Discussing Assurance - Some duty omitted or sin committed - continued

Today we continue through William Patton's suggestions as to why some Christians struggle with assurance. [Read the introduction to this here].

Since last weeks section was rather long we divided it into 2 parts, this week continuing with the same theme of 'Some duty omitted or sin committed' as being a cause for this struggle. And particularly ''Is it that you are doing nothing for God - using no means to bring sinners to Christ!' & 'perhaps it is some sin committed'.

Here's what Patton says:

Is it that you are doing nothing for God - using no means to bring sinners to Christ!
"You see persons all around you who are not Christians, and you know they are on the road to hell. God commands you: "Let him that heareth say, Come," and you never in any way say to sinners, "come to Jesus".
There you sit in your easy-chair, and wonder that you have not assurance.
Perhaps you are like the old woman who had been seeking for fifty years, and had not got peace. She was asked, "Have you been trying to do anything for the good of others?" "No, I have no taste for that; but they say doubts and fears are good for people, so I'll just have to try and bear them."

Reader, every word that you speak for Jesus will come back to your own heart with double power.

Let me ask you a few questions.
~Do you pray for your children, by name, one by one, each day?
~Do you ask them to come with you to the house of God and the prayer meeting, and pray for them?
~Is there any easier way of doing good?
A minister told me of a woman who brings about a dozen people each Sabbath to his church.

Now, Christian, you say you want to be useful, and you lament that you have not more opportunities of being so.
~Do you ask your neighbours to come with you to church on Sabbath and on week days? Do you, or do you not? Could you not do this? Will you do it - Yes or No?
What is the use of whining about want of usefulness if you will not take even that trouble?

~Do you ever speak to a neighbour, when you meet him alone, about Christ, as Jesus did to the woman of Samaria at the well?

~Do you ever write a letter with prayer to a person to whom you cannot speak? Such a letter has many a time been the means of saving a soul.

~Do you lend books with prayer, or give tracts with prayer?
I saw, the other day, that the Rev. Webb People was converted by a tract given at the Derby races, where he had gone to get rid of his convictions of conscience. A tract given with prayer has oftentimes been the means of saving a soul.

~Perhaps you could, by a little living sacrifice, visit among the sick, or teach in a Sabbath school, or hold a cottage meeting - could you not?
~Do you give to the Lord of your money, as He wants you to do? Or are you not turning penurious? If you have large means given you, and you cannot do active work for God, surely the Lord wants you to give largely and to pray much.

If you do not do any of these things, this is the reason probably, Christian reader, why you have not assurance.

Or perhaps it is some sin committed.
Is there no one who you think has done you an injury, and you mean to give him as good as you got, the first opportunity?
That is the reason you have not assurance.

Or perhaps it is love of the world that is eating the heart out of you.
Or perhaps you are keeping godless company, and will not give it up.
Or perhaps you get drunk now and again.
Or perhaps you are not thoroughly honest in your sayings and dealings.
Or perhaps you are self-seeking and proud.

What is it that you think about first in the morning, and last at night, and often during the day? Probably it is that.
Would you want to know the shortest way to get assurance?
Lift up your heart to God, and honestly pray, "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting"; and when God has shown you your sin, confess it, and ask Him for Christ's sake to forgive it, and to keep you from it, and in His strength, put it away. Yes, you must put it away; and then, and not till then, will you have assurance."

What would you add?