A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 22
Heb. 6. 19.
Which hope we have as an Anchor of the ſoul, both ſure and ſtedfaſt, and which entereth into that within the Vail.
THe Apoſtle in the eighteenth verſe ſpeaking of the hope that is ſet before Believers, and of their fleeing for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ſet before them; He takes occaſion to ſpeak of that hope that is begotten and raiſed in the hearts of all Believers by the hope of Chriſt.
In verſe 18. He ſpeaks of the Object of Hope. Chriſt, he is the hope ſet before believers; but in this 19th verſe, he ſpeaks of the grace of hope, which hope we have as an Anchor to the ſoul, both ſure and ſtedfaſt; this is ſpoken of the grace of Hope, which is the ſiſter of Faith: And this Hope it differs from Faith thus; Faith looks unto God and Chriſt in the Promiſes, it looks unto the word of the Lord that is given for its ſecurity, and it is the work of Faith to cloſe with the Word, and to hold faſt the word of promiſe, which the Lord Jeſus doth hand out to poor ſouls. But Hope, that looks to the good things promiſed, and it waits …or the good things that are laid up in the promiſes, Hope eyes them, and waits for the full poſſeſſion and fruition of that which is laid up in the promiſe, and when the ſoul ſhall enjoy all thoſe good things laid up in the promiſes, then Hope ſhall ceaſe.
Now that we may underſtand the nature of ſaving Hope, and the uſe of it, he ſets it forth to us by a Metaphor of an Anchor; which hope we have as an Anchor to the ſoul, both ſure and ſtedfaſt: Hope it is of that uſe to the ſoul, that an Anchor is to a Ship; as an Anchor is to ſtay the Ship at Sea, that it may arrive ſafe in the midſt of all ſtorms, and not be carried upon the ſands, and ſo broken to pieces; of that uſe is Hope to the believing ſoul, as an Anchor is to the Ship: And therefore the Apoſtle doth intimate to us theſe two things.
Firſt, That the ſoul of a Believer is compared to a ſhip at ſea.
Secondly, The hope of a Believer is compared to an: Anchor. Which hope we have as an Anchor &c.
The ſoul is the Ship, and Hope, that is the Anchor of the Ship; yea, it is a moſt excellent Anchor; and he fets forth the excellency of it by divers expreſſions, it is an Anchor of the ſoul, and it is ſure and ſtedfaſt, and which entereth into that page missing eye of God; the Lord hath a hand in ruling them, the ſea, though boiſterous, yet it is before the Throne.
And further, it is a Sea of glaſs like unto chryſtal; there is held forth what this world is before the Lord, it is glaſs, and it is tranſparent, even as chryſtal; to the eye of God the world lies open, and he ſees every thing that is done in it: In a chryſtal glaſs the leaſt more and ſpot is ſeen by the eye of man; ſo the world before the Lord, and to the eye of the Lord, 'tis like to a chryſtal glaſs, though the world in it ſelf be never ſo muddy, and never ſo filthy, yet the Lord ſees all, he ſees that which is at the bottome of the ſea; he ſees into the bottome of mens hearts, he ſees into the bottome of every mans actions and intentions, there is not any thing in any man's ſpirit and converſation but it is clear before the Lord, he ſees it as thorow chryſtal.
Thus you ſee it confirmed by Scripture, that this world it is as the Sea, and a believing ſoul that is in the world, he is upon a ſea, as a ſhip upon the ſea.
But I ſhall ſhew you firſt, In what reſpect the world is as a Sea to a believing ſoul.
Secondly, That every Believer is as a ſhip upon this ſea.
Firſt of all, In what reſpect the world is as the Sea. Why,
Firſt of all, The ſea is no place to dwell upon; no man builds upon the ſea: the ſea is only for paſſage to paſs over unto another land, it is for tranſportation from one country to another, but no man dwells upon the ſea. Truly ſo is this world the world is not to be continued in, it is not for you to abide long in, you are not to dwell here, it were the fondeſt thing in the world to think of building a houſe upon the ſea; truly ſo fond a thing is it to imagine to continue here long, yet how deeply is this rooted in the heart of man, and how little do they think that they are paſſing over the ſea into another world, how little is this thought upon and remembred? The Saints of old they have confeſſed, that they were Pilgrims and ſtrangers here, and that they had here no abiding City, but they looked for one to come, whoſe Builder and Maker is God, Heb. 11. 10, 13.
God's people are not at home here, this is no place to dwell in; here are Tents, but no abiding City, there is no Manſion here upon the ſea of this world, the manſions are in heaven, In my fathers houſe are many Manſions, ſaith Chriſt, John 14. 2. And it is made as a diſcovery of an unſound Heart, the deſcription of a wicked man, that he dreams of continuance here, and doth not look upon the world as a Sea, Pſal. 49. 11. Their inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Verſe 12. Nevertheleſs, man being in honour, abideth not, he is like the Beaſts that periſh.
Verſe 13. This their way is their folly.
It is folly to think of continuing here, the ſea is no place to dwell in, neither is this world any place to dwell in.
Secondly, The Sea is a moſt unconſtant place, the waves of the Sea are full of unconſtancy, full of Inſtability; a great deal of inſtability is alſo in the things of this world: The ſea it is never conſtant, it is alwayes in ſome troubled motion, there is no reſt in the Sea, the waters they are riſing and falling, ebbing and flowing, it is continually in an unſetled condition: Truly thus is the world, and all the things of the world, they are full of inſtability, there is nothing here that continueth: He that had experience of all theſe things, cries out, Vanity of vanity; that was the beſt he found in the world, and in the comforts of the world; it is an unſetled condition that God's own people are in while upon earth, there is nothing that doth continue long, all things vaniſh, and are gone in a moment, there is as much inſtability in all things here below, as in the waves of the Sea; See what the Wiſe-man ſaith, Eccleſ. 1. 4. and ſo on, One generation paſſeth away, and another cometh.
Verſe 5. The Sun alſo ariſeth, and the Sun goeth down, and haſteth to the place where he aroſe.
Verſe 6. The wind goeth toward the South, and turneth about unto the North, it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
Verſe 7. All the Rivers run into the Sea, yet the Sea is not full.
And ſo it may be ſaid of all the comforts of this world, they are very unſtable; yea man himſelf he is full of inſtability, he never continues in one ſtay, even the beſt of men; ſomtimes he is up, and ſomtimes down; abundance of inſtability in their ſpirits and converſations, in their comforts and enjoyments; in every thing like to the wave… of the Sea.
Thirdly, The Sea is a Raging enemy, it is full of rage; they that are upon the ſea, they meet with nothing but toſſing up and down: What a mighty combuſtion is there in the waves of the Sea, eſpecially when the four winds do riſe upon it? O how troubleſome is the Sea then? Pſal. 107. 26, 27.
Verſe 26. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths, their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble.
