To sin under assurance, is to sin in paradise; it is to sin under the flaming sword, it is to sin the in suburbs of Heaven, it is to run the hazzard of losing that favour "that is better than life," of that"joy unspeakable and full of glory," and that "peace that passes understanding,". To sin under assurance, is to cast reproach upon Christ, to grieve the Spirit, to wound conscience, to weaken your graces, to blur your evidences, to usher in calamaties, to embitter your mercies, and to provoke to temper to triumph over your Saviour. Verily, that assurance is but presumption that works men to play with sin, to make light of sin, to walk on in the ways of sin. Such assurance will enver bring a man to Heaven, it will never keep him from dropping into hell, yea, it will double his damnation, and make him the most miserable among all damned, miserable, forlorn spirits. Ah, Lord! from such an assurance deliver my soul; and give me more and more of that divine assurance, that makes sin to be more hateful than hell, and that makes the soul to be more careful to avoid the one, than it is fearful of falling into the other. [Thomas Brooks]
Labels: Thomas Brooks
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