DIALOGUE X.

Answers to the Objections of a wounded Conscience drawn from the Feebleness of his Faith.

TIMOTHEUS.

BUT faith is that which must apply Christ unto us, whilst (alas!) the hand of my faith hath not only the shaking, but the dead palsy; it can neither hold nor feel anything.

PHIL. If thou canst not hold God, do but touch him, and he shall hold thee, and put feeling into thee. Saint Paul saith, If that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [Phil. iii. 12.] It is not Paul’s apprehending of Christ, but Christ apprehending of Paul, doth the deed.

TIM. But I am sure my faith is not sound, because it is not attended with assurance of salvation. For I doubt (not to say despair) thereof. 343Whereas divines hold, that the essence of saving faith consists in a certainty to be saved.

PHIL. Such deliver both a false and dangerous doctrine; as the careless mother killed her little infant, for she over-laid it: [1 Kings iii. 19.] so this opinion would press many weak faiths to death, by laying a greater weight upon them than they can bear, or God doth impose; whereas to be assured of salvation is not a part of every true faith, but only an effect of some strong faiths, and that also not always, but at some times.

TIM. Is not certainty of salvation a part of every true faith?

PHIL. No, verily, much less is it the life and formality of faith, which consists only in a recumbency on God in Christ, with Job’s resolution, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. [Job xiii. 15.] Such an adherence, without an assurance, is sufficient, by God’s mercy, to save thy soul. Those that say that none have a sincere faith without a certainty of salvation, may with as much truth maintain, that none are the king’s loyal subjects but such as are his favourites.

TIM. Is then assurance of salvation a peculiar personal favour, indulged by God, only to some particular persons?

PHIL. Yes, verily: though the salvation of all God’s servants be sure in itself, yet is only assured to the apprehensions of some select people, 344and that at some times; for it is too fine fare for the best man to feed on every day.

TIM. May they that have this assurance afterwards lose it?

PHIL. Undoubtedly they may; God first is gracious to give it them, they for a time careful to keep it; then negligently lose it, then sorrowfully seek it. God again is bountiful to restore it; they happy to recover it; for a while diligent to regain it, then again foolish to forfeit it, and so the same changes in one’s lifetime, often over and over again.

TIM. But some will say, If I may be infallibly saved without this assurance, I will never endeavour to attain it.

PHIL. I would have covered my flowers, if I had suspected such spiders would have sucked them. One may go to heaven without this assurance, as certainly, but not so cheerfully, and therefore prudence to obtain our own comfort, and piety to obey God’s command, obliges us all to give diligence to make our calling and election sure, both in itself and in our apprehension.