The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 2 · Part 7
THE SEAVENTH PART.
The Helmet of Hope.
Epheſians 6. 17.
And take the Helmet of Saluation.
§. 1. Of the difficulty of a Chriſtian Souldiers Eſtate.
EXcellent meanes of defence are thoſe whereof we hauehave heard, eſpecially the laſt of them: yet the Apoſtle thinketh them not ſufficient, but proceedeth to ſet forth other peeces of armour, ſaying,aforeign Obſeru. from the inference. No eaſie matter to bee a Chriſtian Souldier. And take, &c. Whence wee may well gather, that
It is no eaſie matter to be a Chriſtian Souldier, and ſtedfaſtly to ſtand vntounto the end againſt all aſſaults. Many graces are needfull to be added one to another for that purpoſe. One might hauehave though that when hee had named the ſhield of Faith, he need hauehave added no more: but God who knoweth both our weakeneſſe and proneneſſe to faint, and alſo the power and ſubtilty of our aduerſaries better then our ſelues, ſeeth it needfull that an helmet be vſed as well as a ſhield: our care therefore muſt be to vſe this alſo.
§. 2. Of the Spirituall Grace here meant.
THis fift peace of Spirituall Armour (though it bee not plainely expreſſed)Some referre theſe two metaphors, Helmet, Sword, vntounto the Word of God, and ſay that two vſes of the word are ſet downe vnderunder two metaphors: one to be defenſiue as an Helmet: the other to be offenſiue as a ſword. is neceſſarily implied to be Hope; Hope the fifth pe…ce of armour.fora1 Theſ. 5. 3. in another place where hee vſeth this metaphor,Anſwer. The ſword alone of it ſelfe implieth both theſe vſes, for it is an eſpeciall meanes of defence as well as of offence: theſe two metaphors being as diſtinctly ſet downe as any of the former, there is no reaſon why they ſhould be referred to one and the ſame thing. hee expreſſeth Hope, Put on (ſaith he) for an Helmet the hope of Saluation. What could more plainely be ſpoken? and what better interpreter of the Apoſtles minde could wee hauehave then the Apoſtle himſelfe?Other ſay that Chriſt himſelfe is here meant by this metaphor Helmet, becauſe he is Saluation, and becauſe the very word here vſed (foreign) is in other places attributed to Chriſt, as Luke 2. 30. & 3. 6.
Saluation is thus applied to Hope, becauſe
1 Saluation is the maine end of our Hope,Why it is called the hope of ſaluation. that which aboue all toher things wee waite for:Anſwer. It is not properly attributed to Chriſt, but tropically, becauſe he is the Author and finiſher of our ſaluation. It is more proper to take it for the thing it ſelfe which Chriſt hath purchaſed, eternall life. when we come to the poſſeſſion of it, then hath Hope her end, and period.
2 It is an eſpeciall meanes of attaining vntounto Saluation,2 Thogh Chriſt be here meant by this word Saluation, yet cannot Chriſt with any fit congruity be compriſed vnderunder this metaphor Helmet: for if we reade the words plainely, Take the Helmet of Chriſt, what elſe can be meant but the helmet which Chriſt vſed, or which he giueth or preſcribeth to vsus, as the Armour of God? Thus it will be the ſame thing which we meane, namely, Hope: for as Chriſt is the author and finiſher of our Faith, ſo alſo of our Hope. (eRom. 8. 24. We are ſaued by Hope.) This is that coard whereby wee hold faſt to Gods promiſes till they bee all accompliſhed, which will not bee vntill wee enioy ſaluation.
3 Herein lieth a maine difference betwixt the hope of worldlings, and Saints: their hope reacheth no further then to the things of this life; thereforedPro. 11. 7. when they die their hope periſheth, but theſee1 Pet. 1. 3, 4. hope for an inheritance immortall, &c. ThereforefPro. 14. 32. they hauehave hope in their death: forg1 Cor. 15. 19 if in this life onelyonly wee hauehave hope in Chriſt, wee are of all men the moſt miſerable.
Thus hauing ſhewed what this Helmet of Saluation is, I will diſtinctly ſhew, 1. What Hope is. 2 How it differeth from Faith. 3 How fitly it is compared to an Helmet. 4 How neceſſary it is. 5 How it is gotten, preſerued, and vſed. 6 What are Satans wiles againſt it.
§. 3. Of the definition of Hope.
