A Saints life would be a sad life should there only be a Cross but as there is a Cross here so there shall be a Crown hereafter If in this life only we have hope in Christ 1 Cor. 15.19 we are of all men the most miserable But the Saint shall have a compensation hereafter for all his crosses and calamities here for all his dangers and deaths here for all his sorrows and sufferings here for all his trials and travels here The righteous perisheth Isa 57.1 The righteous that is the righteous man or woman the righteous person But what of him or her He or She perisheth that is dyeth and the body perisheth Is here all Marg. No And merciful men men of kindness or of godliness are taken away none considering that they are taken away from the evil to come From the evil of sin and from the evil of suffering Ah but my Temptations are many Ob. 1. Art actually Christ's Sol. thou art more loved by Christ than hated by Satan The mercy of a Christ is more than the Malignity of a Satan and Christ loves his more than Satan can hate his Christ by his own blood hath once entred into the holy place Heb. 9.12 having obtained eternal into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us Thou art redeemed for ever but thou shale not be tempted for ever Ah but my Tribulations are many Oh. 2. Art a lover of Christ Sol. 1. then all things shall work together for thy good There is unto the lovers of Christ under every providential Occurrence an universal Concurrence of things for good All things shall work together for good to to them that love God All things Rom. 8.28 as national and congregational so personal As it was said 't is Good that Nero persecuteth so it may be said it was for good that Nero persecuted Art a lover of Christ Suffer but a while thou hast but a while to suffer The longest night will have an end After ye have suffered a while 'T is but a while yea a little while yea a very little while that thou hast to bear the cross For yet a very little while Isa 10.25 and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction The Cross is transient the Crown is permanent Art a lover of Christ then the last dish will be the best Hast a cross for Christ thou shalt have a Crown with Christ Hast a Hell here thou shalt have a Heaven hereafter Hast thy worst here thou shalt have thy best hereafter Hast thy bitter here thou shalt have thy sweet hereafter Hast thy Wilderness here thou shalt have thy Canaan hereafter Christ hath reserved the best wine until the last he will make the last Act the best part of the Comedy Mark the perfect man Psa 37.37 and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Ah! Ob. 3. but my Corruptions are many This is sad Sol. this is saddest Flee from sin as from a most pestilential plague as the Pest of Pests yet sorrow not as one without hope 1 Joh. 2.1 Little children I write unto you that ye sin not Ye had better be sick than sinning be sighing than sinning be suffering than sinning be doing than sinning be dying than sinning Yet if any one sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Ah but I question whether Christ loves me Ob. 4. Oh that I did but know that Christ loves me I could leap over a wall and run thorough a troop if I did but know that Christ loves me Oh! how shall I know that Christ loves me Dost thou love Christ Sol. certainly then Christ loveth thee Pro. 8.17 I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me Christ is first in love the love of a Christ is primary the love of a Christian is secondary the love of a Christ is the cause the love of a Christian is but the effect We love him Why 1 Joh. 4.19 because he first loved us There is the Sun and then the Light the Tree and then the Fruit love from Christ and then love to Christ Ah but I question whether I love Christ Though Christ may love me Ob. 5. yet I question whether I love him As a word filty spoken so a word fitly written is like an apple of gold in a picture of Silver But how shall I know whether my love to Christ be of the right Stamp Is it jealous then 't is real Sol. Art more jealous of thine own heart than of the hearts of others thy love then to Christ is real Eleven of the twelve Apostles seemed to have a holy jealcusie upon themselves for every one of them began to say Mat. 26.22 Lord is it I 'T is true at last Judas spake but he spake last v. 25. Master is it I He saith unto him thou hast said Judas was plotting his Apprehension and Crucifiction and yet he saith master is it I The rest might be in earnest and truly jealous though he was not God was jealous for Sion with great jealousie And the Apostle was jealous of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 11.2 with a godly jealousie or according to the Greek with the zeal of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus a lover of Christ keeps up a holy jealousie upon himself he dreads a disobliging of Christ a disquieting of Christ a disturbing of Christ a disgusting of Christ. Can. 3.5 I charge you ye daughters of Jerusalem that ye stir not up nor awake my love until he pleaseth Is it cordial then 't is real Is thy love not only in word but also in truth not complemental