Verſe 27. They reel to and fro, and ſtagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end.
Truly thus it is with the ſtate of God's people while in the earth, it is their portion to be toſſed up and down, even as upon the waves of the Sea. Joh cries out of his toſſings to and fro, Job 7. 4. When I lie down, I ſay, When ſhall I ariſe, and the night be gone? And I am full of toſſings to and fro unto the dawning of the day: O what perplexities do God's people meet withal both in their outward and inward man, ſomtimes lifted up, and ſomtimes caſt down? Thou haſt lifted me up (ſaith David) and cast me down, Pſal. 102. 10. So Jonah, he was lifted up, he had communion with God, and by and by caſt down into the bottome of the Sea. O what a raging enemy is the Sea, when the four winds ſtrive upon it? Truly there are dangerous winds that do ſtir up the rage of this Sea, and make this world ſo boiſterous to God's own people: The devil raiſeth a wind, yea ſomtimes all the four winds ſtrive together; temptations of all ſorts, as Chriſt was exerciſed with, ſo are the people of God: The devil raiſeth many a croſs wind to drive them back again, that if poſſible, they might not look toward God and Chriſt: And there are winds that do ariſe out of their own bowels, many times the wind of manifold corruptions diſturb, the wind of paſſion, the wind of pride, the wind of vanity, the wind of unbelief; and O what diſturbances do theſe winds make that do ariſe out of their own bowels? There is ſuch a combuſtion, that the poor ſoul is forced to run to Chriſt, and cry out, O Lord, rebuke theſe diſturbers: And if Chriſt ſhould not ariſe to rebuke them, the ſoul would be over-…et by them; ſuch is the rage of this Sea when the winds ſtrive upon it.
Fourthly, The Sea is full of ſands, and dangerous ſplitting Rocks. Truly ſo is this world, there is the rock of perſecution, and many a goodly ſhip is ſplit upon that rock; there is the rock of offences, many are offended at the ways of Chriſt, and offended at the people of Chriſt, and ſo ſplit upon that rock.
This world is full of rocks, and full of Sands; it is true, if Chriſt be in the ſhip, the paſſengers ſhall not be loſt, though the ſhip may be ſplit, and all the burden of the ſhip may be loft. The Saints that have been ſplit upon the rock of perſecution, they have loſt all their comforts, and their lives too (for the Name of Chriſt) in the Sea of this world; but though they have loſt their ſhip, the body, and all their loading, yet their ſouls have been ſaved, and are arrived ſafe in heaven.
Fiftly, The Sea is full of Pyrats and Robbers: The world is not without theſe dangers to God's own people; there are many robbers that lye in wait to rob and take away all their loading; the devil lies in wait to take away from the people of God all their precious loading that they have been trading for, but they ſhall carry it home to heaven in ſpite of all the devils in hell; yea, their own hearts are robbers and pyrats, & a man's own heart will do him more hurt then all his enemies beſide, a vain heart, a worldly heart, a frothy heart, an unbelieving heart, theſe would rob us of all our comforts whatſoever, and take away all the loading that is …ecious; but the Lord Jeſus he is Commander of the Sea, and he is nigh with a Convoy, and he will guard every believing ſoul through all theſe robbers, and carry them ſafe to heaven.
Sixtly, The waters of the Sea are very ſalt and brackiſh, no man can drink the Sea water without prejudice: Even ſo is this world, and the comforts of it, they are all ſalt and bitter, and it is not poſſible that they ſhould ſatisfie and quench the thirſt of any poor ſoul. How many men do deceive themſelves, they think that the world ſhould ſatisfie their deſire, and therefore their deſires are ſo eager after the world, but they ſhall finde another day that they are in an error; the waters of the Sea cannot quench their thirſt; a gracious heart will ſay ſo, and he knows it by experience, that it is better for him to drink of the waters of life; and therefore he cries out, Lord, theſe are all ſour waters, yea the beſt comforts have ſome mixture of ſalt and bitterneſs; Lord, give me evermore to drink of thoſe waters of life that run at thy right hand for evermore: It is true the men of this world that know no better, they drink freely of this ſalt water, becauſe they know not what ſweet waters are; but that ſoul that hath taſted of the ſweetneſs of Chriſt, and how good the Lord is, that ſoul cannot be ſatisfied with all the comforts of this life, but looks only to Chriſt, that he may ſatisfie his deſire. And ſo you have ſeen in theſe ſix particulars, that this world to a believing ſoul is as the Sea. That's the firſt.
But ſecondly,Every believer is as a ſhip upon the Sea of this World. Every Believer is as a ſhip upon this Sea, they are making of a Voya… over the Sea of this world to the Land of Promiſe, they are ſet forth from the world, and from ſin, and they are bound to the Land of Promiſe; that's the ſtate of every Believer, he is as a ſhip upon the Sea. Indeed Chriſt is the Builder of this ſhip, Chriſt is the Owner of this ſhip, it is Chriſt that lancheth the ſhip, and that loads the ſhip, all the precious Commodities that a believing ſoul is carrying home with him, it is Chriſt's; he hath the great Venture in every believing ſoul, and if it ſhould miſcarry, Chriſt ſhould have the greateſt loſs, for he hath the greateſt Venture in the ſhip; and becauſe the Venture is Chriſts, therefore Chriſt will go Maſter in the ſhip; his preſence ſhall be with his people all the time of their continuance upon the face of this earth, he will not leave them till he hath brought them into the Haven of reſt.
But I ſhall follow the Metaphor in two particulars, briefly thus. Firſt, The Ship at Sea cannot move without a Wind. Secondly, It cannot reſt without an Anchor.
Firſt, A ſhip at ſea cannot move without a wind. Many times it lies a long time for a wind, and when the wind blows, then the ſhip moves, but it cannot move without a wind; and truly ſo it is with the ſouls of God's people, they cannot move without a wind, they are bound for heaven, but they cannot move the leaſt without the ſpirit of of Chriſt, though they have never ſo many opportunities, and never ſo many Ordinances and Promiſes, yet if the Spirit of Chriſt doth not help the ſoul forward, the ſoul is becalmed, and cannot move: It is true, the ſhip at ſea may be ready, they may turn the Sayls to the Windward, but not move till the wind blow; and ſo a believing ſoul may do ſomthing when once the Spirit of Chriſt is in it, the ſoul may ſtand waiting for Chriſt, and be breathing after Chriſt, but till the Spirit of Chriſt ſhall breath upon the ſoul, and fill the ſayls of the ſoul, it is not poſſible that it ſhould rid any way: And therefore the people of God have found, that it hath been for their advantage to cry out for the breathings of the Spirit of Chriſt; ſo the Spouſe in Cant 4. 16. Awake, O Northwind, and come thou South, Blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out. But
Secondly, The ſhip cannot reſt without an Anchor; no more can any poor ſoul reſt without this Anchor of Hope; this anchor of hope is that which ſtayes the ſoul upon God, and keeps up the ſoul that it faint not, and ſink not; It is true indeed (as the Apoſtle ſaith) If our hopes were only in this life, we were of all men moſt miſerable; If we had not a better hope and anchor then the men of this world have, that have only hope for the things of this life. But this ſaving Hope, which is the ſiſter of Faith, that looks to the good things laid up in the Promiſe, it is that which ſtays the ſoul, and keeps it ſafe and ſtedfaſt in the midſt of all ſtorms whatſoever: If a ſhip lye at Anchor, it may ride ſafe at midnight, though never ſo dark; And truly that ſoul that hath caſt anchor upon Chriſt, it may ride ſafe in the darkeſt time, in the ſaddeſt condition that can befal it, while upon the face of the earth, this great Sea; If a ſhip hath a good anchor, ſhe rideth ſafe in the midſt of the greateſt raging ſea, though the winds riſe, though the waves be never ſo high: This anchor of hope it cauſeth a ſoul to ride ſafe in the midſt of all temptations; Hope keeps the heart up, Rom. 5. 2. By whom alſo we have acceſs by faith into this grace wherein we ſtand, and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God.
