God amiable to man who were enemies before by the sin of man 4. That God in Christ is fatherly towards believers in all his Attributes whereby he is described in Exod. 34. 6 7. and other Texts of Scripture all which are in God essential and therefore eternal and infinite 5. That God acteth all these his excellencies by his fatherly providence governing and ordering all things for the good of his people so powerfully that Satan and his instruments in seeking to crosse his revealed will shall and do fulfil his secret will to their own confusion This providence extends as far as the creation all things even the most casual and most disordered things sins and the most free actings of men are ordered by it so that God doth sometimes great things by weak means disabling more likely means Eccles 9. 11. Sometimes without means and sometimes crossing the course of means And when evil is intended God either wholly averts it or limits and bounds it in regard of measure Psal 129. 3. 4. or of continuance Psal 125. 3. Hereby also he causeth and ordereth a cessation of actions that some shall not favour us and others shall want wisdom and ability to help us from Gods with-drawing his concurrence who hath sufficient reason as well not to do what he doth not as to do what he doth The right knowledge of God in his Being is necessary to the well-laying the ground-work of this hope as conducing unto the preparatory purposes and uses 1. To silence all disputes and murmurrings This made Aaron hold his peace Lev. 10. 2 3. And David not to open his mouth Psal 39. 9. 2. To cause the soul to resigne up a mans self to the will of God who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will Eph. 1. 11. So it wrought in Ely 1 Sam. 3. 18. in David 2 Sam. 15. 26. and in the Saints Acts 21. 14. 3. To quicken us to inure our selves to do Gods will that we may be fit to suffer it For passive obedience springs from active Then are mens wills in right order when as God is the highest so his will hath the highest place in our hearts when they are willing to do what God commands to suffer what God inflicts and to be at Gods dispose when this stayeth our hearts in all events that they are in covenant with him who sits at the Stern and hath committed all power to our Redeemer who hath our names in his brest-plate and on his shoulders The second principle to be looked at in God that our hope may be well built on him is a principle of knowing This principle is the written Word whereby God makes himself and his will known unto us without which we have no good ground or warrant to build our hope upon God But that his people may thus hope in him with strong encouragement He gives us his Word that thereby we may know his good thoughts and purposes towards us which is a sufficient ground of hope it being the Word of him that cannot lie and not onely his bare Word but a binding Word his promises which are free expressions of his love with engagement of it unto us nor onely Promises but his Covenant founded upon a full satisfaction made to his justice by our Redeemer as the head of the Covenant and thereunto hath added his Oath Hob. 6. 18. and Seals both outward Rom. 4. 11. and inward Eph. 1. 13. and all this he hath done that our hope might be built upon a strong foundation that believers might be supported in all tempests Isa 54. 9. 10 11. 2. Having such a strong foundation well laid our next duty is to build strongly upon it Which that you may do attend to these directions 1. See that you trust and hope in God by light and strength received from himself 1. By divine light not by meer humane reasons For none can so know God in his truth and goodnesse as to trust and hope in him but by his own light revealing himself to the soul by his Word and Spirit as none can see the Sun but by its own light Psal 36. 9. 2. The divine power must accompany this light For neither education nor examples of others nor our own resolutions can settle our hearts upon God till we find an inward power and authority causing divine truths to shine into our hearts and subduing all our reasonings and thoughts unto the obedience of faith onely that soul which hath found the efficacy of the spirit by the Word in casting it down and raising it up and renewing it can hope in God aright for things of God them and not before a man chooseth God for his portion and cleaveth to him as his chief good then and not before the sweetnesse of Gods love is let into the soul and rellished by it which draweth the whole soul to trust and hope in him Psal 9. 10. 3. Suit the Promises to your several conditions For what ever condition of life any believer is or can be in he hath Promises in the Word suitable to it whether present or possible 1. At present what ever difficulties or impossibilities as to second causes and means appear to sense or reason faith lifteth up the soul above them all to look unto the Promises and power of God and thereby quickneth and strengthenth our hope in him Rom. 4. 