Sureness
'The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.' (Isaiah xxxii. 17.)
One reason why I glory in teaching Full Salvation is that it includes a religion of certainty. It brings a man to a place of sureness as to his religious relationships. A soul just awakened to a sense of responsibility is naturally full of wonderment and anxiety, and this must be disposed of. So that when we speak of a man obtaining Salvation, we say 'he found peace'.
Doubt is torment, and torment is the opposite of peace. The soul cannot rest if it is perpetually on the string. To enjoy religion the mind must be settled about the main facts of the case; there must be a feeling of sureness as to one's acceptance with God and His approval of our spiritual condition.
We have a wily old Devil to deal with, and I believe that nothing gives him more malicious delight than to get sincere souls into the bondage of fear as to their state and standing. I believe many sincere souls hesitate to claim the blessing, and say they have it, because they are afraid of deluding themselves or deceiving others by their testimonies.
Afraid to do right for fear of doing wrong, they go on, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, falling into discouragement and doubt, and allowing the Devil to get an advantage over them in this respect.
Now, we cannot dispute the fact that in the experiences of good people there are many points of difference. Temptations, surroundings, position, and work are the cause of these differences. But in the midst of all, there is the possibility and blessed privilege of being sure about one's own rightness before God.
I saw a reference the other day to Charles Spurgeon's method of treating this matter. He showed how disturbing and distressing it would be if, in our domestic life, we had elements of uncertainty such as many people have in regard to their spiritual relationships.
After quoting the old verse:—
'Tis a point I long to know,