We are most generally said to be saved by faithb : but here salvation is ascribed to hope. There is, in fact, a near affinity between the two : and we cannot adopt any better method of illustrating the nature and operations of hope than by instituting a compa- rison between it and faith. That faith and hope are very nearly allied, appears from this, that in St. Paul's account of Abraham, he represents the two principles as concurring with each other, and having an united influence on his obedience : " Against hope," says he, Abraham " believed in hopec."
In some things the two principles agree —
[They agree in their origin : both of them are the gift of God, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit's operation on the soul. Have we faith? it is the gift of Godd, the fruit of a divine operation6, a work of gracef : and if we have hope, we have been begotten to it by God himself g, even by his gracious in- fluence on our soulsh : and to his Holy Spirit must be ascribed all its increase in the soul, together with all the peace and joy that flow from it1.
They agree also in their use : both the one and the other being intended to further the salvation of our souls. As we are saved by faith k, so are we by hope also'.
They agree yet further in their duration: they have no scope for exercise beyond this present life. Faith is by St. Paul opposed to sight™ ; and as in heaven " we shall see God face to face, and know him even as we are known," the dark and enigmatical visions of faith will cease". In like manner we are told in our text, that " hope that is seen, is not hope : for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for ? " We shall have in heaven the actual possession of what is now the object of our hope. Then faith will be lost in sight, and hope in enjoyment.]
In other things the two principles materially differ —
[They diifer in their foundation. Faith is founded solely on the veracity of God. Hope is founded, partly, on the word of God, and, partly on our conformity to that word. The word of God reveals a dispensation of mercy to sinful man. But what hope does that generate in the minds of the fallen
b Rom. v. 1. c Rom. iv. 18. d Eph. ii. 8. Phil. i. 29.
e Col. ii. 12. t Acts xviii. 27. « 1 Pet. i. 3.
11 2 Thess. ii. 16. J Rom. xv. 13. k Rom. x. 9.
1 Rom. viii. 24. m 2 Cor. v. 7.
n 1 Cor. xiii. 12. See the Greek.