books on Assurance?
- Thread starter thistle93
- Start date
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rbcbob
Puritan Board Graduate
The Christian's Great Interest by William Guthrie
Galatians220
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
"All Things for Good" (The Divine Cordial) by Thomas Watson; "A Lifting Up for the Downcast" by William Bridge; "The Bruised Reed" by Richard Sibbes; "The Mystery of Providence" by John Flavel. And too many more to list here.
Margaret
Margaret
a mere housewife
Not your cup of tea
It's more of a booklet, but I think "Not Faith But Christ" by Horatius Bonar is very clear on Christ's righteousness saving us, rather than our own work of faith etc.
Not Faith, But Christ by Horatius Bonar
Not Faith, But Christ by Horatius Bonar
uberkermit
Puritan Board Freshman
John Bunyan's Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners has been quite helpful for me.
I would add that I was not long a Christian when I first read this book and, at the time, it appeared to me to be a little bit of a depressing read. It also seemed that there was much, concerning the experiences Bunyan wrote about, that I had trouble relating to. Years later I was at a low point in my faith when I read it again, and found it to be a tremendous blessing and encouragement.
I would add that I was not long a Christian when I first read this book and, at the time, it appeared to me to be a little bit of a depressing read. It also seemed that there was much, concerning the experiences Bunyan wrote about, that I had trouble relating to. Years later I was at a low point in my faith when I read it again, and found it to be a tremendous blessing and encouragement.
Last edited:
lukeh021471
Puritan Board Freshman
I found "How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian?": What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation by Donald Whitney to be a very good book on assurance
David Heesen
Puritan Board Freshman
Assurance
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Thomas Brooks' unparalleled work on the subject, Heaven on Earth. Just reading the table of contents can do wonders.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Thomas Brooks' unparalleled work on the subject, Heaven on Earth. Just reading the table of contents can do wonders.
David Heesen
Puritan Board Freshman
If you're curious about the contents, here it is:
CONTENTS
Epistle to the Saints 9
Preface: The Nature of Assurance 14
CHAPTER I: PROOFS THAT BELIEVERS MAY IN THIS LIFE
ATTAIN UNTO A WELL-GROUNDED ASSURANCE OF
THEIR EVERLASTING HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS 16
The basis of assurance 16
The purpose of Scripture is to help believers to
obtain assurance 16
Many believers have obtained assurance 18
God has promised assurance to his people 20
The springs of assurance are in the saints 21
The Spirit of God exhorts to assurance 24
Means to be used to obtain assurance 26
The Lord’s Supper as related to assurance 27
The relation of assurance to rejoicing in the Lord 28
The clarity of Scripture on the differences between
the righteous and the wicked 29
Assurance is not for Arminians 30
CHAPTER II: WEIGHTY PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING
ASSURANCE 33
Seven reasons why God denies assurance for a time to some believers
Words used in Scripture to express assurance
True believers are saved even though they lack
assurance 40
Six reasons why some do not attain assurance 41
God requires some believers to wait long for assur¬-
ance 47
Assurance may be possessed and afterwards lost 49
Assurance is a personal matter 52
Nine special seasons when assurance is enjoyed:
1. At conversion 53
2. Before engaging in hard or dangerous service 58
3. During times of waiting 63
3
4. During times of suffering 65
5. During “hearing and receiving” times 73
6. During times of personal afflictions 82
7. During seasons of prayer 84
8. Before conflicts with Satan 90
9. After conflicts with Satan 90
CHAPTER III: HINDRANCES AND IMPEDIMENTS THAT
KEEP POOR SOULS FROM ASSURANCE; WITH THE
MEANS AND HELPS TO REMOVE THOSE IMPEDIMENTS
AND HINDRANCES 92
The despairing of obtaining mercy 92
The disputing about things too high for our
thoughts 103
The lack of self-examination 105
The entertaining of mistaken views about God’s
work of grace 107
The grieving of the Holy Spirit by the believer 108
The judging of spiritual matters by mere feelings 109
The indulging of laziness and carelessness 110
The neglect of duties 112
The love of the world 114