19 20 21. Heb. 11. 27. 2. Possible The Saints have found great help to their faith and hope by putting cases and answering their own hearts therein from Gods all-sufficiencies So David Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear none evil for thou art with me Psal 23. 4. Again Though an Host should encampe against me my heart should not fear Psal 27. 3. Again God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea though the Waters thereof roar Psal 46. 1 2 3. Paul excellently puts other cases of an higher nature than these and triumphs over them all in the unchangeablenesse of Gods love to believers in Christ Rom. 8. 38 39. 3. When your hope is quickened by the Promises look unto God with a single eye trusting and hoping in him alone To trust upon two props of which one is sound the other rotten is the ready way to fall Make use of all helps which God gives you but hope in him alone For hoping in God is a part of that natural worship of God injoyned in the first Commandement which belongs to God alone Mat. 4. 20. and thus to have our eyes towards God alone is the proper effect of true conversion Isa 17. 7 8. 4. See that the dispositions of your spirits be answerable to the relations you have to God when he becomes your portion and the object of your hope He hath 1. The relation of a faithful Creator and
signifieth to expect which is the formal act of hope Hence we may gather a definition of this divine hope It is a lively spiritual in-dwelling gift of grace whereby believers are inclined to expect in and from God what ever good they want and he hath promised 1. For the general nature of it which it hath in common with other fruits of the spirit it is 1. A lively gift of grace an holy quality or habit or disposition freely given of God hereby it is distinguished from that hope which is meerly a natural affection For the natural affection of hope is by corrupt nature set upon a mans self and earthly things and cannot savour the things of God and therefore is said to be dead It 's an hope that hath given up the Ghost Job 11. 20. Natural men are big with hopes as they that are with child and are in pain to bring their hopes to the birth but instead thereof they bring forth wind After long looking and hard labour all is but a gripe of wind like a fit of the collick as the Prophet intimates in Isa 26. 18. But by this gift of grace which I call divine hope that affection is sanctified and lifted up unto God and set upon him and heavenly things and so quickened and made alive unto God Whence believers are said to be begotten again to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. This gift of grace I describe further by two properties 1. Spiritual it is a spiritual gift for two reasons 1. Because it is created and perfected in believers by the power of the Holy Spirit Rom. 15. 13. 2. Because it makes them spiritual in whom it is wrought 1 Cor. 2. 15. and fit instruments for Gods spiritual service 1 Pet. 2. 5. 2. In-dwelling I call it an in-dwelling gift 1. Because it abides in all that are in Christ Union with Christ doth not extinguish it in believers Therefore when believers are said to be dead in Col. 3. 3. it is not meant in respect of sanctifying gifts of grace inhaerent in them as if they were dead and the faculties and affections of their souls were immediately acted by the Holy Spirit but in respect of sin they are dead unto sin but alive unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 6. 11. 2. Because it it is not a transient work upon us nor abiding in the Holy Ghost though he abideth in us for no created gifts or qualities abide in him for whatsoever is in him is himself but it is wrought preserved increased actuated and perfected in us by the Holy Ghost as all other sanctifying inhaerent gifts of grace are So much for the general nature of this divine hope 2. The subject recipient of it are believers For this hope is grounded on faith in the promises Gal. 5. 5. Therefore in the Old Testament trusting in God and hoping in God are promiscuously used in one and the same sense and in 1 Pet. 3. 15. hope is put for faith For they both act to-together inseparably in supporting the soul in times of affliction yet in their manner of acting there are some differences between them For 1. The adaequate object of faith is the whole Word of God holding forth good and evil promises and threatnings blessings and cursings But the object of hope is good onely 2. Faith in its relying upon the promises looks to the word promising and to the Authority of God the promiser but hope to the good promised and to the goodnesse of the promiser 3. Faith looks to all times past present and to come and makes future things present Psal 60. 7. But hope looks onely at good things and at those onely as future 4. Faith lookes at God as the first truth hope relies on God as the chief good 3. The formal act of hope is expectation Therefore it is said to look for him in a way of waiting for him Isa 8. 17. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is well translated earnest expectation in Rom. 8. 19. Phil. 1. 20. it being a metaphor taken from the bodily gestures of those who look for some person or thing with earnest desire and assurance lifting up and putting forth their head stretching out their neck fixing their eyes with intention and observation to shew the strength firmnesse and certainty of this hope For the object of this divine hope is principally God himself 1 Pet. 1. 21. and secondarily all those means and degrees whereby believers come unto God ver 1◠unto whom this hope looketh with waiting upon him for all the good they want and he hath promised So that this hope is certain and infallible being objectated upon God founded in faith and grounded upon the promises of God who cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. Hence it supporteth the heart in the worst times Doct. Hoping in God a right is a special means of supporting the soul against discouragement in times of great afflictions The Scriptures are innumerable which confirm and prove this truth And it must be so for these Reasons R. 1. From the formal object of divine hope which is God himself in whom alone is to be found all ability and readinesse to do good unto those that hope in him and wait upon him in such times 1. All ability to help is in God alone Princes are of greatest abilities among men yet we are forbidden to trust in Princes in whom there is no help Psal 146. 3. Men commonly think themselves happy in the favour and protection of Princes But they are deceived Therefore it is added in ver 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God For no creature hath ability of it self and what ever ability God hath put into any yet the exercise and successe of it depends on God alone Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it Except the Lord keep the City the Watchman waketh but in vain It is in vain to rise up early to go to bed late to eat the bread of sorrows So he will give his beloved quiet sleep Psal 127. 1 2. that is in their resting upon him building keeping giving them bread without sorrows Therefore when men say They hope for this or that from such a creature either they mean They hope to receive it from God by such a creature or it notes not a divine but a meer humane hope or it is not a Christian but a vain hope 2. As God onely is able so he is alwayes ready to do good to all those that hope in him For he is infinite as well in goodnesse as in power Thou are good and doest good Psal 119. 68. This David largely shewes by sundry instances in two cases 1. In deliverances where of he notes four examples in Psal 107. 1. Of men wandering in the Wildernesse ver 2. to 10. 2. Of Prisoners ver 10. to 17. 3. Of persons dangerously sick ver 17. to 23. 4.
call of God with the obedience of faith as David found in Psal 27. 8. Thou saidst seek ye my face my heart answered thy face Iehovah I do seek This answer is the voice of the whole soul unto God The understanding being illightned and fully convinced closeth with God in Christ as the first Truth and the will chooseth him as the chiefest good the affections rest satisfied with him alone and the whole soul placeth all its happinesse in its injoyment of him and conformity to him Hope waits for him desire longeth after him and joy delighteth in him above all things The Lord calleth the whole soul to come unto him that it may find true rest in voluntarily subjecting it self under his yoke Mat. 11. 28 29. and the whole soul in all its faculties and affections answereth as the Church did in Ier. 3. 22. Lo we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God With renouncing all other refuges as they did in ver 23. according to that promise in Hos 2. 23. I will say thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God R. 2. Because the souls saying the Lord is my portion argues unseigned love of God in Christ For all the affections depend on love What a man loveth as his portion he desireth to possesse and injoy and any impediment thereof stirs up his anger proportionately to his esteem and love of it As we see with what eagernesse and earnestnesse men endeavour to remove any thing that hinders their credits or estates c. Now if any love God above the world above themselves they will be more jealous of Gods honour then their own and against that which tends to Gods dishonour more then against what crosseth their own worldly honour Hence will arise hatred against sin because God hates it both in our selves Psal 97. 10. and in others Rev. 2. 6. Anger is against particulars but hatred is general Anger seeks revenge with moderation in proportion to the wrong done us but hatred seeks the destruction of its object Anger is placable but hatred is implacable And according to the degree of mens love to any thing will be their fear of being deprived of it and separated from it and of all causes and signes of alienation from it R. 3. Because the souls saying The Lord is my portion importeth the highest actings of the soul upon God When Iob said the things that my soul refused to touch Job 6. 