The Christian Temper, Discourse 9
OF A Lively Hope.
ROM. 12.12.
Rejoycing in Hope.
TO go on to the Trial of all other Chriſtian Vertues, (might upon ſome accounts) croſs my deſign in what is Written, which is, to help and direct ordinary Chriſtians in the Trial, and exerciſe of Grace, even ſuch as cannot purchaſe, or have not time to peruſe large Volums.
I have ſpoken of the chief Cardinal Graces, and ſhewed how they work, how they may be known. Prove theſe in your ſelves, and there is no queſtion, but you have the whole Train of thoſe better things, that neceſſarily accompany Salvation. As without theſe, any other Vertues you may ſeem to have, as Temperance, Patience, Meekneſs, &c. are but Shadows, and Counterfeits: So that I might make a Full-ſtop at what is Written.
Yet becauſe many are kept off from any ſerious examination of their Eſtates, ſatisfying themſelves with this, That they have Hopes; and ſome, That they have Joys too; never enquiring, How they came by them, or of what kind they are: Therefore before I conclude this Treatiſe, I ſhall ſhew you how you may know, whether your Hope, and Joy be ſound or no.
And firſt of Hope. —
But let me premiſe theſe Three Things.
1. It is unqueſtionable, that there is a falſe, a deceiving Hope, as well as a true, and certain Hope. There is a dead Hope, as well as a lively Hope. There is a confounding Hope, as well as an Hope that maketh not aſhamed. There is the Hope of the Hypocrite, (Job 8.13.) as well as the Hope of the Righteous, (Prov. 10.28.)
2. Better no Hopes, than falſe Hopes. As we may allude to that, Prov. 26.12. Seeſt thou a Man wiſe in his own conceit? There is more hope of a Fool than of him. So there is more Hope of Sinners that are moſt deſpondent, in one ſenſe without Hope; than of ſuch as are very confident, high in their Hopes, but without any ground. And how ſad is it (as I remember one ſays) to ſail on ſmoothly to Hell, having Heaven all the while in view? Hope, that is like to end in horrour and utter deſperation, is not worth having.
3. It is juſtly to be ſuſpected, that their Hopes are groundleſs, and falſe, who are unwilling to bring them to the Teſt, and Trial. That part of a Man's Body which he could not endure to have touched, we would conclude not right, or ſound. But if your Hope be right, it would not ſuffer any injury, or damage, by a fair impartial Trial, but be more confirmed.
Now if you ask, What is Chriſtian Hope? I anſwer, It is a longing, and fiducial expectation of Good promiſed, to come in God's Time, and Way. Faith and Hope are very near akin. Yet thus they differ.
1. In Order. Faith in order of nature is before Hope. Hope is the Daughter, at leaſt the youngeſt Siſter of Faith.
2. In the Object. Faith has reſpect to the whole Word of God: Hope to the Word of Promiſe. Good only is the object of Hope. And Future Good, Quod ſperatur, non poſſidetur.good to be received and enjoyed, Rom. 8.24. Or if I may be ſaid to hope, that I am in a ſtate of Grace, that my Sins are pardoned, which is hope of a preſent Good, if my Hope be ſound; or if I ſay, I hope God heard my prayer at ſuch a time, and gave in ſuch a Mercy in anſwer to it; here ſeems to be Hope of a thing paſt. Here the word [Hope] ſeems to be uſed more improperly, or taken more largely. It is more properly, a Perſwaſion, though ſhort of full Perſwaſion, or Aſſurance. But properly Hope looks at Good to come. Whereas what is paſt may be the object of Faith, as well as what is to come. As we believe the Creation of the World, a thing paſt; as well as the Reſurrection of the Body, which is future.
3. In their proper formal Acts. Faith apprehends, and aſſents to the truth of the Promiſes, Hope expects and looks for the Good promiſed. An expectation of Good, is the formal Act of Hope. And herein alſo it is differenced from, or contrary to Fear, which is an expectation of Evil, not of Good.
