The evidence of our assurance of eternal happiness is that which every soul, that makes serious reflections on matters of religion, pants after: It is therefore necessary to know upon what foundation this blessed evidence is built, and from what principles it arises; and those, I think, are chiefly faith, love, and obedience; since no man can have this assurance who does not feel in himself the principle of obedience; nor can he have obedience without the principle of love, nor love without the principle of faith; for it is a notorious contradiction to imagine that any one can be assured of God Almighty's pardon, without obeying him; of his favour, without loving him; or of the eternal enjoyment of him, without a firm and steadfast belief in him.

But here many mistake the nature of these things: true belief in God represents him to the mind as infinite in glory, and power, and wisdom, and goodness, and in all perfections, with such charms, such beauty, such lovliness, as to captivate and ravish the affections of the soul, and smite it with Divine love; true love reigns triumphant in the soul, engrosses all its affections, strips other objects of their charms, nay, makes them appear vile and contemptible, in comparison with the supreme good: true obedience strives to please God, to resemble him, to render itself acceptable to him, and ardently desires the enjoyment of him.

Faith only give me peace with God,
But, if my faith be true,
It surely shows itself by love,
And kind obedience too.