Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 5 · Part 6
Hope compared to an Helmet.
Epheſ. 6.17. And take the Helmet of Salvation, &c.
1 Theſſ. 5.8. And for an Helmet, the Hope of Salvation.
AN Helmet is a Piece of Armor for the Head, commonly called a Head-Piece.
[Hope] the Word is derived from foreign Havah, which ſignifieth to expect, or wait; and it notes a very vehement Intention both of Body and Mind, in waiting, expecting, or hoping; when a Man waits (as it were) ſtretching forth his Spirit or his Mind, putting himſelf out exceedingly to hope or wait for a thing.
Hope is a Divine and Super-natural Grace or Fruit of the holy Spirit, and may be thus deſcribed:
Firſt; 'Tis a patient and well-grounded Expectation of whatſoever God hath promiſed. God is the Author of it, called the Hope of Iſrael, and the God of Hope. The Believer is the Subject of this Hope. The Object, in a ſtrict ſence, is God, who comprehends all the Good that Saints dwell in the Faith and expectation of:Pſal. 39.7. What wait I for? my Hope is in thee: In a large ſence, it is the Good of the Promiſe not in hand,Rom. 8.24 or already accompliſh'd, but to be performed hereafter: Hope that is ſeen, is not Hope; for what a Man ſeeth, why doth he yet hope for it? Futurity is intrinſecal to Hope's Object, and diſtinguiſheth it from Faith, which gives a preſent Being to the Promiſe,Heb. 11, 1. and is foreign, the Subſtance of things hoped for. The Good of the Promiſe hath a kind of Subſtance by Faith in the Soul; it is in Heaven (as it were) in an Interview; it brings the Chriſtian and Heaven together, as if he were there already.
Why Hope is compared to an Helmet, will appear in the following Parallel.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| THe Helmet defends the Head, that eminent part of the Body, from the Dint of Bullet or Sword. | HOpe of Heaven defends the principal Parts and Faculties of the Soul, from the dangerous Aſſaults of Sin and Satan, particularly the Judgment, which moſt Expoſitors underſtand is intended by the Head. What avails that Faith which Men have, without a well-grounded Hope of future Life? Devils have a kind of Faith, they believe, but have no Hope. Faith eyes the Promiſes; and Hope preſerves the Soul from Satan's Wounds, keeping it in a faithful and ſtedfaſt expectation of the fulfilling of them: By which means a Saint is help'd chearfully to ſuffer the Loſs of all other things, and that in Judgment, hoping it will be made up again to him in another World: Like as Hope cauſeth the Husband-man to caſt his choice and precious Seed into the Earth: He that ploweth, ploweth in Hope; 1 Cor. 9.10. he hopes for a greater Increaſe at Harveſt. So a Merchant ventures much Treaſure to Sea, as far as the Indies, in Hope; for had he not good Hopes of advantagious Returns, all would account him a Fool ſo to do. |
| II. The Helmet maketh a Souldier fearleſs, and very couragious in the Day of Battel; for if his Head and Heart be well defended, he is in no great danger of his Life. | II. In like manner, Hope of Heaven makes a Saint very couragious for Chriſt, and his bleſſed Intereſt.Rom. 5.5. Hope maketh not aſhamed. 'Tis the Hope of Heaven, that cauſeth Saints to endure Afflictions and Perſecutions with Patience, and not to fear the Faces of their Enemies: for if the Judgment, Will, Affection, and Conſcience of a Believer be preſerved from the mortal Wounds of the Adverſary, he is ſafe, and out of Danger, which is all done by this part of the Chriſtian's Armor. How confidently and daringly did Goliah come forth againſt Iſrael, with his Helmet of Braſs, and other Furniture, as if he had been ſo encloſed in his Armor, that it was impoſſible any one ſhould prevail againſt him. This made him carry his Creſt ſo high, and to defy a whole Hoſt. Tho he was miſtaken in his Armor,Iſa. 49.23. yet here is an Helmet, &c. that whoſoever wears it ſhall never be put to ſhame for his holy Boaſting. God himſelf allows him ſo to do, and will bear him out in the rejoycing of his Hope. Pſal. 27.3. They ſhall not be aſhamed that wait for me. Therefore ſaith David, Tho an Hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me, my Heart ſhall not fear, &c. My Head ſhall be lifted above mine Enemies. Two things make the Head hang down, Fear and Shame; now Hope eaſeth the Chriſtian's Heart of both theſe, and ſo forbids him to give any ſign of a deſponding Mind, by a dejected Countenance, in the worſt of Times:Luk. 21.28 When theſe things come to paſs, then lift up your Heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh. |