but cordial then 't is right 1 Joh. 3.18 and real My little children let us not love in word neither in tengue but indeed and in truth We are to love in word and in tongue but not in word and tongue only our Deeds must speak the Truth of our Loves The love of an Hypoerite to Christ is like the shining of a Glow-worm it shineth but it heateth not Is it uncessant then 't is of the right Stamp True love knoweth no playing days it ever hath a rest of contentation but it never hath a rest of cessation As he was never a Friend that is not ever a Friend so he was never a Lover that is not ever a Lover As Christ once loving his ever loveth his so a Christian of his making once loving him ever loveth him Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love As Christ dwells in the hearts of his lovers by his special and spiritual presence and influence so these are rooted and grounded in love their love is firm and strong But what follows v. 18. That we may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth
mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the upper heavenlies Certainly they are under a prodigious Deception and Delusion who say they have believed ever since they could remember The Apostle expresseth this power put forth upon those that believe by a six-fold gradation 'T is his Power Faith cannot be wrought in the Soul nor wrought out for the Soul by any power short of this power which is the power of God and of the Spirit of God It is his power 'T is the magnitude of his power It is not onely great but also Greatness of power 'T is the supereminent or sublime magnitude of his power 'T is the working of his power 'T is the working of his mighty power 'T is the same power which gave a Resurrection and Ascension to Christ This is the Gradation and 't is an evident one 't is an eminent one 't is an excellent one When they called upon Spira to believe he replied it was as impossible as to drink up the Sea at one draught It is saith he as possible to keep the Moral Law as to believe for 't is natural to work for Life but supernatural to believe for Life It s Object The Object of this Faith is the Person of Christ The Person of Christ is the Object of this Gospel-Faith That he might be just Rom. 3.26 and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus But the Greek thus That he might be just and justifying him who is of the Faith of Jesus That is who is of the number of those that renounce all confidence by their own works and believe onely in the Person of Christ for Salvation 'T is not the Light within that is the Object of Faith as some say 'T is not the Church that is the Object of Faith as others assert with great confidence 'T is one thing to believe the Church and another thing to believe in the Church The Church may be believed but Christ must be believed in Neither is the Pope who looks like the Reuben of the God of this world the Object of Faith Clark's Martyr 147. though in the Maryan-days the Sheriff told one Carver at the Stake Except thou believest in the Pope thou art damned both Body and Soul Mrs. Lewis 191. A Bishop also told one in the same days If thou believest no more than is in the Scripture thou art in a damnable condition God is the proper Object of Repentance Christ is the proper Object of Faith Acts 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the mediate Object of Faith God is the ultimate Object of Faith 1 Pet. 1.21 Who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God This also is the Doctrine of Christ Joh. â—4 1 Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me Ye believe in God as a Father believe also in me as a Saviour as a Sacrifice as a Satisfier as a Surety It s Essence Hereby there is a Reception of Christ The very Essence of Gospel-Faith if I mistake not lies in receiving this Person of Christ in all his Offices A Gift is received by the Hand Faith is the Soul's Hand Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he priviledge to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name Christ is received by Faith and not onely received into the Head but also received into the Heart Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith Thus Christ dwelleth by his Spiritual presence and by his gracious Influence Col. 2.6 As ye therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Here is a Reception of Christ in all his Offices received Christ Jesus the Lord. These three Christ Jesus Lord are often put together We preach not our selves 2 Cor. 4 5. but Christ Jesus the Lord. Thus Paul in his Benedictions useth at least seventeen times these words 1 Cor. 1.3 ch 15.23 2 Cor. 1.1 ch ult ult Gal. 1.1 ch ult ult Ephes 1.1 Phil. 1.1 ch ult ult Col. 1.1 1 Thes 1.1 ch ult ult 2 Thes 1.2 ch ult ult 1 Tim. 1.2 2 Tim. 1.2 Tit. 1.4 This Reception makes the Union herein lies the very Essence of the Faith of the Gospel Christ is received in all his Offices Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal as the Churches Prophet Priest and Prince Of these suffer a distinct discussion Christ is the Churches Prophet The Church hath had many Prophets but Christ by way of Emphasis