Beware of Carnal Security and Vain Presumption

Courtesy of A Puritan At Heart

The worldly man will say that the Lord has also made him partaker of all these benefits, and therefore there is no cause, why he should doubt of his love; nor any reason why he should be censured or condemned for his faith. I answer, that he is not reprehended for his persuasion of God’s love, nor for his assurance of God’s promises in Christ; but for his boasting of this faith, persuasion and assurance, whereas there is nothing in him in truth but a dead carcass of faith, carnal security and vain presumption. For true faith purifies the heart, Acts 15:9, and works by love, Gal 5:6. It is plentiful in good works, and provokes us to perform all good duties to God and our neighbours: and it is impossible that we should be truly persuaded of God’s love and not love him again: It cannot be that we love God, if we show no care in glorifying his name, by letting our lights shine before men, nor any desire to perform obedience to his will.  If therefore we live in our sins without repentance, if we make no conscience of our ways, and show no zeal in glorifying God’s name; if our faith be destitute of the fruit of good works, then is our persuasion but fond  presumption; our assurance, carnal security, our faith dead; and like a carcass which breathes not, as James speaks Chap 2:26.

We do not then reprehend any for being persuaded of God’s love, gathering assurance out of  God’s manifold mercies and innumerable benefits bestowed on his Church; Nay, contrariwise, we affirm not withstanding all our sins and unworthiness we are to be persuaded of God’s love in Christ, and to believe against belief, and to hope against hope, when as there is no ground or reason of either in ourselves. But this we maintain, that whoever has this assurance and faith, in the least measure begun in him, does truly love God, and earnestly labours after mortification and newness of life; and whoever is destitute of God’s love, and lives in his sins, without any sorrow for those which are past, or purpose to leave them for the time to come, he may well brag of his faith and assurance of God’s love, but in very truth there is as yet nothing in him but carnal security and vain presumption.

—John Downame