莱尔主教holiness-第51章
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（25） 〃It is confessed weak faith hath as much peace with God； through
Christ； as another hath by strong faith； but not so much bosom peace。
〃Weak faith will as surely land the Christian in heaven as strong
faith； for it is impossible the least dram of true grace should perish；
being all incorruptible seed； but the weak； doubting Christian is not
like to have so pleasant a voyage thither as another with strong faith。
Though all in the ship e safe to shore； yet he that is all the way
sea…sick hath not so fortable a voyage as he that is strong and
healthful。〃The Christian in plete Armour； by William Gurnall；
sometime Ejector of Lavenham； Suffolk。 1680。
（26） 〃Be not discouraged if it doth not yet appear to you that you were
given by the Father to the Son。 It may be； though you do not see it。
Many of the given do not for a long time know it； yea； I see no great
danger in saying that not a few of the given to the Son may be in
darkness； and doubts； and fears about it； till the last and brightest
day declare it； and till the last sentence proclaims it。
〃If； therefore； any of you be in the dark about your own election； be
not discouraged： it may be； though you do not know it。〃Sermons on the
Lord's Prayer； by Robert Traill； Minister of the Gospel； in London； and
sometime at Cranbrook； Kent。 1690。
（27） 〃Assurance is not essential to the being of faith。 It is a strong
faith； but we read likewise of a weak faith； little faith； faith like a
grain of mustard seed。 True saving faith in Jesus Christ is only
distinguishable by its different degrees； but in every degree and in
every subject； it is universally of the same kind。〃Sermons； by the
Key。 John Newton； sometime Vicar of Olney； and Rector of St。 Mary；
Woolnoth； London。 1767。
（28） 〃There is no reason why weak believers should conclude against
themselves。 Weak faith unites as really with Christ as strong faithas
the least bud in the vine is drawing sap and life from the root； no
less than the strongest branch。 Weak believers； therefore； have
abundant cause to be thankful； and while they reach after growth in
grace； ought not to overlook what they have already received。〃Letter
of Rev。 Henry Venn。 1784。
（29） 〃The faith necessary and sufficient for our salvation is not
assurance。 Its tendency doubtless is to produce that lively expectation
of the Divine favour which will issue in a full confidence。 But the
confidence is not itself the faith of which we speak； nor is it
necessarily included in it： nay； it is a totally distinct thing。
〃Assurance will generally acpany a high degree of faith。 But there
are sincere persons who are endued with only small measures of grace；
or in whom the exercise of that grace may be greatly obstructed。 When
such defects or hindrances prevail； many fears and distresses may be
expected to arise。〃The Christian System； by the Rev。 Thomas Robinson；
Vicar of St。 Mary's； Leicester。 1795。
（30） 〃Salvation； and the joy of salvation； are not always
contemporaneous； the latter does not always acpany the former in
present experience。
〃A sick man may be under a process of recovery； and yet be in doubt
concerning the restoration of his health。 Pain and weakness may cause
him to hesitate。 A child may be heir to Ms estate or kingdom； and yet
derive no joy from the prospect of his future inheritance。 He may be
unable to trace his genealogy； or to read his title…deeds； and the
testament of his father； or with a capacity of reading them he may be
unable to understand their import； and his guardian may for a time deem
it right to suffer him to remain in ignorance。 But his ignorance does
not affect the validity of his title。
〃Personal assurance of salvation is not necessarily connected with
faith。 They are not essentially the same。 Every believer might indeed
infer； from the effect produced in his own heart； his own safety and
privileges； but many who truly believe are unskilful in the word of
righteousness； and fail of drawing the conclusion from Scriptural
premises which they would be justified in drawing。〃Lectures on the
51st Psalm； by the Rev。 Thomas Biddulph； Minister of St。 James's；
Bristol。 1830。 134
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＇19＇ 〃Full assurance that Christ hath delivered Paul from condemnation；
yea； so full and real as produceth thanksgiving and triumphing in
Christ； may and doth consist with plaints and outcries of a wretched
condition for the indwelling of the body of sin。〃Rutherford's Triumph
of Faith。 1645。
＇20＇ We do not vindicate every vain pretender to the witness of the
spirit'； we are aware that there are those in whose professions of
religion we can see nothing but their forwardness and confidence to
remend them。 But let us not reject any doctrine of revelation
through an over…anxious fear of consequences。〃Robinson's Christian
System。 〃True assurance is built upon a Scripture basis： presumption
hath no Scripture to show for its warrant； it is like a will without
seal and witnesses； which is null and void in law。 Presumption wants
both the witness of the Word and the seal of the Spirit。 Assurance
always keeps the heart in a lowly posture； but presumption is bred of
pride。 Feathers fly up； but gold descends； he who hath this golden
assurance； his heart descends in humility。〃Watson's Body of Divinity。
1650。 〃Presumption is joined with looseness of life； persuasion with a
tender conscience； that dares sin because it is sure； this dares not
for fear of losing assurance。 Persuasion will not sin； because it cost
her Saviour so dear； presumption will sin； because grace doth abound。
Humility is the way to heaven。 They that are proudly secure of their
going to heaven do not so often e thither as they that are afraid of
going to hell。〃Adams on Second Epistle of Peter。 1633。
＇21＇ 〃They are quite mistaken that think faith and humility are
inconsistent； they not only agree well together； but they cannot be
parted。〃Traill。
＇22＇ 〃To be assured of our salvation；〃 Augustine saith； 〃is no arrogant
stoutness； it is our faith。 It is no pride； it is devotion。 It is no
presumption； it is God's promise。〃Bishop Jewell's Defence of the
Apology。 1570 〃If the ground of our assurance rested in and on
ourselves； it might justly be called presumption； but the Lord and the
power of His might being grounded thereof； they either know not what is
the might of His power； or else too lightly esteem it； who account
assured confidence thereon presumption。〃Gouge's Whole Armour of God。
1647。 〃Upon what ground is this certainty built？ Surely not upon
anything that is in us。 Our assurance of perseverance is grounded
wholly upon God。 If we look upon ourselves； we see cause of fear and
doubting； hut if we look up to God； we shall find cause enough for
assurance。〃Hildersam on John iv。 1632。 〃Our hope is not hung upon
such an untwisted thread as； I imagine so；' or It is likely'； but the
cable； the strong rope of our fastened anchor； is the oath and promise
of Him who is eternal verity。 Our salvation is fastened with God's own
hand； and Christ's own strength； to the strong stake of God's
unchangeable nature。〃Rutherford's Letters。 1637。
＇23＇ 〃Never did a believer in Jesus Christ die or drown in his voyage
to heaven。 They will all be found safe and sound with the Lamb on Mount
Zion。 Christ loseth none of them； yea； nothing of them。 （John vi。 39。）
Not a bone of a believer is to be seen in the field of battle。 They are
all more than conquerors through Him that loved them。〃 （Rom。 viii。
37。）Traill。
＇24＇ The reader who would like to hear more about this point is
referred to a Note at the end of this paper； in which he will find
extracts from several well…known English Divines； supporting the view
here maintained。 The extracts are too long for insertion in this page。
＇25＇ 〃H