HOpe is an expectation of ſuch good things to come,1. Point. What hope is. as God hath promiſed, and Faith beleeued.
1 In expectation eſpecially conſiſteth the very nature of Hope; gRom. 8. 25. foreign.If we hope, &c. hPſal. 37. 7.We waite. Dauid ioyneth hoping and waiting together, as implying one and the ſame thing;hPſal. 37. 7. Waite vponupon the Lord, and hope in him.
2 Good things are the proper obiect of Hope: Spes non niſi bonarum rerum eſt, nec niſi faturarum. Aug. Enchir. cap. 8.herein it differeth from Feare: We feare things euill and hurtfull. I looked, that is, hoped for good (ſaith Iob:) The thing (namely) that euill thing which I feared, is come vponupon me? Iob 3. 25 & 30. 26.)
3 Theſe good things are to come: not paſt, nor preſent, which either are or hauehave beene ſeene:lRom. 8. 24. Hope which is ſeene, is no hope: for how can a man hope for that which he ſeeth?
4 They are alſo ſuch as God hath promiſed. For the ground of our Hope is the promiſe of God, who is faithfull and true: we may well waite for that which he hath promiſed, whatſoeuer it be. In this reſpect this true Hope is termedmCol. 1. 23. The Hope of the Goſpel: that is, an Hope which waiteth for thoſe things which in the Goſpel are promiſed. nLuke 3. 26.This was the ground of Simeons Hope. Theſe promiſes are of all needfull things in this world, both Spirituall and Temporall; of aſſiſtance vnderunder all croſſes, and of deliuerance from them: and at length of eternall glory and happineſſe in heauen, which (becauſe it is furtheſt off, and includeth in it an accompliſhment of all other promiſes,) is the moſt proper obiect of Hope. In which reſpect the Scripture doth thus entitle it,o1 Theſ. 5. 8. Hope of Saluation, pTit. 3. 7.Hope of eternall life, qRom. 5. 2.Hope of glory, &c.
5 The things we hope for, are alſo ſuch as Faith beleeued. For there is ſuch a relation betwixt Faith and Hope, as is betwixt a mother and a daughter: Faith is the mother that bringeth forth Hope; and Hope is a bleſſed daughter which nouriſheth Faith.rHeb. 11. 1. Faith is the ground of things hoped for. Till a thing be beleeued, a man will neuer hope for it:ſGal. 5. 5. By Faith we waite: that is, Faith cauſeth vsus to waite. Againe, except a man hope, and waite for that which he beleeueth, his Faith will ſoone decay.
§. 4. Of aſſurance and patience of Hope.
THus in generall we ſee what Hope is.Two properties of Hope. There are two eſpeciall properties which the Scripture doth oft annexe to Hope,
1 Aſſurance.
2 Patience.
For Aſſurance, expreſly ſaith the Apoſtle,1 Aſſurance. tHeb. 6. 11.Shew diligence to the full Aſſurance of Hope. In regard of this property it is ſaid,uRom. 5. 5. Hope maketh not aſhamed, that is, diſappointeth not him that hopeth, of the thing which he waiteth for, ſo as he need not be aſhamed of his Hope. Fitly therefore is it termed,*Heb. 6. 19. An Anchor of the ſoule, both ſure and ſtedfaſt. According to the quality and quantity of Faith, is the quality and quantity of Hope. What a man beleeueth, that he hopeth for: as he beleeueth, ſo he hopeth for it: but true Faith doth aſſuredly beleeue the truth of Gods promiſes: therefore true Hope doth certainely expect them, for there are the ſame props to vphold our Hope, as are for our Faith, to wit, the goodneſſe, power, truth, and other like attributes of God: Hope ariſeth not from mans promiſes, nor is nouriſhed by mans merits.
Our aduerſaries make vncertainty a property of Hope, Vncertainty no property of Hope.and ground it vponupon coniectures and probabilities: wherby they take away one main difference betwixt the hope of ſound Chriſtians, and carnall Libertines: and cleane ouerthrow the nature of ſauing Hope: for though, by reaſon of the fleſh, the beſt may ſometimes wauer in their Hope, as well as in their Faith: yet is not this wauering of the nature of Hope, but the more Hope encreaſeth, the more is doubting diſpelled.
For Patience, b1 Theſ. 1. 3. … Rom. 8. 25.that alſo is expreſly attributed to Hope: If we hope for that we ſee not, we doe with patience waite for it: How needfull it is that our Hope bee accompanied with patience, we ſhall ſee hereafter.
