Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter 8 · Dialogue 22
DIAL. XXII.
Verses 24, 25. For wee are saued by hope, but hope that is seene is no hope: for howe can a man hope for that which hee seeth. But if we hope for that which wee see not, we do with patience abide for it.
Tim.
WHat is the drift and purpose of this text?
Silas.
To proue that which he said inDrift. the former verse; to wit, that all true beleeuers doe with sighes waite for their full and perfect adoption, euen their celestiall inheritance. The reason which is here vsed to prooue this, is taken from the nature of hope, thus: We hauehave heauenly saluation no otherwise but by hope, therefore our full saluation is yet absent from vsus, and with patience to bee waited for. For where the thing hoped for is present, there is no place for hope, which so presupposeth the absence of perfect blessednesse, to the griefe of beleeuers, as withall it looketh certainly to possesse it in due time; whence ariseth ioy and gladnes.
Tim.
What doth this text contayne?Parts.
Silas.
Two things; first a proposition [we are saued by hope.] Secondly, an application opening the office and nature of hope.
Tim.
In the nature of hope what things doeth the Apostle Paul consider?
Silas.
Two things: First, that the thing hoped for, is absent, verse 24. [For Hope which is seene, is no hope.] Secondly, that it must bee patiently waited for, Verse 25. For if we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience abyde for it.
Tim.
Expound the words, and tell vsus what is meant by [We] and also what is meant by [Saued,] We are saued?
Silas.
By [Wee] is meant the Apostle himselfe, and allInterpretatiō. beleeuers whosoeuer, and by saued is meant the fulnesse and perfection of saluation in heauen, when bodie and soule shall be glorified at the day of iudgement, and not the beginning of saluation in our newe birth, which consisteth in remission of sinnes, and reconciliation with God by faith; (for this the faithful already hauehave, they neede not hope for it) but the accomplishment of this, is that which is heere signified by saluation, and which they are saide to hope for.
Tim.
What do ye call hope?
Sil.
That grace of the soul, whereby eueryevery true Christian, doth surely expect and look to inioy promised saluation.
Tim.
What is the doctrine from hence?
Silas.
That our perfect saluation cannot in this life beDoctrine. otherwise possessed of true beleeuers then by hope: theReasons. reason is, because our perfect saluation is a thing to come, and to be enioyed after this life ended: also, because it is to be enioyed onelyonly in heauen, therefore now it is not had nor can be.
Tim.
Yea but the Scripture saith, we are saued by Faith, Ephes. 2, 8. How then is it saide heere, we are saued by hope?
Silas.
We are otherwise saued by hope then by faith:What differēce between faith & Hope the difference stands heerein. First, by faith we beleeue the promise of saluation, by hope wee do looke for the thing promised. Secondly, Faith doth enter and beginne our saluation in apprehending remission of sins, reconciliation with God, the perfect righteousnesse of Christ, and purifies our hearts that we may liue holily: but hope lookes forward vntounto the end, & full perfection of blisse. Thirdly, Faith saueth as an instrumentall cause, without the which we cannot lay hold of Christ: Hope saueth asFaith is before hope, as the cause before the effect a fruite of Faith, as a signe of a person iustified and reconciled, as the way wherein we are to walke towardes Heauen, as that which lookes to inioy saluation, because God hath truely promised, and Faith hath surely beleeued that promise.
Tim.
What vse is to be made of this Doctrine?
Silas.
First, it reproues such as place all their happynesseVse. in worldly things; these are no truc beleeuers: for they hauehave no hope of saluation in heauen. Secondly, this admonisheth howe to make triall of our Faith, euen by that hope which we hauehave of saluation to come: for these two are inseparable, none can certainly expect saluation except they do beleeue it to be truly promised: and whosoeuer can vndoubtedly looke for heauenly glorie by Hope, it is because first by faith they hauehave receiued the promise of it. Thirdly it teacheth, that the faithfull by infallible certainty, may assure their hearts of their own eternal saluation, because they are saued by hope, which doth not make ashamed or confoundeth, which it should do, if the hope of glory might be frustrate.
