1. It is not a blind Hope, such a Hope as is found in Men ignorant and presumptuous, that regard not what they do. Presumption is a Child of Darkness, as Hope is a Child of Light: Presumption is the Fruit of Ignorance and Inconsideration. When Men are once serious, they find it the hardest matter in the World to hope; for guilty Nature in it self is more presagious of Evil, more inclinable to Fear and Sorrow, than to Joy and Hope. But yet a blind Confidence is very common, because Men do not consider what they do, but hand over head make a full account that they shall go to Heaven, without Warrant and without Evidence. And therefore you shall find it is one of the first things God works by the Word, to break down our former carnal Hopes, and make Men see they are out of the way, lost and undone Creatures. Paul in his presumptuous State thought he had as much to show for Heaven as any Man in the World; Rom. 7.9. I was alive without the Law once; but when the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died. The Commandment coming in full Conviction upon his Heart, he began to be serious, and then he found himself lost, and obnoxious to God's Judgment. The Excellency of Hope doth not lie in the Strength of Confidence, but in the Clearness of your Ground and Warrant. In Matth. 7. latter end, the Scripture takes notice of two Builders, the foolish, and the wise; there was no difference in the Building it self, both might raise a Structure equally •air; but the difference lay in the Ground-work and Foundation; the one built upon the Sand, the other upon a Rock: therefore you are not to look so much to the Strength of your Hope, as to the Evidence, the Ground, the Foundation of it. Do you know what you do, when you so confidently believe your Salvation? Presumption grows upon Men they know not how, it is not an Act of Advice and Consideration, and therefore will leave us to Shame. A Man had need have good grounds for his Hope. True Hope is a serious Act, arising from Grace, longing after its Perfection; and therefore we are said to be begotten to a lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. Seed desireth Growth; every thing aimeth at Perfection: when Grace is infused, presently there is a Tendency and Motion this way. Others may ⟨p. 106⟩have strength of Confidence, though a weak Foundation whereon to build it, therefore their Hope comes to nothing but Shame, and the greater Confusion. Job 8.14.
1. It is not a blind Hope, such a Hope as is found in Men ignorant and presumptuous, that regard not what they do. Presumption is a Child of Darkness, as Hope is a Child of Light: Presumption is the Fruit of Ignorance and Inconsideration. When Men are once serious, they find it the hardest matter in the World to hope; for guilty Nature in it self is more presagious of Evil, more inclinable to Fear and Sorrow, than to Joy and Hope. But yet a blind Confidence is very common, because Men do not consider what they do, but hand over head make a full account that they shall go to Heaven, without Warrant and without Evidence. And therefore you shall find it is one of the first things God works by the Word, to break down our former carnal Hopes, and make Men see they are out of the way, lost and undone Creatures. Paul in his presumptuous State thought he had as much to shew for Heaven as any Man in the World; Rom. 7.9. I was alive without the Law once; but when the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died. The Commandment coming in full Conviction upon his Heart, he began to be serious, and then he found himself lost, and obnoxious to God's Judgment. The Excellency of Hope doth not lie in the Strength of Confidence, but in the Clearness of your Ground and Warrant. In Matth. 7. latter end, the Scripture takes notice of two Builders, the foolish, and the wise; there was no difference in the Building it self, both might raise a Structure equally •air; but the difference lay in the Ground-work and Foundation; the one built upon the Sand, the other upon a Rock: therefore you are not to look so much to the Strength of your Hope, as to the Evidence, the Ground, the Foundation of it. Do you know what you do, when you so confidently believe your Salvation? Presumption grows upon Men they know not how, it is not an Act of Advice and Consideration, and therefore will leave us to Shame. A Man had need have good grounds for his Hope. True Hope is a serious Act, arising from Grace, longing after its Perfection; and therefore we are said to be begotten to a lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. Seed desireth Growth; every thing aimeth at Perfection: when Grace is infused, presently there is a Tendency and Motion this way. Others may ⟨p. 106⟩have strength of Confidence, though a weak Foundation whereon to build it, therefore their Hope comes to nothing but Shame, and the greater Confusion. Iob 8.14.
