1. To relye upon God with a confident ex∣pectation of his promises; ever esteeming that every promise of God is a magazine of all that grace and relief which we can need in that in∣stance for which the promise is made. Every degree of hope is a degree of confidence.
2. To esteem all the danger of an action and the possibilities of miscarriage, and every crosse accident that can intervene, to be no defect on Gods part, but either a mercy on his part, or a fault on ours: for then we shall be sure to trust in God when we see him to be our confidence, and our selves the cause of all mischances. The hope of a Christian is prudent and religious.
3. To rejoyce in the midst of a misfortune or seeming sadnesse, knowing that this may work for good, and will, if we be not wanting to our souls. This is a direct act of Hope to look through the cloud, and look for a beam of light from God, and this is called in Scrip∣ture, Rejoycing in tribulation, when the God of hope fils us with all joy in believing. Every degree of hope brings a degree of joy.
4. To desire, to pray, and to long for the great object of our hope, the mighty price of our high calling; and to desire the other things of this life, as they are promised, that is, so far as they are made necessary and useful to us