Tim.
Proceede to the next matter (the Nature of hope) and2. Part. tell vsus what is meant heere by Hope, when he saith [Hope which is seene?]
Silas.
Not the gift of Hope which is inward, seated in the heart; but the thing which is hoped for, euen that which is present, and now enioyed and possessed, or now in our hands.
Tim.
What is heere meant by Hope?
Silas.
That the gift of hope hath no place, but when the thing hoped for is absent. This may bee prooued by common sence, for eueryevery man seeth and perceiueth that one cannot hope for any thing that he already hath, and which is now already in his possession: of this we speak improperly and abusiuely, if we do say that we hope for it; for it is present.
Tim.
What is the Doctrine from these words thus declared and opened?
Silas.
That this is the property of hope to expect and looke for that which we yet hauehave not, but is absent and to come.
Tim.
Will it not follow heereof, that Christian Hope is vncertaine and doubtfnll, seeing of thinges to come, it cannot bee knowne many times whether they will come or no?
Sil.
No, it will not follow; because the things which Christian hope looketh after, they are alwayes absent in such wise, as they must needes be fulfilled; because they are promised by such a God, as both can for his almightincsse, and for his merciemercy in Christ will performe them. It stands vponupon his honour to make good his worde, as a good christian at the houre of death said in my hearing.
Tim.
Tou doe not thinke certainty or assurance to bee of the Nature of Hope? Doth Hope simply considered, breede … and affiance?
Silas.
No, it is not; but assurance ariseth from the quality of the thinges which bee absent and hoped for, which if they hauehave causes contingent, then the Hope is doubtfull and vncertaine: but if they bee of necessarie causes, then the hope is vndoubted and firme. Now the saluation of the Saints to come, hath sure vnmooueable and firme causes, as the truth, and mercy, and Oathe of God the promiser; the merites and Mediation of Christ our Redeemer, deade and raised againe; the witnesse of the Spirit.
Tim.
What is the vse to be made of this point of Doctrine?Vse.
Sil.
It doth warne the faithfull, that they hauehave continuall cause to grieue and sighe euen in this regarde, that their full and absolute happinesse is yet absent. Towant so great a good is cause enough of greefe; many will grieue and sigh for want of farre lesse good things then their eternall life. Secondly, from hence wee may see,Ospes fallaces, meritis considere nostris. that true beleeuers hauehave reason to reioyce, insomuch as though their perfect felicity be absent, yet they are most sure in the end to hauehave it. So cannot Papists bee, whose hope resteth vponupon Gods grace and mans merit.
Tim.
What is their duty in the meane time?
Silas.
With patience to waite for it till it come. AndDoctrine. this is the other part of the nature of hope, euen to expect with courage and patience, that which it hath not.
Tim.
But what neede is there of patience?
Silas.
A two-fold neede: First, because their hope isReasons. deferred, therefore Christians must hauehave patience; for it is no small triall and temptation to bee long kept from that which one doth earnestly and truly louelove, beeing of such inestimable worth. Secondly, because the faithfull are heere subiect to many and manifold miseries, therefore they must possesse their soules in patience, it being the will of God to afflict them diuersly and deepely, and not onelyonly to holde their inheritaunce from them for a while: and therefore they hauehave neede of patience, that hauing done the wil of God, they may be glorified. This may be set set forth by the example of Merchants, Soldiers, and Labourers, who are all of comfort, because they do looke verie surely to obtaine a good end of their labours; yet in the meane time they make account to meet withall, and to resist diuers difficulties in their voyages, warres, and affaires.
Tim.
What vse heereof?
Silas.
It instructeth vsus, that such are vnmeete for heauen,Vses. as promise to themselues ease and freedome from troubles here. Secondly, it doeth admonish the faithfull to get patience, because through many tribulations they must come to the hoped for hauen. Acts 14. 22.