1. Is there a regular Yes, for this Same as for
Finally, Owen tried to lessen the gap between the normative assurance of the biblical saints and the predominant lack of assurance in his generation. He did that by distinguishing between full assurance applied on a regular basis for daily living and full assurance received for fleeting moments particularly in times of heavy trial. Though Christians of his day did not commonly experience full assurance on a daily basis as scriptural saints did, they did receive full assurance in times of heavy trial. As Owen wrote:
I am persuaded that there are but few believers, but that God doth, at one time or other, in one duty or other, entering into or coming out of one temptation or another, give some singular testimony unto their own soul and consciences concerning their sincerity and his acceptance of them. Sometimes he doth this in a duty, wherein he hath enabled the soul to make so near an approach unto him as that it hath been warmed, enlivened, sweetened, satisfied with the presence, the gracious presence of God;—sometimes, when a man is entering into any great temptation, trial, difficult or dangerous duty, that death itself is feared in it, God comes in, by one means or other . . . and thereby testifies to him his sincerity . .
.;—sometimes he is pleased to shine immediately into the soul in the midst of its darkness and sorrow; wherewith it is . . . thereby relieved against its own pressing self-condemnation. . . . But now these are all wrought by a transient operation of the Spirit. . . . These things abide not in their sense and in their power which they have upon our affections, but immediately pass away.132
Owen's approach to assurance may be summarized in the following chart:
Normativity of Assurance
Owen's Degrees of assurance Biblical saints contemporaries 1. Is there a regular
Yes, for this
Same as for degree of assurance
degree of
biblical saints. for believers who
assurance is trust in God's for-
part of faith giveness of sinners? itself.
2. Is there a full
Yes, generally Yes, generally degree of assurance
speaking.
speaking, though for believers that
such experiences comes for brief
may be rare and moments, particularly
fleeting, and in in times of trial,
some lacking i.e., that God's
altogether. forgiveness is also personally for them?
132 6:593.