Paragraph 18.3

This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true Believer, may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of means^a attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one, to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and chearfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper^b fruits of this Assurance; so far is it^c from inclining men to looseness.^d

1. a. Isaiah 50:10; Psalm 88; 77:1–12

   Isaiah 50:10

   ^50:10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

   ^50:10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.

   Psalm 88

   ^88:1 O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: ^88:2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; ^88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. ^88:4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: ^88:5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. ^88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. ^88:7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. ^88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. ^88:9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. ^88:10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. ^88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? ^88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? ^88:13 But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. ^88:14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? ^88:15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. ^88:16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. ^88:17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. ^88:18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

   ^88:1 A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You. ^88:2 May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. ^88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. ^88:4 I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. ^88:5 I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. ^88:6 You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. ^88:7 Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah ^88:8 You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape. ^88:9 My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You. ^88:10 Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah ^88:11 Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? ^88:12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? ^88:13 But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You. ^88:14 Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me? ^88:15 From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. ^88:16 Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. ^88:17 All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. ^88:18 You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.

   Psalm 77:1–12

   ^77:1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. ^77:2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. ^77:3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. ^77:4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ^77:5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. ^77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. ^77:7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? ^77:8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? ^77:9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. ^77:10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. ^77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. ^77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

   ^77:1 For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God; I cried aloud to God to hear me. ^77:2 In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted. ^77:3 I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah ^77:4 You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak. ^77:5 I considered the days of old, the years long in the past. ^77:6 At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered: ^77:7 "Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again? ^77:8 Is His loving devotion gone forever? Has His promise failed for all time? ^77:9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His anger shut off His compassion?" Selah ^77:10 So I said, "I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed." ^77:11 I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. ^77:12 I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11–12

   1 John 4:13

   ^4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

   ^4:13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

   Hebrews 6:11–12

   ^6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: ^6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

   ^6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. ^6:12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. Romans 5:1–2, 5; 14:17; Psalm 119:32

   Romans 5:1–2; Romans 5:5

   ^5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ^5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ^5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

   ^5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ^5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

   Romans 14:17

   ^14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

   ^14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

   Psalm 119:32

   ^119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

   ^119:32 I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

4. d. Romans 6:1–2; Titus 2:11–12, 14

   Romans 6:1–2

   ^6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ^6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

   ^6:1 What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? ^6:2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

   Titus 2:11–12; Titus 2:14

   ^2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ^2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ^2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

   ^2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. ^2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ^2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible