The Power of Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Why the Affection of Hope is to be moderated aright. Wherein the sanctified Exercise thereof consists. The Effects of Hope. The sev…rall Kindes of disordered Hope that must be shunned. How a lively Hope is to be stirred up, and preserved in us.
Question, WHy is Hope to be moderated aright?
A. 1. Hope well ordered serves to mollifie the paines, and to encounter all the crosses and accidents of this life. Amidst the miseries of this life, and all publique and private calamities, which otherwise would be intollerable; the wise providence of God hath provided us this remedy, to fortifie our constancy, and to keep us from shrinking, and falling under the burden of adversities. And therefore a Rhodian being cast into an obscure and cruell Prison, among Serpents and venomous Beasts, and conjured by some of his friends, to make an end of so many miseries by a voluntary death, he answered wisely. That man hopes still while he breathes: as if he would say, that death onelyonly could deprive man of the hopes of life, and better condition. But the Prophet David more Christianly,Psal. 27.3. I had fainted in my affliction, unless I had hoped to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living. Hope holds up the head in the midst of all stormes, which violently beate upon, and seem to overwhelme our ship. 2. As the North Starre is the Mariners Guide, who look continually upon her light to assure their Navigation: so Hope is that which inflames us to the difficult actions we undertake. 3. As the brightness of the North Starre doth fill them with joy that sayl by the Sea, but when as it shines not they are dismaied, and fear hourely to perish by the violence of some storme, or to see their Ship split upon some Rock: so whilest we have any remainder of Hope, our souls are content; but if it be quite vanished, we hold our selves miserable, and begin to neglect and forget our selves. 4. Hope fortifies our resolutions, and makes them more prompt in their actions. Hope fills with courage to endure hardness, to beare crosses, to fight manfully, strive mightily, and persist immoveably. The which is for two reasons. The first, for that she hath for Object, a good hard to be obtained. But the apprhension of the difficulty, which presents it self in the pursuite of the good, whereunto we do aspire, doth usually make us gather our forces together, to vanquish all obstacles, and to attain unto it, notwithstanding all the difficulties that must be encountered. And therefore we imploy more care and diligence, by meanes whereof we attain more easie to the end of our designes. Secondly, Hope breeds pleasure and sweetness, which makes us more active and ready to pursue that which we desire; For that we behold nothing painefull wherein we take delight. Wherefore as pleasure makes all actions delightfull unto men, so the content we receive from our Hopes makes us pursue with more heat, and less paine, that which we have once conceived in our thoughts. This joy which proceeds from a certain Hope we have of injoying, disperseth it self into all the members of man, the which do joyfully receive the impressions of the moving faculty, yeelding upon this occasion a more prompt obedience to execute the Commandements of the soul. The labourer would not expose himself so freely to the rigor of the ayr, nor endure with such patience the injuries of times, in tilling his Land, if he did not promise unto himself a rich Harvest for the fruit of his labour. The Souldier would not cast himself into dangers, he would not mount up to breaches, nor thrust himself into the fury of combates, if the expectance of glory, or Hope of booty did not animate his courage. The Merchant would not pass through Rocks, fires, waves, and stormes, running from Sea to Sea, and from Port to Port, if he did not promise unto himself great wealth, in recompence of his voyages and travels. So as Hope is as it were, the soul of goodliest actions, making us to surmount all the difficulties and obstacles, which might hinder the execution by the mollifying of our resolutions. Yea, it is certain, that courage hath alwaies been held an effect of good Hope: for when as man hopes to surmount those fearfull things, which seem to threaten him, he goes couragiously to encounter them; whereas when he is surprized by fear, he faints and abandons himself unto the misfortune, his despair rising from the difficulties which he apprehends in the good which he should pursue. 5. Although Love be the Fountain of all the Passions of the soul, yet Hope may be the cause that we love any one. For Hope may propound unto it self two things, that is to say, the good which we Hope for, and the meanes to obtain it. Wherefore an Object of good presenting it self unto us, which we are not able to attain unto, but by the assistance of other; for this reason, Hope doth also regard those that assist us, and make the thing easie. Seeing then that Hope regards the Objects which we propound unto our selves, undoubtedly Love is that root and cause of Hope; for that we Hope not for any thing, but that wherewith we are in love, and whereunto we have tied our affections, desiring passionately to enjoy it. But for that Hope reg…ds him which doth open to us the meanes, and makes the thing possible; Love is a bud of Hope, seeing that we love him, for that we Hope to attain unto our desires by his assistance. So as the first impression which the Object which we pursue makes in our souls, is an effect of the love we bear it, conceiving it to be a good fit for us. But the consideration of the meanes to attain unto it, which comes from others, makes a second impression in us, and induceth us to love him that doth procure it, representing him unto us as profitable unto our design, and therefore worthy to be beloved. 