Verſe 3. And not only ſo, but we glory in tribulations alſo, knowing that tribulation worketh patience.
Verſe 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope.
Becauſe we have this hope, therefore we rejoyce in tribulation, in the midſt of all ſtorms we rejoyce; we can ſing for joy, as Paul and Silas▪ did at midnight, becauſe we have Hope for our anchor, our ſhip ſhall ride ſafe in the midſt of this Sea.
But for Application, briefly.
Firſt of all,Ʋſe 1. It lets us ſee the miſery of all men out of Chriſt; they that are without Chriſt, are without hope; the Apoſtle puts them together, Eph. 2. 12. That at that time ye were without Chriſt, being aliens from the Commonwealth of Iſrael, and ſtrangers from the Covenants of Promiſe; having no hope, and without God in the world. They that have no Intereſt in Chriſt, have no hopes to do their ſouls good another day; they may have the hope of the hypocrite, that is like the ſpiders web that will periſh; but they have no true, ſolid, well-grounded hope.
It is a ſad condition for a ſhip to be at ſea, and have no Anchor; wicked men are at ſea as well as God's people, and if you have no anchor of hope to ſtay your ſouls when ſtorms ſhall ariſe, and the wrath of God ariſe againſt you, how ſad will your conditions be? And truly thus it is with the greateſt part of the men of the world, their condition is ſad, though they do not lay it to heart; their ſhip is at ſea, toſſed up and down, and have no anchor: Every man out of Chriſt, either he hath no hope, no anchor; or ſecondly, If he hath hope, his hope is not ſure and ſtedfaſt, it is no firm hope; or thirdly, his hope is not caſt upon a good ground; and if ſo, it is not poſſible that the ſhip ſhould be ſafe when the ſtorms ariſe; for it is a very rotten place that moſt men out of Chriſt do caſt the anchor of their hopes upon; moſt men caſt their anchor downward, but this anchor of hope muſt be caſt upward; it never takes place when it is caſt downward, it hath no ground to faſten upon.
But when it is caſt within the Vail, it takes hold upon the rock, upon God, and Chriſt, and the Promiſe, that is more ſure then heaven and earth; but moſt men caſt their anchor downward, their hopes is for the things of this life, and that hope will not hold.
And ſome caſt the anchor of their hope upon themſelves, and that is a poor ground to caſt this anchor upon; the anchor of moſt men that live under the Goſpel, that are not brought home to Chriſt, their Anchor is caſt upon themſelves, upon ſome works, ſome duties, ſome performances, upon ſomthing that they have done; truly this is a rotten ground, and this hope will not ſtand you in ſtead: there is no anchor will hold but that which is caſt upward within the Vail, therefore dear friends, I beſeech you examine whether you have that anchor that will hold, have you this hope that is caſt within the Vail? O! that God would cauſe you to look after this hope, you will not truſt your bodies at Sea in a ſhip that hath no anchor, you will ſay it is as much as your lives are worth if a ſtorm ſhould ariſe: Will you not truſt your bodies where there is no anchor, and will you truſt your ſouls where there is no anchor? Yet this is the folly of thouſands, thoſe that are called Profeſſors, they will truſt their ſouls at ſea without an anchor. Alas! What will they do when the ſtorms ſhall ariſe, when, when the wrath of God ſhall ariſe, what will you do? O! that God would cauſe you to come to Chriſt, that you may have this anchor that is ſure and ſtedfaſt. Thats the firſt.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. Let not God's people wonder that they meet with ſtorms, temptations, tryals, and afflictions, and at the rage of men againſt you: Why, you are like a Ship at Sea, and a ſhip at Sea hath prepared for a ſtorme, if the waves do beat upon them, they are prepared for it, they are toſſed up and down the ſea, and yet they hope they ſhall come to land: And therefore you that fear the Lord, do not wonder at your temptations and tryals, and that the wrath of men is againſt you, this is the place for ſtorms, heaven is the place of reſt; the Lord by this would imbitter the world to you, he will make you know that the world is bitter, and that heaven is ſweet; O! How ſweet will heaven be when the ſoul ſhall come out of the midſt of great ſtorms, and dark nights, and many perplexities of ſpirits, many toſſings in their conditions, both outward and inward; the Lord by theſe ſtorms will make heaven very ſweet unto you; heaven is the place of reſt, though this be the place of trouble, and therefore do not wonder at it. That's the ſecond.
Thirdly,Ʋſe 3. What a mercy is it that God's people are kept and preſerved any moment; It is a mercy to be kept at ſea, every man will ſay ſo; but eſpecially to be kept and preſerved when the ſea rages, there is no heart almoſt ſo hard, but will be affected with ſuch a mercy, to be kept in the midſt of a ſtorm, when they expect to make their grave in the deeps, this is a wonder; and O what a mercy is it that God's people are kept in this tempeſtuous world; it is a wonder that your bodies are not broken, and that your ſpirits are not broken, and that your comforts are not broken, when ſo many winds ſtrive upon the face of the earth, this ſea; it is a great mercy to be kept, and therefore acknowledge it to the praiſe of God; it doth appear, and the Lord doth make it evident, that the ſea is before the Throne. If the ſea were not before the Throne of God; God's people ſhould be ſwallowed up every moment, the rage of men and of devils would ſwallow them up; but the ſea is before the Throne, before the eye of God; and therefore wonder that you are ſafe in this raging ſea.