§. 5. Of the agreement betwixt Faith and Hope.
HOpe agreeth with Faith in many things:II. Point. Wherin Hope and Faith agree. for example in theſe.
1 In the Author.In the Author and worker of them both, which is Gods holy Spirit, ascGal. 5. 22. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit, ſodRom. 15. 13. we abound in Hope thorow the power of the holy Ghoſt.
2 In the matter.In the common matter, for both are ſauing and ſanctifying graces, aseEph. 2. 8. We are ſaued by Faith, fRom. 8. 25.ſo alſo by Hope: and asgAct. 15. 9. By Faith the heart is purified, ſoh1 Ioh. 3. 3. he that hath Hope purgeth himſelfe.
3 In the ground.In the Ground of them, both of them are grounded on Gods promiſes as we hauehave heard.
4 In the properties.In the fore-named properties Aſſurance and Patience. The ſame Apoſtle that made mention ofiHeb. 6. 11. Aſſurance of Hope, mentioneth alſok& 10. 21. Aſſurance of Faith, and as lRom. 8. 25.he that hopeth waiteth with patience, ſomIſa. 28. 16. he which beleeueth maketh not haſte.
5 In the continuance.In continuance, which is onelyonly til they hauehave brought vsus to the poſſeſſion of the inheritance promiſed: in which reſpect LoueLove, which continueth euen in Heauen, is preferred both to Faith and Hope.
6 In the effects.In many excellent effects: as are a cleare and quiet conſcience: an vtter denyall of a mans ſelfe: a caſting of himſelfe wholly on Gods grace: a patient bearing of all croſſes, perſeuerance vntounto the end, &c.
§. 6. Of the difference betwixt Faith and Hope.
THey differ in theſe things eſpecially.Wherein they differ.
1 In their order: Faith is firſt, for it bringeth forth Hope:nHeb. 11. 1. Faith is the ground of things hoped for.
2 In the kind of Obiect: Faith is alſo of thingsoHeb. 11. 3. paſt, andpIoh. 20. 29. preſent: hope onelyonly of things to come.
Obiect. Faith is alſo of things to come: for we beleeue eternall life.
Anſw. Faith giuethqforeign. Heb. 11. 1. a ſubſiſtence, and preſent being, to ſuch things as are to come; by it we beleeue thoſe good things which are promiſed to be ours, though the poſſeſſion of them be to come.
3 In their nature: Faith beleeueth the very truth of Gods promiſes, andrIoh. 3. 33. ſealeth that God is true: Hope waiteth till God manifeſt and accompliſh his truth.
Thus we ſee that Hope is a different and diſtinct grace frō Faith: yea ſo, as it may be of vſe when faith faileth: and it ſerueth to cheriſh and vphold Faith: needfull it is therfore that vntounto Faith it be added.
§. 7. Of the reſemblance betwixt Hope and an Helmet.
FItly is Hope reſembled to an Helmet, III. Point. How fitly Hope is reſembled to an Helmet.which, according to the notation of theforeign. Greeke word, couereth the head all ouer, ſo as vnderunder it may be compriſed the Beuer, and whatſoeuer couereth the face. The vſe of this Helmet is to keep and fence the head ſafe from Arrowes, Darts, Bullets, Swords and other weapons, whereby it might otherwiſe be ſorely wounded, and the man be killed downe-right.
He that hath his head and face well and ſafely couered, will be bold and couragious without feare, lifting vp his head, and looking his enemy in the face, and ſo boldly goe on forward, not fearing Arrowes, Darts, or any ſuch things that ſhall be ſhot, or throwne at him. Euen ſo he whoſe ſoule is eſtabliſhed with Hope, waiting for Saluation in the end, will with an holy reſolution goe on in his courſe to God, not fearing the manifold aſſaults of his ſpirituall enemies, being aſſured that they ſhall not pierce his ſoule, but that at length he ſhall remaine a Victorer, when the Diuell and his inſtruments hauehave ſhot all their Arrowes againſt him. Hope of Saluation maketh a man rouſe vp his ſoule and ſpirit in the midſt of temptations: thus much the notation of thattforeign. Rom. 8. 19. word, whereby the Apoſtle ſetteth forth the Hope and earneſt expectation of the creature, implieth. Dauid alludeth heereunto, ſaying,Vide Beza. annotat. VntoUnto thee, O Lord, lift I vp my ſoule: And againe, I will lift vp mine eyes to the mountaine, Pſal. 25. 1. & 121. 1.from whence my helpe commeth.
