The vvhole-armor of God: or A Christians spiritual furniture, to keepe him safe from all the assaults of Satan First preached, and now the second time published and enlarged for the good of all such as well vse it:whereunto is also added a treatise of the sinne against the Holy Ghost. By VVilliam Gouge B.D. and preacher of Gods Word in Blacke Fryers London. ...

§. 3. Of the definition of Hope.

HOpe is an expectation of such good things to come,* 1.1 as God hath promised, and Faith beleeued.

1 In expectation especially consisteth the very nature of Hope;g 1.2 If we hope, &c.h 1.3 We waite. Dauid ioyneth ho∣ping and waiting together, as implying one and the same thing;h 1.4 Waite vpon the Lord, and hope in him.

2 Good things are the proper obiect of Hope:* 1.5 herein it differeth from Feare: We feare things euill and hurtfull. I looked, that is, hoped for good (saith Iob:) The thing (name∣ly) that euill thing which I feared, is come vpon me? Iob 3. 25 & 30. 26.)

3 These good things are to come: not past, nor present, which either are or haue beene seene:l 1.6 Hope which is seene, is no hope: for how can a man hope for that which he seeth?

4 They are also such as God hath promised. For the ground of our Hope is the promise of God, who is faith∣full and true: we may well waite for that which he hath promised, whatsoeuer it be. In this respect this true Hope

is termedm 1.7 The Hope of the Gospel: that is, an Hope which waiteth for those things which in the Gospel are promi∣sed. n 1.8 This was the ground of Simeons Hope. These promises are of all needfull things in this world, both Spirituall and Temporall; of assistance vnder all crosses, and of deliuerance from them: and at length of eternall glory and happinesse in heauen, which (because it is fur∣thest off, and includeth in it an accomplishment of all o∣ther promises,) is the most proper obiect of Hope. In which respect the Scripture doth thus entitle it,o 1.9 Hope of Saluation,p 1.10 Hope of eternall life,q 1.11 Hope of glory, &c.

5 The things we hope for, are also such as Faith belee∣ued. For there is such a relation betwixt Faith and Hope, as is betwixt a mother and a daughter: Faith is the mo∣ther that bringeth forth Hope; and Hope is a blessed daughter which nourisheth Faith.r 1.12 Faith is the ground of things hoped for. Till a thing be beleeued, a man will ne∣uer hope for it:s 1.13 By Faith we waite: that is, Faith causeth vs to waite. Againe, except a man hope, and waite for that which he beleeueth, his Faith will soone decay.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Point. What hope is.
• g 1.2

  Rom. 8. 25. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• h 1.3

  Psal. 37. 7.
• h 1.4

  Psal. 37. 7.
• * 1.5

  Spes non nisi bonarum re∣rum est, nec nisi faturarum. Aug. Enchir. cap. 8.
• l 1.6

  Rom. 8. 24.
• m 1.7

  Col. 1. 23.
• n 1.8

  Luke 3. 26.
• o 1.9

  1 Thes. 5. 8.
• p 1.10

  Tit. 3. 7.
• q 1.11

  Rom. 5. 2.
• r 1.12

  Heb. 11. 1.
• s 1.13

  Gal. 5. 5.