Ephefianf,Chap.b'. TTER.I©,; Lord in the land of the living. For hope that God will fend ftrength, and give iffue, doe fo hold up the chime that we finke not indeepe waters. Per the thirdthing, the DevillBoth [eeke many wayes to disfur- nith us ofthis monition. First, by putting us offwith hope that will not ferve, faife, vaine hopes, wicked hopes; fuch as are the prefùmptions of many, who by theirhonefl lives, who with<faying Lord have. mercy on us, though they lye in ignorance, and the loft of ignorance; yet fay, they have good hopes. Thefe are wicked hopes, and to hope upon vaine grounds : as on this, that God hath .bleffed us, with outward things; that thereforewe arc in his favour : but all our hope mull be brought to this touch- flone. r lobs 3. He that hath this hope purgeth himfelfe, evenas he is pure. He that hath true hope towards God, will be carefull to cleanfe out all corruption of flcfh and fpirit, which are difpleafing to God. If we hope to have any good from man, we will be carefull not to incurre his difpleafure, doe that which he defireth. Whofoever nourifheth hopes fromGod, will not live in finne which God hareth. Secondly, ifwe have hope, the Devill will labour manywayes to breake it off, bypleading againft us our unworthineffe. If thy con- fcience did not tell thee, thou art thus, then mighteft thou havehope, and that by cutting the cable which will make us lcofe our anchor. Anfw. There is double unworthine fe ; one of an evill confcience that lyeth in fome finne,of which it will not be reformed : another unworthineffeofa good confcience, which defireth and endeavoureth tobedisburthened of finne, but cannot; and therefore dayly renew- eth repentance. Now this unworthineffe doth not take away hope : for Goddoth make good his promifes, not for our fakes, the houle ofIfrael, but for his Names fake, E7ek. 36.32. Be it knowne untoyou, I doeit not for your fake; the zealeof the Lord of Holts which he bea- reth us doth it : he leapeth over the mountaines of Bether, to come to us; or if he flayed on our fufficientdifpofitions, we might all bid our hope farewell. Fourthly, from delay, the Devill will (hake hope. Prov. r3.0. Hope delayed maketha ficke foule. But we mull know, that Gods forbearance is no quittance. And when thefe ufurerscare not how much their money runnes in a rich mans hands; why fhould we thinkmuch to trult our treafure with God, who will payufe for time he delayeth. Againe, he doth not foreflacke any fit feafon,but onelywaiteth the opportunity: and exam- ples of delayed hopes,yet certainely accomplifhed at !ength,maycom- fort us. Seventy yeares, the returning of Gods people from theBa- bylonifh captivity was rejourned, yet it was fulfilled in the feafon of ir. Fiftly, from the greatneffeof our mifery. Lam. 3. r 8. And I Paid, myftrength,and my hope is perifhed from the Lord;remembring mine ! aflliétion, my worme -wood, and my gall. .i1nfiv.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=