IV. True believers may have the assurance of tJieir salva-

tion divers vrays shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preservingof it ; bvfallinginto some special sin, which woundeth tlje conscience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation ; by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and sulfering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light i': yet are they
never
There be many that say, Who will ?hew us any good ? Lord, lift thou up tlie h"ght of thy countenance upon us. Ver, 7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine in- creased. Psal. cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
^ 1 John ii. 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sir;, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, Ver, 2. And he is the propitiation for cur sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Rom. vi. 1. What shall we say then ? shall we continue in sin, that grace niay abound .i* Ver. 2. God forbid : how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein .'' Tit. ii, ] J. For th.e grace of God that bringeth silvation hath appeared to all men ; Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, denying ungodHr.ess sr.d" worldly lusts, we should hve soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Ver. 14. V/ho gave himself fcr us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and pu:ify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. *2 Cor, vii. 1. Having tlitrefore these promises,dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiiiess of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Rom. viii. ]. There is therefore now no condem- nation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ver. 12. There- fore brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 1 John iii. 2. beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth nol yet appear what we shall be : but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be hke him ; for we shall see him as he is. Ver. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him pu- rifieth himself, even as he is pure. Psal. cxxx. 4, But there is forgive- ness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 1 John i. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: Ver. 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another ; and the blood of Jesus Christ his Sou cleanseth us from all sin.