The cherishing of secret sins 116
CHAPTER IV: MOTIVES TO PROVOKE CHRISTIANS TO BE RESTLESS TILL THEY HAVE OBTAINED A WELL-GROUNDED ASSURANCE OF THEIR ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS 126
Eleven motives why Christians should earnestly
seek after a well-grounded assurance:
1. Many have been lost who thought they
were saved 126
2. The world is full of deceivers 127
3. Assurance delivers from the burden of
cares, fears, and doubts 129
4. Satan labours to keep Christians from
assurance 130
5. A well-grounded assurance is of great value
to a believer 132
6. Woridlings labour hard to secure the things
4
of this life; saints should show equal
ardour for better things 134
7. Assurance renders burdens light 135
8. God urges Christians to get assurance 136
g. Christians are seriously injured by the lack
of assurance i
io. Ten advantages which accompany assur¬
ance: 139
1. It produces heaven on earth 139
2. It sweetens life’s changes 139
3. It keeps the heart from desiring the world 140
4. It assists communion with God 141
5. It preserves from backsliding 142
6. It produces holy boldness 142
7. It prepares a man for death 143
8. It makes mercies taste like mercies 145
9. It gives vigour in Christian service 145
10. It leads to the soul’s enjoyment of Christ 146
11. A well-grounded assurance will keep a
Christian from being deceived by
counterfeits 148
CHAPTER V: WAYS AND MEANS OF GAINING A WELL-
GROUNDED ASSURANCE 150
i. Be active in exercising grace 150
2. Assurance is obtained by obedience 151
3. Follow diligently the instructions of the Holy
Spirit 152
4. Be diligent in attendance upon ordinances 154
5. Pay particular attention to the scope of God’s
promises of mercy 154
6. Six matters in which Christ’s true followers are
distinguished from all others i6x
7. Seek to grow in grace 171
8. Seek assurance when the soul is in its best
frames 172
9. Ascertain whether you have the things that
accompany salvation; notably Knowledge,
Faith, Repentance, Obedience, Love, Prayer,
Perseverance, and Hope 173
The things that accompany salvation: KNOWLEDGE.
It is operative
177
5
It is transforming 178
It is experimental 180
It is heart-affecting 183
It is world-despising 185
It is soul-humbling 187
It is appropriating 189
Knowledge has attendant graces 191
The things that accompany salvation: FAITH.
The objects of Faith: 194
1. The Person of Christ 195
2. The righteousness of Christ 195
3. The promises of God 198
4. The future glory 200
The properties of Faith: 201
1. It promotes vitality 202
2. It grows 204
3. It belittles the glories of the world 2o6
4. It purifies the heart 207
5. It melts the soul 210
6. It overcomes the world 212
Strong Faith and Weak Faith 213
The things that accompany salvation: REPENTANCE.
Repentance: its properties: 2 16
1. It effects a change in every part of a man 216
2. It is a turning from all sin 217
3. It is a turning to God 218
4. it strikes particularly at the sins to
which a man was formerly most prone 220
5. It is comprehensive in its scope 221
6. It has appropriate attendants 224
7. It is a continued act 224
The things that accompany salvation: OBEDIENCE.
1. it is hearty 226
2. It seeks to perform all God’s will 227
3. It flows from faith 229
4. It is ready, free, willing, and cheerful 231
5. It is resolute 233
6. Its aim is the divine glory 234
7. It is constant 234
8. It is passive as well as active 236
The things that accompany salvation: LOVE.
The qualities of Love: 237
1. It is superlative 237
2. It is obedient 238
6
3. It is sincere 239
4. It is vehement 241
5. It is permanent 241
6. It is abounding 242
7. It cannot be hid 244
8. It delights to see the divine image in
fellow-believers 248
g. It enables the soul to receive Christ’s
rebukes 252
10. It laments over dishonours done to Christ 253
11. It keeps the heart for Christ alone 254
12. It delights in secret communion with
Christ 255
13. It longs for the full assurance of Christ’s
love 256
14. It enables the believer to commit his all
to Christ 257
The things that accompany salvation: PRAYER.
The requisites of prayer as a form of divine
worship 258
Prayer betters the whole man 265
Eight differences between the prayers of the
godly and those of the ungodly 266
The things that accompany salvation: PERSE¬
VERANCE.
The properties of Perseverance: 272
x. Perseverance appertains to a holy pro¬
fession 272
2. It appertains to holy and spiritual prin¬
ciples 272
3. It is an abiding in the doctrine of Christ 273
4. It is a continuance in gracious actions 274
The things that accompany salvation: HOPE.
