justice, rather than as a gift of unbounded mercy. This, for distinction sake, we may call a self-righteous hope : whereas the hope of every true Christian is founded altogether on the merits of Christ, and has respect to salvation, as purchased for us by his obedience unto death.
Further, true hope has God for its author. There is scarcely a person to be found in the world, who, if the question were put to him, Do you hope to go to heaven if you die in your present state ? would not answer in the affirmative. If we should proceed to inquire, Whence got you that hope ? they would tell us, that they had always had it. But this is a 'pre- sumptuous hope, the offspring of ignorance and con- ceit. Widely different from this is the Christian's hope. He has trembled for his state : he has seen his guilt and danger : he has " fled for refuge to the hope set before him." God has revealed to him the riches of his grace ; and has shewn him that " where sin hath abounded, grace shall much more abound." The Holy Spirit has " taken of the things of Christ, and shewn them unto him :" yea, he has convinced him, that " the blood of Jesus Christ is able to cleanse him from all sin ;" and that " all who believe in Christ, are justified from all things." In this way God has inspired him with hope, that, notwithstand- ing all his past iniquities, he shall obtain salvation : and though there may be a considerable difference as to the degree of fear or terror that may precede this hope, yet this is the way in which it is invariably wrought in the soul. Hence it is said, that " God begets us unto a lively hope6;" and " gives us ever- lasting consolation and good hope through grace f;" and that " he fills us with joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost*."
Once more ; true hope has holiness for its inse- parable companion. Whatever may be imagined to the contrary, there is no salvation to those who live
e 1 Pet. i. 3. f 2Thcss. ii. 16. s Rom. xv. 13.