2. That assurance of justification, sanctification and salvation, may be attained in this life, is farther evident from the obligations which persons are under to pray for these privileges, and to bless God for the experience which they have of the one, and the ground which they have to expect the other. That it is our duty to pray for them is no less certain than that we stand in need of them; this therefore being taken for granted, it may be inferred from hence, that there is some way by which we may know that our prayers are answered, the contrary to which would be a very discouraging consideration; neither could the experience hereof be alleged as a motive to the performance of the duty of prayer, as the Psalmist says, _O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come_, Psal. lxv. 2. Nor could any believer have the least reason to say as he does elsewhere, _Verily God hath heard me, he hath attended to the voice of my prayer_, Psal. lxvi. 19. And the apostle says, that _if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us_, 1 John v. 14, 15. and this is said in the following words, to be known by us, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him; therefore it follows, that we may know from the exercise of faith in prayer, for the forgiveness of sin, that our iniquities are forgiven; the same may be said concerning the subject-matter of our prayer for all other blessings that accompany salvation; and consequently it is possible for us to know whether God has granted us these blessings or no. But if it be replied to this, that it is not absolutely necessary that an humble suppliant should have any intimations given him, that his petition shall be granted; or that it would be a very unbecoming thing for such an one to say, that he will not ask for a favour, if he be not sure before-hand that it will he bestowed. To this it may be answered, That we are not only to pray for saving blessings, but to praise God for our experience thereof; as it is said, _Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me_, Psal. l. 23. and _praise is comely for the upright_, Psal. xxxiii. 1. Now this supposes that we know that God has bestowed the blessings we prayed for upon us. If the Psalmist calls upon his soul to _bless the Lord for forgiving_ him _all his iniquities_, Psal. ciii. 2, 3. we must suppose that there was some method by which he attained the assurance of the blessing which he praises God for; which leads us to consider, 3. That some have attained this privilege, therefore it is not impossible for others to attain it. That some have been assured of their salvation, is evident from the account we have thereof in several scriptures, Thus the apostle tells the church he writes to, _God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation_, 1 Thes. v. 7. and he says concerning himself, _I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day_, 2 Tim. i. 12.