7. he shewed the greatest detestation of them and when he said my soul chuseth death rather than life Iob 7. 15 he shewed a most vehement desire And when the Lord said I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Ier. 32. 41. he shewed the firmnesse of his purpose So when the soul saith The Lord is my portion it argues the most full and firm cleaving of a believer unto God with purpose of heart as Barnabas exhorted them to do in Acts 11. 23. Else men do not return to him nor cleave to him as to the most High Hos 7. 16. unlesse they turn to him with all their heart Joel 2. 12. and love him with all their heart Deut. 30. 6. For it is by such a love that faith workes which is a believing with all the heart Acts 8. 37. and produceth obedience from the heart Rom. 6. 17. which is done when all the faculties and affections of the soul do open themselves and stand open to give entertainment unto God in Christ as the King of glory Psal 24. 7. When the Keyes of the whole house and every room in it are delivered up for the use and service of a King he is entertained like a King Inferiour guests are content one with one room another with another and sometimes two have but one room yea one bed for them both But the King must have all So it is in this case when the God of glory appeared unto Abraham and called him Abraham obeyed him without reservation Acts 7. 2 3. So must we yea so will all whose soules say the Lord is their portion Use 1. For instruction in four particulars 1. Hence learn how a man may know when afflictions are sanctified and blessed unto him i. e. when the eye of the soul is by them turned 1. Upward to look unto God for an interest in him as their portion 2. Inward to reflect upon the inward actings of the soul that they may know their interest in God as their portion Indeed afflictions of themselves work the contrary to estrange us from God and from our selves and Satan labours to foment and increase a separation of the soul from God and a division and distraction of the soul within it self Therefore it is by an over-ruling power and sanctifying efficacy of Gods spirit when they cause us to return unto the Lord Hos 6. 1. and to our selves Luke 15. 17 18. It is a sure rule of discerning ones self to be in the state of grace when he finds that every condition brings him neerer to God and every sanctifying gift of grace is quickned to its proper function to turn the faculty and affection of the soul in which it is planted unto God Rom. 8. 28 29. God is a pure act alwayes acting and every one the neerer he comes to God the more gracious frame of spirit he hath and the more spiritual affections and suitable actings of them sweetly issuing from thence 2. Learn hence a profitable use of spiritual soliloquies which are a mans speaking within himself to himself about spiritual things David prescribes communing with a mans own heart to further his repentance Psal 4. 4. and himself made use of it to quicken his faith Psal 42. 5. So the Church in my Text in times of affliction being driven out of their creature-comforts and expectations they communed and parlied with their own souls to cleer unto themselves their interest in God as their portion and to excite their faith and hope in him unto excercise 3. Learn hence not to rest in outward profession in words that the Lord is your portion Many hypocrites say so whose hearts cleave to some thing else as their portion some to their sinful wills and wayes They draw neer unto God with their lips but their hearts are removed far from him Such were those in Hos 8. 23. Israel will cry unto me my God we know thee when Israel hath cast off the thing that is good even God himself in whom and from whom is all good and the good word of God and the rules thereof though they thus departed from him yet in their distresse they were ready to claim an interest in him Others to their worldly objects They lay up treasures for themselves on the earth and there their hearts are Mat. 6. 19 21. Their belly is their God and portion that mind earthly things Phil. 3. 19. These steal away their hearts from God even while they are hearing the Word Ezek.
