The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 19
EPHES. 6. 17. foreign And take the Helmet of Salvation.
IN theſe words we have the fifth Lect. 27. Feb. 21. 1649.piece of the ſpiritual Armour, which is recommended to a Chriſtian for his ſafe ſtanding in the day of ſpiritual encounters, viz. The Helmet of Salvation. It is called in Greek foreign. Becauſe it doth totum caput circumqua que munire. The Helmet is that defenſive Armour wherewith the Souldier doth protect his head and face from danger in the day of battel. That which is meant by this Helmet is the grace of the hope of ſalvation, ſo it is interpreted by this Apoſtle, in 1 Theſſ. 5. 8. Let us who are of the day be ſober, putting on the breaſt plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of ſalvation.
The hope of ſalvation, is called Salvation by a metonymy, becauſe it doth expect ſalvation, and becauſe where it is true, it doth produce and bring forth ſalvation. As ſalvation is the end of faith, ſo it is alſo the end of hope, Col. 1. 5. And therefore the Holy Ghoſt gives to it the name of ſalvation. We read in Scripture of a twofold ſalvation. A Temporal and an Eternal Salvation. Of the temporal Salvation we read, Exod. 14. 13. 1. The outward deliverance of the Lord, Pſal. 37. 39. &c. Of eternal Salvation we read Luke 19. 9. Though hope be exerciſed about temporal Salvation, &c. Yet here eternal Salvation is meant. In the words we may for method ſake obſerve tow things.
1. The thing enjoined, The hope of Salvation.
2. The manner of the injunction, Take.
The leſſon from the whole is this, Viz.
He that would withſtand and overcome Satan in the day of Temptation muſt be very careful to Doctrinetake and keep the well grounded Hope of eternal Salvation as an Helmet upon his head.
In the handling of which Doctrine, I ſhall open theſe three things.
1. I ſhall open the nature of this grace of Hope, ſhew how it agrees with, and how it differs from the former grace of Faith.
2. I ſhall ſhew you wherein the grace of Hope is like a Helmet.
3 Wherein its uſeful to reſiſt and overcome Temptations.
1. Hope is a ſaving grace of Gods holy ſpirit wrought in a regenerate perſon, whereby he doth firmly and patiently expect the certain accompliſhment of all future good which God hath promiſed, and faith beleeves. In the opening of this Deſcription we ſhall ſee both wherein it agreeth, and wherein it differs from faith.
There is ſuch an Affinity between faith an hope that they can hardly be differenced, they cannot be ſeparated one from another; they have reſpect one to another, as the two Cherubins on the mercy ſeat, Exod. 25. 20. And yet they are really diſtinguiſhed in the Scripture, they are ſeveral things, Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity, 1 Cor. 13. 13. The Scripture makes them three ſeveral things. The agreement and difference of them will be manifeſted by the unfolding of the former Deſcription.
1. Hope is a ſaving grace of Gods Spirit. I ſay a ſaving grace to difference it from that natural Hope which is not ſaving; we read of a hope that is as a ſpiders web, Job 8. 14. Of a hope that ſhall be cut off, Job 8. 14. Of a hope that ſhall be as the giving up of the ghoſt, Job 11. 20. And then I ſay of Gods Spirit, to ſhew the pedigree and the original of it. The Scripture makes it to be a fruit and work of Gods Spirit. Now herein faith and hope agree, they are both in regard of their nature ſaving graces, and they are both from the ſpirit of God, as the fountain and efficient cauſe.
2. Wrought in a regenerate perſon. This is the ſubject of it. Neither the profane perſon, nor the hypocrite hath this glorious flower of hope growing in them, that natural hope is found both in wicked perſons and hypocrites, but this ſaving hope hath abiding only in the hearts of ſuch as are truly converted. Now here alſo it agrees with faith. As both of them proceed from the ſame root, ſo both of them have the ſame general ſubject, they differ in the particular ſubject, Luther ut ſupra.faith is in the underſtanding, hope in the Will.
