Paragraph 18.4
Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace & Salvation
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, bya falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden, orb vehement Temptation; by God’s withdrawing thec Light of his Countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in Darkness, and to have no Light; yet are they never destitute of thed Seed of God, and Lifee of Faith, that Love of Christ, and the Brethren, that Sincerity of Heart, and Conscience of Duty, out of which, by the Operation of the Spirit, this Assurance may in due time bef revived; and by the which, in the mean Time, they areg preserved from utter Despair.h
a. Song of Solomon 5:2–3, 6
Song of Solomon 5:2–3; Song of Solomon 5:6
5:2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 5:3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 5:6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
5:2 I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." 5:3 I have taken off my robe-must I put it back on? I have washed my feet-must I soil them again? 5:6 I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him, but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.
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b. Psalm 51:8, 12, 14
Psalm 51:8; Psalm 51:12; Psalm 51:14
51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
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c. Psalm 116:11; 77:7–8; 31:22
Psalm 116:11
116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
116:11 In my alarm I said, "All men are liars!"
Psalm 77:7–8
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?
77:7 "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?
Psalm 31:22
31:22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
31:22 In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from Your sight!" But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.
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d. Psalm 30:7
Psalm 30:7
30:7 Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
30:7 O LORD, You favored me; You made my mountain stand strong. When You hid Your face, I was dismayed.
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e. 1 John 3:9
1 John 3:9
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
3:9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God's seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
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f. Luke 22:32
Luke 22:32
22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
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g. Psalm 42:5, 11
Psalm 42:5; Psalm 42:11
42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
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h. Lamentations 3:26–31
Lamentations 3:26–31
3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 3:28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 3:29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 3:30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
3:26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 3:27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young. 3:28 Let him sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him. 3:29 Let him bury his face in the dust-perhaps there is still hope. 3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach. 3:31 For the Lord will not cast us off forever.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible