The helmet of hope, distinguished from the hope of hypocrites. And published to prevent the danger of false hope, and to promote the duty of living in true hope of glory. With an appendix of the grounds of hope, collected in a catalog of promises and experiences. / By A.B. ...

Quest. 3. The 3d. Question is, Why and for what cause or end doth Christ by his Spi∣rit abide and dwell in his People?

Answ. For several Reasons, and upon seve∣ral gracious designs: As,

1. As he is Captain of their Salvation, and engaged to defend and secure them against all opposition: He fought out our Salvation, and obtained it by Conquest, and he main∣tains it also by Conquest: The World, the Devil and the Flesh, are the professed Ene∣of Christ and all his Subjects, and stand up in opposition against his Kingdom, and seek to Damn those that he seeks to Save, and of whose Salvation he is the Captain: And as the Captain of their Salvation he abides in them to protect them: It's for his honour and in∣terest to safeguard them against his and their Enemies: And his abode in them for this end and purpose, is their safety. The Captain of their Salvation is not only in Heaven perso∣nally, but in their hearts Spiritually, to be ready at hand in all their dangers to look af∣ter them, and to aid and defend them: It's

Christ in us that is our hope of Glory, for his abode in us is our security from all pe∣ril and danger.

2. As he is Consummator of the Work of Grace that is begun in their Souls: He is not only the Author but the finisher of the Faith, Heb. 12.2. And the work that he hath be∣gun, he will perform, that is, he will finish it, Col. 1.6. He is both able and willing to finish it, and is also resolved and engaged to finish it, and is in them for this end and pur∣pose to carry on his work of Grace in their Souls from one degree to another, till it have attained it's gradual perfection, and be con∣summated in Glory: Our hearts are like Watches, many times out of order, and he sets his Spirit in us to keep our hearts in order: To see how they go, and to keep them in repair: It's our duty, I confess, to tend our hearts dilligently, but we are so remiss in our Duty that if Christ did not look after us better than we our selves, we should un∣do our selves, and be undone by the Deceit∣fullness of our own hearts.

3. As he is Comforter, and the only Com∣forter of a comfortless Soul: The People of God are oft in a drooping and dejected Con∣dition, cast down with a deep sense of Sin and sight of wrath: Unbelief oft prevails, and Satan is such an Enemy to their welfare, that when he cannot keep them from Grace,

he will do all that he can to keep them from Comfort: But Christ abides in their hearts by his Spirit the Comforter, to disperse the Clouds of carnal discouragements that dark∣en the Comforts of their Souls, and to mi∣nister Comfort seasonably to them, John, 14.16. He will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. And v. 17. He dwelleth in you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you Comfortless, q. d. I know you will meet with many discomforts in this troublesom World, but I will not leave you Comfortless, but will come and abide in you by my Spirit, on purpose to support you un∣der your discomforts, and to remove the cau∣ses of them; and to fill your hearts with the sweet Comforts of my Spirit: He is the Comforter, when none can Comfort he can Comfort. Others may speak Comfortably to you, but yet fail in giving any Comfort to you: But he is the Comforter that never fails in giving Comfort, and he shall abide in you for your Comforter. You will not only meet with Discomforts from your sins, but from sinners, they will be pouring con∣tempt upon you, and reproaching and per∣secuting you; and from your seeming friends, they will prove false-hearted and deceitful; but be of good Chear, you have a Comfor∣ter alway at hand, and his Comforts are the best of Comforts, the sweetest, and most satisfactory Comforts: They are Comforts

that delight the Soul with joys unspeakable and full of Glory: And now you see that the indwelling of Christ in your Souls is for your great advantage: Christ in you is your help in all difficult cases here, and your hope of Glory hereafter.

4. As he is Counsellor, and the best of Coun∣sellors: The People of God meet oft with such windings and turnings in the dispensations of Gods Providences towards them, as put them to a stand, that they know not what to do, and which way to take; but Christ by his Spirit abides in them, to guide, counsel and direct them in all such difficult cases. Isa. 11.2. The Spirit of Christ is called a Spirit of Counsel, and Wisdom: So that he that hath the Spirit in him, finds assistance in many in∣tricate cases from the Counsel of his Spirit, whereby they are guided sometimes strangely, and directed by special Providence to their great advantage. How was Joseph in Egypt, enabled by the Spirit of God, to wind him∣self out of one trouble after another?