pectation of seeing God, and being like him in heaven; "he that hath this hope, purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Assurance leads to progres

sive sanctification.

Peter calls this hope "lively;" 1 Pet. i. 3.That is, a living, active hope, because it prompts to activity, in the service of God. And if the degree of it, which is usually attained in this life, will prompt to obedience, much more will the full assurance of it do so.

In our spiritual warfare, the Scriptures tell us to put on for a helmet, "the hope of salvation." 1 Thess. v. 8. But why should hope make a part of our spiritual armour? Plainly, because hope inspires courage. It prevents our shrinking from duty, through fear. It fires us forward in the conflict, by the assurance that we shall come off “conquerors, and more than conquerors, through Christ that hath loved us." From the Scriptures, then, it is evident that assurance leads to faithfulness.The same is evident from the nature of hope itself. We have seen that the want of it, discourages the Christian, exposes him to temptation, and in several ways leads him to be lax in duty. The possession of it, must, therefore, have an opposite influence. It must lead to faithfulness in duty. The apostle tells us, that the goodness of God leads to repentance: that is, a view of his kindness and mercy toward us, will excite in us a sorrow for our transgressions of his law. And the more hope we have of salvation, the deeper sense we shall have of the goodness of God; consequently, the more repentance we shall exercise over our past

iniquities; and thence, the more we shall be kept from repeating them. Hope in God's mercy, excites gratitude and love to him. And these will inevitably prompt to holy obedience. And they will be invariably attended by other holy affections, which will also excite to duty. Hope in the final grace of God, will, moreover, promote our confidence in God; consequently, will lead to a holy fortitude and courage in his service. The more hope we have, then, the more ardent and constant will be our holy affections, and the more faithful shall we be in the way of duty.

And what is the testimony of observation and experience on the subject? It coincides with the declarations of Scripture, and the conclusions of reason. Facts declare, that those who have the fullest well grounded hope of salvation, ordinarily render the most faithful obedience unto God.

Thus the want of assurance prevents, and the possession of it, promotes our faithfulness in vital and practical godliness. And in this way, assurance produces a threefold benefit. It glorifies God; it benefits ourselves; and conduces to the salvation of sinners.

It glorifies God. It encourages saints to confess Christ before men, in a public profession of religion; and thus God is glorified. It awakens saints to more thanksgiving; and thus God is glorified. "Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me, said God, by the Psalmist. It leads saints to more strict obedience to the divine commands; and thus God is more particularly glorified. Said Christ, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much

fruit." And when saints are faithful in duty, their fellow-saints rejoice, and praise God for it; and even the wicked are constrained to confess it "manifest, that their deeds are wrought in God:" and thus it causes others to glorify God. Hence, says Christ, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Full assurance of hope, by leading to faithfulness in duty, benefits ourselves. "Godliness is profitable unto all things." "Godliness is great gain." The more vital and practical godliness we have, then, the greater our gain. The gains of godliness, have respect both to the present and the coming world. The Psalmist tells us, that "IN keeping the commands of God, there is great reward." Holy affections, are delightful affections. Holy duties, give great enjoyment. We shall be happy then, in proportion to the amount of our fervour in holy affections, and our faithfulness in holy obedience. And here is an enjoyment arising fron assurance, distinct from that arising from the contemplation of our safety in the midst of surrounding dangers, and the anticipation of future felicity; as mentioned in our third reason, why it is important that the full assurance of hope should be attained.

And from what Scripture says, of the different degrees of reward among the righteous, we have considerable reason to conclude, that they are rewarded hereafter, according to their faithfulness in this life. In proportion to their faithfulness, but not for it. And if so, while the full assurance of

hope, is promoting our faithfulness here, it greatly increases our happiness hereafter.

Full assurance of hope, promotes the salvation of sinners. Sinners, seeing our doubts and fears respecting our salvation, suppose if they should seek it, they must remain in the same uncertainty, respecting their spiritual state; and thus they are discouraged from striving to attain eternal life.While, if we had assurance of salvation, they would conclude that if they sought salvation, they also would know whether they had passed from death unto life and therefore they would be encouraged to strive and attain it by répentance and faith.

Doubts, respecting our spiritual state, keep us back from warning the wicked to flee from the wrath which is to come. Whereas, the full assurance of hope, will encourage us to warn them the more faithfully. And the more they are warned, the more reason we have to hope they will be saved. But assurance of hope, has a general tendency to invigorate piety. And the more zeal we have in the cause of Christ, the more in various ways, shall we be excited to promote the salvation of sinners. Especially, the more shall we pray for their salvation.

And assurance prompts, we have seen, to more zeal and diligence in duty. And the more faithful sinners see us to be, the more will they be constrained to believe there is a reality in religion; and thus the more will their conscience urge them to obtain it. Hence, said Christ, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Since, then, God commands us to have the full assurance of hope; since this assurance secures us against the fatal danger of a false hope; since it prevents much present pain, and produces much present enjoyment; since the want of it, keeps the saint back from many important duties; and since by prompting to faithfulness in duty, it so much promotes the glory of God, our own spiritual welfare, and sinners' salvation, how important that this assurance should be attained. May God give full efficacy to these motives. Through their influence, may the reader be led to "make his calling and election sure."

THE END.