Out of all that hath beene ſaid, may eaſily be gathered what is the vſe of hope, and how needfull and profitable a peece of Armour it is.
§. 8. Of the vſe of Hope.
THe vſe of it is to keepe vsus from fainting, that we be not confounded through any aſſaults of our enemies: foryRom. 5. 5: Hope maketh not aſhamed, but maketh bold and confident:zPſal. 27. 13. 14. Dauid implieth that he had fainted, but for his hope, and thereupon exhorteth others to Hope in the Lord. In this reſpect,*Heb. 6. 19. the Apoſtle vſeth another metaphor, and reſembleth Hope to an Anchor. Sicut anchora iactata de naui non permittit cam circūferri, licet venticommoueant, ſed firmam facit, ficet ſpes. Chry. in Heb. hom. 11When Mariners hauehave a good ſound Anchor faſt tyed to the ſhip with a ſtrong Cable, and faſt fixed on firme ground, they dare ſleepe quietly therein, though ſtormes and tempeſts ariſe: for the Anchor will keepe the ſhip ſafe and ſure, ſo as it cannot be carried away of winds, nor beaten againſt rocks, nor ſwallowed of gulfes. Thus doth Hope after an holy maner make vsus ſecure, and that though afflictions and temptations like ſtormes, be raiſed againſt vsus. aPſal. 23. 4.Though I ſhould walke through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will feare no euill, ſaith Dauid; whereby he manifeſteth his holy ſecurity, which alſo he doth by many other like ſpeeches in his Pſalmes.
§. 9. Of the need of Hope, in regard of the vncertaine and long date of Gods promiſes.
THis being the vſe of Hope,IIII. Point. Hope neceſſary in foure reſpects. it is very needfull, yea neceſſary, and that in foure reſpects.
1 In regard of the time which God hath ſet downe for the accompliſhment of his promiſes,1 Time vncertaine. which time is oft both vnknowne, and long dated, though the time be of God certainly determined, ſo as it cannot be preuented, (Ioh. 7. 30.) nor ſhall be ouerpaſſed, (Hab. 2. 3.) yet dMar. 13. 32. Act. 1. 7.it is not alwayes made knowne vntounto vsus. It is therefore needfull that we waite for the time of the accompliſhment of them. Such a collection doth Chriſt himſelfe inferre vponupon ſuch a ground:eMar. 13. 33. Take heede, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. And excellently doth he exemplifie it by thefLuke 12. 36, &c. parable of the ſeruants that waited while their Maſter returned from the wedding.
In wiſedome alſo it pleaſeth God many times to ſet a long date to the accompliſhment of his promiſes. WhengGen. 12. 7. Abraham came out of Haran, then God promiſed ſeed vntounto him, and a bleſſing vponupon his ſeed, yet was h& 21. 5.Abraham an hundred yeeres old before he had a childe of Sarah: ſo there paſſed at leaſt twenty fiue yeeres betwixt the making and performing of this promiſe, (compare Gen. 12. 4. & 21: 5.) yetiRom. 4. 18. aboue Hope, vnderunder Hope, did he wait for it.kLuk. 2. 25, &c. The promiſe which was made to Simeon was not accompliſhed till he was an old man, ready to die; yet he continued to wait. There paſſed almoſt foure thouſand yeeres betwixt that time.lGen. 3. 15. wherein the bleſſed ſeed of the woman was firſt promiſed, andmLuk. 2. 1. &c. wherein he was exhibited. There hauehave paſſed aboue fiue thouſand yeeres ſincenIude v. 14. the time that the glorious comming of Chriſt vntounto iudgement was promiſed, and yet is not accompliſhed, and God knoweth when it ſhall be. The date of many promiſes, are much longer then the Saints thought of: and they are kept longer in ſuſpence then they looked for. In this reſpect there is great need of Hope, yea of patient Hope. Note the anſwer giuen to the ſoules vnderunder the Altar, which was,oReu. 6. 10. 11 Dei promiſſis credere debemus etiamſi multum temporis interfluat. Chryſ. in Gen. hom. 39. That they ſhould reſt till their fellow ſeruants, and their brethren that ſhould be killed euen as they were, were fulfilled.
