Assurance of Salvation (5)

The assurance of salvation is wrought by the sealing of the Spirit and the sanctifying of us. Take heed we grieve not the Spirit of God. God's Spirit moves our hearts oftentimes in hearing the word, or reading, or praying; and therefore do not grieve the Spirit of God, whose office is ‘to seal us to the day of redemption,' to assure us God is our God and our Father in Christ. Grieve him not, lest he grieve us, by racking and tormenting our consciences. Take heed of crossing the Spirit, especially by any sin against conscience. Conscience is God's deputy. Grieve not the Spirit and grieve not conscience. The conscience is a little god within us. And therefore, if we will not alienate God from us, to whom we have given ourselves if we be true believers, do nothing against the Spirit that sanctifies and seals us to the day of redemption. Beloved, favour cannot be maintained with great persons without much industry, respect, and observance of distance. Shall we think then to preserve respect with God without much industry and holiness? It cannot be. 'And therefore, give all diligence,' not a little, 'to make your calling and election sure’ (2 Pet. 1:10). It requires all diligence, but it is worth your pains. Why do not Christians enjoy the comforts of this, that God is their God in Christ, more than they do? The reason is, they be negligent to maintain communion between God and them. A loose Christian can never enjoy the comforts of God. He is so great, and we so fallen, we ought to reverence him, we ought to ‘love him with fear, and rejoice with trembling' (Psa. 2:11). Humble thyself to walk with your God. Where there is a great deal of humility, it maintains friendship. We must acknowledge ourselves to be 'dust and ashes, know him in his greatness, and ourselves in our fallenness. Surely, he that delights himself in the prosperity of his servants will delight to make himself more and more known to us, that we may be assured of our salvation.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Heavenly Conference, pp. 160-63
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