Eminency and Excellency was the Prophet Moses in Old-Testament times was the Cheiftain of the Prophets leading the first Ranks John the Baptist in New-Testament times was also the Chieftain of the Prophets leading the last Ranks Moses leads the Van and John brings up the Rear of the Prophets but both these gave the wall to Christ as the Prince of Prophets Thus Moses did Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things Acts 3.22 23. whatsoever he shall say unto you And it shall come to pass that every soul every person whether upon the Throne or upon the Threshold in his Robes or in his Raggs that will not hear that self-same Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But as Moses so John gave the wall to Christ Joh. 1.29 30. John seeing Jesus coming unto him saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world Every word hath its Emphasis and is Emphatical Behold the Lamb of God Christ was a Lamb in passion but a Lion in Resurrection a Lamb suffering death but a Lion in rising from death The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin the Root original and the Branch actual sin which taketh away the sin of the world But where doth John give the wall to Jesus that followeth This is he of whom I said after me cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me Though he appears now without worldly grandeur and glory yet he is incomparably more excellent than I am Job 36.22 Well did Elihu say Who teacheth like him The words are a divine Challenge Who teacheth like him Bring forth the Man yea bring forth the Angel if ye can but ye cannot that teacheth like unto God or Christ Christ is the Churches Priest He is a Priest over the House of God Heb. 10.21 Of his Priestly Office there are two parts his Oblation and Intercession His Oblation As he was the Lamb in Effigie Heb. 9.14 provided for a burnt-offering so He through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to
Peripatetick Great Corruptions call for a great Faith As there are great Services great Sufferings great Promises great Providences great Temptations and all these call for a great Faith so more than all most of all worst of all there are great Corruptions which also call for a great Faith Corruption is the Sting this is the evil of evils the plague of plagues the poison of poisons There are Achans within to be stoned to death Sauls within to fall upon the point of the Sword of the Spirit There are Agag's within to be cut in pieces There are Goliahs within to be destroyed the Sons of Zerviah within that are to be subdued and these call for a great Faith Pro. 20.9 Was that Question ever answered Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my Sin Ah Soul look within and see new worlds of Sin now do not these call for a great Faith May it not be said of Sin Malum complexum what is said of War to be a Complex and a complicated Evil As there is the nature of Sin so there is the sin of the Nature And doth not this call for a great Faith As there is no Sin in Grace so there is no Grace in Sin Sin is evil all evil Sin is so bad that we cannot call it worse than it is It s name is Evil. Rom. 7.21 When I would do good evil is present with me As there is the evil of Suffering so there is the evil of Sin and this is the worst Evil. But as the name of Sin is evil so the nature of Sin is evil Rom. 7.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful Or that Sin by the Commandment might appear hyperbolically sinful Or according to the Greek that Sin by the Commandment might appear a Sinner unto an Hyperbole Now doth not this call for a great Faith Sin is a darkning of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God a wounding of the Soul of Man And doth not this call for a great Faith Is there a Day without Clouds A Moon without Spots A Garden without Weeds A House without Rubbish A Soul without Sin A Heart without Leaven Now doth not this call for a great Faith They look like perfect Strangers to their own Hearts who pretend unto a personal Perfection Paul was cried up for an earthly Angel Rom 7.17 yet not without Sin 'T is no more I that do it but Sin that dwelleth in me There is but one thing in all the World that is the object of God's abhorrence that makes Man truly miserable that caused the Maker of Man to repent of Man's making that necessitates Mercy that called for Christ's Sufferings and caused Tears to stand in his Eyes that God looks upon with a vindictive Eye that Christ came to destroy that made Angels Devils that makes a Hell within and that is Sin Now doth not this call for a great Faith CHAP. IV. Of a little and a weak Faith AS there is a great and a strong Faith so there is a little and a weak Faith Why are ye fearful Mat. 8.26 oh ye of little faith I would not discourage an Infant-Faith That God who bids us receive him that is weak in the Faith will not himself reject him but God bids us receive him that is weak in the Faith Rom. 14.1 Fides periculis secura securitate periclitatur Aug. Him that is weak in the Faith receive you but not to doubtful disputations By one that is weak in the Faith the Apostle may mean a young Convert