The office of Hope, is to make vsus waite, and ſtill to waite, and that with patience, though God tarry neuer ſo long, Though it tarry, waite, (Hab. 2. 3.) Dauid waited though his ſoule fainted. (Pſal. 119. 81.)
§. 10. Of the need of Hope in regard of troubles.
2 IN regard of thoſe many troubles and perplexities which doe fall out betwixt the making and accompliſhing of Gods promiſes,2 Troubles many. we hauehave a great need of Hope.Exod. 5. 7. After that God had promiſed Canaan to Iſrael, Iſrael was in miſerable bondage before he poſſeſſed Canaan: yea, after God had ſent Moſes to tell them that the promiſed time of their deliuerance was come, they were more cruelly oppreſſed, before they could get out; and when they were got out, what and how many ſtreights were they brought vntounto at the red ſea, and in the wilderneſſe before they entred into Canaan? euen ſuch and ſo many, as of all the men which came out of Aegypt, onelyonly two (which patiently waited to the end,) entred into it. Dauid was promiſed to hauehave the Kingdome of Iſrael: but how was he perſecuted, and made to fly the Countrey before he was crowned? How oft were the people of God made a prey to their enemies, and ſcorned among the nations before the promiſed Meſsiah was exhibited? What deſolations hath the Church been brought vntounto (it hath been like the Moone in the deepeſt waine) and yet Chriſt not come?
Thus doth the Lord in wiſdome diſpoſe of his Church while it is here warfaring on earth; as for many other iuſt and weighty reaſons, ſo to try if we can waite, patiently waite, and thatſRom. 4. 18. vnderunder Hope, though it be aboue Hope. In regard of theſe troubles, therefore is Hope very needfull, astHeb. 10. 35. &c. the Apoſtle implieth, who earneſtly exhorteth the Hebrewes, euen in this reſpect to waite. It is the office of Hope, to make vsus waite and abide til God remoue the croſſe.
§. II. Of the need of Hope in regard of the ſcoffes of the wicked.
3 HOpe is needfull in regard of the ſcoffes and reproaches of the wicked:3 Wicked ſcoffe. for if Gods promiſes be not ſpeedily accompliſhed,u2 Pet. 3. 4. they are ready to vpbraide Gods children, and ſay, Where are his promiſes? If afflictions befall them,*Pſal. 42. 10. Where is their God? If afflictions be greeuous, x& 3. 2.There is no helpe for him in God. Is not then Hope neceſſary to vphold vsus againſt theſe? Dauid hereby vpheld himſelfe: for when the wicked ſaid, Where is their God, he ſaid to his Soule, y& 42. 11.Waite on God.
It is the office of Hope to make vsus looke ſo much the more ſtedfaſtly vponupon God, and the faſter to cleaue vntounto him, by how much the more wicked men doe ſeeke to draw vsus from the Lord.
§. 12. Of the neede of Hope in regard of our owne weakeneſſe.
4 VVE hauehave need of Hope,4 we weake. in regard of our own weakeneſſe, for we are very prone by nature to thinke that God forgetteth vsus, and remembreth not his promiſes made to vsus, if at leaſt it be a long time before he accompliſh them; or if he bring vsus to any ſtreights, and ſeeme to hide his face from vsus. Dauid was herewith ſorely tempted, it made him cry out, and ſay, aPſal. 13. 1.How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for euer? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? But what vpheld him? himſelfe ſheweth that it was his hope▪ For in the ſame Pſalme he ſaith,bPſal. 13. 5. I truſt in thy mercy.
It is the office of Hope in this reſpect, to make vsus hope aboue hope, ascRom. 4. 8. Abraham; and againſt ſence, asdIob 13. 15. Iob.
Thus we ſee that hope is ſo needfull, as there is no liuing in this world without it: herein is the prouerbe verified, If it were not for hope the heart would breake.
§. 13. Of getting and preſeruing Hope.
LEt vsus therefore in the next place obſerue how it may be,V. Point. How hope is gotten. firſt, gotten, ſecondly, preſerued, thirdly, wel vſed.
1 It is gotten by the ſame meanes that faith is: for it is the daughter of Faith.See Treat. 2. part. 6. &. 17. &c. The meanes which beget faith, do immediatly hereupon beget hope.
