A plea for the Godly

—Credula vitam Spes fovet, & melius cras fore, semper ait.—

A sinners hope is in this life; he hopes to increase his Estate, he makes the wedge of gold his hope; 'tis a perishing hope, Prov. 11. 7.

A sinners hope is in this life; he hopes to encrease his Estate, he makes the wedg of gold his hope; 'tis a perishing hope, Prov. 11. 7.

But the righteous mans hope excels, his hope is in Christ, his hope is both an helmet, 1 Thes. 5. 8. and an anchor, Heb. 6. 19. while he is fighting with tentation, hope is an helmet; while he is upon the waters of affliction, hope is an anchor; the anchor of a Ship is cast downwards, ⟨p. 47⟩the anchor of the Soul is cast upwards in heaven; a Saints hope is a purifying hope, 1 Joh. 3. 3. a deathbed hope, Prov. 14. 33. ^*a Soul-comforting hope, Tit. 2. 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour. When Christ was in the flesh, he appeared as a surety, now in heaven he appears as an advocate, and when he comes in the Clouds he will appear as a Judg; a righteous man hopes for this blessed appearing, when Christ shall vindicate his Saints from all unjust calumnies, and openly acquit them in the Court.