莱尔主教holiness-第52章
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＇25＇ 〃He that believeth on Jesus shall never be confounded。 Never was
any； neither shall you； if you believe。 It was a great word of faith
spoken by a dying man； who had been converted in a singular way；
betwixt his condemnation and execution： his last words were these；
spoken with a mighty shout： Never man perished with his face towards
Christ Jesus。'〃Traill。
＇26＇ 〃The greatest thing that we can desire； next to the glory of God；
is our own salvation； and the sweetest thing we can desire is the
assurance of our salvation。 In this life we cannot get higher than to
be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed。 All saints
shall enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth； some saints enjoy a
heaven while they are here on earth。〃Joseph Caryl。 1653。
＇27＇ 〃It was a saying of Bishop Latimer to Ridley； When I live in a
settled and steadfast assurance about the state of my soul； methinks
than I am as bold as a lion。 I can laugh at all trouble： no affliction
daunts me。 But when I am eclipsed in my forts； I am of so fearful a
spirit that I could run into a very mouse…hole。〃Quoted by Christopher
Love。 1653。 〃Assurance will assist us in all duties： it will arm us
against all temptations； It will answer all objections； it will sustain
us in all conditions into which the saddest of times can bring us。 If
God be for us； who can be against us？'〃Bishop Reynolds on Hosea xiv。
1642。 〃We cannot e amiss to him that hath assurance。 God is his。
Hath he lost a friend？his father lives。 Hath he lost an 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 forts gone？he hath a forter。 Doth he meet with
storms？he knows where to put in for harbour。 God is his Portion； and
heaven is his haven。〃Thomas Watson。 1662。
＇28＇ These were John Bradford's words in prison； shortly before his
execution： 〃I have no request to make。 If Queen Mary gives me my life；
I will thank her； if she will banish me； I will thank her； if she will
burn me； I will thank her； if she will condemn me to perpetual
imprisonment； I will thank her。〃 This was Rutherford's experience when
banished to Aberdeen： 〃How blind are my adversaries； who sent me to a
banqueting house； and not to a prison or a place of exile。〃 〃My prison
is a palace to me； and Christ's banqueting house。〃Letters。
＇29＇ These were the last words of Hugh Mackail on the scaffold； at
Edinburgh； 1666： 〃Now I begin my intercourse with God； which shall
never be broken off。 Farewell； father and mother； friends and
relations； farewell； the world and all its delights； farewell； meat and
drinks； farewell； sun； moon and stars。 Wele； God and Father；
wele； sweet Lord Jesus； the Mediator of the new covenant； wele；
blessed Spirit of grace； and God of all consolation； wele； glory；
wele； eternal life； wele； death。 O Lord； into Thy hands I mit
my spirit； for Thou hast redeemed my soul； O Lord God of truth！〃
＇30＇ These were Rutherford's words on his death…bed： 〃O that all my
brethren did know what a Master I have served； and what peace I have
this day！ I shall sleep in Christ； and when I awake I shall be
satisfied with His likeness。〃 1661。 These were Baxter's words on his
death…bed： 〃I bless God I have a well…grounded assurance of my eternal
happiness； and great peace and fort within。〃 Towards the close he
was asked how he did。 The answer was； 〃Almost well。〃 1691。
＇31＇ 〃The least degree of faith takes away the sting of death； because
it takes away guilt； but the full assurance of faith breaks the very
teeth and jaws of death； by taking away the fear and dread of
it。〃Fairclough's Sermon in the Morning Exercises。
＇32＇ 〃Assurance would make us active and lively in God's service： it
would excite prayer； quicken obedience。 Faith would make us walk； but
assurance would make us runwe should think we could never do enough
for God。 Assurance would be as wings to the bird； as weights to the
clock； to set all the wheels of obedience a…running。〃Thomas Watson。
〃Assurance will make a man fervent； constant； and abundant in the work
of the Lord。 When the assured Christian hath done one work； he is
calling out for another。 What is next； Lord； says the assured soul；
what is nest？ An assured Christian will put his hand to any work； he
will put his neck in any yoke for Christhe never thinks he hath done
enough； he always thinks he had done too little； and when he hath done
all he can； he sits down； saying； I am an unprofitable
servant〃。Thomas Brooks。
＇33＇ 〃The true assurance of salvation which the Spirit of God hath
wrought in any heart hath that force to restrain a man from looseness
of life； and to knit his heart in love and obedience to God； as nothing
else hath in all the world。 It is certainly either the want of faith
and assurance of God's love； or a false and carnal assurance of it；
that is the true cause of all the licentiousness that reigns in the
world。〃Hildersam 51st Psalm。 〃None walk so evenly with God； as they
who are assured of the love of God。 Faith is the mother of obedience；
and sureness of trust makes way for strictness of life。 When men are
loose from Christ； they are loose in point of duty； and their floating
belief is soon discovered in their inconstancy and unevenness of
walking。 We do not； with alacrity； engage in that of the success of
which we are doubtful； and； therefore； when we know not whether God
will accept us or not； when we are off and on in point of trust； we are
just so in the course of our lives； and serve God by fits and starts。
It is the slander of the world to think assurance an idle
doctrine。〃Manton's Exposition of James。 1660。 〃Who is more obliged；
or who feels the obligation to observance more cogentlythe son who
knows his near relation； and knows his father loves him； or the servant
that hath great reason to doubt it？ Fear is a weak and impotent
principle； in parison of love。 Terrors may awaken： love enlivens。
Terrors may almost persuade'： love over…persuades。 Sure am I that a
believer's knowledge that his Beloved is his； and he is his Beloved's
（Cant。 vi。 3）； is found by experience to lay the most strong and cogent
obligations upon him to loyalty and faithfulness to the Lord Jesus。 For
as to him that believes Christ is precious （1 Peter ii。 7）； so to him
that knows he believes Christ is so much the more precious； even the
chiefset of ten thousand。'〃 （Cant。 v。 10）Fairclough's Sermon in
Morning Exercises。 1660。 〃Is it necessary that men should be kept in
continual dread of damnation； in order to render them circumspect and
ensure their attention to duty？ Will not the well…grounded expectation
of heaven prove far more efficacious？ Love is the noblest and strangest
principle of obedience； nor can it be but that a sense of God's love to
us will increase our desire to please Him。〃Robinson's Christian
System。
＇34＇ 〃That which breeds so much perplexity is； that we would invert
God's order。 If I knew；' say some； that the promise belonged to me； and
Christ was a Saviour to me； I could believe'： that is to say； I would
first see and then believe。 But the true method is just the contrary： I
had fainted；' says David； unless I had believed to see the goodness of
the Lord。' He believed it first； and saw it afterwards。〃Archbishop
Leighton。 〃It is a weak and ignorant； but mon thought of Christians；
that they ought not to look for heaven； nor trust Christ for eternal
glory； till they be well advanced in holiness and meetness for it。 But
as the first sanctification of our natures flows from out faith and
trust in Christ for acceptance； so our further sanctification and
meetness for glory flows from the renewed and repeated exercise of
faith in Him。〃Traill。
＇35＇ The Westminster Confession of F
