Sect. 15. — How to recover lost evidences.
Sect. 15. — How to recover lost evidences.
Neo. But, sir, I beg you to let me ask you one more question touching this point; and that is, suppose that hereafter I were to see no outward evidences, and question whether I ever had any true inward evidences, and so whether I ever truly believed or not — what must I do then?
Evan. Indeed it is possible that you may come to such a condition; and therefore you do well to provide for it beforehand. Now then, if it ever pleases the Lord to give you over to such a condition, first, let me warn you to beware of forcing and constraining yourself to yield obedience to God’s commandments to the end that you may get evidence of your faith again, or get a ground on which to base your believing that you have believed; and so forcibly hasten your assurance before the time. For although this is not quite turning back to the Covenant of Works (for you will never do that) yet it is to turn aside towards that covenant, as Abraham did. After he had long waited for the promised seed, and even though he was previously justified by believing the free promise, yet to more speedily satisfy his faith, he turned aside to go in to Hagar who was, as you have heard, a type of the Covenant of Works. So that you see, this is not the right way. Rather, the right way for you to get your assurance again, is when all other things fail, look to Christ. That is, go to the word and promise, and leave off and cease awhile to reason about the truth of your faith, and set your heart at work to believe, as if you had never done it. Say in your heart, ‘Well, Satan, suppose my faith has not been true up to now, yet now I will begin to endeavour after true faith. And therefore, O Lord, here I throw myself on your mercy afresh, for in you the fatherless find mercy,’ Hos. 14.3. Thus, I say, hold to the word; do not depart from it, but stay here, and you will bring forth fruit with patience, Luke 8.15.