6. Vaine Hopes do grievously delude and beguile the heart, leaving nothing behinde them but vexation or despair, after great labour and toyl, when we be utterly disappointed. It is not unfitly defined, to be a Dream, that presents it self to a man awake. For as Dreames in the night fill us with illusions and vain formes, which abuse us, and which make us imagine that we are rich in our extremest poverty, that we are happy in our greatest misery, that we injoy Scepters and Crowns, in the midst of bonds and Irons, that we command great Empires, when we are restrained in an hard and slavish captivity: In like manner, Hope abusing our imagination, fils our souls with vain contentments, and represents unto us that all things are subject to our power, that we are in right good estate, assured of salvation, able to repent when we please, and to shunne the practice of evil by our own power; when in truth, our state is most miserable, our course abhomination, our waies tend to death; and we have no power in our hands to deliver our selves from the reign of sinne, or the power of wrath to come. Yea, in the middest of our greatest disgraces, we flatter our selves with this conceit, that humane calamities and miseries have their bounds, and that they are weary to be alwaies about one man; as the winds and stormes in the end break, and are pacified after the most violent gusts. Thus we hope to see a change in the course of this life, and that the day which we attend will make our condition better, and convert our misfortunes into incomparable felicities, when beside fond conceit we have no reason to expect better times. The Scripture resembles the hope of the hypocrite to the Spiders web, Job 8.13, 14.which is spun with labour, breaks of it self without any violence: To the dream of an hungry man, who is the more tormented after he awakeneth, because he findeth he did but dream of plenty:Iob 11.20.18.24. Prov. 11.23. To a puff of breath, or the giving up of the ghost, which shall bring him to the King of terrors. The expectation of the wicked is wrath. 7. Lively well-ordered hope is most necessary and profitable in all the parts of our life, and the severall actions of it. Our life without hope is a most heavy burden: no work can find good success that is begun without Hope. Hope is much better than any stately palace, delightfull gallery, orchard, garden, pleasant aire and prospect, which the sonnes of men prepare with great cost, travell and pains for their comfort. These without hope can avail nothing; Hope without these is sufficient of it self. Give a man hope in prison, banishment, poverty, disgrace, and he will endure without fainting or impatience. 8. Sound Hope is certain in event. They that hope in the Lord shall not be confounded. If the Lord promise life in death, light in darkness, a setled state of the Church in the midst of confusion, a calm after many storms and hideous tempests; it is meet the faithfull should rest in the word of promise, and their expectation should be gladness.Prov. 10.27.
Q. Wherein stands the right exercise of Hope?
A. In this, that it be directed according to the commandement of faith, to expect all good things promised according to the nature of the promise,Psal. 130.5. & 119.45. in all estates and conditions, both when means are at hand, and when they fail, grounding it self upon th… free grace of God. In things spirituall absolutely promised, hope must be certain, stedfast and constant, even when all things seem to threaten the contrary: The like may be said of things temporall promised in the same manner; as of Israels possessing the Land of Canaan, Davids coming to the Crown. In outward things conditionally promised, hope is conditionall; for it is grounded upon the word of truth received by faith, and what faith cannot believe, hope cannot expect. In the most desperate dangers we must hope for an happy issue, but the particular event is uncertain. We may expect good from men as the instruments of God, and in lawfull causes we may hope to finde success by lawfull means, wit, friends, power and such like: but still our confidence must be fixed upon the Lord, without whose blessing all second causes are of no validity.Prov 21.31. Prov. 29.26. The horse is prepared for the battell, but safety is of the Lord. Many seek the Rulers favour, but every mans judgement cometh from the Lord. Many employ all their friends, and use all possible means to have the Magistrate made for them in their suits and questions:Prov. 19.6. but the sentence which the Magistrate shall pass upon every mans cause, whether it be to clear him or to cast him,Iob 27.9, 10. Ps. 142.3, 4, 5. is of the Lord. In all conditions of life, seem our case never so forlorne or past cure, we must hope in God, in the use of lawfull means alone: but we can never look to speed well, if we turn unto evil courses, for there is no promise that God will bless them.2 Chro. 25.8.
Q. What are the effects of Hope?
A. 1 He that hopeth truly will wait patiently without fainting or impatiency, though the Lord seem to delay. My soul, wait thou only upon the Lord; for my expectation is from him. Psal. 62.1, 5.2. Hope drives a man to seek the Lord early with earnestness and contentation, In the use of all good means, and when they sail, untill he be found for his help,Psal. 40.1. Psal. 86.2. Psal. 130.5, 6. Psal. 142.5. Psal. 61.2, 3. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. Faith looketh unto God as a poor beggar, and hope waiteth as a petitioner at the throne of grace, knowing that he from whom all good things come, looketh to be sought unto, that it may appear that his mercies are free and undeserved, 3. Hope preserveth pure from defilement of flesh or spirit: it will not suffer corruption to harbour quietly in the bosome, nor turn aside to ungodly courses. 4. The man that waiteth upon God, is not puffed up with present prosperity, knowing that a change may come;Iob. 3.2, 2…. Psal. 33.22. Psal. 142.5. nor dejected with evil tydings, as if there were no helpe in God: nor doth he judg of things by outward appearance and present success. But of the effects of Hope see before, in that which hath been said of the sanctification of this affection.
