(2.) The resurrection of the dead : Acts ii. 26, ' My flesh shall rest in hope ; ' Acts xxiv. 1.5, * I have hope towards God that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust ; ' Acts xxvi. 6-8, ' Now I stand judged for the hope of the promise made unto the fathers, unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. Why should it be thought an incredible thing with you that God should raise the dead ? ' Death seemeth to make void all the promises at once ; but there is an estate after death ; the dead shall rise ; and to men bred up in the bosom of the church this should not seem incredible. It is not incredible in itself, considering the justice and power of God. But why to you, since all religion tendeth to it ? But it is a matter of undoubted certainty all believers do look for, long for, and prepare for this blessedness, otherwise why should they trouble themselves about religion, which abridgeth us of present de- lights, and exposeth us to great difficulties and sufferings ? But there is another life after this, where all is happy and joyful, and therefore we ' serve God instantly day and night.'
(3.) The vision of God, that at length we shall be admitted into his blessed presence, and see him as he is, and be made like him both for holiness and happiness, 1 John iii. 2.
(4.) Our heavenly inheritance : 1 Peter i. 4, * An inheritance incor- ruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us.' Called eternal life : Titus i. 2, ' In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised us.' The glory of God: Kom. v. 2, * We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' Well, then, all this is a good hope, if there be the things hoped for ; for the object of our hope is the chiefest good, the eternal vision and fruition of God; this is that we must aim at as our happiness : Ps. xvii. 15, 'As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteous- ness ; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.' We must seek after it and make it our constant work: Heb. xi. 6, * God is a re- Avarder of them that diligently seek him.' This is that we must take hold of, as having a right and title to it : Heb. vi. 18, ' Who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us.' We challenge it by the law of grace ; as we fulfil the conditions, our hold is more strong, right more evident ; as we get greater measures of the first-fruits, we gain more security and confidence in the spiritual conflict : ver. 19,
158 THE SIXTEENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. IG.
* Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast.' By good works we enter upon tlie possession of it, in part, as we get the lirst-fruits of the Spirit : Rom. viii. 23, * We ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within our- selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our hody ; ' 2 Cor. v. 5, * Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.' In whole, when we come to heaven, for then we ' enter into our Master's joy/ Mat. XXV. 21. When we die our souls enter into that blessed place, where the spirits of just men are made perfect ; not only preserved in manic Dei, but admitted in conspectum Dei : 1 Peter i. 9, ' Receiv- ing the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.' But after the resurrection and general judgment : John xiv. 3, ' I will come again, and receive you to myself ; that where I am, there ye may be also.' Then, in body and soul, we enter into our everlasting mansions.
[2.] Sometimes hope is put for the reasons and causes of hoping ; and so he that giveth me solid reasons of hoping, givetli me good hope. In this sense it is taken, Heb. vii. 19, ' The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, whereby we draw nigh to God.' By the better hope is meant the sure and comfortable promises of the gospel, depending merely on the grace of God, which gives hope to lost sinners of recovering commerce and communion with God ; that is, solid grounds upon which they may expect the pardon of their sins and eternal life. In this sense, good hope is ho{)e Nvell warranted. The solid reasons are contained in the word of God: Rom. xv. 4, ' Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.' The great end of the scriptures is, that we might have a sure hope in God — quod agit tola scriptura, ut credamus in Deum. The business of the scripture is to bring us to believe in God, and wait upon him for eternal salvation. There the rule of commerce between God and us is stated ; whatever is promised is sure. There may be reason to expect some things from God's merciful nature, though we have no promise about them ; but the sure and certain hope is grounded on the promise ; that is an express ground of confi- dence and liope that will never leave us ashamed ; it is well-grounded hope, therefore good hope, built on the promise and word of the eternal God.