一、虽然假冒为善者和其他未重生之人，可能会徒劳地用虚假的希望和肉体的自负，自欺已经得蒙神的恩宠和得救的地位（弥3:11；申29:19；约8:41）；他们的希望终必落空（摩9:10；太7:22-23）：但那真正相信主耶稣，并且诚心爱祂，竭力以无亏的良心行在祂面前的人，在今生可以确知他们处于蒙恩的地位（约壹5:13；2:3；3:14,18-19,21,24），并且欢欢喜喜地盼望神的荣耀：这盼望永不会使他们羞愧（罗5:2,5）。（译注：如果一个人内心最大的愿望，就是遵行主耶稣的命令、过不犯罪的圣洁的生活，虽然可能暂时感觉不到得救的确据，迟早也会得到。）

Although hypocrites, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions: of being in the favor of God and estate of salvation; which hope of theirs shall perish: yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God: which hope shall never make them ashamed.

二、这种确定性并非一种纯粹的推测和或然的信念，建基于可能出错的希望（来6:11,19）；而是一种不会落空的信心的确据，建基于诸般救赎应许的神圣真理（来6:17-18），所应许诸般恩典在心中的证据（彼后1:4-11；约壹2:3；3:14；林后1:12），同时得名分的圣灵与我们的灵同证我们是神的儿女（罗8:15-16）；这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据，我们从祂受了印记、等候得赎的日子来到（弗1:13-14；4:30；林后1:21-22）。（译注：十四章第二节结合了清教徒对于信心的两种定义。第一种以早期清教徒William Perkins为代表，也是加尔文的定义，以神为对象，注重抓住神的应许，所以有信心就会有确据；第二种以后期清教徒William Ames为代表，以耶稣基督为对象，注重意志的决定。本节「信心的确据」是故意说得含糊，既可以是「信心本质里面的确据」，也可以是「信心带来的、导致的确据」。前者是从信心的第一种定义来看，后者则偏重第二种定义，这两种都是对的，真信徒早晚可以得到、不会落空，因为基于两个原因：1、救恩应许的真理；2、恩典的内证。）

This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.

三、这种不会落空的确据，并不是信心本质的一部分，一个真信徒在获得它之前，可能会长久等待、并且遭遇许多困难（约壹5:13）：但是，因为圣灵使他能以知道神所白白赐给他的事，所以他可以不需要特别的启示，只以正确的方式使用一般的方法，就可以获得（林前2:12；约壹4:13；来6:11,12；弗3:17-18）。因此，每个人都有责任殷勤地使自己的蒙召和被选坚定不移（彼后1:10）；如此，他的心中就可以加增圣灵里的平安与喜乐、对神的爱慕与感恩、在顺服本分上的力量和快乐，这些都是这确据当有的果子（罗5:1-2,5；14:17；15:13；弗1:3-4；诗4:6-7；119:32）：绝不会使人趋于懈怠（约壹2:1-2；罗6:1-2；多2:11-12,14；林后7:1；罗8:1,12；约壹3:2-3 ；诗130:4；约壹1:6-7）。（译注：1、「不会落空的确据，并不是信心本质的一部分」，这是从信心的第二种定义来看，因为许多真正得救的基督徒，可能在很长一段时间内没有得救的确据，但他的生命一定会改变。2、「特别的启示」，指当时那些「灵恩派之前的灵恩派」、如贵格会所强调的「内在之光」。3、「一般的方法 ordinary means」，指改教时期所说的「恩具、施恩具 means/instrument/vehicle/tool of grace」，指神赦免罪、使人称义的施恩途径，包括听道、读经、圣礼、祷告，也就是敬拜加上神的话。）

This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it: yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure; that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance: so far is it from inclining men to looseness.

四、真信徒可能会使自己得救的确据因各种方式被动摇、减弱或中断；如，因为疏于持守它，因为陷入某种伤害良心、并且使圣灵担忧的罪，因为某种突然或强烈的试探，因为神收回祂的面光，甚至使敬畏祂的人也行在暗中、没有亮光（诗51:8,12,14；弗4:30-31；诗77:1-10；诗31:22；太26:69-72；路22:31-34）；但他们从未彻底失去神的道种，信心的生命，对基督和弟兄的爱，内心的诚实和尽责的良心。从这一切中，借着圣灵的运行，这种确据可以在所定的时候恢复（约壹3:9；路22:32；诗51:8,12；73:15）；同时借着这一切，他们也会在极度的绝望中得着扶持（弥7:7-9；耶32:40；赛54:7-14；林后4:8-10）。（译注：这是牧者关怀的根据。）

True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it; by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation; by God’s withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light: yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are supported from utter despair.