Fourthly,Ʋſe 4. It calls upon you that are the Lord's people to watch and pray, for you are at ſea; he that will not pray in a ſtorm, he will never pray, the worſt of men will pray hard in a ſtorm: The heathen Mariners, Jonah 1. 5. Then the Mariners were afraid, and cryed every man unto his god: therefore there is a Proverb, That men go to Sea to learn to pray: Truly, the Lord ſends his people to ſea for this end, that he might learn you to pray and cry mightily to him; the Saints ſhall not need to pray when they come in heaven, there all their deſires ſhall be ſatisfied, and they ſhall want nothing, and therefore no need to pray: But the Lord he ſends you into the ſea of this world, that he might learn you to pray, and he raiſes many ſtorms for this end, that ſo you might cry mightily to the Lord: The Diſciples when in a ſtorm, they cryed, Lord, ſave us, we periſh: Brethren, you are at ſea, in the midſt of ſtorms, and therefore you had need watch, and pray, and cry mightily, that you may be delivered from temptations, and ſaved in the midſt of your fears, and be delivered from the Rocks, and the Sands, and from Pyrats, & enemies, many dangers you are in, & therefore remember what Chriſt ſaith unto his Diſciples, Watch, and pray, that you enter not into temptation.
Fiftly,Ʋſe 5. Engage the preſence of Chriſt with you: If Chriſt be in the ſhip, all is ſafe; you had need engage the preſence of Chriſt with you every moment, for it is a dangerous ſea you are in, and if Chriſt be not with you, you will be ſplit upon ſome ſand or other; and therefore, O beg the preſence of Chriſt, do not ſet forward in any duty, without the preſence of Chriſt, Do not ſayl one League without the preſence of Chriſt, but urge it before the Lord that you are upon a troubleſome ſea where there are ſo many dangers, and deſire of God that the preſence of Chriſt may be with you; for if Chriſt be with you, all will be ſafe.
Sixtly,Ʋſe 6. You that are the Lord's people, do you open the ſayls of your ſouls to the breathings of the Spirit of Chriſt; If you would make a Voyage to heaven, know that you can do nothing till the Spirit of Chriſt breaths in you; indeed, you may turn the ſayls of your ſouls that way, and be waiting for the Spirit of Chriſt, but till the Spirit breathe in you, you cannot ſayl one League: but O what a comfortable Voyage ſhall you make, when the Spirit of Chriſt ſhall fill your hearts with holy motions, and carry you God-ward, and heaven-ward, therefore wait for thoſe breathings of the Spirit; as the Spouſe in Cant. 4. 16. Awake O North wind, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out. And ſo do you, beg of God that the Spirit of Chriſt may breathe upon you, and fill the ſayls of your ſouls, that you may be carried heaven-ward: Open your ſouls to the breathings of the Spirit of Chriſt, and that is the way to make a comfortable Voyage.
Seventhly,Ʋſe 7. You that are the Lord's people, if you be Chriſts ſhip at Sea, look for good Loading, be not content to go home empty; Chriſtians ſhould labour to be filled with the Spirit, to be loaden with the fruits of Righteouſneſs; this the Lord calls for; truly it is a dangerous Voyage that you make, and therefore you had need be loaden with rich Commodities, you had need ſeek after much of that durable riches that abides for ever; the Lord does not love that the ſhip ſhould come home empty: O that you that fear the Lord would remember that you have but once to paſs over the ſea of this world, and then there is an end for ever, and therefore do not return empty, but O go and beg of the Lord, that he would fill you with the fruits of righteouſneſs, that you may go home loaden with Faith and Righteouſneſs, ſo ſhall you be an honour to God, and there will be much joy in heaven when you come home.
Eightly,Ʋſe 8. It is a word of much comfort to thoſe that fear the Lord, and have an Intereſt in Chriſt; know, though you be at ſea, and meet with many ſtorms, yet you need not fear, you have an Anchor that will hold, it being caſt upon a ſure ground, your Anchor it is entred, it is faſtned upon the Father's free grace, and the Son's everlaſting Righteouſneſs, which is ſure and ſtedfaſt; and if ſo, do not fear though ſtorms ariſe, it ſhall go well with you, for Chriſt is the owner of the ſhip, and he will go Maſter in the ſhip, and ſo long as the preſence of Chriſt is with you, you may be comforted, what-ever you meet with. If Chriſt be in the ſhip, he will rebuke the wind and the waves, yea he will tread upon the proud boiſterous waves that his people meet with; yea, and he will make his people alſo to tread upon them too; and therefore fear not, for Chriſt is the Maſter of the ſhip, he is with you, the Loading alſo is Chriſt's and (as I ſaid before) you need not fear ſplitting, and loſing your Loading, for then Chriſt ſhould loſe more then you: If thy ſoul ſhould be loſt at Sea, then Chriſt ſhould loſe his honour, and his honour is more to him, then thy ſoul to thee; and therefore let all Gods people be comforted in the midſt of all ſtorms, and tryals, perſecutions, afflictions, and ſufferings; though this world be a Sea, and an evil ſea, a troubleſome ſea, yet be comforted; for though the ſhip of the body may be ſplit, and all your outward Loading may be loſt, yet ſo long as Chriſt is the Owner of the ſhip, ſo long as Chriſt is in the ſhip, ſo long as the Anchor of the ſhip is caſt in heaven, there is not one paſſenger ſhall be loſt; for though the outward man be loſt, yet the ſoul ſhall be ſaved in the day of Chriſt.
I now come to conſider what is the Uſe and the Excellency of this Grace of Hope. It is an Anchor ſure and ſtedfaſt, though it is not alwayes ſure to ſenſe, not alwayes ſure in apprehenſion. The hope of the Saints may have its ſhakings, and it may ſeem ſometimes to be cut off in their apprehenſions, but it is ſure and ſtedfaſt in reſpect of the ground of it, in reſpect of that ſure hold it hath upon God and Chriſt, it hath ſure hold upon that which is within the Vail. And it is ſure in reſpect of the event of it; The Event and Iſſue of a Believers hope is alwayes ſure, it can no more be diſappointed of his hope, then the foundation of his hope (which is Chriſt) can be overturned; but that which a believing ſoul hath in hope, it is as ſure as if he had it in hand already. Lo, This is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us, ſaith the Church.
The Doctrine then is this, That the beleiving ſoul hath Hope for a ſure and ſtedfaſt Anchor.Doctr. 2.
Or thus, This Grace of Hope it is a ſure and ſtedfaſt Anchor to every believing heart.
It is plain in the Text, Which hope we have as an Anchor both ſure and ſtedfaſt.
In the handling of this Point, I ſhall ſhew you, Firſt, What this Hope is.
Secondly, Make it out to you, That this Hope is the ſouls Anchor.
Thirdly, That this Anchor of the ſoul is ſure and ſtedfaſt. And that will make way for Application.
Firſt of all, Our work is to enquire, What this Hope is. You may take this deſcription of it.
It is the work of the ſpirit of Chriſt upon the heart, whereby it is raiſed in expectation of thoſe good things that faith believes, and which God hath promiſed.
We ſhall open the parts of it, that we may come to know what this ſaving Hope is, that is the Anchor of a believing ſoul.
