the subject of personal assurance was and sometimes still is a hotbed amongst Calvinists.
This subject was recently looked into at a Reformed conference my close friend went to in Ireland .
The Puritans had various understandings on personal assurance , some think this is where they differed from John Calvin who is said , with agreement from John Owen , to see assurance as part of true faith , ie , to be sealed with the Holy Spirit is to have full assurance. (Eph 1)
However , other Puritans pronounced "one is to look within for fruit of one's Election and only then can assurance come" , Thomas Goodwin wrote a treatise called a 'Child of Light walking in Darkness' expounding the view that assurance is sometimes missing in the elect , it certainly was the experience of the Calvinist hymn writer and poet , william Cowper who experienced severe doubt .
Later the strict Baptists of England , following much of the Puritans expositions began to be so introspective that much sorrow and no joy was a constant feature of theirs , A W Pink points this lopsidedness out and reproves this negativity , the balance is easily lost.
Yes , the child of God may walk in uncertainty of his calling and election , and doubt he is really saved , he being filled with the Romans 7 complex , yet the child of God may ALSO be filled with assurance , know his sins are truly wiped out and walk in the light of Romans 8 with joy and thanksgiving . Both positions are possible , only the latter position is satisfactory.
Sola Deo Gloria.
This subject was recently looked into at a Reformed conference my close friend went to in Ireland .
The Puritans had various understandings on personal assurance , some think this is where they differed from John Calvin who is said , with agreement from John Owen , to see assurance as part of true faith , ie , to be sealed with the Holy Spirit is to have full assurance. (Eph 1)
However , other Puritans pronounced "one is to look within for fruit of one's Election and only then can assurance come" , Thomas Goodwin wrote a treatise called a 'Child of Light walking in Darkness' expounding the view that assurance is sometimes missing in the elect , it certainly was the experience of the Calvinist hymn writer and poet , william Cowper who experienced severe doubt .
Later the strict Baptists of England , following much of the Puritans expositions began to be so introspective that much sorrow and no joy was a constant feature of theirs , A W Pink points this lopsidedness out and reproves this negativity , the balance is easily lost.
Yes , the child of God may walk in uncertainty of his calling and election , and doubt he is really saved , he being filled with the Romans 7 complex , yet the child of God may ALSO be filled with assurance , know his sins are truly wiped out and walk in the light of Romans 8 with joy and thanksgiving . Both positions are possible , only the latter position is satisfactory.
Sola Deo Gloria.
