Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation various ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they never neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, & and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they never utterly destitute of that the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: & and by the which in the mean time they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the Light of his Countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they never utterly destitute of that the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; & and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly never destitute of that the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the Light of his Countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly never destitute of that the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True beleevers may have the assurance of their salvation divers wayes shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some speciall sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the spirit; by, some sudden, or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darknesse and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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, be revived; & by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
True beleevers may have the assurance of their salvation divers wayes shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some speciall sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the spirit; by, some sudden, or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darknesse and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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, be revived; & by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
True beleevers may have the assurance of their salvation divers wayes shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some speciall sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the spirit; by, some sudden, or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darknesse and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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, be revived; & by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658), Paragraph 18.4
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the 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 the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the 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 the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the 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 the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation various ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they never neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, & and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they never utterly destitute of that the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: & and by the which in the mean time they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation various ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which wounds the Conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the Light of his Countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they never utterly destitute of that the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; & and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly never destitute of that the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation various ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which wounds the Conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the Light of his Countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly never destitute of that the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation various ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the spirit; by, some sudden, or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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, be revived; & by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
True beleevers may have the assurance of their salvation divers wayes shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some speciall sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the spirit; by, some sudden, or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darknesse and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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, be revived; & by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation various ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the spirit; by, some sudden, or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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, be revived; & by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.
Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658), Paragraph 18.4
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation various ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True believers may have the assurance of their salvation various ways shaken, diminished and intermitted, as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance, suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light; yet are they neither utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 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 be revived, and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the 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 the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the 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 the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the 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 the seed of God, and Life 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 be revived: and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation various ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which wounds the Conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation various ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which wounds the Conscience, and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
True Believers may have the Assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden, or vehement Temptation, by God’s withdrawing the 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 the Seed of God, and Life 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 be revived; and by the which, in the mean time, they are preserved from utter despair.
May they who truely believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him; May they (I say) be certainly assured in this…
