Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

A Christian's Hope hath two Prerogatives above any worldly Hope.¹

1. 1Two Properties of a Christian's Hope.

One is, That it may attain to a full and final Assurance, as the Apostle speaks to the Hebrews; where he calls it, ¹The full Assurance of Hope unto the End. An Hope it is, because the Object of it is a future Good desired and expected: But yet it is an Hope that is joined with a full Assurance of the Event; an Hope that may flower up into such a Certainty, as to have no Mixture of Fear or Doubting in its Composition; but may be as sure of the Heavenly Inheritance, as if our Reversion were already in actual Possession: Whereas Worldly Hope can never be secure, but some Providence or other may interpose, to disappoint it.

1. 1Heb. 6.11.

The other Prerogative of a Christian's Hope, is, that though it be thus fully assured, yet the Accomplishment of it shall always have the sweet Relish of Surprise and Wonder; for the Happiness will be far greater than the Hope, and the Inheritance larger than the Expectation; whereas Earthly Hopes, if they grow to any degree of Confidence of Success, upon Frustration they turn into Impatience and Rage: Or if perhaps they do succeed, the Sweetness of the Accomplishment was long before sucked out and devoured by our greedy Expectation; the Game is torn and eaten, before the Hunts-man can come in. And upon both these Accounts, the pious and obedient Christian is blessed in Hope: It is a blessed Hope that shall certainly be accomplished;