2 It is preſerued by two meanes eſpecially.2. Hovv preſerued.
1. By a due conſideration and ful perſwaſion of Gods properties; which make vsus patiently abide for the accompliſhment of his promiſes.
2 By a faithful remēbrance of Gods former dealings.
Foure ſpeciall properties of God are for this purpoſe to be obſerued. 1. His free grace. 2. His infinite power. 3. His infallible truth. 4. His vnſearchable wiſdome.
For being in our hearts perſwaded by faith.1. Faith in Gods promiſes vpholdeth hope. Firſt, That the ſame grace which mooued God to make any gracious promiſe, will further mooue him to accompliſh it. And ſecondly, That hee is able to doe it. And thirdly, So faithfull, that not a word which he hath ſaid ſhall fall to the ground: Yea, and fourthly, That he is moſt wiſe in appointing the fitteſt times and ſeaſons for all things, ſo as may moſt make to his owne glory, and his childrens good; we are thus brought to waite, and to continue waiting on God (without preſcribing any time to him) till he hath actually performed what he faithfully promiſed.
§. 14. Of Experience nouriſhing Hope.
GODS former dealings both with others,2 Experience vpholdeth Hope. and alſo with our ſelues being faithfully remembred, worke ſuch aneRom. 5. 4. experience as cannot but bring forth Hope: For this experience doth euidently demonſtrate what God is willing and able to doe.fPſal. 22. 4. & 34. 6. & 143. 5. Hereby was Dauids Hope much cheriſhed and ſtrengthened.gIam. 5. 11. This meanes doth St Iames vſe to ſtrengthen the hope of Chriſtian Iewes, bringing to their memories Gods dealing with Iob.
For this end, we muſt acquaint our ſelues with the Hiſtories of former times, eſpecially ſuch as are recorded in the holy Scriptures: forhRom. 15. 4. Whatſoeuer things are written afore time (namely in thoſe Scriptures) are written for our learning, that wee thorow patience and comfort of the Scriptures might hauehave Hope. It is alſo good to be acquainted with other Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtories: but eſpecially to obſerue Gods dealings in our owne times.
TheiRom. 5. 4. experience which moſt of all bringeth forth Hope, is that which we hauehave of Gods dealing with our ſelues, whereof we hauehave two notable examples, one of Iacob, (Ge…. 32. 10.) The other of Dauid, (1 Sam. 17. 37.)
For this end we are well to obſerue and remember all thoſe gracious fauours which God from time to time vouchſafeth to vsus, and not careleſly let them ſlip at the time preſent, nor negligently forget them in the time paſt. The Iſraelites in the wilderneſſe failed in both theſe: mPſal. 106. 7.They vnderſtood not Gods wonders, while God was doing them; neither afterwards did they remember the multitude of Gods mercies. This was the cauſe that they could not waite till the time appointed for their entring into Canaan was come: but fainted, and fell in the Wilderneſſe.
§. 15. Of meditating on the end of Hope.
TO theſe may be added as a further meanes to vphold and cheriſh Hope,Oft meditate of the end of Hope. a ſerious and frequent meditation of the end of our Hope,Si vis ſuſtinere laborem, attende mercedem. Aug. in Pſal. 36 namely, that rich and glorious inheritance which Chriſt hath purchaſed for his Saints, and God hath promiſed vntounto them. Much might be ſaide to amplifie this point, but I will referre it to the priuate meditation of the Reader: and let it the rather be meditated of, becauſe we ſee the hopes of worldly men to be ſuſtained with matters which are no way comparable herevnto. Obſerue what their hope is in earthly things, which are very vncertaine:oIam. 5. 7. The husbandman waiteth for the fruite of the earth, and hath long patience for it, vntill hee receiue the former and the latter raine. As the Husband-man, ſo the Souldier, the Marriner, the Merchant, who not? Their hopes make them vnter much, and ſend themſelues forth to great dangers, & yet oft they faile of their hopes. Shall Chriſtians of all others caſt away their Hope, the end whereof is more excellent then all things in Sea and Land, which alſo they are ſure to receiue, if they faint not? aHeb. 10. 35.Caſt not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
§. 16. Of the reſemblance betwixt Hope and an Anchor.
3 THe vſe of hope may fi…ly be ſet forth by that other metaphor whereunto Hope is reſembled,3. How hope is well vſed. namely, an Anchor. (Heb. 6. 19.)
