account and call assurance； a daughter； fruit； and consequent of faith。
And the late learned Arrowsmith tells us； that God seldom bestows
assurance upon believers till they are grown in grace： for； says he；
there is the same difference between faith of recumbence and faith of
assurance； as is between reason and learning。 Reason is the foundation
of learning； so； as there can be no learning if reason be wanting （as
in beasts）； in like manner there can be no assurance where there is no
faith of adherence。 Again： as reason well exercised m the study of arts
and sciences arises to learning； so faith being well exercised on its
proper object； and by its proper fruits； arises to assurance。 Further；
as by negligence； non… attendance； or some violent disease； learning
may be lost； while reason doth abide； so by temptation； or by spiritual
sloth； assurance may be lost； while saving faith may abide。 Lastly； as
all men have reason； but all men are not learned； so all regenerate
persons have faith to ply savingly with the gospel method of
salvation； but all true believers have not assurance。〃Sermon by R。
Fair dough； Fellow of Immanuel College； Cambridge； in the Morning
Exercises； preached at Southwark。 1660。
（18） We must distinguish between weakness of faith and nullity。 A weak
faith is true。 The bruised reed is but weak； yet it is such as Christ
will not break。 Though thy faith be but weak； yet be not discouraged。 A
weak faith may receive a strong Christ； a weak hand can tie the knot in
marriage as well as a strong； a weak eye might have seen the brazen
serpent。 The promise is not made to strong faith； but to true。 The
promise doth not say； Whosoever hath a giant faith that can remove
mountains； that can stop the mouth of lions； shall be saved； but
whosoever believes； be his faith never so small。
〃You may have the water of the Spirit poured on you in sanctification；
though not the oil of gladness in assurance； there may be faith of
adherence； and not of evidence； there may be life in the root where
there is no fruit in the branches； and faith in the heart where no
fruit of assurance。〃A Body of Divinity； by Thomas Watson； formerly
Minister of St。 Stephen's； Walbrook； London。 1660。
（19） 〃Many of God's dear children for a long time may remain very
doubtful as to their present and eternal condition； and know not what
to conclude； whether they shall be damned or whether they shall be
saved。 There are believers of several growths in the Church of
God；fathers； young men； children； and babes； and as in most families
there are more babes and children than grown men； so in the Church of
God there are more weak； doubting Christians than strong ones； grown up
to a full assurance。 A babe may be born； and yet not know it； so a man
may be born again； and yet not be sure of it。
〃We make a difference betwixt saving faith； as such； and a full
persuasion of the heart。 Some of those that shall be saved may not be
certain that they shall be saved； for the promise is made to the grace
ot faith； and not to the evidence of itto faith as true； and not to
faith as strong。 They may be sure of heaven； and yet in their own sense
not assured of heaven。〃Sermon by Rev。 Thomas Doolittle； of Pembroke
Hall； Cambridge； and sometime Rector of St。 Alphege； London； in the
Morning Exercises； at Cripplegate。 1661。
（20） 〃Is it not necessary to justification to be assured that my sins
are pardoned； and that I am justified？ No： that is no act of faith as
it justifieth； but an effect and fruit that followeth after
justification。
〃It is one thing for a man to have his salvation certain； another thing
to be certain that it is certain。
〃Even as a man fallen into a river； and like to be drowned； as he is
carried down with the flood； espies the bough of a tree hanging over
the river； which he catcheth at； and clings unto with all his might to
save him； and seeing no other way of succour but that； ventures his
life upon it。 This man； so soon as he has fastened on this bough； is in
a safe condition； though all troubles； fears； and terrors are not
presently out of his mind； until he es to himself； and sees himself
quite out of danger。 Then he is sure he is safe； but he was safe before
he was sure。 Even so it is with a believer。 Faith is but the espying of
Christ as the only means to save； and the reaching out of the heart to
lay hold upon Him。 God hath spoke the word； and made the promise to His
Son： I believe Him to be the only Saviour； and remit my soul to Him to
be saved by His mediation。 So soon as the soul can do this； God
imputeth the righteousness of His Son unto it； and it is actually
justified in the court of heaven； though it is not presently quieted
and pacified in the court of conscience。 That is done afterwards： in
some sooner； in some later； by the fruits and effects of
justification。〃Archbishop Usher's 〃Body of Divinity。〃 1670。
（21） 〃There are those who doubt； because they doubt； and multiply
distrust upon itself； concluding that they have no faith； because they
find so much and so frequent doubting within them。 But this is a great
mistake。 Some doublings there may be； where there is even much faith；
and a little faith there may be； where there is much doubting。
〃Our Saviour requires； and delights in a strong； firm believing on Him；
though the least and weakest He rejects not。〃Archbishop Leighton's
Lectures on the first nine chapters of St。 Matthew's Gospel。 1670。
（22） 〃Many formerly； and those of the highest remark and eminency； have
placed true faith in no lower degree than assurance； or the secure
persuasion of the pardon of their sins； the acceptation of their
persons； and their future salvation。
〃But this； as it is very sad and unfortable for thousands of
doubting and deserted souls； concluding all those to fall short of
grace who fall short of certainty； so hath it given the Papists too
great advantage。
〃Faith is not assurance。 But this doth sometimes crown and reward a
strong； vigorous and heroic faith； the Spirit of God breaking in upon
the soul with an evidencing light； and scattering all that darkness；
and those fears and doubts which before beclouded it。〃Bishop Hopkins
on the Covenants。 1680。
（23） 〃A want of assurance is not unbelief。 Drooping spirits may be
believers。 There is a manifest distinction made between faith in
Christ； and the fort of that faithbetween believing to eternal
life； and knowing we have eternal life。 There is a difference between a
child's having a right to an estate； and his full knowledge of the
title。
〃The character of faith may be written in the heart； as letters
engraven upon a seal； yet filled with so much dust as not to be
distinguished。 The dust hinders the reading of the letters； yet doth
not raze them out。〃Discourses by Stephen Charnock； of Emmanuel
College； Cambridge。 1680。
（24） 〃Some rob themselves of their own fort by placing saving faith
in full assurance。 Faith； and sense of faith； are two distinct and
separable mercies； you may have truly received Christ； and not receive
the knowledge or assurance of it。 Some there be that say； Thou art our
God；' of whom God never said； You are my people'； these have no
authority to be called the sons of God： others there are； of whom God
saith； These are my people；' yet they dare not call God their God'；
these have authority to be called the sons of God； yet know it not。
They have received Christ； that is their safety； but they have not yet
received the knowledge and assurance of it； that is their
trouble。 。 。 。 The father owns his child in the cradle； who yet knows
him not to be his father。〃Method of Grace； by John Flavel； Minister
of the Gospel at Dartmouth； Devon。 1680。
（25） 〃It is confessed weak faith hath as much peace with God； through
Christ； as another hath by strong faith； but not so m