A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

3. By lively Tastes and Feelings. It is said of a Believer, He hath eternal Life, John 3.36. that is, in the beginnings of it, he hath some Taste here upon Earth. Hope is called not only Living, but lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. because it quickens the Heart, and fills it with a solid spiritual Joy. And Rom. 5.2. We rejoice in hope of the Glory of God. It is a Joy that is for Enjoyment and Possession. In worldly things there is Pain, and Travel, and burdensome Expectation till we come to enjoy ⟨p. 108⟩a thing; but a Christian rejoiceth in his Hopes. So 1 Pet. 1.8. In whom believing, ye rejoice with Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. It is true all feel it not in such a degree, it depends on a Sense of Grace, which all Believers have not always; but all Believers whenever they meditate upon Heaven, they find Sweetness shed abroad in their Hearts when they think what is provided for them by Christ. Worldly Hope is only as a Dream of a Shadow, there is Pain and Travel in Expectation, and there is no Satisfaction when we come to Fruition; but our Hopes in Christ fill the Soul with this lively Joy. Look as the Patriarchs that waited for the Coming of Christ, the Consolation of Israel, they hugged the Promises; O here's a sweet Promise that will yield a Messiah at length, that shall save the World! Thus they rejoiced in what they foresaw concerning Christ in Vision, Type and Figure. So Christians that wait for Happiness and Blessedness to come, how do they find a great deal of Sweetness shed abroad in their Hearts, by meditating upon their Hope?

3. By lively Tastes and Feelings. It is said of a Believer, He hath eternal Life, Iohn 3.36. that is, in the beginnings of it, he hath some Taste here upon Earth. Hope is called not only Living, but lively Hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. because it quickens the Heart, and fills it with a solid spiritual Joy. And