C. H. SPURGEON tells that in his early years, soon after his conversion, he taught a class of boys in the Sunday School. He was speaking to them one day from the words, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36), when one of the lads said, “Teacher, do you believe on Him?” “Yes,” said Spurgeon. “And have you everlasting life, teacher?” eagerly asked the boy. “I hope so,” said Spurgeon rather timidly, for he had not been accustomed to have the question put to him so straight as that. When the boy heard his hesitating answer, he looked him straight in the face and said, “But don’t you know it, teacher? The text says, ‘hath,’ and if it ain’t true, it ain’t true, and if it is true, it is true, and nobody need hope anything about it.” That straight word from his Sunday scholar never lost its effect on C. H. Spurgeon, who, all through his long and faithful preaching of the Gospel, gave full and clear testimony to the certainty of salvation. There is absolutely nothing in the Word of God to warrant those who are “without Christ” (Eph. 2:12), unconverted to God, and not born of the Spirit, having any “hope” whatever of salvation, while they remain in a Christless state. To all who receive Christ as their Saviour (John 1:12), and confess Him as their Lord (Rom. 10:9), there is no need for uncertainty. The believer in Christ does not “hope” to have eternal life someday, he has it now. “He that hath the Son, hath life” (1 John 5:12). There is no room for doubt when the Word of God says “hath everlasting life.” Feelings cannot alter it, yet many consult their feelings and when they do not find them as they wish, get into doubt and distress. The work of Christ once for all finished on Calvary is the CAUSE of a sinner’s salvation, and the Word of God that never changes is the ground of his assurance.