The Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Rules to govern our Hope.
IN order to this Governance, endeavour to fortifie thy Mind with Resolution and Sobriety; which will guide to Purity of Life. For every one that hath this Hope, purgeth himself as he is pure, 1 John 3.3. A true Hope, with a Resolution to persist in any known Sin, is incompatible. The Devout Man's Hope never faileth, of which Seneca could say, That Fortune hath often deserted the Innocent, but good Hope never. Hope to the End; for the Perfection of that Virtue is Perseverance. We must wait for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our Body, Rom. 8.23. Though deferred Hope disturbs the Heart; Though it tarry, wait, for it shall surely come, Hab. 2.3. What ever Tryals we undergo, let us put on Job's Resolution, Chap. 13.15. Though he stay me, yet will I trust in him. We belong to him that Redeemed us; If we hold fast the Confidence, and the rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the End, Heb. 3.6.
2. THOUGH through Humane Frailty thou sometimes art assaulted with Fear; yet be confident, and pursue the Psalmists Rule, who expresses, What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee, Psal. 56.3. Fear and Hope may inhabit together, especially where the fear of the Lord doth not abrogate Faith's Confidence, but Carnal Security. Treasure up the Promises of God; to that intent were they written, and divulged, That we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15.4. Fix not thy rest on this World, or place thy Confidence on any thing in it; it is but comparable to a broken Reed, a slack Rope, on the raging Sea, or a false Friend in Adversity; and like the Quick-Sands, on which infatuated Builders lay their Foundations: As Moses told Israel, Ye are not come to your rest, Deut. 12.9.
3. ALL temporal Enjoyments are liable to Vicissitudes, and no Constancy to be found among the Sons and Daughters of Men. Prosperity is like a Fair Morning, quickly overcast with hideous Storms; like the Morning Dew, soon vanishing; or like a pleasant Flower, or a Jonah's Gourd; such are all Humane Enjoyments. So that there is no sure Hope, but in the Almighty, who is immutable, neither deceiveth those that trust in him; therefore, beware of vain Hopes, especially those which are Irrational, (lest thou tempt the Lord) for they are fraudulent to Men. Such is their Reliance who contemn the ordinary means in Expectation of Miracles, and act contrary to the express Word of the most High, in vain hope of obtaining a Pardon.
4. PROPOSE not too great things to thy self; for we are frequently the evident Authors of our own Misfortunes, when we promise Peace, Health, and Prosperity to our selves. This soaring Ambition's Wings are sometimes deplumed, and we fall into bitterness, when we come short of that which to our selves we so vainly promised. So that it were much better never to climb too high, than put our selves in so much danger as falling from so great a Precipice; but rather let us invoke the Great Being, who is the Author of our Hope, and the Donor of all Consolation, to infuse a sure Hope and a stedfast Confidence, by a Divine Inspiration into our Souls.
A Prayer for Hope.
O Almighty God, my earnest Expectation and Hope, my Fortress, Helper and Deliverer; though my numberless Sins have deserved thy Wrath, insomuch as thou mayst justly cast me off into hopeless Despair, and final Destruction; yet look upon me with thy Eye of Mercy, through the Wounds of a bleeding Jesus, in whom thou hast commanded me to believe, and hast promised Remission of my Sins, and Eternal Life. For his sake alone I humbly beseech thee, give me that assurance, that in the end, I may obtain my hope, even the Salvation of my Soul. And though thou dost now fill my wounded Spirit with Bitterness, and remove from me Peace and Comfort, so that I forget my Prosperity, and go mourning all the day long:
2. YET, O Lord, though thou humblest my dejected Soul, with ponderosity of Sorrows, and makest my Eyes fountains of Tears, driving me to Solitude and Silence, with them that mourn in Zion; Yet thou dost extend thy Goodness to them that wait for thee, and to the Soul which seeketh thee. Thy Mercies are renewed every Morning, and thy Compassions fail not, to frail Dust and Ashes. Thou hast opened unto me the rich treasure of thy transcendent Mercies, and enabled me to trust in thee: Thou hast according to thy stupendious Mercy begotten me again to a lively Hope, by the Resurrection of thy dear Son from the dead, of an Inheritance Incorruptible: For all these Blessings my Soul hath acknowledged thee, to be my Portion; therefore will I trust in thee.
3. O Lord, I know, that the Hopes of the Hills are vain, and so is all Confidence in frail Mortality; and no hope can be happy, which is not fixed in thee. But in defiance to all Satan's devices, thrice blessed must he be, whose hope thou art. He shall be like a Tree planted by the Waters of Life, which shall never wither, but prosper; for thou art Truth it self. And O thou God, of all Consolation, now speak Peace to my afflicted Soul, and let me not be disappointed of my Hope. Thou art pleased to wean me from the Allurements of an unkind and diffident World, by suffering me to endure such Grief and Sorrow; yet seeing thou art my Hope from my Youth, let me not be ashamed of my Confidence; let thy Mercy be still my Hope, and thy Grace my Strength; amidst all the Storms and Surges of Affliction, fasten my Soul's Anchor on the Land of the Living, my Rock, who is entred within the Vail, to make requests for me.
4. INVRE me with Patience, untill the time of Comfort, and refreshing shall return from thy gracious Presence. Give me the Helmet of Salvation, and an Assurance of what thou hast graciously promised in thy Word, and laid up for me in Heaven. Let the Experience of thy former Goodness in many Deliverances give me a Door of Hope for the future, that I may more and more trust in thee. And, O thou, who art the God of Hope, fill me with Joy and Peace in Believing, that I may abound in Hope, through the Power of thy holy Spirit. Give me a strong Consolation, and full assurance of thy Mercy, that continuing grounded, and established in a stedfast Hope of my Resurrection to a Life of Glory, at the appointed hour, my Flesh may rest in Hope, and my Soul be cheerfully rendred into thy Gracious Hands, to rest with thee, through Jesus Christ, my ever blessed Lord and Saviour.
Amen.