3. Whereby he doth expect. This word notes the nature of this grace. Expectation or waiting is the proper work of hope. Thus the Scripture doth expreſs it, Pſal. 62. 5. My ſoul wait thou onelyonly upon God, for my expectation is from him. Pſal. 130. 5. I wait for the Lord, my ſoul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Pſal. 123. 2. As the eyes of ſervants, &c. ſo our eyes waite upon the Lord, untill that he have mercy upon us. Nor is it a ſlight careleſs expectation, but a very vehement intention, both of body in expecting and waiting, when a man doth ſtretch out his ſpirit and mind to look for a thing, ſo the word (Karah) ſignifies, Iſa. 8. 17. I will wait upon the Magná intentione & corporis erectione expectare,Lord that hideth his face, &c. and I will look for him. The Apoſtle ſets it out by a greek word of the ſame ſignification, foreign, Rom. 8. 19. The earneſt expectation of the Creature, &c. It ſignifies to look with a ſtretched out neck, as a condemned priſoner for a hope for pardon. Now herein it differs from faith, faith is not in expectation, but in making things evident; hope is in expectation and waiting for things evidenced by faith.
4. It expects firmly and patiently. Theſe two properties of hope we have in Scripture. 1. It expects firmly or certainly. The Apoſtle mentions the full Aſſurance of hope, Heb. 6. 11. Hope is never without aſſu…ance, ſaith Mr. Pemble, though not of the thing, yet of perſwaſion, for the firmneſs and ſtedfaſtneſs of it is compared to an Anchor, Heb. 6. 19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the ſoul both ſure and ſtedfaſt. 2. It expects with patience, 2 Theſſ. 3. 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and the patient waiting for Chriſt. Faith is our Logick, ſaith Luther, to conceive what we muſt beleeve; Hope is our Rhetorick to perſwade us in tribulation unto patience. Reſt in the Lord, and wait patiently for him Pſal. 37. 7. and Pſal. 40. 1. I waited patiently for the Lord, &c.
5. The accompliſhment of future good. This ſhews the object of Hope, generally that which is good; particularly or ſpecially future good. Herein it differs from faith. The object of faith is not onelyonly good things, but evill things alſo. Faith beleeves the threatnings as well as the promiſes; Faith doth beleeve there is an Hell as well as an Heaven; but Hope onelyonly looks at good things. Evill things are the proper object of fear and hatred, not of hope. And then this differs in the ſpiritual object. Hope onelyonly looks at good things to come, what a man ſees, why Rom. 8. 24.doth he yet hope for it? hope that is ſeen is not hope. Thats the difference between hope and viſion. But now faith looks not onelyonly at things that are to come, but alſo at things that are paſt, and at things that are preſent. It looks to things paſt. We beleeve that the World was created, that Adam fell, that the old world was drowned, that Chriſt was born of the Virgin Mary, that he ſuffered, that he dyed, &c. We beleeve alſo things that are preſent. We beleeve that Chriſt is at the right hand of God, that he makes preſent interceſſion. And we alſo beleeve things that are to come. We beleeve that Antichriſt ſhall fall, that Chriſt ſhall come to judge the World, that our dead bodies ſhall be raiſed, &c.
6. Which God hath promiſed. Herein faith and hope agree, they have both the ſame Baſis or foundation, viz. The word of promiſe. The Scripture aſſerts the promiſe to be the foundation of hope, Tit. 1. 2. There could be no reaſon of expectation unleſs the thing expected were bottomed upon a divine promiſe. Its looſe fancy, not well grounded waiting, which is not erected upon a promiſe.
7. And Faith beleeveth. This holds out another difference between Faith and Hope. They differ in their order. Faith goes before, Hope followes, the ſtedfaſtneſs of hope is from the certainty of faith, faith beleeves the truth of the thing, and hope waits for the accompliſhment of it. The Apoſtle tells us that faith is the ſubſtance or ground of things hoped for, Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the Mother of hope, and hope is the Daughter of faith; faith diſcovers the treaſure, and hope gathers it and layes it up. Faith is the fire of hope, and hope is the flame of faith.
2. Wherein the Reſemblance between Hope and a Helmet. Conſider that in four things.
1. The Helmet doth defend the head from violence offered either by ſword, piſtoll, &c. The grace of Hope doth ſafeguard the ſoul from the violence of Satan.
