But the fourth thing is the chief, and that is, that there is a lively hope, and a dead hope. For the one is expressed, and the other is manifestly implied: There is in godly men a lively hope; there is in wicked men, but a d•ll and a dead hope.1 Now if any ask, what difference there is between a lively hope, and a dead hope; or between the true hope, and the false: I answer, that they differ in six things. First, in the use of the means: for a lively hope will use all the means, that are appointed of God, and not that only, but it seeketh and expresseth the iaffections requisite to the right use of the §1means, and it will be painful and patient: Now the common hope of carnal men betrays it self in this, that they think to g•e to heaven, though they never use the […], or […], nor with any §2pains or patience. Secondly, in adversity a lively hope plainly shows it self: For it will make a man to run to God, and pour out his heart before him,3 resting satisfied if it can get comfort, and a promise from God; whereas the dead hope is of no use, when miseries and adversity comes: It delights not in prayer, and will not brook to come in Gods sight; it runs to carnal and devilish helps, and if it fail in them, it excites impatient murmuring, or despair. Thirdly, a lively hope is attended with lively joys: §3when God works the hope of heaven, he works also at some time or other, more or less the joys of heaven, which he utterly denies to wicked §4men. Fourthly, mans hopes may be tried by •he object: A•ke a wicked man, what is the thing he would have in heaven, and he must answer, it is the joys and happiness of heaven: But ask a godly man, what he would have in heaven, and he soon answers, it is the holiness of heaven, he would be there, because he would sin no more: but the wicked would be there, because they would suffer no more: it kis righteousness that hope waiteth for. §5Fifthly, the true hope lwill acknowledge the truth, which is according to godliness: but the false hope thinks it enough to know it; it will not adventure it self to be so forward as to profess it. Lastly, whosoever hath the true hope, §6mpurgeth himself, that he may be pure, as Christ is pure: but the dead hope cannot abide much mortification.
But the fourth thing is the chiefe, and that is, that there is a lively hope, and a dead hope. For the one is expressed, and the other is manifestly implied: There is in godly men a lively hope; there is in wicked men, but a d•ll and a dead hope.1 Now if any aske, what difference there is between a lively hope, and a dead hope; or between the true hope, and the false: I answer, that they differ in six things. First, in the use of the meanes: for a lively hope will use all the meanes, that are appointed of God, and not that only, but it seeketh and expresseth the iaffections requisite to the right use of the §1meanes, and it will be painefull and patient: Now the common hope of carnall men betrayes it selfe in this, that they thinke to g•e to heaven, though they never use the 〈…〉, or 〈…〉, nor with any §2paines or patience. Secondly, in adversity a lively hope plainely shewes it selfe: For it will make a man to runne to God, and powre out his heart before him,3 resting satisfied if it can get comfort, and a promise from God; whereas the dead hope is of no use, when miseries and adversity comes: It delights not in prayer, and will not brooke to come in Gods sight; it runs to carnall and devillish helps, and if it faile in them, it excites impatient murmuring, or despaire. Thirdly, a lively hope is attended with lively joyes: §3when God workes the hope of heaven, he workes also at some time or other, more or lesse the joyes of heaven, which hee utterly denies to wicked §4men. Fourthly, mans hopes may be tryed by •he object: A•ke a wicked man, what is the thing he would have in heaven, and he must answer, it is the joyes and happinesse of heaven: But aske a godly man, what he would have in heaven, and he soon answers, it is the holinesse of heaven, hee would be there, because he would sin no more: but the wicked would be there, because they would suffer no more: it kis righteousnesse that hope waiteth for.
