2 Peter 1:10-11 Why the rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:… I. I now come to show THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF THIS CERTAINTY. Where the godly heart hath this holy assurance and persuasion wrought by God's Spirit, there it hath many helps which the tempted soul wanteth. 1. Where there is certainty of this heavenly privilege, there the soul is more inflamed and enlarged to love God. 2. Certainty of our calling and election will breed much spiritual strength and heavenly ability to all graces and duties, to go through all relations with much holiness and lively vigour. 3. This certainty and assurance of grace would exceedingly keep up the heart under all afflictions and outward miseries. 4. This certainty of grace is a strong and mighty buckler against all those violent assaults and temptations that the devil useth to exercise the godly with. 5. This certainty is a special means to breed contentment of mind, and a thankful, cheerful heart in every condition. 6. This certainty of grace is a sure and special antidote against death in all the fears of it. This makes the king of terrors a king of all consolations; for seeing that by grace we are the members of Christ, death hath no more sting on us than on Christ our Head. These are the advantages. II. But the godly heart may inquire, HOW SHALL I KNOW THIS HOLY CERTAINTY AND PERSUASION BY GOD'S SPIRIT FROM MY OWN PERSUASION, FROM THE SELF-FLATTERY THAT IS IN ME? 1. Holy certainty is kept up in all exercises of grace and constant tender avoiding of all known sin; but presumption will agree with the practice of all these. 2. Presumption is unwilling to be searched and tried. It flieth from the light, it cannot abide the touchstone; but this holy certainty loveth a deep search. 3. Presumption beareth up a man's heart till a man come to some great and extraordinary calamities, and then this bubble vanisheth away. Dross will melt in the fire, but gold will be the more refined. The wind makes chaff fly away, but leaveth the corn more purified. 4. Presumption is not opposed nor assaulted by the devil. Satan doth not tempt and labour to drive people out of it, but nourisheth them in it. But out of this holy certainty the devil's main scope is to drive them. 5. It is the sure character of presumption that it divideth the means and the end. It hopes for such privileges, though it never do the duties. Now this is not assurance, but a presumptuous delusion, whereas you see this text is, to give all diligence to make your calling sure. 6. Presumption is but a self-deceiving, false logic that a man deceiveth himself with. Whereas you heard this certainty is a knowledge wrought by God's Spirit in us. 7. The presumptuous man is full of haughty arrogance and proud preferring of himself, contemning and undervaluing others. Thus that Pharisee, "Lord, I thank Thee that I am not as other men," etc. Whereas true assurance is accompanied with deep humility and a pitiful respect to others. III. In the next place it may be questioned WHAT THAT GODLY PERSON SHOULD DO WHO HATH NOT THIS ASSURANCE? Though grace be in him, he knoweth it not, yea, he thinketh the clean contrary. Now to such as one we say, let him walk in a faith of adherence and dependence when he hath none of these evidences. This the Scripture calls trusting, rolling, leaning, and staying of the soul upon God, And this dependence of faith is far more noble than the assurance of faith. 1. In assurance, there I go on in holy duties and love of God, because of the sensible sweetness and delight that I have; but in dependence, there I trust in God when I have no sense or feeling. 2. To depend and wait on God though darkness be in thy soul, argueth thy faith more firm and strong. It was an high expression in Job, "Though He kill me I will trust in Him." Do not then give over thy constancy in holy duties; be not discouraged in waiting on God for assurance, for He will at last cause the sun to arise, and the dark night to fly away. (Anthony Burgess.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: |
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