1 It muſt be caſt vponupon a ſure ground. 1 Caſt the anchor of hope on a ſure ground.If an anchor becaſt into a bottomleſſe ſea, where is no ground, or on quick ſands, which are no ſure ground, it is of no vſe, the ſhippe may be toſſed vp and downe, and ſuffer wracke for all that. The onelyonly ſure ground of hope is Gods promiſe reuealed in his Word. That this is a moſt firme ground cannot bee doubted of, vnleſſe the goodneſſe, power and faithfulneſſe of God be called into queſtion. For as God himſelfe is, ſo is his▪ Word, faithfull and true, ſure and certaine: nothing more firme and ſtable:aMatth. 5. 18. Till heauen and earth periſh, one iot or title of Gods word ſhall not ſcape, till all things be fulfilled. bPſal. 119. 19.Dauid caſt the anchor of his hope vponupon this ground. We are therefore to acquaint our ſelues with Gods manifold promiſes.
2 It muſt be faſt fixed on that ſure ground.2, Faſt fixe it on that ground. If an anchor onelyonly lie vponupon the ground, and be not fixed on it, as good be without ground.
Then is hope faſt fixed on Gods promiſe, when his promiſe is ſtedfaſtly beleeued: Faith maketh a way and entrance for hope.cRom. 4. 18, &c. Abraham firſt beleeued Gods promiſe, and then waited for it.
Firſt therfore labour for true and ſound faith in Gods promiſes, then will thy hope be ſure and ſtedfaſt.
3 It muſt oft be ſetled and fixed anew.3. Of… renew, the hold. If an Anchor looſe and ſlacken after it hath once been faſtned, a ſtorme may cartie the ſhippe away: where then is the benefit of the former faſtening? Our hope in regard of our owne weakeneſſe, and the violence of Satans manifold ſtormes, is much ſubiect to looſening, to wauering. It muſt therefore oft be renewed:dIſa. 40. 31. They that waite on the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength. Theſe words may be taken both as a promiſe of God, ſhewing what he will doe; and as a duty on our part, ſhewing what we ought to doe.
For this end, againe and againe meditate on thoſe promiſes which we hauehave once knowne and beleeued, and oft call to minde Gods former benefits and performance of his promiſes: (theſe were Dauids vſuall practiſes.) For theſe being meanes to raiſe vp Hope in vsus at firſt, the recalling of them to our mindes againe, muſt needes be meanes to renew our hope.
§. 17. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion againſt a ſure ground of Hope.
IN the laſt place,VI. Point. Satans wiles. Satan hath many waies to ſpoile vsus of this peece of Armour alſo, and that either by labouring to keepe it from vsus, that we neuer hauehave it, or to wreſt it from vsus after we hauehave it.
Becauſe there is a mutuall relation betwixt Faith and Hope, ſo as without Faith there can be no Hope, he bends what forces he can againſt Faith to keepe vsus from it, or depriue vsus of it. To auoide this, the former Treatiſe of Faith is to be obſerued.
His Suggeſtions more proper againſt this grace, are ſuch as theſe.
Suggeſt. 1 There needeth no ſuch adoe to find out a ſure ground; if thou hope well, it is well enough. Thus he preuaileth with the greater ſort of our people, eſpecially with the more ignorant and ruder ſort, who doe not onelyonly in their hearts conceiue, but with their tongues alſo are ready to vtter ſuch conceits as theſe, I hope well, yea, I hope to be ſaued as well as the beſt. Here is their anchor caſt out. But aske them, what is the ground of their Hope, all the anſwer they can giuegive, is, They Hope well. Many that know not the fundamental points of Chriſtian Religion, nor the firſt grounds of Saluation, (being much worſe then theeHeb. 5. 12. Hebrewes, of whom the Apoſtle complaineth that they had need be taught which are the firſt principles of the Oracles of God) will yet ſay, I hope well.
Anſwer. To auoid this, all ignorant perſons, though they be growne in yeeres, muſt be willing to be inſtructed and euen catechiſed.foreign. Luke 1. 4. Theophilus a Nobleman was ſo inſtructed. Miniſters muſt vſe to catechiſe and teach fundamentall grounds. Ignorance of people is a ſhame and diſhonour to the Goſpell; it maketh them a prey to Satan, andfOſe. 4. 1. 2 Theſ. 1. 8. bringeth them to the very pit and gulfe of deſtruction.
§. 17. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of falſe grounds of Hope.
