May Doubting Souls Come?

The profession which you here make, is of faith in Christ, and not of assurance of hope. The distinction is important. If, therefore, you feel your sins and long to be delivered from them; if you attempt and pray to be enabled to come in faith; if you fjast yourself on the righteousness of Christ, you need not dread the judgments denounced m Scripture. Hence it would be wrong to defer your profession of faith until you receive the grace of assurance. This is well and soundly expressed by the Assembly of Divines: “One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament, may have -true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God’s account hath it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity. In which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) he is to bewail his unbelief, and labour to have his doubts resolved; and so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord’s Supper, that he may be further strengthened.”