a Babe in Christ or a Person not sufficiently instructed concerning the Use of things indifferent Though thy Faith be not grown to a Cedar if it be a Shrub or a bruised Reed 't is too good to be broken A weak Faith may lay hold upon a strong Christ A Palsical hand may tie the knot in Marriage 'T is con-natural unto Man to desire Salvation rather under the notion of Doing than of Believing Dream not of the same Favour with Saints unless thou hast the same Faith with Saints but 't is Faith of the same Stamp not of the same Stature the same as to Quality though not as to Quantity the same as to Truth though not as to Degree A spark of Fire is true Fire the Furnace is no more A Drop of Water is true Water the Ocean is no more Now as a little Fire may be true Fire and a little Water true Water so a little Faith may be true Faith But how shall I know that I have true Faith Qu. I fear my Silver is Tin my Gold is Dross my Faith is Fancy Ah! I fear that my Faith is not a true but a false Faith How shall I know a true Faith from a false Faith That 's the Question A true Faith goeth not alone Sol. 1. As it is said 't is not good that Man should be alone so it may be said that Faith is not good that is alone The Leper under the Law was to dwell alone but true Faith goeth not alone 'T is written Wo to him that is alone so Wo to that Person whose Faith is alone Unless a corn of Wheat falleth into the Ground and dieth it abideth alone thus Faith if it hath not Works is dead Jam. 2.17 being alone or by it self so the Greek A false Faith goeth alone an Hypocrite speaks of his Faith when his Works are speechless or speak nothing but Unbelief An Hypocrite is all Creed but no Commandment he saith he believeth but continueth in Sin 'T is a false not a true Faith that goeth alone A true Faith hath a train of good Works Jam. 2.18 Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works A true Faith hath a true Object A false Faith hath a false Object an Hypocrite believeth the lying Vision of his own Heart but a true Faith hath a true Object this hath the Person of Christ for Object a Christ in all his Offices as the Churches Prophet Priest Acts 16.31 and Prince Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved A true Faith is not easily come by A false Faith is easily had this Faith Mark 4 5. is like the Seed in the Parable which sprung up suddenly 't is without Convictions and Heart-woundings Though there may be many Convictions without out Conversion yet is there any Conversion without Convictions It may be said to a Person that hath a false Faith concerning his faith as Isaac did to his Son concerning his Venison Son how camest thou by thy Venison so soon So Soul how camest thou by thy Faith so soon Hast not been wading in the Waters of Marah and of Meribah and yet hast faith Hast not been sailing by the Gates of Hell and yet
hast faith Have there been no Pains nor Pangs and yet hast faith This faith may have the stamp of a Caesar but it hath not the stamp of a Christ upon it A true Faith is hardly come by it cost many Prayers and many Tears this spiritual Infant is not born without Pains Pangs When Peter had told the House of Israel that God had made that same Jesus whom they Crucified Acts 2.36 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leigh both Lord and Christ the Text saith They were pricked in their Heart The word signifieth to Rent Vex and Wound punctually even the least part and point of the Heart as if the sharpest points of many empoysoned Daggers in the severest manner had been fastned in their Hearts Now Soul hath thy faith a Train of good Works Hath it Christ for Object Did it cost thee dear Then 't is a true Faith though a little Faith A true Faith hath two Hands A false Faith hath but one Hand An Hypocrite would take Christ but not give up himself to Christ An Hypocrite would take Christ by way of Surety but not give up himself to Christ by way of Surrender but now a true Faith though it be but a little Faith takes Christ as a Saviour and submits unto Christ as a Soveraign True faith can say to Christ Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies Psal 110.2 Not only in the midst of thine Enemies without but also in the midst of thine Enemies within Now Soul art as willing to be sanctified by Christ as to be saved by Christ As willing to be crucified with Christ as to be crowned with Christ Then thy faith though a little Faith is a true Faith A true Faith dreads not Trial. An honest Man is not afraid of the Bar. A false Faith dreads a coming to the Test to the Trial to the Touchstone An Hypocrite is like a Man that hath stoln Goods in his House the Man is unwilling that his House should be searched the Hypocrite is unwilling that his Heart should be searched but true Faith will come to the Trial. Psal 26.2 Examine me O Lord and prove me try my Reins and my Heart A true Faith will live in a Storm A false Faith will die in a Storm an Hypocrite is like those Hearers that had no Root Luk. 8.13 which for a time believed but in time of Temptation fell away When a Storm or Showr of Blood came their Faith died but true Faith will live in