264 CONTEMPLATION PROMOTED to him, saying, Thy mother and brethren stand without, desiring to see thee ; so let thy message to him be, and be will own thee : for he bath said, " They that hear my word, and do it are my mother and my brethren.(p) § 14. (:3) Another affection to be exercised in hea- venly contemplation, is hope. This helps to support the :soul under sufferings, animates it to the greatest diffi- culties, gives it firmness in the most shaking trials, en- livens it in duties, and is the very spring that sets all the wheels a- going. Who would believe or strive for hea- ven, if it were not for the hope that he bath to obtain it ? Who would pray, but for the hope to prevail with God ? If your hope dies, your duties die, your endea- vours die, your joys die, and your soul dies. And if your hope be not in exercise, but asleep, it is next to dead. Therefore, Christian Reader, when thou art wind- ing up thy affections to heaven, forget not to give one lift to thy hope. Think thus, and reason thus with thy own heart : Why should I not confidently and comfort - ably hope, when my soul is in the hands of so compas: sionate a Saviour, and when the kingdom is at the dis- posal of so bountiful a God ? Did he ever discover the least backwardness to my good, or inclination to my ruin ? Hath he not sworn, that He delights not in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he should repent and live ? Have not all his dealings witnessed the same ? Did he not mind me of my danger, when I never feared it, because he would have me escape it ? Did he not mind me of my happiness, when I had no thoughts of it, because he would have me enjoy it ? How often bath he drawn me to himself, and his Christ, when I have drawn backward ! how hath his Spirit incessantly so- licited my heart ! And would he have done all this if he had been willing that I should perish ? Should I not hope if an honest man had promised me something in his power ? And shall I not hope when I have the co- venant and oath of God ? It is true, the glory is out of sight ; we have not beheld the mansions of the saints; but is not the promise of God more certain than our (p) Luke vii,
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