to the full assurance of hope unto the end.—God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise tne immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.° Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.P Doctrinal Instruction. HOPE is compared to a Helmet. First the Helmet defends the head, a principal part of the body, from bullet and sword; so this "Hope of salvation" defends the soul, the principal part of man, and the principal faculties of that, whereby no dangerous impression can, by Satan, or sin, be made on it. Temptations may trouble, but cannot hurt, except their darts enter the n Heb, vi. 11, 17-19. • 1 Peter, i. 3, 4. P 1 John iii. 2, 3. will, and leave a wound there, by drawing it to some consent and liking of them; from which this Helmet of Hope, if it be of the right make, and sit sure on the Christian's head, will defend him. It is hard to draw him into any treasonable practice against his prince, who is both well satisfied of his favour at present, and stands also upon the stairs of Hope, expecting assuredly to be called up within a while to the highest preferment that the court can afford, or his king give. Secondly : as the Helmet defends the soldier's head from being wounded, so his heart also from swooning. It makes him bold and fearless in battle, though amidst storms and bullets. Goliath, with his Helmet of brass and other furniture, how confidently and daringly did the man come on, as if he had been so inclosed in his armour, that it was impossible any weapon could come near to deliver a message of death unto him. This made him carry his Crest so high, and defy a whole host, till at last he paid his life for his pride and folly. But here is a Helmet, that whoever wears it, need never be put to shame for his holy boasting. God himself allows him so to do, and will bear him out in this rejoicing of his hope: "They shall not be ashamed that wait for me." This made holy David so undaunted in the midst of his enemies. "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear." His hope would not suffer his heart so much as to beat within him, for any fear of what they could do to him; he had his Helmet of salvation on, and therefore he saith, And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies 9 Isaiah xlix. 23. • Psalm xxvii. 3. round about me." A man cannot drown so long as his head is kept above water. Now, it is the proper office of hope to do this for the Christian in any times of danger. "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Two things make the head hang down-fear and shame; hope easeth the Christian's heart of both these, and so forbids him to give any sign of a desponding mind by a dejected countenance. Grace is subject to decays, and there ever needs completing ; as in an army, especially, which often engageth in battle, their arms are battered and broken ;-one man hath his Helmet bent, another his sword gapped, a third his pistol unfixed; and, therefore, recruits are ever necessary. In one temptation, the Christian hath his Helmet of Hope beaten off his head, in another, his patience hard put to it. The Christian hath need of an armoury at hand to make up his loss, and that speedily, for Satan is most like to fall on, when the Christian is least prepared to receive his charge.—GURNALL. Hope, or a scriptural, and prevailing, and animating expectation of victory and eternal glory, must supply the place of a Helmet to cover the head in the day of battle; by counteracting that discouragement, which doubtfulness of the event would induce, in times of sharp temptation, so that it might be called the Helmet of salvation, as nothing could be courageously done without it. In general, men chose to sleep during the quiet of the night; and to be drunken or riotous, when others were asleep, that their excess might be the less noticed. In like manner, all sloth, unwatchfulness, intemperance, or excessive worldly pursuits, were more consistent with the condition of benighted heathen, than with that of Christians, who would, as it were, turn the day into night, if they were betrayed into any such practices. As, therefore, they enjoyed the full light of the Sun of righteousness, they ought to be sober and vigilant; for they had not only a great work to do, but an arduous warfare to maintain, against numerous, potent, active, and subtle enemies. They ought to stand armed like soldiers, and to be vigilant as sentinels: while faith in Christ, and a firm belief of the Divine word, with reliance on the promises, and love to God, to Christ Jesus, to holiness, to each other, and to all men, constituted a breastplate to defend their heart and mind from mortal wounds; and a well-grounded, realizing hope of eternal happiness and complete salvation, was like a Helmet to cover their heads in the day of battle, to defend them from the fear of the most cruel persecutors. This hope they were warranted to entertain; as their conversion proved, that God had not appointed them to endure the severity of his wrath, which their sins had deserved, but had chosen them to obtain salvation of his free mercy, through Jesus Christ; who had willingly suffered death to atone for their sins, and to ransom their souls: that whether they waked or slept, whether they lived or died, or in whatever circumstances they were found at death, or at the coming of their Lord, they might live together with him in glory.-SCOTT. с The generality of mankind have very inadequate ideas of the Christian warfare. They know but little of the enemies with whom we have to contend, or of the imminent danger to which we are exposed through their continual assaults. But as some conception might be formed of the power of an enemy, by viewing the extensive preparations that were made to oppose them, so may we learn to estimate the difficulties of the spiritual warfare, by surveying the various parts of armour which God has prepared for our defence. There are the girdle and breastplate for the body, the greaves for the egs and feet, the shield for the head, in common with the rest of the body: but yet the head is not sufficiently protected; it must have a piece of armour more appropriate-a piece suited to its necessities, and fitted for its use. In the account given us of Goliath, we read that he had a Helmet of brass upon his head; and such a piece of armour is provided for us also: we are required to take the Helmet of salvation. Hope prepares us for conflicts. A man armed with an Helmet feels himself ready to battle: he fears not to meet his adversary, because he has a defence which, he trusts, will prove sufficient for his preservation. Thus a man that has a Hope of salvation enters into the combat with holy confidence. He is not intimidated by the frowns of an ungodly world, because he knows in whom he has believed, and that God is able to keep that which he has committed to him. He says with David, "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." This subject cannot be more strongly |