and to do this and that particular are so weak and mutable as the morning cloud and as the early dew Hos 6. 4. which soon vanish Some at an heart-searching and soul-piercing Sermon are affected as that young man till they are put upon such conditions as their praedominant lust will not accept Mat. 19. 16 22. Others in some strong convictions and awakenings of conscience are affected as Saul was for his unrighteous dealing with David and do purpose against it as he did yet afterward with him return to their former sin again 1 Sam. 24. 16 17. with 26. 2. Some in great sicknesses others in great dangers by Land or Sea resolve that they will become new men if God will be pleased to spare them or deliver them this time of whom the Lord may complain as he did of the children of Israel in Iudg. 10. 11 12 13. The reason is because they are unregenerate they are in their natural state Such may have a notional light in their minds and awakenings of their natural consciences and stirrings in their affections and sudden purposes toward God and Christ and spiritual things from a transient work of the spirit exciting their innate principle of self-love thereunto for a time during which they are in a better mood but not in a better state as in sicknesses the fits may be altered yet the sicknesse remain in its strength New resolutions in an un-renewed heart are like seed in an unsuitable soil which prospers not but withers and dies and comes to nothing at last How many such are now in Hell where their remembrance of such fruitlesse ineffectual purposes gnaweth their consciences as a never-dying worm and torments them for ever 2. Hence we may learn whence it is that true believers have such firm resolutions of cleaving to God in Christ and of hoping in him when he hideth his face from them in great afflictions Isa 8. 17. Ion. 2. 4. The reason of it is because their hearts are purified by faith Acts 15. 9. which is seated principally in the will whereby it receiveth Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Rom. 5. 17. 1 Tim. 15. and is the effect of the operation of God Col. 2. 12. by his exceeding greatnesse of power Eph. 1. 19 20. whose peculiar glory it is to perswade the heart Gen. 9. 27. and to draw the will to come unto Christ Ioh. 6. 44. which he doth by changing the disposition inclination and bent of it If you offer green boughs unto Swine they regard them not but trample them under their feet but if their nature were changed into the nature of sheep then they would be drawn to them This is done by the spirit of God 2 Cor. 3. 17. Before regeneration the will is in bondage unto sin but being united unto Christ in regeneration the Son makes us free indeed Ioh. 8. 36. Then the will freely moveth towards God in Christ by faith and hope as a man though he cannot give life to himself being dead yet when he is made alive he can move himself from a principle of life in him So much faith as a man hath so much free-will he hath to hope in God in the worst times So far as his spiritual grace and strength goes so far he is able by the concourse of Gods spirit which he usually joyns with the ability he hath given to his people that it may be quickened and actuated thereby A man cannot act his natural abilities he cannot move his hand or foot unlesse he be assisted with Gods general concourse So a man can do nothing in spiritual actions without special concourse of grace in Christ Ioh. 15. 5. But being assisted with a supply of the Spirit proportioned to the exigencies of services to be performed and of temptations to be resisted and of corruptions to be mortified he may say as Paul did Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 3. Hence we may learn in what manner believers in Christ resolve to hope in God This resolution in them may be known and distinguished from the resolutions of others by four characters or properties 1. It is a sanctified resolution It is the effect of Gods Holy Spirit dwelling in them and removing far from them vanity and lying Pro. 30. 8. that is vain and false apprehensions of things and turning their whole soul unto God in Christ to seek all their good in him This is the effect of converting grace as the Prophet shews in Isa 17. 7 8. At that day shall a man look to his Maker c. 2. It is an obedient resolution in answer to Gods calling them to himself in Christ Psal 27. 8. it is the yielding up of their wills to be ruled by Gods will Psal 110. 3. When mens wils are not subdued and conformed unto Gods will they are in times of affliction like sullen birds in a Cage which beat themselves to death like peevish froward children which will be pleased with nothing if their wills be crossed in any thing But when the will is subdued unto Gods will by the spirit through the minisâ—â—y of the Gospel 2 Cor. 10. 5. then we can say with Asaph It 's good for me to draw near to God Psal 73. ult And with David 2 Sam. 15. 26. Let the Lord do with me what seemeth good in his own eyes 3. It is a rational resolution led by the best reasons For faith believes in Christ and in God through Christ upon Gods Authority and faithfulnesse and truth in his Word and Covenant Hence it ministreth reasons to quicken and strengthen hope from Gods All-sufficiency and love in Christ and faithfulnesse in his promises to expect and wait upon God for all good from him suitable to our needs in the best season and to resolve as Job did who said though he kill me yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. and if they see cause to complain to complain not of God but to God nor of their crosses but of the crossenesse of their wils to Gods holy will as Ephraim did in Ier. 31. 