a Storm Col. 2.6 7. for as it hath Christ for Object so it hath Christ for Root Now Soul doth not thy Faith dread the Test and will it live in a Storm Then though a little 't is a true Faith But to conclude this first Section suffer the words of Exhortation Art not in Christ Come then to Christ. Art not in Christ Come then to Christ Joh. 8.24 or go to Hell If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins If ye die in your Sins ye will be Damned for your Sins Art out of Christ 'T is a wonder to me and may be to Thee that thou art out of Hell Art in Christ Welcome then two words Multiply Cries through Christ unto Christ for more Faith Luk 17.5 The Apostles said unto the Lord increase our faith Drink of the Brook by the way and lift up thy Head He that believeth Acts 13.39 is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the Law of Moses The Compendium Versified PRose into Poem comes to welcome Those In Poem that no welcom found in Prose Faith subject is this leads the Van of Grace This goeth first within the Churches Race Faith subject is But what 's a Gospel-faith 'T is Heaven's Gift as one most truly saith The Spirit 's Fruit the Essence of it lies In taking Christ as sacred Truth complies On Gospel-terms which Terms are freely free In all his Offices now these are three Christ Jesus Lord who first and ever since Hath been the Churches Prophet Priest and Prince Thus taking there must be there also must Be resting solely by this mortal Dust On Jesus Christ the Lord for Grace and Glory This sweetly doth comport with Sacred Story If Faith then Love tho not about Romances To Christ and Christ's the Christless Ordinances A Gospel-faith 't is great 't is strong I see Its Symptoms also may appear to Thee No Famine fears this Faith but Christ doth take Without a l'awn and Earnings of him make In Famine Christ to great Faith is a Feast A Fragment is with Christ a Dish at least It s Logick also doth Conclusions make Of Light in Darkness Life in Death awake 'T is steady stedfast too let none controul Not shaken out though shaken in the Soul This swims ' gainst Wind and Tide it progress makes Bears great Delays and no Denial takes Great Act'on Pass'on Promises and all Great Providences Tempting Sinning call For Gospel-faith timely to take the Wall Which cannot stoop unto a final Fall Lend both Ears now and hear for Jesus saith Oh Woman great is thy Prophetick Faith THough Faith be little may it not be true A Spark and Drop the Fire and Water shew He teacheth well that doth distinguish well Now real Faith from false may Mortals tell True Faith of good Works hath a lovely Train Its Object 's true it costeth dear again It hath two Hands it dreadeth not a Test It liveth in a Storm that 's better best Art not in Christ Go then to him or go To Tophet dying unto endless Wo. But art in Christ beg down more of this Grace Be joyous also running of thy Race From all things hath a Surety freed Thee That Moses Law could not a Sinner free As there 's a great so there 's a little Faith In sacred Scripture this Jehovah saith SECTION II. Of HOPE CHAP. I. Whether there be a Gospel-Hope and what this Gospel-Hope is AS there is a Gospel-Faith so there is a Gospel-Hope Faith is the Christians Logick Hope is the Christians Rhetorick Faith is compared to a Doctor in the Schools Hope is compared to a Captain in the Wars Though there may be a difference between Faith and Hope in respect of Subject in respect of Object in respect of Office and in respect of Order yet as there is a Gospel-Faith so there is a Gospel-Hope Now as a Gospel-Faith so a Gospel-Hope hath a various acception and acceptation in the sacred Scripture By Hope sometimes understand Faith Be ready always to give an answer to every Man that asketh you a reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness 1 Pet. 3.15 and fear By Hope here understand Faith Faith as to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Gospel If the Glory of God and the good of those that ask a reason of Faith as to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Gospel be concerned otherwise we are not to cast
cannot hope This they want and can never have This is the life of Christians and the want hereof maketh Devils There must be living thorough hope upon the Object of Hope Infer 4. The life of Faith is a noble life and so is the life of Hope these two live together and will dye together Lam. 3.24 Jehovah is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him 'T is a mercy to have a portion in the World but 't is a misery to have the World for a Portion Though thou hast no Bags and Barns not an Affluence and Confluence of these lesser and lower things though thou hast not a Palace but a Cottage and livest not at Court but upon a Common though thou farest not deliciously but hast short Commons and hast not Bread for to morrow until to morrow though thou hast not Variety and Rarity but a morsel nor the finest or fat of the Wheat but pulse though thou hast not Superfluity but a handful of Meal in the Barrel and a little Oyl in the Cruse yet if actually Christs thou hast Jehovah for thy Portion therefore hope Those