Good Reader,
It is a true saying, that the assurance of an eternal life, is the life of this temporal life. The Apostle tells us, that if in this life only we had hope in Christ, we were of all men most miserable. None being exposed to so many troubles and tribulations in this life as the best Christian; and what could sustain and bear us up under them all, but the certain hope and expectation of a better Resurrection? This makes Christians glory in tribulation, despise all the glory of the world, run as swiftly in ways of duty, as the chariots of Aminadab; in a word, to enjoy a Heaven upon earth. They therefore are the greatest enemies of a Christian's comfort, that teach a doctrine of doubting; that a Christian must always hang in suspense about his eternal state; and can never arrive to any certainty, whether he shall be saved or no.
But as this assurance is excellent, so it is hard to come by; Difficilia quae pulchar. 'Tis not to be obtained without a great deal of labor and diligence. 'Tis usually the fruit of much prayer, and care, and humiliation, and long-waiting; those that come by it so easily, and get it so soon, have great cause to suspect that their assurance is not of the right kind. Carnal security and presumption is easily attained, but Christian assurance not without great difficulty.
'Tis therefore much to be lamented, that there is so little diligence used, for obtaining the assurance of our effectual Calling and eternal Election, which is of such great concern to every Christian. What care do men take, and what diligence do they give to make sure their lands, and goods, and worldly estates? They cannot be at rest till they have secured these. But upon what uncertainties do they venture the salvation of their precious and immortal souls? They run the most desperate hazard of their eternal salvation; never consider whether they are in the way to heaven or hell, until they drop irrecoverably into the bottomless pit. Oh what a strange madness possesses the minds of men, that they should look no more to their own safety; that they think it wisdom to secure every thing except their own souls. What evil have they deserved of you, that you should neglect them so much?
The design of this Treatise is to awaken men from their security, and to stir them up to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure. It was handled by the Author as a just Corollary from the doctrine of the Glory of Heaven, and the Torments of Hell, (which Treatise is already published) as appears in the Introduction to this discourse; that seeing there is such glory prepared for the Elect, and such torments for the reprobate: it concerns every Christian to give all diligence to make sure to himself, that he shall attain the one, and escape the other. So that these three Treatises have dependance upon each other, and together make up one complete System. In this last you shall find many practical cases handled, of great soul-concern, both for the comfort of such as are sincere, and the discovery of those that are unsound. If you will reap any profit by the perusal hereof, let God have the praise, and let them have your prayers, who are ready to spend and be spent for the good of your soul.
Edmund Calamy. Jeremiah Whitaker. Simon Ashe. William Taylor. Allen Geere.
