it is said " He put on righteousness as a breast-plate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head1."
But, to mark it more distinctly, we may observe, that it prepares us for conflicts, sustains us in them, and brings us victorious through them.
Hope prepares us for conflicts. A man armed with a helmet, feels himself ready to battle : he fears not to meet his adversary, because he has a defence, which, he trusts, will prove sufficient for his preser- vation. Thus a man that has a hope of salvation, enters into the combat with holy confidence. He is not intimidated by the frowns of an ungodly world, because he " knows in whom he has believed, and that God is able to keep that which he has committed to him"1." He says with David, " Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear ; though war should rise against me, in him will I be confident"." This subject cannot be more strongly illustrated than in Caleb and the whole nation of the Israelites. The nation were terrified at the report of the spies, and, instead of proceeding to fight against the Canaanites, proposed to appoint a captain, and go back again into Egypt : but Caleb, whose hope was lively, stood unmoved, and strove to animate his countrymen with an assurance of easy victory0. And thus, while the hearts of others are failing them for fear, and they " turn back unto perdition," rather than contend with their adversaries, the true Chris- tian, "encourages himself in his Godp," and, makes up his mind to die or conquer.
Further, a true hope will sustain us in conflicts. Many who have shewn intrepidity at first, have yet fainted when their trials were severe and of long continuance. But he who has a hope full of immor- tality, will never yield, however painful the conflict may be, and however heavy the pressure. " The patriarchs continued to sojourn in the land of promise as mere pilgrims, notwithstanding they had frequent
1 Isai. lix. 17. ra 2 Tim. i. 12. n Ps. xxvii. 3.
0 Numb. xiii. 30, 31. and xiv. 1 — 4. p 1 Sam. xxx. 6.