3. When faith grows up to assurance, it approaches towards complete salvation. Then the christian can say, _I know I have believed on the Son of God_, I know I enjoy his favour. Then the holiness and the joy increase, for the salvation enters into the soul in fuller measures: The nearer faith arises to assurance of our own interest in the grace of Christ, the more it supports the soul, the more it comforts, the more it sanctifies, and the more evidently doth the gospel appear to be divinely powerful to save us from sin and hell. “Can I believe God has pardoned me, so vile a rebel, and forgiven me so many and aggravated offences, and yet is it possible I should not love him, and rejoice? Can I be assured he loves me, and not make him a return of my highest and warmest love? Can I believe that Christ the Son of God died for me, and shall I not consecrate myself and all the powers of my nature to him, that I may live devoted to his service? He has bought me with a price, a dear and valuable price, that of his own blood, and I must _glorify him with my body and with my soul, which are his_; 1 Cor. vi. 20. Can I believe that I am redeemed from hell and destruction, and shall I dare to walk in the road that leads to it? And not rather _run with patience_ and joy _the race that is set before me_, till I arrive at the gates of heaven? Am I not assured that Jesus the beloved of God suffered death for my sins, and shall not I hate sin, which caused his suffering? Sin, which was the occasion of his agonies, and the very sting of his sorrows! _I am crucified_ and dead to sin, and to this world, by my union with a crucified Saviour, _yet I live_, saith the divine apostle, _and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved me, and given himself for me_; Gal. ii. 20. How is it possible that I should hope to be made like Christ in glory, with a full assurance of arriving thither, and not _purify myself as he is pure_; 1 John iii. 2, 3. While I believe and am persuaded that the promise of the joys of heaven shall be fulfilled to me, I would awaken myself hourly to the joyful prospect, and be ever preparing for the possession of that blessedness.” Thus when faith arises to a sublime and eminent degree in this world, the believer may be said to _rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, and to receive the end of his faith, even the salvation of his soul_; 1 Pet. i. 8, 9. Before I pass to the second head, I desire leave to make these few remarks. Remark I. Though the first degree of faith or assent to the gospel be necessary to salvation, yet it is not of itself sufficient; and though the last degree of faith or assurance be gloriously useful in this work, yet it is not absolutely necessary.