_Q._ 6. But were not the _Thessalonians_ true believers? Yet they had not this assurance: they had only a _good hope_. _2 Thessalonians_ ii. 16. _A._ The text you refer to, runs thus: _Now our_ Lord Jesus Christ _himself, and_ God, _even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace: comfort your hearts and establish you, in every good word and work_. This _good hope_ does not exclude, but necessarily implies a strong assurance of the love of God. _Q._ 7. But does not St. _Paul_ say even of himself, _1 Corinthians_ iv. 4. _I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified_? _A._ He does not say of himself here, that he was not justified: or, that he did not know it: but only, that though he had a conscience void of offence, yet this did not justify him before God. And must not every believer say the same? This therefore is wide of the point. _Q._ 8. But does he not disclaim any such assurance in those words, _1 Corinthians_ i. 3. _I was with you in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling_. _A._ By no means. For these words do not imply any fear either of death or hell. They express only a deep sense of his utter insufficiency for the great work wherein he was engaged. _Q._ 9. However, does he not exclude Christians in general from such an assurance, when he bids them _work out_ their _salvation with fear and trembling_? _Philippians_ ii. 12. _A._ No more than from love; which is always joined with filial fear and reverential trembling. And the same answer is applicable to all those texts which exhort a believer to fear. _Q._ 10. But does not matter of fact prove, that justifying faith does not necessarily imply assurance? For can you believe that such a person as _J. A._ or _E. V._ who have so much integrity, zeal, and fear of God, and walk so unblameably in all things, is void of justifying faith? Can you suppose such as these to be under the wrath and under the curse of God? Especially if you add to this, that they are continually longing, striving, praying for the assurance which they have not? _A._ This contains the very strength of the cause: and inclines us to think, that some of these may be exempt cases. But however that be, we answer: 1. It is dangerous to ground a general doctrine on a few particular experiments. 2. Men may have many good tempers, and a blameless life (speaking in a loose sense), by nature and habit, with preventing grace; and yet not have faith and the love of God. 3. It is scarce possible for us to know all the circumstances relating to such persons, so as to judge certainly concerning them. 4. But this we know, If Christ is not revealed in them, they are not yet Christian believers. _Q._ 11. But what will become of them then, suppose they die in this state? _A._ That is a supposition not to be made.