But that which I mainly intend, is, to ſhew, wherein ſound Hope differs from Preſumption, or from a falſe Hope? Or how we may know, whether our Hope be ſound?
(1.) True hope is not ordinarily obtained, but after ſad doubts and fears. As it is, Hoſ. 2.14, 15. God uſeth to bring his People into the Wilderneſs, before he ſpeaketh comfortably to them. He makes the Valley of Achor a door of Hope. As in reference to their outward Condition, he ſuffers them many times to be brought into great Straits, and Troubles, before he gives Enlargements, and works Deliverance for them. So in reference to their Spiritual Eſtates, they are brought into a Wilderneſs, ſee themſelves loſt, and are full of trouble, (as the Iſraelites were by Achan's means, Joſh. 7.24, 25, 26.) before Hope comes in. Tarnov. in M. Pol. Synop.Ʋt illa perturbatio in gaudium converſa eſt; ita triſtitia ſecundum Deum ſpem parit. The Spirit of Bondage, uſeth to go before the Spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8.15. As it is, Lam. 3.29. He putteth his Mouth in the Duſt, if ſo there may be Hope. It is the common Order, and Method of God's Grace and Spirit, to caſt down before a lifting up. uſually Souls are laid low even in the duſt, before they are raiſed to a lively Hope.
Such as will tell us they hope well, and never doubted of their Salvation in all their lives, ſuch as were never humbled, never made ſenſible how miſerable they are by nature, how obnoxious to God's Wrath, how liable to everlaſting Condemnation, we have Reaſon enough to conclude, they have not a ſound Hope. Their confident ſpirit muſt be broken, before it be ſet right.
(2.) Sound Hope is a fruit of the Spirit. Preſumption is natural to Sinners, they have it of themſelves. Or if they have their Conſciences awakened, their Eyes opened to ſee their Sin and Miſery; then they are more prone to entertain hard and black thoughts of God, than to hope aright in his Mercy. Like thoſe that ſaid, There is no Hope. Our Hope is loſt, we are cut off for our parts. It is the mighty work of the Spirit to raiſe up Souls to a lively Hope: who had received the ſentence of Death in themſelves. Rom. 15.13. That ye may abound in Hope through the power of the holy Ghoſt. Gal. 5.5. We through the Spirit wait for the Hope of Righteouſneſs by Faith.
Now have ſuch any ground to think the Hope they have, is the fruit and work of the Spirit, who may know they have not the Spirit; who are not led by, neither walk after the Spirit, who will not follow the motions of the Spirit; who are ſo deſperately wicked as even to ſcoff at the operation of the Spirit.
(3.) Sound Hope is an Hope in God through Chriſt, according to his Word.
On what is our Hope bottomed? The ground and foundation of true Hope is in God, not in creatures, nor in our ſelves. It is Hope towards God, Act. 24.15. As our Faith and Truſt muſt be terminated on God only, ſo our Hope, 1 Pet. 1.21. we muſt look to God as the Author of all Good. We muſt not expect any good from others, as the Authors, or original; but only as means, or inſtruments. Pſal 39.7. Now Lord what wait I for? My Hope is in thee. It is a peice of Idolatry, to make Gold our Hope, Job. 31.24. we may not look for ſo much as any temporal benefit from means, wealth, friends, &c. without God. All our expectation muſt be from him, Pſal. 62.5.
But further, True Hope is bottom'd upon God in and through Chriſt. Therefore it is called, Hope in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.19. 1 Theſ. 1.3. There is no Hope for Sinners, that a moſt Juſt and Holy God ſhould be favourable, and propitious toward them, but in and through Chriſt. 1 Pet. 1.3. We are begotten again to a lively Hope, by the Reſurrection of Chriſt, — proving God's Juſtice ſatisfied, and the enemies of our Salvation vanquiſhed by him. But without Chriſt, we were without Hope. So if we be ſtrangers to Chriſt, we are ſtrangers to true Hope.
