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. ...

1 Caution.

Take heed of concluding against your selves, that because your hopes of Glory are so low and doubtful, and not sure and certain hopes, that therefore you live without Christ in the World, and have no hope, nor any ground of Hope of Glory: I would not discourage any Babe in Christ, nor encrease the doubts of poor doubting Souls, and therefore leave with you this Caution: And that you may avoid this Snare, shall lay down some Propositions to clear up your understanding in this mat∣ter.

1. Proposition. It's the manifestation of Christs Presence in the Soul that breeds and feeds our Hope of Glory; and when this mani∣festation is obscure, the Souls Hope of Glory must need be dim and doubtful, 1 Cor. 2.12. We have received the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God. Here Paul distinguisheth betwixt Mercies freely given us of God, and the manifestation of the giving them to the

Soul: Many have Grace and Mercy giv∣en, but know it not: The Spirit first gives Grace, and afterwards gives the Soul to know and understand that it hath Grace given to it: Now though Grace lie in the Soul, yet the Soul seeth it not, nor doth it know the Grace that it hath received, till the Spirit of God make it known to the Soul, and when the Spirit makes it known to the Soul, then the Mani∣festation of it to the Soul puts the Soul into a hopeful condition, and it hopes for Glory: Now if hope of Glory depends upon the Manifesta∣tion of Grace to the Soul, then there may be Grace, and yet little or no hope: Because there may be Grace not manifested, but yet unknown to the Soul: So that none can unfaint themselves or others from doubts about Grace.

2 Proposition. It's the Manner and Method of God in his Dealings with his People, some∣times to withhold sure and certain hope of Glory from them a long time, for gracious Ends and Purposes, that tend to their great advan∣tage; as. (1.) To put a great Value upon the Mercy, that it may be more precious and wel∣come when it comes; like Health after Sick∣ness, when they lye long under the want of it, they see the worth of it, and so come to have a higher esteem of it, and to prize it more when they have it. (2.) To prove and exercise their Faith and Patience in waiting, and their Obedience in seeking after it, un∣der such long delays of giving it. God delights

to see his People shewing their sincerity un∣der their Trials. (3.) To preseve it for a more opportune season: Physitians reserve their Cordials against fainting Fits, and so doth God his Comforts: Sure and Certain Hopes of Glory is a rich Cordial, and he oft delays the giving of it till he sees a fainting fit approach∣ing, and then to support the Soul under a Cri∣sis, or under a Qualm he gives it. (4.) To prevent Pride and Unthankfulness: He keeps the Soul under delays of Mercy to humble it, that it may bear it humbly, and entertain it thankfully.