And firſt of all you have the efficient cauſe of this hope,The efficient cauſe of true hope is God. and that is the Spirit of Christ, it is not all the world that can raiſe a poor dejected heart to hope in God, it is not all the comforts of the world, nor comforters in the world, that can make any poor drooping heart to caſt this Anchor of Hope in heaven; and therefore when the Apoſtle doth deſcribe the condition of Natural men, he ſaith of them, That they are without God, without Christ, and without Hope. This is the ſtate of every man by Nature, he hath not the leaſt dram of ſaving hope, till the Spirit of Chriſt come… to work upon the heart. And therefore God is called the God of Hope, Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghoſt. Here you ſee the efficient cauſe, it is the work of God to raiſe up the heart to hope in himſelf, and it is the Spirit of Chriſt that muſt cauſe the ſoul to abound in hope; That you may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghoſt. And in Pſal. 22. ſpeaking there in the perſon of Chriſt, he confeſſeth that it was his Father that did cauſe him to hope, Pſal. 22. 9. But thou art he that took me out of the womb, thou didſt make me hope when I was upon my mothers breaſts. It was thou Lord that didſt cauſe me to hope. God only is the efficient cauſe.
Secondly,The formal cauſe of hope. For the Formal Cauſe of this Hope, we ſaid it is an Expectation of the ſoul, it takes its riſe from faith, what faith believeth, that hope expects, and waits upon God for the fulfilling of; It is an Expectation of the heart.
Now this Expectation it is, Firſt, A patient Expectation.
Secondly, An ardent Expectation.
Thirdly, A confident Expectation. All which do expreſs the Nature of ſaving Hope.
Firſt of all, It is a Patient Expectation, it cauſeth the ſoul to wait patiently for the fulfilling of the Promiſe, to ſit down at the feet of Chriſt, and wait, even all its dayes, for the fulfilling of the Promiſe; and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 10. 36. For you have need of patience, that after you have done the Will of God, you may inherit the Promiſe. As if he ſhould ſay, your hope will not hold out, if you have not patience, God hath given you a promiſe, but God doth not preſently fulfil the promiſe; and therefore that you may hope till the Promiſe be fulfilled, you have need of patience; and truly, Hope is nothing elſe but Patience lengthned out. It is a patient Expectation. Secondly, It is an Ardent Expectation; What the believing ſoul doth hope for, it is earneſtly carried out after; it is ſuch an expectation as doth make the ſoul exceedingly Intent, and cauſe it to look every way, round about, for the fulfilling of that which it hopes for; it is an earneſt expectation: The Apoſtle ſpeaks in Rom. 8. 19, 20, 21.
Verſe 19. For the earneſt expectation of the creature, waiteth for the manifeſtation of the ſons of God.
Verſe 20. For the creature was made ſubject to vanity, not willingly, but by reaſon of him who hath ſubjected the ſame in hope.
Verſe 21. Becauſe the creature alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
The whole creation hath a hope to be delivered from that bondage which the ſin of man brought upon it; and becauſe there is a hope, there is an earneſt expectation, and the earneſt expectation waiteth for the manifeſtation of the ſons of God. And truly where there is ſaving hope, it will cauſe the ſoul to look after the fulfilling of the Promiſe, it waits earneſtly, and groans earneſtly for the fulfilling of thoſe Promiſes that it waits for: It is an ardent expectation.
Thirdly, It is a Confident Expectation; though indeed it is true, the hope of the beſt Saints may flag, yet when hope doth work like it ſelf, and act like it ſelf, it acts confidently; it is accompanied with holy confidence and boldneſs toward God; when hope is ſtrengthned, then it acts confidently, and confidence is nothing elſe then hope ſtrengthned; That is the ſecond particular. You have ſeen the efficient and formal cauſe of this hope.
Thirdly,What is the object of hope. What is the Object of this Hope? I told you that it was an expectation of thoſe good things that God hath promiſed; what God hath promiſed, that hope looks for the fulfilling of, all outward comforts that are needful refreſhments in their way; (Protection, Deliverance, Aſſiſtance, the Increaſe of Grace, and the Carrying on of the work of God in the heart) what-ever is laid up in the Promiſe, that hope waits for the fulfilling of; but more eſpecially, the Object of a Believers hope it is Eternal Life, Tit. 1. 2. In hope of Eternal Life, which God that cannot lye, promiſed before the world began. And in Tit. 3. 7. That being juſtified by his grace, we ſhould be made Heirs, according to the hope of Eternal Life. So that Eternal life is the Object of a Believers hope.
Fourthly,The Concomitant of hope. We have the concomitant of Hope, and that is Faith; It is an expectation of thoſe good things which faith believes that God hath promiſed; ſo you ſee how Hope ſtands towards Faith, they are twins, as it were, they are born and brought forth together; Faith is the Elder ſiſter, faith believes that the promiſe is true, and hope looks for the fulfilling of the Promiſe, becauſe faith believes it; They grow up together, they are nouriſhed together, and they flouriſh together, and they languiſh together; when faith is ſick, hope is infirm, and when faith is lively, hope is active; yea, they will expire together: when a believing ſoul ſhall come into the boſome of Chriſt, no need of faith and hope. Faith that looks to the truth of the promiſe, and hope looks to the good of the promiſe, that is the difference between faith and hope; Faith cloſes with the Promiſe becauſe it is true, and Hope that cleaves to it, and expects the fulfilling of it, becauſe it is a ſutable good which God hath promiſed; ſo that by the opening of this deſcription of hope, you may in part ſee what that hope is which will be as an Anchor to a man's ſoul; That's the firſt particular.
But ſecondly, I ſhall make it out unto you, that this hope is the Anchor of the ſoul; and I ſhall ſhew you that it is of the ſame uſe to the ſoul that the Anchor is to the ſhip.
Firſt of all, The Anchor is uſeful in time of ſtorms, the Anchor doth keep the ſhip from being driven up and down with various winds; if it were not for the Anchor, the ſhip would ſomtimes be carried back again after it hath gone a great way in its Voyage: of the ſame uſe is Hope to a believing ſoul, it is exceeding uſeful in time of temptation, when contrary winds blow, even ſuch winds as would drive the ſoul back again, if it were not for the Anchor of Hope: It is ſaid of Chriſt, That for the joy that was ſet before him, he endured the Croſs, deſpiſed the ſhame; and that we bear up againſt the ſtrong winds of temptation, and againſt all the diſcouragements that we meet with, it is by this Anchor of Hope; if it were not for the hope of joy and glory in heaven, it were not poſſible that a ſoul ſhould bear up againſt ſo many winds of temptation.