The nature of Hope 275
Hope expects and waits patiently for prom¬
ised good 276
The properties of Hope: 279
1. It raises the heart to live above 280
2. It strengthens the soul against afflictions
and temptations 280
3. It makes the soul lively and active 281
4. It gives the believer great quietness 282
5. It causes the soul to wait patiently for
delayed mercy 283
6. It purifies the soul 284
7. It never dies 285
7
CHAPTER VI: THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TRUE AND A COUNTERFEIT ASSURANCE, BETWEEN SOUND ASSUR¬
ANCE AND PRESUMPTION 288
A well-grounded assurance bears these following marks:
1. It is attended by a deep admiration of
God’s love and favour in Christ 288
2. It causes the soul ever to seek a fuller
enjoyment of God and Christ 289
3. It is usually strongly assaulted by Satan 289
4. It makes a believer bold 291
5. It makes a believer seek the happiness of
other men 292
6. It strengthens a believer against all sin 293
7. It is attended by love, humility, and joy 295
8. It springs from the witness of the Holy
Spirit 297
The characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s witness:
1. It is inward and secret 298
2. It is gained in holy ways 299
3. It is clear, full, and satisfying 299
4. It is not operative in all believers 300
5. It is a sure testimony 301
6. It is always accompanied by the testimony
of our own spirit 302
7. It is always according to Scripture 302
8. It is holy 303
g. It is only bestowed on renewed hearts 304
CHAPTER VII: ANSWERS TO SEVERAL SPECIAL QUES¬
TIONS ABOUT ASSURANCE 306
Nine methods whereby assurance may be strength¬
ened and maintained 306
Six methods whereby souls which have lost assur¬
ance may be kept from fainting 311
Five methods whereby souls which have lost assur¬
ance may recover it 315
Conclusion 317
CONTENTS
Epistle to the Saints 9
Preface: The Nature of Assurance 14
CHAPTER I: PROOFS THAT BELIEVERS MAY IN THIS LIFE
ATTAIN UNTO A WELL-GROUNDED ASSURANCE OF
THEIR EVERLASTING HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS 16
The basis of assurance 16
The purpose of Scripture is to help believers to
obtain assurance 16
Many believers have obtained assurance 18
God has promised assurance to his people 20
The springs of assurance are in the saints 21
The Spirit of God exhorts to assurance 24
Means to be used to obtain assurance 26
The Lord’s Supper as related to assurance 27
The relation of assurance to rejoicing in the Lord 28
The clarity of Scripture on the differences between
the righteous and the wicked 29
Assurance is not for Arminians 30
CHAPTER II: WEIGHTY PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING
ASSURANCE 33
Seven reasons why God denies assurance for a time to some believers
Words used in Scripture to express assurance
True believers are saved even though they lack
assurance 40
Six reasons why some do not attain assurance 41
God requires some believers to wait long for assur¬-
ance 47
Assurance may be possessed and afterwards lost 49
Assurance is a personal matter 52
Nine special seasons when assurance is enjoyed:
1. At conversion 53
2. Before engaging in hard or dangerous service 58
3. During times of waiting 63
3
4. During times of suffering 65
5. During “hearing and receiving” times 73
6. During times of personal afflictions 82
7. During seasons of prayer 84
8. Before conflicts with Satan 90
9. After conflicts with Satan 90
CHAPTER III: HINDRANCES AND IMPEDIMENTS THAT
KEEP POOR SOULS FROM ASSURANCE; WITH THE
MEANS AND HELPS TO REMOVE THOSE IMPEDIMENTS
AND HINDRANCES 92
The despairing of obtaining mercy 92
The disputing about things too high for our
thoughts 103
The lack of self-examination 105
The entertaining of mistaken views about God’s
work of grace 107
The grieving of the Holy Spirit by the believer 108
The judging of spiritual matters by mere feelings 109
The indulging of laziness and carelessness 110
The neglect of duties 112
The love of the world 114
The cherishing of secret sins 116
CHAPTER IV: MOTIVES TO PROVOKE CHRISTIANS TO BE RESTLESS TILL THEY HAVE OBTAINED A WELL-GROUNDED ASSURANCE OF THEIR ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND BLESSEDNESS 126
Eleven motives why Christians should earnestly
seek after a well-grounded assurance:
1. Many have been lost who thought they
were saved 126
2. The world is full of deceivers 127
3. Assurance delivers from the burden of
cares, fears, and doubts 129
4. Satan labours to keep Christians from
assurance 130
5. A well-grounded assurance is of great value
to a believer 132
6. Woridlings labour hard to secure the things
4
of this life; saints should show equal
ardour for better things 134
7. Assurance renders burdens light 135
8. God urges Christians to get assurance 136
g. Christians are seriously injured by the lack
of assurance i
io. Ten advantages which accompany assur¬
ance: 139
1. It produces heaven on earth 139
2. It sweetens life’s changes 139
3. It keeps the heart from desiring the world 140
4. It assists communion with God 141
5. It preserves from backsliding 142
6. It produces holy boldness 142
7. It prepares a man for death 143
8. It makes mercies taste like mercies 145
9. It gives vigour in Christian service 145
10. It leads to the soul’s enjoyment of Christ 146
11. A well-grounded assurance will keep a
Christian from being deceived by
counterfeits 148
CHAPTER V: WAYS AND MEANS OF GAINING A WELL-
GROUNDED ASSURANCE 150
i. Be active in exercising grace 150
2. Assurance is obtained by obedience 151
3. Follow diligently the instructions of the Holy
Spirit 152
4. Be diligent in attendance upon ordinances 154
5. Pay particular attention to the scope of God’s
promises of mercy 154
6. Six matters in which Christ’s true followers are
distinguished from all others i6x
7. Seek to grow in grace 171
8. Seek assurance when the soul is in its best
frames 172
9. Ascertain whether you have the things that
accompany salvation; notably Knowledge,
Faith, Repentance, Obedience, Love, Prayer,
Perseverance, and Hope 173
The things that accompany salvation: KNOWLEDGE.