2. The Helmet is the higheſt of al the Souldieres Armour. The grace of Hope is that which looks ſtill upwards; tis the higheſt of the graces, it hath its eye fixed upon the things which are in Heaven.
(3.) The Helmet doth make the Souldier, of dreadful appearance to his adverſary. Polybius tels us, that the Romane Souldiers had upon their Helmets, garlands ſticking upon ſpikes ſo high, that they ſeemed of a double height, and did appear very formidable to the enemy: Men of low ſtature ſeemed exceeding high, by reaſon of their Helmets, and that dreſs which they wore upon them. The Grace of Hope upon the head, makes the Chriſtian Souldier very formidable to Satan, it doth lift him up even to Heaven. Little David, with his Helmet of Hope, appeared of a greater height then Goliah, though he had a Helmet of Braſs. Hope ſets the Soul upon a Rock, which is higher then all his Adverſaries.
(4.) The Helmet doth give warmth and heat to the head: it hath a refreſhing, as well as a defending virtue in it. The Grace of Hope, warms and refreſhes the Heart.
III. Wherein this Grace is uſefull to a Chriſtian in the time of Temptation.
(1.) The Grace of Hope helps Chriſtian Courage. It ſharpens the edge of Chriſtian Valour: faintneſs and fearfulneſs of Spirit, gives a very great advantage to the enemy. That was a good Martial Law which God gave his people, Deut. 20. 8. If the heart once ſink through cowardice, and puſillanimity, the hands grow weak. Now the grace of Hope keeps the heart from ſinking; yea, it adds courage to the heart: We have a Proverb, But for Hope, the heart would break. I had fainted, unleſs I had believed to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the Land of the Living, Pſal. 27. 13. Upon this, he gives an Exhortation to others, to hope in God, with a promiſe of ſtrength, v. 14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, &c. The exerciſe of this grace, kept the Apoſtles from ſinking, 2 Cor. 14. 16, 18. For this cauſe we faint not, &c. While we look not at the things which are ſeen; but at the things which are not ſeen, &c.
(2.) The Grace of Hope doth ſtrengthen Faith. Though Faith breed Hope, yet doth Hope ſtrengthen Faith: It is as a ſtaff to her aged mother, as one well obſerves. Faith is the Evidence of things not ſeen: Faith makes things that are not ſeen evident, and then the grace of Hope helps the Evidence of Faith.
(3.) The Grace of Hope helps the Soul to perſevere. Victory is promiſed onelyonly to ſuch as hold out unto the end. Be thou faithful unto the death, &c. Rev. 2. 10. Now without Hope, there can be no perſeverance. He that hath loſt his hope, will either yield, or run, or make ſome unworthy compoſition: but now Hope will carry on the Soul in its oppoſition.
There are two things which Hope doth to help us to perſevere.
Firſt, It faſtens the Eye upon the ſight of the Crown; it layes that at the foot of the Soul, and encourageth it to continue.
Secondly, It fetches in help from heaven; it faſtens the Eye upon Jeſus Chriſt, and lets it ſee that He is fighting for them, while they are fighting for themſelves: It ſhewes the Soul Recruits marching from Heaven, for its Relief and aſſiſtance.
Information. (1.) This lets us ſee the benefit and excellency of the Grace of Hope. The Scripture ſpeakes very much in the commendation of it. It's the ſecond of thoſe three choice Graces, Faith, Hope, Charity, 1 Cor. 13. 13. It's that which brings heaven down to the Soul, or raiſes the Soul to heaven, even when the Soul is here on earth. It's the Soul's Comforter in all the troubles, afflictions, and evils, which it ſuſtains in this life. It's that by which we overcome Satan in the day of Temptations. It's the Soul's Anchor, by which it rides ſafely in the tempeſtuous Sea of Temptations. Of all the Graces, it is that which promiſes leaſt, but there is no Grace that is of more uſe then this. It's well compared by one to an Egge that hath more in it then is ſeen. An Egge hath nothing to be ſeen, but a dry barren ſhell, unprofitable for nouriſhment; but if you break the ſhell, you ſhall find it full of moſt delicate nouriſhment. The Grace of Hope, to the outward appearance, is like to a dry ſhall; but if you open this ſhell, you will find it full of moſt delicate nouriſhment. We are upheld by Hope, when we ſtand: We riſe by Hope, when we are caſt down. We live by Hope: We are ſaved by Hope.