Secondly, The Anchor keeps the ſhip from toſſing: When the waves roar, the Anchor is then exceeding uſeful, it keeps the ſhip from being removed; for though it may be moved, yet not removed, becauſe the Anchor is ſure; though the waves riſe never ſo high, and be never ſo boiſterous, yet if they caſt Anchor, the Mariners lay them down to ſleep, they are ſecure, becauſe they have caſt Anchor. And of that uſe is this Grace of hope to a believing ſoul, the waves many times riſe high, afflictions, perſecutions, David complains of it, Pſal. 38. 12. They alſo that ſeek after my life, lay ſnares for me; and they that ſeek my hurt, ſpeak miſchievous things, and imagine deceit all the day long.
Verſe 13. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
Verſe 15. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope, Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. I was not moved by this (ſaith he) I caſt anchor in thee, O Lord In thee O Lord, do I hope, thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God: He caſt Anchor in God, and then he lies down and reſts: And ſo in Pſal. 42. There were many waves that did riſe very high in his own ſpirit, and what doth he do? Why, he caſts anchor in God, as in verſe 11. Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul? And why art thou diſquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God▪ Hope ſtill in God, caſt thy Anchor there, and then reſt, for I ſhall yet ſee the time to praiſe him, I ſhall overcome all ſtorms, and ſhall live to ſee a c…lm and therefore O my ſoul caſt anchor in God, hope thou in God.
Thirdly, The Anchor keeps the ſhip from ſplitting many times upon the ſands and rocks; when they are very neer danger, almoſt running upon a rock, the caſting out of an Anchor ſomtimes doth deliver them. Hope is of the ſame uſe to a believing ſoul, it keeps the poor ſoul from ſplitting upon many diſcouraging rocks that are in the way to heaven, Pſal. 27. 13. I had fainted, unleſs I had believed to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the Land of the living: If it had not been for the Anchor of hope, I had ſplit, I had fainted, and my ſoul had been ſplit, but I believed to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the land of the living; the anchor of hope, it is that which keeps the ſoul from ſplitting upon the rocks.
Fourthly, The anchor keeps the ſhip cloſe to the place where the Anchor is caſt, that it ſhall not be removed far from that place; ſo the grace of hope in this reſpect is alſo uſeful, it keeps the heart cloſe to God and Chriſt, that is the benefit of this anchor of hope: the men of the world that have not hope in Chriſt, they live at a great diſtance from God and Chriſt, they dwell at a great diſtance from heaven, they are far from God; God is not in all their thoughts, becauſe they have not this Anchor of hope; if the anchor of their hope were caſt in heaven, it were not poſſible that their ſouls ſhould be at a diſtance from God; the more there is hope, the more nigher God; it is want of this lively hope that men are ſo far from God. That's the fourth.
Fiftly, The Anchor is made ſure by a Cable that is faſtned to it; and ſo the hope of a believing ſoul will do no good without a Cable, now this Cable it is the word of Promiſe, it is the ſure word of the Lord that keeps the ſoul faſt. If a Ship have a hundred anchors at Sea, if they be not faſtned to a Cable, they will do no good: and truly ſo is hope if it hath not a Cable; if men pretend to have hope, and that hope not faſtned upon the word of the Lord, ſo faſt as it is caſt, it will be loſt. But the hope of a believing ſoul is faſtned upon the word of the Lord, the promiſe of the Lord, and therefore it will hold.
Sixtly, The Sea-man caſts his Anchor at a venture, he doth not know whether his anchor will reach the bottome or no, he doth not know whether his Cable be long enough, or whether his anchor will take hold or no, and he doth not know whether his anchor will hold when it hath taken hold, yet notwithſtanding all, he makes a venture when he hath need to caſt his anchor: and ſo it is with a believing ſoul, when a ſoul comes firſt to God, he makes a deſperate venture, he ſees his faith is weak, and his hope weak, and he doth not know whether it will take hold of the rock or no, will not my expectation fail? All this is objected, but the believing ſoul makes a venture, faith is given, and it makes a venture, he ſees that there lies a neceſſity upon it, if I do not caſt anchor, I periſh, the winds blow hard, and I ſee a rock before me, a gulf, and if I do not caſt anchor, I periſh, and if I caſt anchor, it may be my anchor will hold, I have an invitation to it; Who is among you that walketh in darkneſs, and ſees no light, let him truſt in the Lord, and ſtay upon his God, Iſa. 50. 10. though it be in a ſtorm at midnight; let him caſt anchor upon me (ſaith God) let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God; this the poor ſoul hears, and being encouraged by the Word of the Lord, it caſt anchor, and makes a deſperate venture. That's the ſixt.
Seventhly, The anchor is uſeful, not only in a ſtorm, but the anchor is uſeful in a calm, when the ſhip at Sea is be calmed, and cannot ſayl, they caſt anchor; and ſo this anchor of hope it is needful in a calm, for if it were not for this anchor of hope, a believing ſoul could not have any ſettlement in a calm, though a man hath never ſo much for the preſent, if he hath not hopes that his goods ſhall be increaſed, his heart will be diſquieted; and ſo hope is uſeful in the greateſt calm, to hope that the preſent good that they have ſhall not be loſt, that that meaſure of grace and ſpirit that the Lord hath given them, ſhall be carried on from one degree to another, till he hath perfected it; if it were not for this, the heart could not have any peace in the greateſt of his enjoyments. And thus you have ſeen the ſecond particular.
Firſt, I have ſhewn you what ſaving hope is.
Secondly, That this ſaving hope is the Anchor of the ſoul.
The third and laſt particular is,The anchor of a believing ſoul is ſure and ſtedfaſt. To ſhew you that this anchor of a believing ſoul is ſure and ſtedfaſt: And it will appear in theſe few particulars.
Firſt, It is made of good mettle, it is that which will not bow nor break, it is not as the hope of an hypocrite; the hope of an hypocrite is compared to a ſpiders web, that breaks preſently; the ſpiders web it is a poor thing to hold a ſhip faſt in a ſtorm; but this ſaving Hope that the Spirit of Chriſt doth work in the heart of believers, it is made of good mettle, it was not digged out of their own bowels, but fetcht from Chriſt, it is Chriſt that is the ſtore-houſe of all grace, it is made of gold, of tryed gold, Their faith is more precious then gold, ſaith the Apoſtle, and ſo their hope is more precious then gold, and more firm and ſolid then gold, the matter of it is ſure and ſtedfaſt.
Secondly, It is well wrought, and therefore it muſt needs be ſure and ſtedfaſt, for it is an anchor of Chriſt's own working; The God of hope ſill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 15. 13. and ſaith the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead: The hope of the Saints it is a grace that is of God's own begetting, it is an anchor of Chriſt's own making, and that which comes out of the hand of Chriſt, muſt needs be ſure and ſtedfaſt.
