Verle 24,25, the Epiflle to the Romans. 795 What äif. hope then by the diffrence {lands is abfent.This may be proved by com- 7tnce be- herein. Firfi, by faith we beleeve the moo fenie,for every man teeth and per - andliopes promíCeof falvation; by hope we do c,ivcth that one cannot hope for any look for the thing promifed. Secondly, thing that he already ha h,and which is faith`doth enter andbegin oùrfalvation now already in his políellion: of this in apprehending remillion of finnes,re- we (peak improperly and abutively, if conciliation vi ti God)the perfe& nigh- we do fay that we hope for it;for it is teouhrefíeofChrift, and purified 'our ; p'efent. hearts, that we may live holily t but T i M. What is the Doíirine f on: the fe hope loons forward unto the end, and words thus declared and open d ? hill perk/lion ofbliffe. Thirdly, faith S s L. 1 hat this is the property oqf faveth as an inftrumentall caufe with- hope,to expo& andlook for thatwhicli out the which we cannot lay tho1d of yet we have not, but is abfent and to Faith is be. fate hope, as the taufe before the cffett. vfe. Chrift ; hope faveth as a fruit of faith,as a liign.ofa perfon juftified and reconci- led,as the way wherein we are to walk towards heaven, as that which looks to enjoy falvation, becaufe God bath truly promifed, and faith hath Curdy beleeved that promife. T i to What ufe it to be made of this Po ¿trine? S i L. Firft,it reproves fuch as place all their happineffe in worldly things, thtfe are no true beleevers: for they have no hope offalvation in heaven.Se- condly,this admonifheth how to make trial! ofour faith, even by that hope which we have of falvation to come : for thefe two are infeparable,none can certainly c epe& falvation, except they do beleeve it to be ti my promifed : and whofoever can undoubtedly look for heavenly glory by hope, it is becaufe fiat by faith they have received the promife of it. Thirdly, it teacheth that the faithful by infalliblecertainty,may aflùre their own hearts of their eter- nal! falvation,becaufe they are Caved by hope, which doth not make afhamed or confoundeth,whichit fhould do,ifthe hope of glory might be frti[irate. T. t oa. Proceed to the next matter, [the nature of hope] ant t:11 us what it meant' here by hope,rrhen he faith [Hope which isfeen ?] S i L. Not the gift of hope which is inward,featedin the heat t,but the thing which is hoped for, even that which is prefent,andnow enjoyed and poffiffed, or now in our hands. T t M. What it here meant by Hope ? Si L. That the gift of hope hath no Place, but when the thing hoped for 2 Part, come. T t t,t,Wil it not follow hereof that Chri flian Hope is uncertain and doubtful!, feeing of'things to come, it cannot be known nial tortes whether theywilleome or no ? S r L. No, it will not follow ; be- caufe the things which Chrifiian hope looketh after,they are alwaics abfent in fuch wife, as they mull needs be fulfil- led ;becaufe they are promifed by fuch a God,as both can for his almightinefs, and for his mercy in Chrift will per- form them. It ffandsupon his honour to make good his word,as a good Chri- flian at the hour of death laid in my hearing. T i M. Tow do not think certainty or apt- mot to be of the nature of Hops ?Dal) Hop, (imply conf:dered,breed.fecuricy and affiance? S t L. No,it is not; butaffitrance ari- feth from the quality of the things which beabfentand hoped for, which if they have caufes contingent,then the hope is doubtfa jl and uncertain, but it they be of ncceffary caufes, then the hope is undoubted and firm. Now the falvation of the Saints to come, !lath fare, unmovable and firm caufes, as the trnth,and mercy,and Oath of God the promifer ; the merits and mediation of Chrifi our Redeemer, dead and railed again ; the witnelfe of the Spirit. T t M. What is the ufe to be made of this point of potirine? S t L. It 'doth warn the faithfitll, that they havecontinual cattle to grieve and figh even in this regard, that their full and abfolute happineffe is yet ab- lent. To want fo great a good is cattle enough of grief; many will grieve and C c 3 fi;fA vf .
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