Christ, on condition that I fully repent of my sins, and yielding
myself to Him, believe on Jesus Christ, and taking up my cross,
follow Him. But how shall I know that I have met these conditions
in a way to satisfy Him, and that I am myself saved?

1. The Bible cannot tell me this. It tells me what to do, but it
does not tell me when I have done it, any more than the sign-board
at the country cross-roads, pointing out the road leading to the
city, tells me when I have got to the city.

2. My religious teachers and friends cannot tell me, for they
cannot read my heart, nor the mind of God toward me. How can they
know when I have in my heart repented and believed, and when His
righteous anger is turned away?

They can encourage me to repent, believe, obey, and can assure me
that, if I do, He will accept me, and I shall be saved; but
beyond that they cannot go.

3. My own heart, owing to its darkness and deceitfulness and
liability to error, is not a safe witness previous to the
assurance God Himself gives. If my neighbour is justly offended
with me, it is not my own heart, but his testimony that first
assures me of his favour once more.

How, then, shall I know that I am justified or wholly sanctified?
There is but one way, and that is by the witness of the Holy
Spirit. God must notify me, and make me to know it; and this He
does, when, despairing of my own works of righteousness, I cast
my poor soul fully and in faith upon Jesus. "For ye have not