It's that which encourageth us to all Duties: We pray in hope, we hear in hope. Take away Hope, and the Soul will not be able to do any duty. It's that by which we bear all diſappointments. It's a Sun in the darkeſt midnight. Take away Hope, and the Soul will be ſwallowed up with the leaſt croſs, every wind will blow it down, every wave will drown it, every difficulty will overwhelm it. It's the Grace of Hope which holds the Chin above water in every trouble: its the grace of Hope, by which we live in the want of preſent comforts. Take away this Grace of Hope, and all the Promiſes are but as withered graſs, and dry bones, and empty veſſels, which cannot give ſatisfaction. All diſquietments, and vexatious cares, ariſe either from the want, or the weakneſs of the Grace of Hope. David chargeth all his diſquietneſs upon this, Pſal. 142. 11. Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul, why art thou vexed within me? Hope in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him &c. Hope ſettles the heart in every condition: it turns darkneſs into light, and ſtorms into calmes, and makes the ſhadow of death as the morning. Tbou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee, Eſa 26. 3.
I am the larger in this, becauſe there is ſuch a generall neglecting of the exerciſe of this Grace: The Grace of Hope is almoſt loſt; Chriſtians make but little uſe, and very little account of it. Faith is in ſome repute, but Hope is buried; whereas, indeed, Faith is not more excellent then Hope. Hope begins, where Faith ends.
(2.) This lets us ſee why Satan uſes ſo much endeavour to drive the ſervants of God into a ſtate of deſperation. There are two great Rockes on which Satan labours to ſplit the ſouls of men: the one, is upon the Rock of Preſumption; many ſouls periſh this way: The other is, the Rock of Deſpair; and there are many more then a few deſtroyed this way. Judas, and Cain, and Saul, fell by this Temptation. My puniſhment is greater then I can bear, ſaith Cain. And Judas, out of horrour of Conſcience, puts an end to his own life, Mat. 27. 5. Satan is very buſie in our age this way, ſuggeſting unto the hearts of men, that ſalvation doth not belong to them. We ſee there is reaſon why Satan ſhould uſe his skill this way: This is a Chriſtians Head-piece; and if he can but perſwade him to caſt off this, he will very eaſily make a prey of him. Deſpair of mercy, is a greater ſin, then all other ſins; Judas deſpair was greater then his Treaſon.
Firſt, It's derogatory to the Mercy of GOD, for it calls in queſtion his truth and goodneſs.
Secondly, It's derogatory to the Merits of Jeſus Chriſt; it calls in queſtion the All-ſufficiency of his bloud, &c.
(3.) That the aſſurance of Salvation is a Doctrine very profitable for Chriſtians, and very prejudicial to Satan. If the hope of Salvation help a Chriſtian in temptarion, ſurely the aſſurance of it will much more help him in theſe Aſſaults.
The Papiſts look upon it as a great and groundleſſe preſumption, for any man to talk of aſſurance of his ſalvation: But we know from Scripture,
Firſt, That many have attained to aſſurance: we know, that if our Earthly Tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, &c. 2 Cor. 5. init.
Secondly, That all the people of God are commanded to labour after the attainment of it, 2 Pet. 1. 10.
Thirdly, That ſo many Evidences of a man that ſhall be ſaved, are not laid down in vain. The Scripture is full of the Characters of a perſon that ſhall be ſaved. We know we are tranſlated from Death to Life, becauſe we love the Brethren, 1 Joh. 3. 14. Know ye not, that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, except ye be Reprobates? 2 Cor. 13. 5.
Fourthly, That one great Office of the Spirit of God which dwelleth in the hearts of the regenerate, is to ſeal them, Epheſ. 1. 13. To teſtifie with their Spirits that they are the Children of God, Rom. 8. 16. The Holy Ghoſt is a witneſſing and ſealing Spirit, as well as a ſanctifying Spirit; a Spirit of Revelation, as well as a Spirit of Grace. Now the Argument is firm: If the hope of Salvation be a Helmet to protect us; then is the full Aſſurance of Salvation a helmet much more ſtrong.