Ver. zq.. the 8th Chapter to the R OM AN S. à more : Where this is foundly believed and earneflly hoped for, it will breed fuck a jet)/ s fupports us under all difcouragements, fears, cares and forrows 5 and on the other fide, weigheth down all the pleafures and riches of the world. in (fort, fweetneth our by es and maketh lieligion our chiefefi delight. 2. Reafans to prove that hope is a neceffary Grace : I (hail prove, . t. For the 31ate of a believer in this world. We are, not fo faved by Chriflas pre, featly to be introduced into the heavenly inheritance, but are kept a while here upon earth to be exercifed and tryed; now while we want our bleffednefs, and there is luCh adiftance between us and it, in the mean time we encounter with,matly difficulties, there is need of hope : Since the Believers Portion is not given him in hand ;. he bath it only in hope ; things invifible and future cannot elfe be fought after : As our underftandings are cleared by faith to fee things to come, otherwife invifible, our wills are warmed by love, that we may be earneftly carryed out after the fupreine good ; fo our refolutions and inclinations muff be fortified by hope, that we may leek after it, and not be divert- ed either by the comfortable or troublefome things we meet with in the world : This is the difference between the children of God in their warfare,- and in their triumph.; in their way,and in their home ;they that are at home,are rejoicing in what we expe&,and are f in poffelfion of that Cupreme good which we hope for;they are entred into the joy of their Lord5and have neither miferies'to fear,nor blef ings to defire,beyond what theydo enjoy; they fee what they love,and poffers whatthey fee;but the time of our advancement to theft is not yet come; and therefore we can only look and long for it ; the glorified aie dab n- gui(hed from us by fruition, and we are diftingui(hed from all others by hope ; we are di ftinguifhed from Pagans who have no hope, Eph.2.1a. Having no hope, and without God in the world, t Ther. 4. 13. Sorrow not as others, which have no hope. We are d i- ffingui(hed from Temporaries, Heb. 3. r6. If we hold fafithe confidence and rejoycing áf hope firm to the end. The Temporary lofeth his raft and comfort, and fo either ca(teth off the profeffion of Godlinefs, or neglefleth the power and practice of it ; theot her isdi- ligent, ferious, patient, mortified, heavenly, holy, becaufe he keepeth the rejoicing of his hope; the end fweetneth his work. q. From thenew nature, which is not intire without hope. This is one of the confli- tutive graces, which are effential to a Chriftian, r Cot. t 3. 13. And now abideth faith? hope and charity, theft three, but the greateil of theft is charity. He oppoleth the abiding things, the neceffary graces, to the arbitrary gifts, and among there he reekóneth hope; 'Tis the immediate fruit of the new birth, t Pet. r. 3. Begotten to a lively hope. The new nature prefently difcovereth its Cell by a tendency to its end and re(t ; which is the fruition of God in Heaven; now the new creature cannot be maimed and impeded, be. caufe it is the immediate produelion of God. 3. From theufe for which it fervetti. 1. It is neceffary to quicken our duties : Hope fets the whole world a work ; the Hu bandman plougheth in hope, and the Soldier fighteth in hope, and the Merchant traded" in hope, fo doth the Chrftian labour and ferve God in hope, Aûs 26. 7. Veto which pro. mile our twelve tribes infiantlyferving God day and night, hope to come. Certainly a man ',, that hopethfor any thing, will be engaged in the earnefi purfuit of it, and follow his work dole day and night ; but where they hope for no great matter, they are (luggiflt and indifpofed; the principle of obedience is love, but the life of it is hope, Ails 24. r q, 16. 1 have hope towards God, that there (hall be a refurreflion of ,the juif and nnjú.fb. 'Er rrra:çim. And herein, or thereupon, or in the mean time,clp 1 exercife my Pelf to keep a confidence void of offence towards God, and towards men. z. To vanquijhtemptations: Which are either on the right hand, or on the left, butt both are defeated by hope; on the right hand, when tome prefent delight is ready to in. vite us to fin; on the left hand, when fome prefent bitternefs is likely to draw us from the waysof God ; in both cafes the hopes of future joys outweigheth that pleafurc, and allay that bitternefs : If the temptation be the comforts of the world, or the de- lights of fin, he that fincerely hopethfor Heaven, dareth not think fo !lightly of it as to lofe it, or put it to hazzard fora little carnal fatisfaáion 'cis noted high prophanenefs in Elan to fell the birth-right fora morlel of meat, Heb. 12. 16. Sin cannot offer him things fo good, but he mull forego better, and ió the heart rifeth in indignation againft the temptation; Shall I leave my fatnef,my fweetnefs, to rule over theTrees? If the temp- tation be lbw grievous inconvenience or aflliflion, lyom. 8. IA, For I reek: ihei tb/ 9.F fu Í
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