Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

4. WE must hope in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in that Eternity. It is not enough to know and consider, and desire; but we must hope, and maintain our hope as to our own interest. Now hope is a passion, whereby we expect, probably or certainly some future good. All the question is, whether that salvation, concerning which the great transaction was betwixt God and Christ, belongs now to me? and what are the grounds and foundations on which my hope is built? I know some exceedingly abuse this Doctrine; If God had before all worlds appointed me to salvation, why then I may live as I list; I need not hear, or pray, or confer, or perform any holy Duty, for I am sure I shall be saved. And thus at once they take away all grounds of hope. It is true, Gods decrees are unchangeable, but they do not afford any such inferences or deductions as these: you might as well say, the Lord hath appointed me to live to such a time, and before that time I shall not, cannot die, and therefore I need no meat nor drink, nor clothes, nor any other thing: Ah silly, foolish, devilish, arguing! Gods decree is for the means, as well as for the end; whom God hath decreed to save, them also hath he decreed to call, to justify, to sanctify, before he save: O my Soul, look to the grounds whereon they hope is built: if those be weak, thy hope is weak: but if those be strong, thy hope will prove most strong; and certain, and prudent.

4. WE must hope in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in that Eternity. It is not enough to know and consider, and desire; but we must hope, and maintain our hope as to our own interest. Now hope is a passion, whereby we expect, probably or certainly some future good. All the question is, whether that salvation, concerning which the great transaction was betwixt God and Christ, belongs now to me? and what are the grounds and foundations on which my hope is built? I know some exceedingly abuse this Doctrine; If God had before all worlds appointed me to salvation, why then I may live as I list; I need not hear, or pray, or confer, or perform any holy Duty, for I am sure I shall be saved. And thus at once they take away all grounds of hope. It is true, Gods decrees are unchangeable, but they do not afford any such inferences or deductions as these: you might as well say, the Lord hath appointed me to live to such a time, and before that time I shall not, cannot die, and therefore I need no meat nor drink, nor cloathes, nor any other thing: Ah silly, foolish, devilish, arguing! Gods decree is for the means, as well as for the end; whom God hath decreed to save, them also hath he decreed to call, to justifie, to sanctifie, before he save: O my Soul, look to the grounds whereon they hope is built: if those be weak, thy hope is weak: but if those be strong, thy hope will prove most strong; and certain, and prudent.