who have the Grace of Hope should have a Life in Print Infer 5. What manner of persons ought they to be in Cogitation and Communication and Conversation who have God or Christ or Heaven for the Object of their Hope Hast a Gospel-hope look then to thy Steps and make strait steps to thy Feet A well led life is the best Monument 'T is highly commendable when the life of a Christian is a Commentary upon the life of a Christ A Congregational-life should be a Christian-life an Evangelical-life should be an Angelical life A Life in Print is a silencing evidence Good works are more evidential unto interest in Christ than good words The Life rather than the Lip is evidential for what Country thou art bound what thy Desires and Delights and Designs are The End of the Conversation is notoriously evidential for or against a Man The Life will speak when the Lip is silent 'T is not the witty Head but the holy heart that shall go to Heaven 1. Jo. 3.3 Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Every one actually in Christ as to Nation whether Jew or Gentile as to Sex whether Man or Woman as to Age whether a Methuselah or a Josiah as to State whether a Crassus or a Codrus as to Degree whether a person in his Robes or a person in his Rags desireth and endeavoureth thorough Christ to be pure as Christ is pure This as is an as of quality not of equality A Christian should be like the floor of the Temple and the Ark of Noah over-laid with pure Gold within and without Jewel 'T is said of one Diu vixits licet non diu fuit that he lived long in the short scantling of his life 'T is said of Daniel that nothing was found against him unless it was concerning the Law of his God Though perfection be not in the power of a Christian yet it should be in the endeavour of a Christian Those who shall wear Kings Robes in Heaven must wear Saints Robes on Earth Godliness saith one always enricheth the possessor 'T is pity but the life of a Christian should be such as envy it self might not know where to fasten As the Image in the Glass doth resemble the Face or Figure the Feature and Favvur so doth a Christian after his proportion that hath a Gospel-Hope resemble Christ Those actually Christs are to hope to the end Infer 6. As there must be a believing to the end 1 Pet. 1.9 if at the end of our days we would receive the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls so there must be a hoping to the end if at the end of our days we would receive the end of our hope and be graciously arrived at that City which is the Object of it the builder and maker whereof is God Heb. 11.10 Hope is a sweet and firm companion of man it is the last thing that leaveth him The Apostle presseth a hoping to the end Gird up the loins of your mind 1 Pet. 1.13 be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ Gird up the loins of your mind The Jews and eastern people tuck up their long garments that they may be more expedite and free to a journey or business thus Christians having a Gospel-Hope must take short their minds from terrene objects and delights in their progress thorough the wilderness unto the Holy Land Be sober in principle in practise And hope to the end and hope perfectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the greek But for what For the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ for more grace here and for glory hereafter That a hoping person Infer 7. is a happy person Hast a Gospel-Hope drink then of the brook by the way and lift up thy head for the hoping soul is the happy soul Thou mayst say as Luther did let him be miserable that can be miserable for my part I cannot be miserable for I have a Gospel-Hope Psal 146.5 Happy is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Canst thou be miserable so long as God is merciful Canst thou be unhappy when the God of Gods is the Object of thy Hope Hast a Gospel-Hope Then that God who hath eternity for his mansion and eternity for his measure speaketh unto thee from the mercy-seat from Gerizim the mount of blessings not from Ebal the mount of curses for the hoping person Deu. 11.29 is the happy person The Heathens had this Divinity among them that only good men should be happy hereafter When Craesus asked Solon that Athenian-Lawgiver who was more happy than Craesus Solon answered Tellius who though he was a poor man yet he was a good man If there be a person unhappy on this side Hell 't is a person without a Gospel-Hope and if there be a person happy on this side Heaven O terque quaterque beati 't is a person that hath a Gospel-Hope This may be said of Christ and of those who are Christs having him for the Object of their Hope that they are three times Toties quoties four times many times very many times blessed Ah but this is an evil day Objec 1 and like to be worse The People of God have not only the sense of death but also the sentence of death in themselves now There is a Storm impending a Showr impending it may rain and that blood before night before I be gathered unto my Fathers before I go to the grave of silence and have a pillow of dust for my head Be not over concerned Sol. for Christ is the Object