ever be our conduct. But a scriptural hope implies a suitable regard to the things we hope for, and to him in whom our hope is placed. It implies,
1. That we pray to him with fervour —
[This was united with the Psalmist's hopea: and it must also be with oursb. To pretend to hope in God while we neglect to spread our wants before him, is the grossest hypocrisy, and the most fatal delusion0.]
2. That we wait for him with patience —
[It was in this manner that David exercised his hoped. Nor can we act otherwise, if we be sincere in our profession6. To be impatient, is an unequivocal mark of unbelief, and despondency f. But to wait patiently the Lord's leisure, is the office and evidence of faith and hopeg.]
3. That we depend on him with steadfastness —
[The promises of God to those who seek him, must be the ground of our hope'1. We are not to regard difficulties of any kind, as though they could prove any obstacle to God. However circumstances, both within and without, may seem to justify despair, we must " hope beyond and against hope1," assured that, as nothing is impossible with God, so not one jot or tittle of his word shall ever fail.]
This duty being of infinite importance, and of uni- versal obligation, let us consider,
II. Our encouragement to perform it —
If we look inward, we shall find nothing but dis- couragement. But if, with David, we look to God, we may find abundant encouragement,
1. In his attributes —
[While justice bears a frowning aspect, mercy smiles on the repenting sinner. God has opened a way for the exercise of his mercy in perfect consistency with the demands of justice ; and to exercise it is his delight k. This attribute is as essential to his nature as wisdom, or power, or any other1. Nor needs he to have it excited by a view of our misery (much less by any meritorious services of ours;) it is ever "with him;" and is ready to manifest itself towards all those who call upon him."1]
2. In his works —
a ver. 1,2. t> Matt. vii. 7, 8. c Ezek. xxxvi. 37.
d ver. 5, o. e Rom. viii. 25.
f Isai. xxviii. 10. 1 Sam. xiii. 11, 12. s Hab. ii. 3.
h ver. 5. » Trap' tXwica, Rom. iv. 18. Job xiii. 15. Isai. 1. 10.
k Mic. vii. 18. 1 Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. m Rom. x. 12.