6o2 H 0 P E coMPARED TO AN H E L M E T. Book IV. H 0 p E COMPARED TO AN H E L M E T. And take the Helmet of Salvation, &c. Eph. vi. I 7. And for an Helmet, the Hope of Salvation, 1 'I'hejf. v. 8. AN Helmet is a Piece of Armor for the Head, commonly called a Head·piece. Hope, the Word is derived from m;, Havah, which ligmfierh to expe!l or wait l and it notes a very vehement Intention both of Body and Mind, in waiting, expecting, or hoping; when a Man waits, as it were, ftretching forth his Spirit or his Mind, put– ing himfelf out exceedingly to hope or wait for a Thing. Hope is a divine and fupernatural Grace or Fruit of the Holy Spirit, and may be thus defcribed : Firlr, It is a patient and well.grounded ExpeCtation of whatfoever God hath promif– ed. God is the Author of it, called the Hope of Ifrael, and the God of Hope. The Believer is the SubjeCt of this Hope. The ObjeCt, in a ftrift Senfe, is God, who com– prehends all the Good that Saints dwell in the Faith and ExpeCtation of: fVhat wait I for? my Hope is in thee: In a large Senfe, it is the Good of Promife not in Hand, or already accomplifhed, but to be performed hereafter: Hope that is feen, is not ffope; for what a Man futh, why doth he yet hope for it? Ram. viii. 24. Futurity is inrrir.fical to Hope's Object, and diflinguifheth it from Faith, " hich gives a prefent lleing to the Promife, and is !I'"'S'I""w' ""',-"'~''• the Subftance of 'I'hings hoped for, Heb. XI. 1. The Good of the Promife hath a kind of Subftance by Faith in the Soul; it is in Heaven, as is were, in an Interview; it brings the Chriftian and Heaven together, as if he were there already. Why Hope is compared to an Helmet, w~ll appear in the following Parallel. METAPHOR. I. THE Helmet defends the Head, that eminent Part of the Body, from the Dint of Bullet or Sword. PARALLEL. I. HOPE of Heaven defends the principal Parts and Faculties of the Soul, from the dangerous A!faults of Sin and Satan particu– larly the Judgment, which moft Expofirurs un– derftand 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 Promifes; and Hope preferves the Soul from Satan's Wounds, keeping it in a faithful ancl ftedfaft ExpeCtation of the fulfilling of them : By which Means a Saint is helped chearfully to fuffer the Lofs of all other Things; and that in Judgment, hoping it will be made up again to him in another World : Like as Hope caufeth the Huibandman ro caft his choice and precious Seed into the Earth : He that ploweth, ploweth in Hope, 1 Cor. ix. 10. he hopes for a greater lncreafe at Harveft. So a Merchant venmres much Treafure at Sea, as far as the Jndies, in Hope; for had he not good Hopes of advan– tageous Returns, all would account him a Fool fo to do. 1!. The Helmet maketh a Sol11. In like manner, Hope of Heaven makes dier fearlefs, and very courageous a Saint very courageous for ChrilT, and his bkf– in the Day of Battle, for if his fed Ir.tereft. Hope maketh not ajhamed, Ram. v. 5· Head and H eart be well defended, It is the Hope of Heaven, that caufeth Saints to he is in no great Danger of his Life. endure Affiiftions and Perfecurions with Patience, and not to fear the Faces of their Enemies: For if the Judgment, Will, AffeCtion, and Confcience of a Believer be preferved from the mortal Wounds of the Adverfary, he is fafe, and out of Danger, which is all done by this Part of the Chriflian's Armor. How confidently and daringly did Goliath come forth againft Ifrael, with his Helmet of Brafs, and other Furniture, as if he had been fo enclofed in his Annor, that it was impoffible for any one to prevail againft him. This made him carry his Crelt fo high, and to defy a whole Halt. Though he was miftaken in his Armor, yet here is an Helmet, &c. that whofoever "'ears it !ball never be put to fhame for his holy Boafting. God himfelf allows him foro do, and will I:Jear him out in the rejoicing of his Hope. '!'hey jha/1 not be ajhamed that wait for me. Therefore faith David, '!'bough an Hojl jhall encamp againft me, my Heart jhall not
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