164 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. Rom. xv. 4. The God of hope doth fill us with joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost; -.ver. 13. Shake off despondency, Omy soul, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God; Rom. v. 2. Believe in hope, though dying flesh would tell thee that it is against hope; Rom. iv. 18. God, that cannot lie, bath confirmed his covenant by his immutable oath, that we might have strongconsolation who are fled for refuge to the hope which is set before us ; Heb. vi. 18. What blessed preparations are made for our hope; and shall we now let the tempter shake it, or discourage it? The abundant mercy of God the Father hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us ; 1 Pet. i. 3. Grace teacheth us to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world, as looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior; Tit. ii. 12, 13. We are renewed by the Holy Ghost, and justified by grace, that we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life; Tit. iii. 6, 7. We are illuminated, that wemay know the hope of Christ's calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints ; Eph. i. 18, 19. The hope that is laid up for us in heaven; is the chief doctrine of the gospel, which bringeth light and immortality into clearer light ; Col. i. 5. 2 Tim. i. 10. It is for this hope that we keep a conscience void of offense, and that God is served in the world'; (Acts xxiv. 15, 16, and xxvi. 7.) wherefore, gird up the loins of thy mind ; put on this helmet, the hope of salvation ; (1 Thess. v. 8.) and let not death seem to theeas it doth to them that have no hope; 1 Thess. iv. 13. The love of our Father, and our Savior, have given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, to comfort our hearts, and establish them in every good word and work ; 2 Thess. ii. 16, 17. Keep, therefore, the rejoicing of hope firm to the end ; Heb. iii. 6. Continue grounded and settled in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel; Col. i. 23. 1 Pet. i. 13. And now, Lord, what wait I for ? my hope is in thee ; Psalmxxxix. 7. Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope; Psalm cxix. 116. Though mine iniquities testify against me, yet, O thou that art the hope of Israel, the Sav- ior thereof in the time of trouble, be not as a stranger to my soul; Jer. xiv. 7, 8. Thy name is called upon by me ; O forsake me not; ver. 9. Why have our eyes beheld thy wonders, and why have we had thy covenant, and thy mercies, but that we might set our hope in God ? Psalm lxxviii. 5, 7. Remember the word to thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope ; Psalm cxix.
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