Thirdly, It is ſure and ſtedfaſt, for the Cable that holds it is ſure and ſtedfaſt, and that is the Word of the Lord; now the Word of the Lord, which is the Cable that a believers hope is faſtned unto, it is twiſted of many precious promiſes, all being twiſted together, muſt needs be ſtrong, the leaſt of them is ſtronger then heaven and earth; Heaven and earth ſhall paſs, but not one jot or tittle of the word of the Lord ſhall fail, till all be fulfilled. The promiſes they are the cable which a believing ſouls anchor is faſtned unto, and therefore it is ſure and ſtedfaſt.
Fourthly, It is caſt upon a ſure ground. What is the ground that a believers hope is caſt upon. I anſwer,
Firſt,The ground that a believers hope is faſtned upon. It is faſtned upon Jeſus Chriſt; firſt, upon Chriſt crucified, upon the death of Christ, upon the ſufferings of Chriſt, by which Chriſt hath made ſatisfaction for ſin, and brought in everlaſting righteouſneſs, to cover the nakedneſs of poor creatures, their love is faſtned upon the wounds of Chriſt, the ſufferings of Chriſt. That's the firſt ground for a believers hope to faſten upon.
Secondly, The Anchor of a believers hope it faſtens upon the Reſurrection of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1. 3. Bleſſed be God that hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt; that is a main ground for hope to faſten upon, the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, the poor ſoul looks to Chriſt, Chriſt dead and riſen, and in that Chriſt roſe from the grave, he hath given full ſatisfaction to his Father, he hath paid the debt, and is a common perſon for his people, that come to him by faith; ſo that the reſurrection of Chriſt doth ſtrengthen the faith of the ſoul exceedingly, it gives the ſoul aſſurance that it ſhall be accepted with God the Father, becauſe Chriſt is riſen again.
Thirdly, It faſtens alſo upon the Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt. He is able to ſave to the utmoſt all that come to God by him, for he ever liveth to make Interceſſion for them. Now this gives great encouragement to a poor ſoul that is made ſenſible of his own loſt condition, of being far off from God, it would fain draw nigh, and know not which way to come; when this is diſcovered, that Chriſt ſits in heaven to plead for poor ſouls, and to make Interceſſion for all that come to God by him, this cauſes the ſoul to give a venture to faſten upon Chriſt.
Secondly, As the ſoul faſtens upon Chriſt, ſo alſo it faſtens upon God the Father by Chriſt, it goes to the Fathers, and takes hold of him. Firſt, It faſtens upon the free Grace of the Father, that infinite everlaſting love which did finde out the way of Redemption for poor creatures, that love which gave Chriſt at firſt, and which gives poor creatures to Chriſt, and which tenders Chriſt in the everlaſting Goſpel, there the anchor of hope takes hold. Secondly, Hope takes hold of the ſtrength of God: He is a God mighty in ſtrength, he can overcome all difficulties, all enemies that are betwixt him and my ſoul, he can overcome all my unworthineſs, all my provocations, yea he can overcome himſelf, his own wrath and diſpleaſure, that which no creature can do; this being preſented to a poor ſoul that is in a ſad doubting condition, this helps (through grace) to draw the ſoul to Chriſt, and to faſten it upon God. Thirdly, It faſtens alſo upon the unchangeableneſs of God, and this gives a ſure hold to the anchor of hope: He is not as man that he ſhould lye; Who is it that hath ſpoken? Who is it that tenders Chriſt to poor creatures? It is not the word of him that is the true and faithful witneſs? Is it not the ſtrength of Iſrael that cannot lye, nor as the ſons of men, that he ſhould repent: Now when the Lord doth thus preſent his Son and Himſelf to a poor ſoul, Chriſt in his death, his reſurrection, aſcention, his interceſſion, and his own free grace and love, his ſtrength, his faithfulneſs, this becomes a ſure ground for hope to faſten upon, and ſo you have ſeen the third thing handled.
A word of Application and I have done.
Firſt of all,Ʋſe 1. It lets us ſee the ſad condition of all men that are without Hope, you will ſay they are in a ſad condition that are at ſea without an anchor, and truly this is the condition of many men, they are in a ſad condition, for they are without hope; and O that men would now lay it to heart to ſee what a ſad condition they are in without this anchor of ſaving Hope, you that are without hope, it is not poſſible you ſhould ſtand in a ſtorm, however you may be quiet in a calm, it is not poſſible that you ſhould bear up in time of ſtorm, and therefore though men may ſeem to look towards God, and ſeem to make a progreſs in God's wayes, if there be not an anchor of Hope, they will be driven back again, croſs winds will ariſe at ſea, and if you have not this anchor of hope in Chriſt, and in the Father's free grace, they will be driven back again, without hope it is not poſſible you ſhould be neer unto God, and keep nigh unto God; and what a miſerable condition is it to be without God in the world? Truly, ſo long as you are without true ſaving hope, you are without God in the world; ſo long as … are without hope, they are in a heartleſs and liſtleſs condition, where there is no hope, there is no endeavour; What is the reaſon that men are ſo ſlothful in looking after God? It is becauſe that their hearts are not eſtabliſhed by hope in Chriſt, and in the Fathers free grace; where there is no hope, there can be no right endeavour; if hope fail, all endeavours fail.