And yet further, True Hope is bottom'd on God, in Chriſt, according to his Word. As the Pſalmiſt oft profeſſeth his Hope in God's Word. That is not a ſound Hope, which is not a Scripture Hope. That Hope which is not built on God's Promiſes, which is not warranted by his Word, will fail Men in the end. It is groundleſs Preſumption.
Now how many whoſe Hope is built on God's Providence, and their preſent outward Proſperity, without any word of promiſe to ſupport it. They hope God loves them, becauſe they proſper in the World. But the Word tells us, All things come alike to all here; that no Man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them, Eccleſ. 9.1, 2.
The Hope of many is grounded on God's Patience, and their preſent impunity, Becauſe Sentence is not ſpeedily executed. But forbearance is no acquittance. Do we not read, that though the Lord is ſlow to anger; yet he will not acquit the wicked, Nah. 1.3. And God endureth with much long-ſuffering the Veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction, on whom yet at laſt he will ſhew his Wrath, and make his Power known, Rom. 9.22.
Many build their Hopes on God's general Goodneſs to his Creatures. That becauſe he made them, he will ſave them. Though the Lord by his Prophet hath told them the contrary, Iſa. 27.11. It is a people of no underſtanding: therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them.
Some Hope in this that they are not ſo bad as others. They are neither Extortioners, nor Drunkards, nor Adulterers, &c. But it is evident in the Word, that the higheſt degree of Morality, and Civility will not ſerve any Mans turn. That except a Man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3.3. That without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14.
Some build their Hopes on a form of Godlineſs, and an outward ſhew of Holineſs. But without the truth of Grace in the heart, and without the Life and Power of Godlineſs, all Men do in Religion is done in Hypocriſie. So, what may be highly eſteemed among Men, may be of no account, yea, may be abomination in the ſight of God. Luk. 16.15. And what will be the Hypocrites portion at laſt, the Word plainly tells you.
Some build their Hopes on their own Righteouſneſs, and Merits, conceiting they deſerve highly of God for what they have done. Peter Lombart ſays, Sent. l. 3. diſt. 26.Sine meritis aliquid ſperare, non ſpes, ſed preſumptio dici poteſt, That to hope for any thing without precedent merits, cannot be called Hope, but preſumption. Yet to do him right, immediately before he joyns the Grace of God with thoſe merits, of which he ſpeaks. And otherwiſe if by merits are underſtood, proper Legal merits, it were Preſumption for the beſt Men in the World to expect any thing this way from God. The beſt of God's Saints muſt acknowledg, with Jacob, that they are leſs than the leaſt of God's Mercies. That which Believers hope for, comes by way of free gift, it is not of debt. Eternal Life is the gift of God, Rom. 6.23. The gift of God, through Jeſus Chriſt. So Believers are to hope for the Grace that is to be brought unto them at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.13. They are to look for the Mercy of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt unto Eternal Life, Jud. v. 21. They that are highly conceited of themſelves, and their own works, build on a ſandy foundation, lean on a roten prop.
And yet there is preparing Grace, ſuch as God hath made the condition of the Promiſe, a futable qualification, and diſpoſition of the ſubject, in ſome meaſure fitting for the Mercy promiſed, the Good to be received. And for any to look for the Good promiſed, without looking after that, which God hath made the Condition in the Promiſe, this is but to build Caſtles in the Air, this may not be called Hope, but Preſumption. I pray obſerve it, to hope in the Mercy of God, through the Merits of Chriſt, quite over-looking the way and method wherein, not looking after the condition upon which the Mercy hoped for is promiſed, this is not ſound Hope in God, it is a raſh and falſe Hope; It has no bottom in the Word.
