Thus negatively I have shown you what it is not, but now positively ; it is an earnest, well-grounded expectation of blessedness to come. It bewrayeth itself —
[1.] By frequent and serious thoughts. Thoughts are the spies and messengers of hope ; it sendeth them into the promised land to bring the soul tidings from thence ; it is impossible a man can hope for a thing, but he will be thinking of it ; by this means we pre- occupy and forestall the contentment of what we expect, and feast the soul w^ith images and suppositions of what is to come, as if it were already present. If a beggar were adopted into the succession of a crown, he would please himself in imagining the happiness and honour and pleasure of the kingly state ; so certainly if we did look upon our- selves as ' heirs of the kingdom of heaven,' and ' co-heirs with Christ,' we would think of that happy state more than we do, and by a serious contemplation our hearts would carry us above the clouds, and set us in the midst of the glory of the world to come, as if we did see Christ upon his throne, and Paul with his crown of righteousness upon his head, and all the blessed leaning in Abraham's bosom. A carnal ex- pectation filleth men with carnal musings and projects ; as Luke xii. 18, SteXoji^eTo, he was dialoguing and discoursing with himself of pulling down barns and building greater, of bestowing his fruits and goods. See the like, James iv. 13. It is usual with men to forestall the pleasure of their hopes, as young riotous heirs spend upon their estates before they come in hand. Now, so it is also in heavenly things ; men that expect them will be entertaining their spirits with the thoughts of them.
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[2.] By hearty groans, and sighs, and longings : Kom. viii. 23, ' We groan in ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies.' They have had a taste of the clusters of Canaan, and there- fore long for more ; they can never be soon enough with Christ : ' When shall it once be?' The nearer enjoyment, the more impatient of the want of his company. As the decays of nature do put them in mind of another world, they begin to lift up the head and look out, Kom. viii. 19, airoKapahoKia «Ttcrea}9, ' the earnest expectation of the creature ;' the word signifieth tlie pushing out of tlie head to see if it can spy a thing a great way off, and noteth the extension of the soul towards the fruition of things hoped for ; they would have a fuller draught of the consolations of the Spirit, more freedom from sin, more perfection of grace, &c.
[3.] By lively tastes and feelings. A believer hath eternal life, John xvii. 3 ; he beginneth it here. Hope is called ' a lively hope,' not only living, but lively, 1 Peter i. 3, because it quickeneth the heart, and maketh us cheerful and sprightly : Rom. v. 2, ' We rejoice under the hope of the glory of God.' Joy is for enjoyment and possession ; but yet that prepossession which hope getteth causeth all joy ; see 1 Peter i. 8. I confess all feel it not in a like degree, because it dependeth upon a sense of grace, which believers always have not, yet all find a sweetness and some comfort, when they think of what they look for. Worldly hope is but the dream of a shadow ; there is pain and trouble in the expectation, and no satisfaction in the fruition.
2. Let me show you the influence it hath upon perseverance.
[1.] It sets us a-work to purge out sin : 1 John iii. 3, ' Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself as Christ is pure.' The things that we look for are holy ; it is a great part of our portion in heaven to be free from sin, and to be consorts of the immaculate Lamb. Can we hope for these things and cherish worldly lusts ? If we did, we look for a sensual paradise ; then we might indulge our lusts without any defiance of our hopes. But we look for a pure and holy as well as a glorious and blessed estate, and therefore we should begin to purify ourselves.
[2,] It withdraweth our hearts from present things : Phil. iii. 20, ' Our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a saviour.' A man that hath been looking upon the sun findeth his eyes dazzled that he cannot behold an object less glorious ; the oftener we look within this veil, the more is the glory of the world obscured. Abra- ham lived as a stranger in the promised land. Why ? Because ' he looked for a city,' &c., Heb. xi. 9, 10. ' Deny worldly lusts,' saith the apostle, ' looking for the blessed hope,' Titus ii. 12, 13. A man who is much in heaven, his affections are pre-engaged, and therefore the world doth him little hurt. Birds are seldom taken in their flight ; the more we are upon the wing of heavenly tlionghts the more we escape snares. Hope sets the wheels a-going : Phil. iii. 13, ' I jn-ess onward because of the high prize of our calling.' The thought of the end quickeneth to the use of means ; we faint because we do not con- sider it more, 1 Cor. xv. 58. Heaven will pay for all.