the end that they may advise thereupon.
London: printed for Company of Stationers, 1646
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.
CHAP. XVIII. Of the assurance of Grace and Salvation.
Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, ⟨p. 29⟩and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God, and estate of salvation; which hope of theirs shall perish: yet, such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
ALthough hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, ⟨p. 29⟩and carnall presumptions of being in the favour of God, and estate of salvation; which hope of theirs shall perish: yet, such as truly beleeve in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope; but, an infallible assurance of faith, founded, upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God: which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.