(4.) True Hope as it is an Hope in God, ſo it is an hoping for him. A Believers Hope looks chiefly at God, as the beſt Object he can hope for, as he is the chiefeſt Good. As he acteth for God, and ſuffers for God; ſo he longeth, waiteth, hopeth for God. And methinks that expreſſion, Act. 24.15. foreign, having Hope towards God, looks this way. So when God is ſaid to be his Peoples Hope; In Pſal. Qui habitat. Ser. 9.As Bernard takes it, Convenientiùs ſiquidem Spes noſtra dicitur quod ſperamus, quàm in quo ſperamus: He is our Hope, whom we hope for. As Chriſt is called our Hope. The enjoyment of God in Chriſt is the top of a Believer's hopes. As the Pſalmiſt ſaid, Pſal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon the Earth that I deſire beſides thee.
The Hope of others uſeth not to riſe ſo high. Their deſires indeed are not this way. Gold is the Worldling's Hope, rather than God. The praiſe of Men is the Hypocrites Hope, rather than the Favour and Fruition of God. The Heaven that carnal, unſanctified Hearts dream of, and hope for, is not the true Happineſs in a full Conformity to God, and full Fruition of him; but an imaginary Happineſs, in a meer freedom from ſuch Miſeries as they are ſenſible of here, and a Life of perpetual eaſe, and pleaſure, abſtracted from the other.
(5.) Sound Hope in God, is accompanied with an holy fear of him. Pſal. 33.18. Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his Mercy. Pſal. 147.11. The Lord takes pleaſure in them. — None hope aright in his Mercy, but ſuch as truly fear him. Pſal. 118.4. Let them that fear the Lord, ſay, that his Mercy endureth for ever. Luke 1.50. His Mercy is on them that fear him, from Generation to Generation. Pſal. 85.9. Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him. But ſuch as are void of God's Fear, are without any true ſolid ground of Hope, in their preſent State. Some (as Dr. Preſton noteth) have neither Faith, Hope, nor Fear, as Atheiſts; others have ſome Fear, but no Hope, as Devils and deſperate Men; others have ſome Hope, but no Fear, as preſumptuous Men. But they that have Hope, and Fear mingled with it, may rather hope that their Hope is ſound.
(6.) Sound Hope is accompanied with ſound Obedience. Pſal. 119.6. Then ſhall I not be aſhamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy Commandments. And ver. 80. Let my heart be ſound in thy Statutes, that I be not aſhamed. And ver. 166. Lord, I have hoped for thy Salvation, and done thy Commandments. Heb. 10.35, 36. Caſt not away your Confidence,— that after ye have done the Will of God, ye might receive the Promiſe. But it is a vain Confidence, to expect the good of the Promiſe, without obſerving the Command. There is no peace to the Wicked. That is a falſe Hope, which is maintained with a plain neglect of Duty, and a bold adventuring upon Sin. Prov. 10.28. The hope of the Righteous ſhall be Gladneſs: But the expectation of the Wicked ſhall periſh.
(7.) True Hope is not maintained but by Diligence, and Watchfulneſs. It is contrary to Negligence, and Security. 1 Pet. 1.13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your Mind, be ſober, and hope to the end, or hope perfectly, foreign, Integre, Hope ſoundly. A dull, ſtupifying Hope, ſuch Hope as inclines to a drowſie frame, is not a ſound Hope; neither will it hold long. Such as are lulled aſleep with their Hopes, ſhall be awaked again with Terrors. True Hope, is a Lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. A dead Man in true account, is not a Man: So a dead Hope, is not true Hope. The Devil never envies Men ſuch Hope, as makes them remiſs, and careleſs.
(8.) A true Hope of Happineſs, is a great help to a progreſs in Grace and Holineſs. Though Hope is compared to an Anchor that ſtays the Ship; yet here Non remorae, ſed calcaris inſtar eſt: It is no remora, but a ſpur in a way of Duty. As the Apoſtle exhorteth, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore theſe Promiſes (dearly Beloved) let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of Fleſh, and Spirit, perfecting Holineſs in the fear of God. And the Apoſtle John lays down this Note moſt plainly, 1 John 3.3. Every man that hath this Hope in him, purifieth himſelf even as he is pure. A lively Hope of Heaven will quicken us in Heavens way. That we ſhall follow after Holineſs, that we may be made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in light. True Hope promotes Holineſs.
