Chapter XVIII: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation. De certitudine gratiæ et

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation. De certitudine gratiæ et salutis.
I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and estate of salvation, [1552] which hope of theirs I. Quamvis fieri potest ut hypocritæ aliique homines non regeniti spe vana falsisque (pro corruptæ naturæ more) opinionibus præsumptis, se decipiant, favorem Dei, statumque salutis sibi falso arrogantes; [1553] quæ illorum

shall perish: [1554] yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace, [1555] and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed. [1556] spes peribit: [1557] qui tamen in Dominum Jesum vere credunt, eumque sincere diligunt, studentes coram ipso in omni bona conscientia ambulare; evadere possunt in hac vita certi se in statu gratiæ esse constitutos; [1558] quin etiam lætari possunt spe gloriæ Dei, quæ quidem spes nunquam eos pudefaciet. [1559] II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope; [1560] but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,
[1561] the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, [1562] the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God: [1563] which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption. [1564] II. Hæc certitudo non est persuasio mere conjecturalis et probabilis, innixa spe fallaci; [1565] verum infallibilis quædam fidei certitudo, fundamentum habens divinam promissionum salutis veritatem; [1566] gratiarum, quibus promissiones illæ fiunt internam evidentiam; [1567] testimonium denique spiritus adoptionis una cum spiritibus nostris testificantis nos esse filios Dei; [1568] qui quidem spiritus arrhabo est hæreditatis nostræ, quo in diem redemtionis sigillamur. [1569] III. 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: [1570] yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he III. Hæc certitudo infallibilis, non ita spectat essentiam fidei, quin vere fidelis expectare quandoque diutius, et cum variis difficultatibus confligere prius possit, quam illius compos fiat, [1571] verum poterit idem ordinariorum usu debito mediorum, absque revelatione ulla extraordinaria

may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. [1572] And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure; [1573] that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance: [1574] so far is it from inclining men to looseness. [1575] eam adipisci, [1576] spiritu nempe quæ Deus illi gratuito donaverit cognoscendi facultatem subministrante. Proindeque tenetur quisque, quo vocationem suam sibi et electionem certmn faciat, omnem adhibere diligentiam, [1577] unde cor suum habeat pace et gaudio in spiritu sancto, in Deum amore et gratitudine, in actibus observantiæ robore et alacritate dilatatum; qui certitudinus huius fructus proprii sunt ac genuini. [1578] Tantum abest ut homines inde ad omnem nequitiam discingantur. [1579] IV. 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: [1580] 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 IV. Certitudo salutis vere fidelibus multifariam concuti potest et imminui imo et quandoque interrumpi; conservandi scilicet eam incuria; lapsu in peccatum aliquod insigne, quod conscientiam vulnerat, spiritumque contristat; tentatione aliqua vehementi ac subitanea; uti etiam Deo vultus sui lumen subducente, ac permittente ut vel illi qui ipsum timent in tenebris ambulent omni prorsus lumine viduati: [1581] nunquam tamen destituuntur penitus illo Dei semine vitaque fidei. Christi illa fratrumque dilectione, ea sinceritate cordis et pietatis officia præstandi conscientia; unde per

of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, [1582] and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair. [1583] operationem spiritus eadem illa certitudo tempestive possit reviviscere: [1584] quibusque interim ne prorsus in desperationem ruant suffulciuntur. [1585]