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Calvin calleth Hope an expe∣ctation of those things which Faith beleeveth to be truly pro∣mised of GOD.* 1.1
M. Perkins defineth Hope thus Hope (saith he) is the grace o•• GOD whereby with patienc•• we waite the LORDS leisure for the performance of his pro∣mises, especially touching re¦demption and life eternall.
Hope is an expectation o•• such good things to come 〈◊〉〈◊〉
GOD hath promised, and Faith beleeved.
Faith is the foundation of Hope, Hope is the nourishment of Faith. Faith apprehendeth the promises of things to come, Hope expecteth the things pro∣mised. Simeon having a promise, that before he died, he should see CHRIST with his bodily eyes, beleeved the same, and looked for the performance of it, Luke 2.26, 29, 30.
David often professeth, that GOD was his hope,* 1.2 and his trust even from his youth, and GOD made him hope even from his mo∣thers wombe, Psal. 71.5. & 22.9. And that GOD is the hope of all the ends of the earth, Psal. 65.5. CHRIST is in you the hope of glo∣ry, Col. 1.27.
The righteous hath hope in
his death, Proverbs 14.32.
The LORD promiseth, Psal. 91. both temporall blessings and eternall salvation to those that hope in him.
They are pronounced Blessed that have true hope, Psal. 40.4. We are saved by hope, Rom. 8.24.
The hope of the righteous shal•• be gladnesse Pro. 10.28.
Hope maketh us not ashamed Rom. 5.5. Psal. 25.3.
To Hope in GOD, and to have GOD for our Helpe, ar•• linked together in Scripture Happy is he, that hath the GO•• of Jacob for his helpe, whose hop•• is in the LORD his GOD Psal. 146.5.
See Heb. 10.35. Lam. 3.24, 2•• 26. Psal. 14.7, 11.
Hope is preserved by a 〈◊〉〈◊〉
consideration and full perswasi∣on of GODS properties, which make us patiently abide for the accomplishment of his promises: foure speciall pro∣perties for this purpose are to be observed.
1. His free grace,* 1.4 that makes us waite on him, being perswa∣ded in our hearts by faith, that the same grace which moved GOD to make any gracious promise, will further moove him to accomplish it.
2. His infinite power,* 1.5 being perswaded that hee is able to do it.
3. His infallible truth:* 1.6 so faithfull is GOD, that not a word which he hath said, shall fall to the ground.
4. His unsearchable wise∣dome: he is most wise in ap∣pointing the fittest times and seasons for all things, so as may most make for his owne glory, and his childrens good.
Let us therefore imitate David,
Iob, and Simeon, spoken of be∣fore, in waiting for the ac∣complishment of GODS pro∣mises,* 1.7 and hoping in him even against hope, as Abraham did: though * 1.8 sence, reason, and ex∣perience should be against us, yet let us cleave to the Promises, and waite upon GOD, who never faileth those that trust in him, 1 Pet. 1.13.
Spes est ex∣pectasio eo∣rum quae ve∣rè a Deo pro∣missa fides credidit. Calvin l. 3. Inslit. C. 2. Sect. 42. Rom 8.25. Spet est vir∣tus qua in∣clinamur ad expectationē eorum, quae Deus nobis promisit.
Psal. 39 7.33.22. & 119 16••.
Dum spiro, sp••ro, saith the Physiti∣an.
Dum expiro, spero, saith the Divine. Though hee slay me, yet will I trust in him, saith Iob 13.15.
1 Pet. 1.13.
Rom. 4.2••.
2 Tim. 2 13
Rom. 4.18. Acts 26 6.
Sence cor∣rects imagi∣nation, rea∣son corrects sence, but fai••h cor∣rects both.