The second concomitant of Faith, is Hope:2 If thou hast Faith, thou hast Hope. And this distinguisheth a Christians faith from the faith of Reprobates, from the faith of Devils, from the temporary faith that others are capable of: you know, the Devils believe and tremble: He saith not, The Devils believe and hope; for that they do not, Hope is a property of Faith, where there is Faith there is Hope. Now you must know, that a ⟨p. 128⟩man hath never faith to believe, but he hath hope, which makes him expect what he believes. If a man have a promise of so much money which he needs, he hopes for the performance of it, and quiets himself, when he casts his thoughts upon it, he is at rest: when a man believes it, he hopes for it. Take an Heir that hath such possessions, which is yet a Ward, and is young, he hath not the Land in possession; but (mark) what hope he hath, it is not a vain hope, but such a hope as puts other conceits in him then other men have, puts another fashion upon his actions, it makes him neglect many good things he would do; he will not be of such a calling, he will not be diligent: for he hopes, he makes account of it: See how such things work upon a man, which he is not to have in 7 or 8 years after, perhaps. So thou hopest for Heaven, it is not a vain hope, but it is a hope that will ma•e thee carry thy self after another fashion, it will make thee so minded, that thou wilt have an eye to it, and every man that looks on •hee, may see that thou hast an eye to it: So that faith is accompanied by Hope. But now you must not say, that if a man hope, therefore there is no fear mingled with it: for you must know, that a man may have Hope that is true and good, and yet may have fear mingled with it. For this you must know, that if there be nothing but hope, it is a sign that that Hope ⟨p. 129⟩is not good. And therefore thou hast so little reason to be discouraged, because thou hast some fear mingled with thy hope, that thou hast the more cause to hope, and to think that thy hope is good, because there is fear mingled with it: for know, that there is a certain sort of men, that have neither faith, hope, nor fear; as Atheists, that have some hope, but no fear; as Devils and desperate men, that have some fear, but no hope; as presumptuous men, which have but a shadow of faith: But those that have hope, and fear mingled with it;
The second concomitant of Faith, is Hope:2 If thou hast Faith, thou hast Hope. And this distinguisheth a Christians faith from the faith of Reprobates, from the faith of Deuils, from the temporary faith that others are capable of: you know, the Deuils beleeue and tremble: He saith not, The Deuils beleeue and hope; for that they doe not, Hope is a property of Faith, where there is Faith there is Hope. Now you must know, that a ⟨p. 128⟩man hath neuer faith to beleeue, but hee hath hope, which makes him expect what he beleeues. If a man haue a promise of so much money which he needes, he hopes for the performance of it, and quiets himselfe, when he casts his thoughts vpon it, hee is at rest: when a man beleeues it, hee hopes for it. Take an Heyre that hath such possessions, which is yet a Ward, and is yong, he hath not the Land in possession; but (marke) what hope he hath, it is not a vaine hope, but such a hope as puts other conceits in him then other men haue, puts another fashion vpon his actions, it makes him neglect many good things he would doe; he will not be of such a calling, he will not be diligent: for hee hopes, he makes account of it: See how such things worke vpon a man, which he is not to haue in 7 or 8 yeeres after, perhaps. So thou hopest for Heauen, it is not a vaine hope, but it is a hope that will ma•e thee carry thy selfe after another fashion, it will make thee so minded, that thou wilt haue an eye to it, and euery man that lookes on •hee, may see that thou hast an eye to it: So that faith is accompanied by Hope. But now you must not say, that if a man hope, therefore there is no feare mingled with it: for you must know, that a man may haue Hope that is true and good, and yet may haue feare mingled with it. For this you must know, that if there be nothing but hope, it is a signe that that Hope ⟨p. 129⟩is not good. And therefore thou hast so little reason to be discouraged, because thou hast some feare mingled with thy hope, that thou hast the more cause to hope, and to thinke that thy hope is good, because there is feare mingled with it: for know, that there is a certaine sort of men, that haue neither faith, hope, nor feare; as Atheists, that haue some hope, but no feare; as Deuils and desperate men, that haue some feare, but no hope; as presumptuous men, which haue but a shaddow of faith: But those that haue hope, and feare mingled with it;
- 2Hope.