Suggeſt. 2. THe beſt grounds of Hope are, 1. A mans owne merits. 2. The meritorious workes of others, euen their workes of ſupererogation, 3. A… mans owne honeſt dealing and good meaning: 4. A man… proſperous eſtate. Thus hee deceiueth men with fal… grounds. In the firſt of theſe, he preuaileth with the prou… der ſort of Papiſts, who truſt to their owne merits. In th… ſecond, with the more ſilly and fooliſh ſort, who truſt t… the merits of others: In the third, with many among… counted ciuill, honeſt men, men of their words, iuſt i… their dealings, &c. but ſauour of little piety to Go… wards: as alſo in many of the poorer ſort, who thinke an… ſay. They doe no man any wrong. In the fourth, with ſottiſh worldlings; who make Earth their Heauen.
Anſwer. All theſe are like quicke-ſands, which bring more danger then ſafety to a ſhip.
For the firſt, ſee the anſwer to the firſt ſuggeſtion againſt righteouſneſſe. §. 7.
For the ſecond, ſee the 3. vſe of the 2. Doctrine, on verſe 10. §. 5.
For the third, remember
1 That all the honeſt dealing in the World, without Faith, is nothing acceptable to God, (Heb. 11. 6.)
2 That good meanings and intentions may ſtand with moſt abhominable impieties and iniquities. For proofe whereof, reade Iohn 16. 2. and Acts 26. 9.
3 That it more beſeemeth fooles then wiſe men to build all their hopes vponupon coniectures.
For the fourth, know that outward proſperity, wealth, health, honour, credit, …auour of friends, and the like, are butcMat. 5. 45. common gifts which God indifferently beſtoweth on all ſorts of people: they oft proue the Diuels baits to allure men vntounto him, and his hookes to hold them faſt, and drowne them in perdition.
§. 18. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of licentious truſting on Mercy.
3. Suggeſt. STill truſt to Gods Mercy, and Hope therein; and in confidence thereof, take liberty …othy ſelfe to doe what ſeemeth good in thine owne eies. Thus hee maketh carnall Goſpellers, Libertines, hypo…rites, and the like, (dIude; v. 5. Who turne the grace of God into wan…nneſſe) to let their anchor of Hope lie looſe vponupon the …re ground of Gods mercy.
Anſwer. When Gods mercy is wilfully and wittingly abuſed, his iuſtice is prouoked to take vengeance: Gods grace giueth liberty to no ſinne,eTit. 2. 11. 12. The grace of God which bringeth ſaluation vntounto all men, teacheth vsus to denie vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts, and to liue ſoberly, righteouſly, godly, &c: This is the end of grace, and this alſo will be the power and efficacy thereof in all to whom it belongeth: for they who partake of the merite of Chriſts ſacrifice to hauehave their ſinnes pardoned, partake alſo of the efficacy thereof, to hauehave the power of ſinne ſubdued.
§. 19. Of Satans ſeeking to depriue vsus of the vſe of Hope.
IF thus the Diuell cannot keepe vsus from attaining true Hope, then will he labour to quaile our Hope, and ſo ſpoile vsus of it, and that by theſe and ſuch like meanes.
1 By making vsus too careleſſe, and too ſecure, wherein he ſomewhat preuailed with Lot, Dauid, Peter, and ſuch other.
For auoiding this, we muſt duly conſider our owne weakeneſſe, and the many fierce temptations whereunto we are ſubiect, and thereby be ſtirred vp to watch and pray, asfMat. 26. 41. Chriſt vponupon this ground exhorteth his diſciples.
2 By mouing vsus to deſpaire, by reaſon of our vnworthineſſe: and here he will obiect what we are by nature, what by the multitude and greeuouſneſſe of our actuall tranſgreſſions, and in theſe reſpects how vnworthy of the ſaluation which we waite for.
For auoiding this, we muſt remoue our eyes from off our ſelues, and caſt them vponupon the free grace, and rich mercy of God, and vponupon the all-ſufficient merit of Chriſt, and remember that the ſaluation which God hath promiſed, he will giuegive for his owne Names ſake.
3 By calling into queſtion the truth of Gods promiſes, eſpecially when he ſeemeth long to delay the accompliſhment of them, or when troubles ariſe.
For auoyding this, we muſt be perſwaded, that God is wiſeſt, and beſt knoweth the fitteſt times and meanes for accompliſhing his promiſes.