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hearts, as the first fruits of glorj^ that we cannot but desire on all opportune considerations, to be in the full enjoyment of them, faith seems to have had its effectual work herein upon us. For want of these things do many among us walk in disconsolation all their days.
2. It will gradually give the heart an acquaintance with the especial nature and use of these things. General thoughts and notions of heaven and glory do but fluctuate up and down in the mind, and very little influence it unto other duties. But assiduous contemplation will give the mind such distinct apprehensions of heavenly things as shall duly affect it with the glory of them.
1. The more we discern of the glory and excellency of them in their own nature, of their suitableness unto ours, as our only proper rest and blessedness, as the perfection and complement of what is already begun in us by grace, of the restless tendency of all gracious dispositions and inclinations of our hearts towards their enjoyment, the more will faith be established in its cleaving unto them ; so in the contempla- tion of these things consists the principal food of faith, whereby it is nourished and strengthened. And we are not to expect much work, where there is not provision of proper food for them that labour. No wonder if we find faith faint and weak in the work it hath to do, which ofttimes is great and weighty, if we neglect to guide it daily unto that which should administer strength unto it.
2. It will give life and exercise unto the grace of hope. Hope is a glorious grace, whereunto blessed effects are ascribed in the Scripture, and an effectual operation unto the supportment and consolation of believers. By it are we purified, sanctified, saved. And to sum up the whole of its excellency and efficacy, it is a principal way of the working of Christ as inhabiting in us; Col. i. 27. 'Christ in you the hope of glory.' Where Christ evidenceth his presence with us, he gives us an infallible hope of glory ; he gives us an assured pledge of it, and worketh our souls into an expectation of it. Hope in general is but an uncertain ex- pectation of a future good which we desire. But as it is a gospel grace, all uncertainty is removed from it, which would hinder us of the advantage intended in it. It is an earnest expectation proceeding from faith, trust, and confidence.
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accompanied with longing desires of enjoyment. From a mistake of its nature it is, that few Christians labour after it, exercise themselves unto it, or have the benefit of it. For to live by hope, they suppose infers a state not only beneath the life of faith and all assurance in believing, but also exclusive of them. They think to hope to be saved is a condition of men who have no grounds of faith or assurance. But this is to turn a blessed fruit of the Spirit into a common affection of nature. Gospel hope is a fruit of faith, trust, and confidence. Yea, the height of the actings of all grace issues in a well-grounded hope, nor can it rise any higher. Rom. V. 2 — 5.
Now the reason why men have no more use of, no more benefit by, this excellent grace, is because they do not abide in thoughts and contemplation of the things hoped for. The especial object of hope is eternal glory; Col. i. 27. Rom. V, 2. The peculiar use of it is, to support, comfort, and re- fresh the soul in all trials, under all weariness and despond- encies, with a firm expectation of a speedy entrance into that glory, with an earnest desire after it. Wherefore, unless we acquaint ourselves by continual meditation with the reality and nature of this glory, it is impossible it should be the object of a vigorous active hope, such as whereby the apostle says, ' we are saved.' Without this we can neither have that evidence of eternal things, nor that valuation of them, nor that preparedness in our minds for them, as should keep us in the exercise of gracious hope about them.
Suppose sundry persons engaged in a voyage unto a most remote country, wherein all of them have an apprehension that there is a place of rest, and an inheritance provided for them. Under this apprehension they all put themselves upon their voyage, to possess what is so prepared. Howbeit some of them have only a general notion of these things, they know nothing distinctly concerning them, and are so busied about other affairs that they have no leisure to inquire into them, or do suppose that they cannot come unto any satis- factory knowledge of them in particular, and so are content to go on with general hopes and expectations. Others there are who by all possible means acquaint themselves particu- larly with the nature of the climate whither they are going, with the excellency of the inheritance and provision that is
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made for them. Their voyage proves long and wearisome, their difficulties many and their dangers great, and they have nothing to relieve and encourage themselves but the hope and expectation of the country whither they are going. Those of the first sort will be very apt to despond and faint; their general hopes will not be able to relieve them. But those who have a distinct notion and apprehension of the state of things whither they are going, and of their incom- parable excellency, have always in a readiness wherewith to cheer their minds and support themselves.