Q. What are the severall kindes of disordered Hope that must be shunned?
A. 1. Hope is evil, when men expect to thrive and prosper by ungodly practises; as cosenage, lying, oppression, prophanation of the Lords day, &c. Do they not erre that devise evil? There is nothing almost,Prov. 14.22. Gen. 11.3. Psal. 12.4. Prov 1.11, 12, 13. Isa 7.6. which wicked men do not hope they can obtain and compass by their sleight and cunning; as the Gyants who attempted to build the Tower of Babylon, nothing doubted of the effect. But the Spirit of God speaking in the mouth of his Prophets, declareth that they are false in their hope, and shall come short of their purpose. Never could wicked man obtain his hope to his contentment in his sinfull devices. Either he cometh too short of that which he concluded to do, or misseth of that happiness which he looked for in his exploits, or falleth into those troubles which he never stood in fear of. 2. Carnall hope is evil, when we rely upon strength, wisdome, authority, riches, casuall experience, and promise great security to our selves, when we be compassed about with humane aides. The heart of man is apt to flatter it self in these things, as if nothing were impossible to him that is thus underset: whereas the Lord can easily beat down the force of the mighty,Confide regnis cum levu magnas opes Huc feras & illuc casus. Sen. trag. Medea. Isa. 8.9, 10. and bring their glory into confusion. An horse is but a vain thing to save a man, neither is any man delivered by his much strength. Associate your selves O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird your selves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. How hath the Lord taken the crafty in their own counsel, and troden the glory of the mighty under feet? It is all one with our God to save by few and many, with and without the strength of men. 3. Limited hope, when we can be content to wait for a season, so it be not long; but faint or give over to expect help, if it be deferred. How oft are such like voices heard amongst Christians; Till such a time I had good hope, but now I am clean out of heart? If I finde not comfort by such means, I can never look for it? But this is our infirmity, we must wait till the Lord shew mercy, Psal. 119.81. & 123.2.and hold fast his promise when he seems to be far from our help. 4. Superficiall and slight hope must be setled and rooted better. Such is the hope of them that hold out in lesser tryals, faint in greater difficulties. In some particular troubles they lift up their hearts, and stick to the promises: but if they be pressed hard, they start aside and give way to the temptation. The temporary believer shrinks in persecution if he be not choaked with the world and the pleasures of it: so fareth it with the hope of the hypocrite, which wanteth rooting. 5. Partiall hope is unsound,2 Chro. 25.9, 10. misordered, when we expect help f…om Heaven in some particular occasions, but ordinarily rely upon our own devices, or the arm of flesh, It is many times reproved in the Saints of God, that they trusted in Egypt, Assyria, the arm of flesh,2 Chro. 16.7, 8, 9. but relied not upon the Lord.
Q How is lively Hope to be preserved or stirred up in us?
A. 1. In stirring it we must alwayes have an eye to the grounds and foundations whereupon our Hope shall be built; for as …hese fadge, so Hope followeth: if these be small or frivolous, Hope is vain and ridiculous; if they be strong and sound, Hope will prove more certain and prudent. 2. All Christian Hope depends upon the gracious promises of God which never fail; and to quicken it the better, it is profitable to discourse over these circumstances; who hath made the promises, how he standeth affected towards us, in what relation he is obliged unto us: What he hath promised, how it makes for his glory to accomplish it, for what reasons he will be pleased to grant our suits or requests: What a potent and wise Intercessor we have to plead our cause, and of what credit with the Father: What plentifull means he hath in store to bring to pass what he hath spoken, and how easily he can accomplish them. 3. It is not amiss to set down all the objections which any way may frustrate hope, and briefly, orderly, and as evidently as may be, refute them: for thereby all cavils and impediments shall be removed. 4. We must make use of former experiments,Psal. 64.10. comparing them with the Word of God, and judging accordingly: But experience is only a fortification, not the ground of Hope. By experience we come to see and are perswaded, that what others hold impossible, may notwithstanding succeed happily, which doth much prevail with us: but if all experience were wanting, we should yet rely upon the infallible promise of God. Grace is the ground,Psal. 33.18. & 130.7. truth and power the props of Hope, experience a notable furtherance to strengthen and encourage in expectation of Gods mercy.