~piritual Per[eflion. CHAP. IX. Divine Hope h.u on eminent Cat~{alitJ in the Life of a Chriflian. The nature of Chrijlia11 Hope. 'Ti4theChara_Be~ of a ~·amt~ 'TUnatt~rAI, congmorl4, _and nut[farJ to a Sa;,Jt m the prefent jla.". Tu diflin~ui{b 'd from carnal Pre{umption by IfS puri/7tnt, Vertue. Fear conjidered in ttJ natt~re and cltanfinf!. f7ertne. The A~trlbtttts _of God, the m_ollve~ of Ho8 iJ Fe4r. Thtrt is a Fear of Rev~rmce, a~d of Cat41ton_. 'J"u c t~nfiflent wnh FAtlh, and the -ffrc1ions of Love, Hope, and ]•J· 'Tu the fountaiiJ of Forttltlde. 3 . Dr;~~]~~prp~:~~i~~ ~Tit~~~"~~?:i~~~1 i\rk :~~rs1~?~~~c;at~tst~: t~:~~~~: t~.n~?~~~; World , infers from it, Every Man _that h.u thiS hope in htm, pnrt(in him/elf, even as he is pure. Three things are obfervable m the \Vords. 1 . T he Charaaer of a Chriflian, by his Hope: Ever! Man that h.u this hope in him. . 2. The di!l inaion of this Hope from its Counterfeit, by its in reparable effea, Purl· fies himfelf. 3· 1 he regulating of the elfea by irs Pattetn ; Even as ht is ptlre. 1 . Chriftian Hope is a firm expeaation of future Happinefs: ' Tis diflinguifh'd from Worldly 1-!opes, bj the excellency of the Ob)ea, and the {lability of itS Foundation. The Oojea is, an et ernal flate of Glory aild Joy, wherein we fhall be conform'd to the Son of God. Worldly Hopes are terminated on empty vanifh10g things, gilded over with the thin appearance of Good. The foundation of Divine Hope are the uncheangable ;;:,u~~~~o~~~u:~t1yh~5ei~~~i9~t~v!~::~a~t~:t na~~daJ:p~~~!d~u~t~~sr~.an~!~: ::~'d~ all things. The Apoflle declaresthe ground of his Confidence; !know in whom I havebeJiet•td ; a11d I am ptr{rvaded, that he tJ able to lu~p that whteh llnve commttud to him, againjl that da 1 . All the Perrons in the Deity are w'gaged for our Affurance and comfort. ~~~~e~~~sa~i!f:~~d 'f:h:;:,r :z~:~~;h'~~:i;o~;; ~~a~,~:& ZO;/Jefi~~c/:ri~;H:;~: ~r:"a~: 1 Per. '· u. ways uncertain in this fphere of mutability: There is fo much of impotence, or deceit, in all the means uf~d to obtain Humane Defires, that the fuccefs is doubtful : Fear mix:es with the Deures, and often Defpair with Fear. Young Men are flu!h .with Hopes, and of bolder Expeaations than ancient Men, who from Experience of many unforefeen and inev itable Difficulties that have travers'd their Hopes, are inclin'd to Fear. But Experience encourages and forcifies the Hopes of Chrifiians, which are attended with Patience and Joy. If 1vr hope, we with patience 'vait for it. Notwithflanding the dillance of time, and imen•ening difficulties, before the accomplifbment of what we expeCl ed, no Ram. 'i• uodircernable Accidents can blafl their a[urance. The interval of a thoufand Years did not weaken Abraham's Hope of the Promifed Meffiah. Comfort is mi·x'd with the pati. cnce of Hope. The Apoll le faith, Th•t we throt~gh patience •nd comfort of tbe.Seripture mi~ br bave hope. The final fecurity of the Bleffednefs promifed, is very joyful in an aflliaed Condition. This Hope is the Charaaer by which a uncere Chriflian is denominated and diA:inguifh'd from Heathens, who are withottf God, withotJt Chrift, and without Hope; For God is the Objea of it, as our foveraign Good; and Chrifl is the Means, whereby we obcain and enjoy him. This Grace is moft natural, congruous, and neceffa. ry to a Chrifi ian in the prefent ftate. hiJc:b~n~::~~·,, !~'!b~g::::: ~01: a;t!~;h~:;[ o;; ~~~rt::t~i;~o{W~h:,ftr::::lt~ 1 Pet. t. ;, +· dead, to an inheritana incor~uptiblt, und(ftled, and that [ado not a1vay, rt[erved in beavtn. for JOt~. The fupernatur~l Birth entitles to the_fupernatura llnherirance; if (om, thtn htirs; and the hope cf Heaven 1sa confequem AffeCbon. As in the Natural Life, the moll ear· ly cxcrcife of Rearon excites deures and hopes to obtain whlt may fupply the wants of it: So rn the Spirirual Life, when Faith drrcovers to us Cceleftial Ulc[ednefs revealed in the Gofpel, it .produces earnefi inclinations, and hopes of · partaking of it. (1..) 'Tts very congru~ us to our prerent Hate. Love in its pcrfeaion is che Grace of He~v~n , where God cxhtbits his Brightoefs and Beauty, without a Veil, tO chc Saints: Tlus IS above our Conception and Capacity here. Fear fometimes degenerates, and has a Llll • ~n~
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