The application of redemption

As it's dishonourable to God, so it's dangerous, yea,§2 deadly to the soul: It not only crosseth a mans present comfort, darkens our evidence, sense, and assurance of Gods Favour; but utterly cuts off all possibility from the soul for ever expecting the least drop of refreshing, or smile of Gods Face. For hope in the Heart is the last sprung or sucker in the root of the Tree, whereby it lives and stands. Though the soul see nothing, feel nothing, have nothing, yet Hope says […] may be otherwise, this proud heart may be abased, this sturdy heart may he ⟨p. 33⟩forced to stoop, this unbelieving heart though it hath had, and abused, and slighted, and been unprofitable under so many means, and after so many prayers, promises, resolutions, continues still, yet it may be otherwise says Hope; this holds up the head from sinking, the heart from failing: But despair takes away this, you have tried, used the means, expected help, but you see it comes to nothing, nay, there is no hope it will ever be, set your heart at rest, it will never be. This stops all the §1passages, that there is no hope for any good or comfort to accrue to the soul. This is the Instrument of death, whereby the Enemy at once makes an end of the very life of our comfort: The hope of Salvation is made the Helmet of a Christian; so the Apostle, 1 Thes. 5. 8. Put on the Breast-plate of Faith and Love, and for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation. Well-grounded evidence and assurance of Gods Love in Christ, is as it were the head, and the highest top of a Christians comfort, hope is the Helmet; for when our sense and feeling, experiences and performances, yea our hearts fail, in regard of any present sweet, or refreshing we have, yet hope says, it may be it will be better hereafter, and this holds the aching head of a Christian: The Devil who ever fights at the head, labours to shake our assurance and comfort, and if he can dash a mans hopes by despair, he kills him dead in the head, there is no help nor recovery to be looked for; know this, and be wary and wise for after times.

As it's dishonorable to God, so it's dangerous, yea,§2 deadly to the soul: It not only crosseth a mans present comfort, darkens our evidence, sence, and assurance of Gods Favor; but utterly cuts off all possibility from the soul for ever expecting the least drop of refreshing, or smile of Gods Face. For hope in the Heart is the last sprong or sucker in the root of the Tree, whereby it lives and stands. Though the soul see nothing, feel nothing, have nothing, yet Hope saies may be otherwise, this proud heart may be abased, this sturdy heart may he