18. It is a dependent resolution relying upon God in Christ for ability to hope in him Isa 26. 12. and therefore praying to him as David did in Psal 138. ult and to keep it ever in the purpose of their hearts 1 Chron. 29. 18. with true self denial of any sufficiency of themselves so much as to think any thing 2 Cor. 3. 5. Thus they become strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6. 10. Lam. 3. 24. Hope in him The last thing to be spoken to is the duty esolved upon illustrated by its objectr which is to exercise divine hope for so I call that hope which hath God for its object and efficient who is therefore called the God of hope Rom. 15. 13. and for its ground the Word of God as this hope hath Psal 119. 49. The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated hope
sigh and groan secretly This is the time when God promiseth to rise up and to give salvation to them And to shew that this is Gods constant way in performing his promise the Psalmist addeth his probatum est to it in the next verse the sayings of Jehovah that is his promises and in particular those that are of this import and concernment are pure sayings as silver tried in a subliming furnace of earth fined seven times that is the Saints have by constant experience found the truth and faithfulnesse of God in performing them 4. That thus God may raise and heighten the esteem of his favours in the hearts of his people when they are beyond and above their expectation This effect followed the return of the people of God from their Captivity in Babylon Psal 126. 1 2 3. When Jehovah returned the Captivity of Sion we were like them that dream that is it was so far above our thoughts that we questioned whether it was true or no as Peter did in Acts 12. 9. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful-shouting This did so raise their joy and thanksgiving to God that it brake forth into shooting The very heathens admired and said God hath done great things for them Much more were themselves affected and therefore they added Jehovah hath done very great things for us we are joyful 5. That by such dispensations their faith and obedience may be more fully tryed and perfected It is said of Christ that though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5. 8. that is by his sufferings he had the experimental knowledge of that mediatourly obedience which he as our surety was to perform which is noted in Phil. 2. 8. So the Churches of Christ are brought low that they may learn experimentally suffering obedience which is the highest obedience of faith They are brought into a widdow-like condition that as she that is a widdow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day 1 Tim. 5. 5. so they may be disposed suitably to Gods end in afflicting them who saith I will leave in the middest of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord Zeph. 3. 12. 6. That they may be more fervent in prayer this operation hope had in David when he was brought so low that he said I looked on the right hand and beheld and no man acknowledged me refuge is perished from me no man seeketh for my soul This quickned and intended his fervency in prayer I cryed unto thee Jehovah and said Thou art my refuge my portion in the land of the living Psal 142. 4 5. Despaire in the creatures help is oftentimes the ground of hope in God for help For infinite goodnesse accompanied with infinite wisdom and power can never be at a losse nor can faith and hope which look at them ever be at a stand As God knows our souls in adversity Psal 31. 7. so we know God best in adversity God is best seen in the Mount To the second objection and where be all his Miracles which our Fathers told us of I shall speak briefly It hath been sometimes that which hath troubled the Saints That they see not such great things done for the Church in our dayes as we read of in former times But there is no cause for it For the hand of the Lord is not shortened nor is his Church lower in his esteem than formerly When the Lord had said by his Prophet The People which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness Jerem. 31. 2. the people answered Jehovah hath appeared of old as if they should say Truth he did so in time past those were good dayes indeed but now those dayes are gone we must look for no more of them The Lord replyed Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Vers 3. teaching us thereby to improve former Experiences to the strengthening of our Faith for the present and our hope for the future Experience is a multiplyed remembrance of former favours and Blessings which will help to multiply our Hope For Experience worketh Hope Rom. 5. 4. Hope encouraged by Experience will encourage unto Prayer Psal 22. 4. Hence arose that pleading of Believers with God in Prayer in Isa 51. 