Nay further, while men are without hope, they muſt needs be in a ſinful polluted condition, for it is hope that purgeth the ſoul, and purifieth the heart; Having this hope, let us cleanſe our ſelves, and he that hath this hope, he is pure, even as he is pure; he looks after purity, as God is pure: that men go on to defile themſelves, and to work all manner of iniquity, it is becauſe that they have no true hope toward God: Truly this doth diſcover that many men have no hope in God, becauſe they live at ſuch a diſtance from God, and are not kept cloſe to God; nay, they are contented to live at a diſtance from God, and will not endeavour ſeeking after Chriſt: Wherefore I beſeech you think upon it, what a ſad condition it is to be at Sea without an anchor, your hearts would melt within you to ſee a ſhip driven with ſtorms upon the rocks, and no anchor to caſt out; yet this is the condition of many thouſands in the world, they are at ſea, and ready to ſplit upon the rocks, and no anchor of hope; O that the Lord would make many a heart ſenſible of it.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. As it is ſad to be without hope, ſo it is more ſad to have a deceitful hope; for the diſappointment of hope is the greateſt torment that can befal a poor creature; better never to have hope, then to have hope fruſtrated, to be diſappointed; the diſappointment of hope proves ſhame and confuſion of face to men, Job 6. 20. they were confounded becauſe they had hoped, they came thither, and were aſhamed, they were deceived of their expectation, and were confounded. Better never to have hope, then to be diſappointed of your hope: and in Job 11. 20. the hope of a wicked man ſhall be as the giving up of the Ghoſt, it ſhall be gone in a moment; as a man in one moment he breaths forth his ſpirit, and gives up the ghoſt, ſo the hope of a wicked man ſoon periſheth. Now look to your hope, that you may not have ſuch hope as will be like the giving up of the ghoſt, examine your hope, ſee whether it be ſuch hope as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of, that will be as an anchor to the ſoul, both ſure and ſtedfaſt; whence did your hope ariſe, I pray examine that, whether it was from your ſelves, or from Chriſt; if your hope be from any thing in your ſelves, it is hope that will not hold, it is not ſure and ſtedfaſt; examine what was the efficient cauſe of your hope, how was this hope begotten in you? Did you ſee that it was out of the hand of Chriſt, and that it was begotten in you by the mighty power of God? Did the Lord cauſe you to ſee that it was not poſſible that you ſhould create hope in your ſelves, til Chriſt come & beget hope in you? Know certainly, if it were not a hope of Chriſt's begetting, it is an anchor that will not hold. Again, examine what it was that faſtned your hope, Was it the word of the Lord that made you to hope, the ſure word of promiſe? Was it the word of man, or the word of the Lord, if it were any thing but the word of the Lord that made you to hope, your hope will not hold. Examine alſo upon what ground your hope is caſt, Is it caſt upon the arm of fleſh, or upon the arm of the Lord; what-ever hope is caſt upon the arm of fleſh will not hold. Examine alſo whether your hope be caſt upon the free grace of God, or upon the things of the world, your proſperity in the world, there are thouſands in the world that caſt the anchor of their hope upon the mammon of this world, becauſe God hath proſpered them in the world, and given them abundance of theſe outward good things, therefore they hope that God loveth them, and will give them another world; but if your anchor of hope be caſt upon your gold, or your great eſtate, and not-upon the free grace of God, it will deceive you. Upon whatſoever it be caſt beſide God and Chriſt, it will not hold; if it be caſt upon your duties, your deſires, and good meanings, and endeavours, your prayers, and tears, your charity, if the anchor of your hope be caſt upon theſe, it will not hold; yea, if it be caſt upon your graces, your hope will not hold: for whatſoever is made the ground of hope beſide Chriſt, is the arm of fleſh, even grace, and the actings of grace in the ſoul, they become fleſh, if made the ground of our hope. Now I beſeech you look to your hope, for certainly the hope of moſt men is not of the right ſtamp, what-ever they pretend: How do many deceive themſelves, God is not in all their thoughts, nor in any of their wayes, and yet have hope toward God. You ſay you have hope in God, and yet your hope doth not purifie your hearts, but as wicked as ever, walking in the wayes of your own heart, and ſatisfying your own luſts, what-ever theſe men pretend, they have not hope of the right ſtamp, their hope is but as the ſpiders web, or as the giving up of the ghoſt.
Thirdly,Ʋſe 3. Let me exhort you all to look after this ſaving lively hope, for it is that which will keep your hearts from breaking in the evil time, at one time or other the heart will break, if men have not this ſaving hope; therefore ſeek after this ſaving hope, for it will keep you up in the midſt of ſtorms, in the midſt of evils, and eſtabliſh you in the midſt of good, it will do you good in a ſtorm, and it will be uſeful to you in a calm; you can never take comfort in the good things you enjoy, and your hearts cannot be eſtabliſhed in peace, if not grounded in hope; therefore look after this lively hope, this anchor of the ſoul; yea ſoul, wouldſt thou dwell with God, and live neer God, and live upon him continually? O then caſt the anchor of your hope in God, true hope will hold your ſouls cloſe to him, that you ſhall not depart from him. Yea, would you have your hearts made more holy, purified, and ſanctified, and get victory over your corruptions? O then ſeek after this ſaving hope; for that man that hath his hope caſt on God, and Chriſt, that man is moſt free from corruption, and moſt active for God; true hope it will make you able to ſuffer, it will make you able to rejoyce in tribulation; why now, doſt thou deſire all this? why then ſeek after this lively hope.
But it may be you will ſay unto me, how ſhall we obtain this hope? I ſee it is exceeding uſeful, and of abſolute neceſſity, how ſhall we come by it? where ſhall we have this anchor to ſtay our ſouls?
For anſwer.How to obtain true hope. Firſt, Look to the free grace of God in Chriſt for it, 'tis he that doth beget this grace of hope in his people; look to thoſe tenders that free grace makes▪ God holds forth his ſelf, and Son, and pardon, and life to poor creatures; Free grace makes a render of all this unto you, and therefore look to this free grace, that ſo you may have that hope which ſhall not be confounded and aſhamed.
Secondly, Look to Chriſt for it eſpecially, look to the reſurrection of Chriſt; that place 1 Pet. 1. 3. Bleſſed be God, and the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead. Chriſt is riſen from the dead, he hath paid the debt, and brought in everlaſting righteouſneſs, and therefore look to the reſurrection of Chriſt, for by eying that, this lively hope may be begotten in you.
Thirdly, Look to the promiſe, to the word of the Lord; the word of the Lord is written that you might have hope, Rom. 15. 4. For whatſoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The Scripture is written that we might believe, and in believing might have eternal life, and therefore conſult with the word of the Lord. You that deſire to have hope ſtrengthned, look to the word and promiſes, and behold the freeneſs of them, and the unchangeableneſs of God in them. O ſtudy the Scripture much, and beg that the Spirit of the Lord may ſhine in them, and give you a ſight in them, and ſo this hope may be begotten in you.
Fourthly, Look to thoſe patterns and examples of free grace that the Lord ſet forth for you to look upon; the Apoſtle Paul, 1 Tim. 1. 16. ſaith, He was a pattern to them which ſhould hereafter believe on him to life everlaſting: That the Lord ſhould reconcile ſuch an enemy, and ſet his love upon him that was injurious to the Saints, one that thought he had ſinned ſo much as that he had outſinned mercy, yet ſaith he, I obtained grace, that might be a pattern of mercy; and therefore look to thoſe patterns of grace and mercy that the Lord hath ſet forth before you, that ſo you may be encouraged to come and hope in his mercy.
And to conclude all, do not go on deſperately any longer, and do not ſay as they ſaid, Jer. 2. 25. But thou ſaidſt there is no hope; No, for I have loved ſtrangers, and after them will I go. They reſolved to go on in the imaginations of their own heart, they ſaid there was no hope, and they would do evil as they had done. O let not this be the reſolution of any poor ſoul, for though you have no hope for the preſent, you are invited to come to Chriſt that you may have hope; The word of the Lord is come to you that you might have hope, and thoſe patterns of free grace are ſet before you, that you might have hope. O that the Lord would make you more intent in your ſpirits, in looking after this anchor of hope; What will you do another day, when ſtorms ariſe, and to have no anchor? It will be a moſt ſad condition for a poor ſoul, to ſee it ſelf ready to ſplit, and to have no hope, no anchor to ſtay upon. O! who would venture to Sea without an anchor? If you have no anchor when ſtorms ariſe, you will be at your wits end. O that God betimes (before it be too late) would make you as wiſe for your ſouls, as you would be for your bodies.
FINIS.
End of the text · Timothy Armitage, A Trial of Faith (1661)