[1.] If he be truly affected with his want of assurance, and, as the result thereof, is filled with uneasiness in his own mind, laments his condition, and can take no comfort in any outward enjoyments, while destitute of it; and, if he be importunate with God in prayer, that he would lift up the light of his countenance upon him, and grant him the exercise, as well as the joy of faith. Moreover, if he frequently examines himself with impartiality, and an earnest desire to be satisfied, as to his state; and if, notwithstanding this, he still walks in darkness, and his doubts and fears prevail against him, he has some ground to conclude, that he is better than he apprehends himself to be, if he be truly humbled for those sins that may be reckoned the procuring cause thereof, and determines to be still waiting, till God shall be pleased to discover to him his interest in forgiving grace, and thereby resolve his doubts, and expel his fears, which render him so very uneasy. [2.] A person has some ground of hope, if he can say, that he unfeignedly desires Christ and grace above all things, and can find satisfaction in nothing short of him; in this respect it may be said, that Christ is precious to him, as he is to them that believe. And to this we may add, that if he desires to forsake all sin, as being offensive, and contrary to him; so that when he commits it, he can readily say with the apostle, _That which I do I allow not of; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate that do I_; and from hence he concludes himself _wretched_; and earnestly desires to be _delivered from the body of this death_, Rom. vii. 15, 24. (2.) There are some promises which a weak Christian may lay hold on for his encouragement; as, _1st_, If the guilt of sin lies as an heavy burden upon him, and is the occasion of his doubts about his being in Christ; there are promises of forgiveness, Mich. vii. 18, 19. Isa. lv. 7, 8. _2dly_, If he complains of the power of sin, and its prevalency over him, there is a promise that is suited to his case, in Rom. vi. 14. ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace.’ _3dly_, If satan’s temptations are very grievous to him, and such as he can hardly resist, there are promises suited to this case, in 1 Cor. x. 13. that ‘God will not suffer his people to be tempted above that they are able, but will, with the temptation, make a way to escape;’ and in Rom. xvi. 20. ‘The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.’ _4thly_, If he wants enlargement, and raised affections in prayer, or other religious duties; which is very discouraging to him, that promise may afford him some relief, in Zech. xii. 10. ‘I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication.’ And, in Psal. x. 17. ‘Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.’