9. Awake Awake put on strength O arm of the Lord awake as in the ancient dayes in the Generations of old Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon of the Sea Art thou not it which hath dryed the Sea V. 10. And fervent Prayer encreaseth and strengtheneth this Hope Thus Christ teacheth us in the Parable of the Widdow importuning the Unjust Judg Luke 18. 6 7 8. Joab never put up a more acceptable Request unto David than when he interceded for his banished Absalon God is much more pleased to be petitioned for his afflicted Church Psal 122. 6. He is very ready to answer such Prayers with good Returns For he saith Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me Isa 45. 11. 3. Exercise this Hope in its strengthening work In every Degree of the Exercise of this Hope there is an answerable Degree of Joy We rejoyce in tribulation under the hope of glory Rom. 5. 2 3. and answerable to our joy in God will be our strength in God Neh. 8. 10. Therefore let this Hope strengthen you 1. To cleave unto God with purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. It is good cleaving to him who will never leave nor forsake his People in their distress Heb. 13. 5 6. They that forsake God to cleave to other helpers will finde their Hopes disappointed when they have most need of help Then God will say Where are their Gods their rock in whom they trusted Deut. 32. 37. And they shall not know what to answer but be ashamed of that which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain When the People of God are in distress wicked men will insult against them and say Where is now their God Psal 115. 2. But their answer is ready Our God is in the Heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased Vers 3. They will be ready to say Where are your Fastings your Prayers your confidence in God The Answer is easie they are with God in his Book of Remembrance they are as seed sown in Heaven whence we shall reap a plentifull crop of mercy in due time But how easily may that be retorted upon them in reference to God and his People which Zebul replyed unto Gaal in reference to Abimelech in Judg. 9. 38. Where is now thy mouth which said who is the Lord that we should serve him Is not this the People whom thou hast despised Only be sure if you would cleave to God that you cleave to his Word and every truth in it when it is opposed by a sinfull and unbelieving Generation Contend for the Faith which was once given to the Saints Jude 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not simply to contend but with all our might and more if it were possible The thing to be contended for is the Faith not a Fancy but the Truths received with Faith upon Gods Authority in his Word the least jot and tittle whereof God values at a higher rate than Heaven and Earth Matth. 5. 18. and the Martyrs of Jesus esteemed it above all worldly things and above their Lives And so should we 3. This Faith was once delivered once for all If it be lost or exchanged for errour there is danger that it will be lost for ever as we might prove by many examples of Apostates who have become Infidels and Atheists 4. This Faith was delivered deposited committed to our trust of which a strict Account must be given how we have kept and used it There are three things which above all others God expects we should keep most carefully and faithfully from being wronged 1. His own Name which is put upon us 2. His Church 3. His Truths contained in Scripture 2 Tim. 1. 14. 5. This Depositum is committed to the Saints in common not only to Ministers or Magistrates but also to all Believers It is the common Faith wherein every Believer hath his interest in common with the rest as all Planters or Inhabitants have in the Commons that belong to a Town for which they will contend with any man that shall wrong them in that their Interest 6. Salvation and this Faith are joyned to teach us to provide for our Salvation by keeping the Faith Faith and Salvation are kept or lost together 2. To wait patiently and constantly upon God in doing and suffering his will For God sometimes puts a long Date to the performance of his Promises But Gods deferring is no empty space but a time of fitting his Church and People for the good things promised Whiles Physick is working the time is not lost though health be not yet recovered For when the sick humor is purged out then comes health see Isaiah 30. 18. only be carefull that whilest you wait you do not cross your Hope by sinning against him upon whom you wait True waiting is not a meer staying Gods leasure but a continuing in a gracious inoffensive course till the good waited for be attained FINIS Valdè sunt cognatae Sorores Fides Spes Dr. Par. in Heb. 6. * Mr. Broughton See the story at large in Jer. 36. Quosdam deserit quosdam deserere videtur Amb. in Psal 118. Mr. Duries Representation of the state of the Protestant Churches in Europe Bern. de cons ad Eugen. lib. 4. August de Verb. Dom.