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feel； but the grand question is； 〃Are they children of God themselves？〃
If they only felt they were so； they would go straightforward； and take
a decided line。 But not feeling sure about it； their conscience is for
ever hesitating and ing to a deadlock。 The devil whispers； 〃Perhaps
after all you are only a hypocrite： what right have you to take a
decided course？ Wait till you are really a Christian。〃 And this whisper
too often turns the scale； and leads on to some miserable promise or
wretched conformity to the world！
I believe we have here one chief reason why so many in this day are
inconsistent； trimming； unsatisfactory； and half…hearted in their
conduct about the world。 Their faith fails。 They feel no assurance that
they are Christ's； and so feel a hesitancy about breaking with the
world。 They shrink from laying aside all the ways of the old man；
because they are not quite confident they have put on the new。 In
short； I have little doubt that one secret cause of 〃halting between
two opinions〃 is want of assurance。 When people can say decidedly； 〃The
Lord； He is the God；〃 their course bees very clear。 （1 Kings xviii。
39。）
（4） Let us remember； finally； that assurance is to be desired； because
it tends to make the holiest Christians。
This； too； sounds wonderful and strange； and yet it is true。 It is one
of the paradoxes of the Gospel； contrary at first sight to reason and
mon sense； and yet it is a fact。 Cardinal Bellarmine was seldom more
wide of the truth than when he said； 〃Assurance tends to carelessness
and sloth。〃 He that is freely forgiven by Christ will always do much
for Christ's glory； and he that enjoys the fullest assurance of this
forgiveness will ordinarily keep up the closest walk with God。 It is a
faithful saying and worthy to be remembered by all believers； 〃He that
hath this hope in Him purifieth himself； even as He is pure。〃 （1 John
iii。 3。） A hope that does not purify is a mockery； a delusion； and a
snare。 ＇33＇
None are so likely to maintain a watchful guard over their own hearts
and lives as those who know the fort of living in close munion
with God。 They feel their privilege； and will fear losing it。 They will
dread falling from the high estate； and marring their own forts； by
bringing clouds between themselves and Christ。 He that goes on a
journey with little money about him takes little thought of danger； and
cares little how late he travels。 He； on the contrary； that carries
gold and jewels will be a cautious traveller。 He will look well to his
roads； his lodgings； and his pany； and run no risks。 It is an old
saying； however unscientific it may be； that the fixed stars are those
which tremble most。 The man that most fully enjoys the light of God's
reconciled countenance； will be a man tremblingly afraid of losing its
blessed consolations； and jealously fearful of doing anything to grieve
the Holy Ghost。
I mend these four points to the serious consideration of all
professing Christians。 Would you like to feel the Everlasting Arms
around you； and to hear the voice of Jesus daily drawing nigh to your
soul； and saying； 〃I am thy salvation〃？Would you like to be a useful
labourer in the vineyard in your day and generation？Would you be
known of all men as a bold； firm； decided； single…eyed； unpromising
follower of Christ？Would you be eminently spiritually…minded and
holy？I doubt not some readers will say； 〃These are the very things
our hearts desire。 We long for them。 We pant after them： but they seem
far from us。〃
Now； has it never struck you that your neglect of assurance may
possibly be the main secret of all your failuresthat the low measure
of faith which satisfies you may be the cause of your low degree of
peace？ Can you think it a strange thing that your graces are faint and
languishing； when faith； the root and mother of them all； is allowed to
remain feeble and weak？
Take my advice this day。 Seek an increase of faith。 Seek an assured
hope of salvation like the Apostle Paul's。 Seek to obtain a simple；
childlike confidence in God's promises。 Seek to be able to say with
Paul； 〃I know whom I have believed： I am persuaded that He is mine； and
I am His。〃
You have very likely tried other ways and methods and pletely
failed。 Change your plan。 Go upon another tack。 Lay aside your doubts。
Lean more entirely on the Lord's arm。 Begin with implicit trusting。
Cast aside your faithless backwardness to take the Lord at His word。
e and roll yourself； your soul； and your sins； upon your gracious
Saviour。 Begin with simple believing； and all other things shall soon
be added to you。 ＇34＇
IV。 I e now to the last thing of which I spoke。 I promised to point
out some probable causes why an assured hope is so seldom attained。 I
will do it very shortly。
This is a very serious question； and ought to raise in all of us great
searchings of heart。 Few； certainly； of Christ's people seem to reach
up to this blessed spirit of assurance。 Many paratively believe； but
few are persuaded。 Many paratively have saving faith； but few that
glorious confidence which shines forth in the language of St。 Paul。
That such is the case； I think we must all allow。
Now； why is this so？Why is a thing which two Apostles have strongly
enjoined us to seek after； a thing of which few believers have any
experimental knowledge in these fitter days？ Why is an assured hope so
rare？
I desire to offer a few suggestions on this point； with all humility。 I
know that many have never attained assurance； at whose feet I would
gladly sit both in earth and heaven。 Perhaps the Lord sees something in
the natural temperament of some of His children； which makes assurance
not good for them。 Perhaps； in order to be kept in spiritual health；
they need to be kept very low。 God only knows。 Still； after every
allowance； I fear there are many believers without an assured hope；
whose ca