(9.) Sound Hope produces Patience. As we read of Patience of Hope, 1 Theſſ. 1.3. Remembring without ceaſing your—Patience of Hope. Though we read of Patience working Experience, Perer. in Pol. Synopſ.and Experience Hope, Rom. 5.4. yet as one no teth, Spes patientem praecedit, ſed ſpem hîc vocat Spei robur, &c. Hope precedes Patience; but here he ſpeaks of Hope improved, and grown up. Patience and Experience add to the ſtrength and firmneſs of Hope. But without Hope, Patience could not ſubſiſt. There is Patience in expecting future good and happineſs, (Rom. 8.25) And this is as I may ſay, the elicit act of Chriſtian Hope. Again, there is Patience in bearing preſent evils, and miſeries: and this is (as it were) the imperate Act of Hope. That is not a good Hope, which makes us no fitter to bear evils here. As Hope may be called the Daughter of Faith; ſo Patience the Daughter of Hope. Hope is compared to an Helmet, 1 Theſſ. 5.8. And for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation. This would help on to bear furious blows. Again, it is compared to an Anchor, Heb. 6.19. which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both ſure, and ſteadfaſt. This Anchor would ſtay one in tempeſtuous Waves, and boiſtrous Storms.
(10.) Sound Hope will give Courage, will put a Man in heart, and make him reſolved for God. A true Chriſtian, to maintain his Hope will not care to quit preſent worldly Poſſeſſions. If we could be perſwaded to diſclaim all intereſt in, and Hope of Heaven, to embrace this preſent World, if we could be content to take up with the World for our Portion; then certainly we have no ſound Hope of Heaven. It is a weighty ſaying, (O that it may be well weighed) They are no true Hopes of Glory to come, Mr. Baxt. Ep. ded. before his 32. Directions, &c.if you cannot caſt over board all Worldly Hopes, when the Storm is ſuch, that you muſt hazzard the One.
(11.) A ſound Hope will raiſe ones Thoughts, Heart and Deſires Heaven-ward. What is Hope, but an expectation with deſire, or a deſiring expectation? As the Apoſtle ſpeaks of his earneſt expectation and Hope, Phil. 1.20. So we cannot have a lively Hope of Heaven, without lively deſires after Heaven. Rom. 8.23. We which have the firſt-fruits of the Spirit, groan within our ſelves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our Body. It cannot be that ſuch as have a ſound Hope of Heaven, ſhould place their happineſs, or terminate their deſires in the World.
(12.) A lively Hope will quicken and raiſe the Heart in praiſe and thankfulneſs to God. Pſal. 71.14. I will hope continually, and will yet praiſe thee more and more. This Hope is called good Hope through Grace, 2 Theſ. 2.16. And Souls that have it, cannot but ſee cauſe greatly to admire, extol, and magnifie Divine Grace.
(13.) Sound Hope is a furtherance of Spiritual Joy. Rejoycing in Hope. As Bernard, ſed nunquid tantae laetitiae ſpes erit ſine laetitia? Yea, this Hope oft cauſeth Joy even in Affliction. Pſal. 119.49, 50. Remember the Word unto thy Servant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy Word hath quickened me. The word of promiſe giving Hope, thus brings in Joy and comfort too. Sound Hope will chear the Heart, and keep it alive under troubles, without which it would faint and ſink. If our Hearts die within us (like Nabals) under worldly Troubles, this would ſhew, we have not a lively Hope of Heaven. Such as rejoyce in Hope of the Glory of God, will be ready even to glory in Tribulations, as Rom. 5.2, 3.