It is operative
177
5
It is transforming 178
It is experimental 180
It is heart-affecting 183
It is world-despising 185
It is soul-humbling 187
It is appropriating 189
Knowledge has attendant graces 191
The things that accompany salvation: FAITH.
The objects of Faith: 194
1. The Person of Christ 195
2. The righteousness of Christ 195
3. The promises of God 198
4. The future glory 200
The properties of Faith: 201
1. It promotes vitality 202
2. It grows 204
3. It belittles the glories of the world 2o6
4. It purifies the heart 207
5. It melts the soul 210
6. It overcomes the world 212
Strong Faith and Weak Faith 213
The things that accompany salvation: REPENTANCE.
Repentance: its properties: 2 16
1. It effects a change in every part of a man 216
2. It is a turning from all sin 217
3. It is a turning to God 218
4. it strikes particularly at the sins to
which a man was formerly most prone 220
5. It is comprehensive in its scope 221
6. It has appropriate attendants 224
7. It is a continued act 224
The things that accompany salvation: OBEDIENCE.
1. it is hearty 226
2. It seeks to perform all God’s will 227
3. It flows from faith 229
4. It is ready, free, willing, and cheerful 231
5. It is resolute 233
6. Its aim is the divine glory 234
7. It is constant 234
8. It is passive as well as active 236
The things that accompany salvation: LOVE.
The qualities of Love: 237
1. It is superlative 237
2. It is obedient 238
6
3. It is sincere 239
4. It is vehement 241
5. It is permanent 241
6. It is abounding 242
7. It cannot be hid 244
8. It delights to see the divine image in
fellow-believers 248
g. It enables the soul to receive Christ’s
rebukes 252
10. It laments over dishonours done to Christ 253
11. It keeps the heart for Christ alone 254
12. It delights in secret communion with
Christ 255
13. It longs for the full assurance of Christ’s
love 256
14. It enables the believer to commit his all
to Christ 257
The things that accompany salvation: PRAYER.
The requisites of prayer as a form of divine
worship 258
Prayer betters the whole man 265
Eight differences between the prayers of the
godly and those of the ungodly 266
The things that accompany salvation: PERSE¬
VERANCE.
The properties of Perseverance: 272
x. Perseverance appertains to a holy pro¬
fession 272
2. It appertains to holy and spiritual prin¬
ciples 272
3. It is an abiding in the doctrine of Christ 273
4. It is a continuance in gracious actions 274
The things that accompany salvation: HOPE.
The nature of Hope 275
Hope expects and waits patiently for prom¬
ised good 276
The properties of Hope: 279
1. It raises the heart to live above 280
2. It strengthens the soul against afflictions
and temptations 280
3. It makes the soul lively and active 281
4. It gives the believer great quietness 282
5. It causes the soul to wait patiently for
delayed mercy 283
6. It purifies the soul 284
7. It never dies 285
7
CHAPTER VI: THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TRUE AND A COUNTERFEIT ASSURANCE, BETWEEN SOUND ASSUR¬
ANCE AND PRESUMPTION 288
A well-grounded assurance bears these following marks:
1. It is attended by a deep admiration of
God’s love and favour in Christ 288
2. It causes the soul ever to seek a fuller
enjoyment of God and Christ 289
3. It is usually strongly assaulted by Satan 289
4. It makes a believer bold 291
5. It makes a believer seek the happiness of
other men 292
6. It strengthens a believer against all sin 293
7. It is attended by love, humility, and joy 295
8. It springs from the witness of the Holy
Spirit 297
The characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s witness:
1. It is inward and secret 298
2. It is gained in holy ways 299
3. It is clear, full, and satisfying 299
4. It is not operative in all believers 300
5. It is a sure testimony 301
6. It is always accompanied by the testimony
of our own spirit 302
7. It is always according to Scripture 302
8. It is holy 303
g. It is only bestowed on renewed hearts 304
CHAPTER VII: ANSWERS TO SEVERAL SPECIAL QUES¬
TIONS ABOUT ASSURANCE 306
Nine methods whereby assurance may be strength¬
ened and maintained 306
Six methods whereby souls which have lost assur¬
ance may be kept from fainting 311
Five methods whereby souls which have lost assur¬
ance may recover it 315
Conclusion 317
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