| III. An Helmet tends to the compleat harneſſing and ſetting out of a Souldier, to meet his Enemy, by which means he is terrible to behold, as Experience ſhews; for how fierce doth an Army of Souldiers look, when armed Cap-a-pe? And eſpecially the Head-piece tends to do it. Many have been ſtruck with great trembling, by beholding an Army of Souldiers with Helmets on. | III. A well-grounded Hope of Salvation, and of Victory againſt the Enemy, tends to the compleat harneſſing, or fitting out of every true Chriſtian, to meet and encounter with the Adverſary, by which means alſo they are ſaid to be as terrible as an Army with Banners, which Mr. Ainſworth applies to this Armor.2 Cor. 10.4. The Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of Strong-Holds, &c. Iſrael being compleatly furniſhed with Armor of Proof, who were a People ſaved by the Lord, the Shield of their Hope, and who was the Sword of their Excellency, God hereby put the Fear and Dread of them upon all the Nations under the whole Heavens; who heard of the Fame of them, and trembled not? Deut. 2.2. The People heard, and were afraid; Exod. 15.14, 15, 16. Pſal 48 5, 6. Sorrow took hold on the Inhabitants of Paleſtina. The Dukes of Edom were amazed; the mighty Men of Moab, Trembling took hold upon them. — All the Inhabitants of Canaan melted away, and Dread fell upon them. And thus will it be again, when God brings forth the Sons of Zion againſt the Sons of Greece, every way compleatly armed, with Shield and Helmet, as an Army with Banners. Zech. 9, 13 |
| IV. An Helmet, as well as other Pieces of Armor, muſt not be put off, or laid aſide, until the Battel be over. There are ſome Inſtruments and Engines uſed in War, that are made uſe of but now and then; but the Shield, Breaſt-plate, and Helmet, &c. are neceſſary continually, when Arms are employed. | IV. So Hope, the Helmet of Salvation, muſt be taken by every true Chriſtian, and never laid aſide, until the Field is won, and all the Enemies ſubdued. Hence ſaith the Apoſtle,1 Pet. 1.13 Gird up the Loins of your Minds, be ſober, and hope to the End, for the Grace that ſhall be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. 13. ult. Heb. 6.11, 12. Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity. We deſire every one of you to ſhew the ſame diligence, to the full aſſurance of Hope, unto the end. |
| V. A Souldier, that hath his compleat Armor on, (as the having on the Helmet doth import, becauſe it is uſually the laſt Piece of Armor defenſive that is put on) is ready for Service, when his Captain commands him forth; and from hence he is animated, and becomes very diligent, and doth great Execution oftentimes upon the Enemy; yea, and more is expected from him, than from one that is unarmed. | V. So a Souldier of Jeſus Chriſt, having the whole Chriſtian Armor on, is ready for any Service or Suffering for his Captain, and waits but for the Word of Command, and he adventures forth, as Abraham did, not knowing whither he went. Hope of Salvation particularly maketh a Man very active; it is called a lively Hope; more is expected from him, than from one that is hopeleſs. Alas! he goes on without any Heart, that hath no grounded Hope of Heaven, and the bleſſed Enjoiment of God and Chriſt for ever. |
| Metaphor. | Diſparity. |
| AN Helmet which Men uſe in War, hath been, may be pierced through, to the loſs of the Life of the Souldier that hath it on. | BUt this ſpiritual Helmet, called the Hope of Salvation, which hath God, and all Good both here and hereafter, for its Object, againſt this there can be no Aſſault made, nor Force of Weapon uſed, to the endangering of the Life of the Soul. |
| II. An Helmet uſed in War amongſt Men, tho it may preſerve the Head from Danger, yet it cannot preſerve the Breaſt, but that may be wounded by Sword or Dart. | II. But a well-grounded Hope, the Helmet of Salvation, doth wonderfully preſerve the Conſcience, as well as the Judgment, from being corrupted by the Wounds of Error, and rotten Principles, carried on by the cunning Craftineſs of Men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. |
| III. Men may have Helmets on, and yet notwithſtanding loſe the Day, be overcome, and flie before their Enemies, with Shame and Diſgrace. | III. But he that engageth in this ſpiritual Armor, of which the Helmet is a part,Epheſ. 6. (having on the whole Armor of God) doth not only make a Chriſtian to withſtand the Enemy, but alſo to ſtand againſt any Aſſault.Rom. 5.5. Hope of Salvation maketh not aſhamed. |
Inferences.
FRom hence you may perceive, how exceeding uſeful Hope is to all true Chriſtians, in their ſpiritual Warfare with the Enemies of the Soul.
2. It ſhews that a Chriſtian's Life is a Life of Hope or Expectation: The Promiſes of God are not preſently accompliſhed; he ſeems to ſtay long, ere he makes good what he hath engaged to give to them.
3. And tho he ſtays long before he performs his Promiſe to us, yet they ſhall be accompliſhed at laſt, in the beſt time, to the eternal Joy of their Hearts. Hope deferred makes the Heart ſick, but when it comes, it is a Tree of Life. The Viſion is for an appointed Time, but at the end it ſhall ſpeak, and not lie, &c.
4. That tho God ſtays long before he performs his Word and Promiſe, yet it is our Duty to wait patiently till it is fulfilled. Wait for it, becauſe it ſhall ſurely come, &c.
5. That Hope pacifies and quiets the Soul of a Believer, till the Promiſes are accompliſhed and fulfilled.
It may alſo ſerve to caution every Chriſtian to take heed he does not take a counterfeit Helmet. There is a Hope that will prove like a Spider's Web. Tho a true and lively Hope maketh not aſhamed, yet ſome Men will one day be aſhamed of their Hope, &c.
See Hope the Anchor of the Soul.