from principles of love to the glory of God, the honor of Christ, and the credit of religion, which is attended with a believing improvement of the righteousness, grace, fulness, spirit and promise of Christ for this end: in that soul saving faith has its seat. When it is the constant study, and in some measure, is the attainment of Christians to perfect holiness in the fear of God; to be more conformed in heart and life to the Divine law; to abound in the inward exercise of all grace; to persevere in the outward performance of all duty; and to groan under, and mourn before God, because of their manifold imperfections, such persons are believers in Christ, by a faith which really justifies and saves. This life of holiness and sanctification manifests the truth of the believer's faith, not to himself only, but it discovers the reality of this grace in him also unto others. Hereby they make their light, in such a manner, shine before men, that they seeing their good works, glorify their Father who is in heaven. By their fruits, they are known to be the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. And they show, in the view of all spiritual beholders in particular, as also before the world in general, the truth of their faith by their works. While it is the property of some of the marks of faith, to manifest the truth of that grace to the believer's own mind only, this evidence of sanctification discovers it to others also.The Christian may be satisfied as to his interest in Christ through a saving faith, by that spiritual comfort and consolation wherewith his heart is sometimes filled. The prayer of the apostle confirms the reality of this mark of grace: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."* Some appear to despise and deny this mark of true faith, by saying, Let any man believe, in the way of presumption, that he has an interest in Christ, and, from principles common to human nature, his soul will be filled with joy. This assertion has been made under a very culpable inattention. Is there no difference betwixt the joy of the hypocrite, which is but for a moment, and the spiritual consolation of the saints of God, by which they may be clearly distinguished from one another, and the latter found to be a mark of true faith, while the former is discovered to be an evidence of no such thing? Yes, they differ in many things, particularly in their causes and effects. The causes of the spiritual joy, which is a certain evidence of true faith, are the following: The real Christian finds spiritual consolation spring up in his soul, from a believing and spiritual consideration of the glory of God; the excellency of Jesus Christ; the exercise of the Divine attributes in Christ for his salvation; the everlasting covenant of peace into the bond of which he has been brought; the great and precious promises which are given unto him; and the foundation which is laid, in the scheme of grace, by the operation of the Spirit, for subduing his iniquity, perfecting his holiness and happiness in the heavenly glory. As the spiritual joy of believers is well founded, so it is full of good fruits. It strengthens, in the soul, faith in Christ; love to God; and a veneration for the Spirit and his influence. It increases the Christian's hatred of sin, his love to holiness, and his resolution and endeavor to run the way of God's commandments. It removes *Romans 15: 13. his affections from worldly objects; fixes them on things above, and increases his heavenly and spiritual-mindedness. In a word, it constrains the believer to the duty of prayer; makes him humble; excites him to praise, and makes him desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. However strong that joy may be in the hearts of men, which neither springs from these causes, nor produces any of these effects, is the joy of the hypocrite; and whatever it may evidence in them, it no way discovers their interest in the object of saving faith. But the joy and comfort which are thus founded and thus fruitful, whether they be low or high in their degree, assuredly manifest to Christians that they are interested in Christ, and that they shall obtain eternal salvation through him. Examine your selves by these things; prove your ownselves, that you may know that Jesus Christ is in you, and that you are not reprobates. 6. From what has been said, we may also see that Christians should labor to obtain an assurance of their interest in Christ. The command of God requires this endeavor: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall.” Indolence about this matter, is a transgression of the law of God. And an earnest and humble attempt, in the use of appointed means, to reach this assurance, is a compliance with his authority. The example of the saints who attained this assurance, should excite us to the same exercise. If they could say, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength * 2 Peter 1: 10. and my song; he also is become my salvation."* "Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory."+ "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore will I hope in him." "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."S Is not their exercise and attainments a loud call to us to be followers of them, in that diligence by which they reached that assurance, and to go and do likewise? The conduct of the children of men, about matters of an infinitely inferior nature, discovers the reasonableness and necessity of this exercise. If men, when they buy fields for money, subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take faithful witnesses to record, shall Christians live in careless indifference about the security of their title to the inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, which is reserved in heaven for them? The various advantages which arise to Christians, from an assurance of their interest in Christ, and the unspeakable losses which they sustain in the want of it, should influence them to show much diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. 7. The means by which Christians obtain this persuasion of their interest in Christ, may be discovered from this part of the subject. The frequent renewed exercise of faith upon its object, is one special mean of attaining this assurance. The more we abound in that exercise, of which we desire to have the evidence, the sooner will we reach unto satisfaction about it, and the clearer will be our persuasion *Isa. 12: 2. † Psalm 73: 24. Lam. 3:24. Rev. 1:5, 6. of its truth. Sensible assurance can neither be obtained nor preserved for any time, without the actings of faith. Let us therefore study to exercise this grace by believing on Christ, coming unto him, receiving and resting upon him as he is revealed and offered to us in the word, that we may come to be sensibly assured that this is our real attainment. Much self-examination is another mean of our attaining this heavenly privilege. This duty is both commanded in the word, and exemplified in the exercise of the saints. We must sincerely try our faith by taking the marks of it, which are contained in the word, and apply them to our own souls, to see if they are really found in us. We need never expect to have certainty as to the truth of our faith, if we do not, by self-examination, search after its evidence. Enlarged meditation upon the object of faith, is also a mean of getting this assurance. The person who meditates on God's word day and night; who considers the High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, and frequently thinks upon God as the God of his salvation, may expect to have a certain assurance of his interest in the object of faith. Much spirituality in the performance of religious duties, with a reaching forward in them to the enjoyment of communion with God, are means for the same end. While those who are formal in the duties of religion, and do not aspire after fellowship with God therein, shall go mourning without the sun, it shall be the privilege of souls who are otherwise exercised, to hear God saying unto them, I am thy salvation. An humble walking with God; the universal study of holiness; and an endeavor to promote the glory of God, by our public profession of his name before the world, lead to the enjoyment of this |