heavenly inheritance. Faith is a duty, and can never be too strong ; hope is a privilege, and should rise or fall according to circumstances. The want of an assured faith is sin: the want of an assured hope may indeed argue a low, or even a sinful, state; but it is in itself rather a duty than a sin, provided we are not in a state that warrants such a hope. Strong faith will, doubtless, for the most part, generate a lively hope, and render it as influential for our safety, as it is conducive to our comfort. Hope is, in fact, the daughter of faith ; and, when grown to maturity, will perform the same offices as faith, "purifying the heart after the Saviours image'1," and " saving the soul," both with a present and an ever- lasting salvation'. This distinction between faith and hope is necessary for our comfort, and should be particularly borne in mind by those who minister in holy things ; for many, from confounding the two, are adverse to the doctrine of a full assurance of faith ; whilst many, from the very same cause, are induced to write bitter things against themselves without any just occasion for their disquietude, apprehending that their weakness of hope argues, of necessity, a zvant of faith. But a person may have strong faith, whilst yet he is very far from an assured hope. The Canaanitish woman, who was repeatedly rejected by our Lord as an unfit person to enjoy the blessing which she solicited, — (" I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel k;" "I cannot take the children's bread, and cast it unto dogs1,") — shewed, by her persevering importunity, that her faith in Christ was strong ; and, therefore, our Lord com- mended her, saying, " O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt1"." This, then, I have spoken, lest any, because they have not an assured hope, should think themselves destitute of a saving faith. If our faith in Christ be simple and entire, " we shall be saved by him with an everlasting salvation"."
h Acts ix. 15. with 1 John v. 3. • Rom. viii. 24. k Matt. xv. 24. 1 Matt. xv. 26. m Matt. xv. 28. " Tsai. xlv. 17.