June 15

And the hypocrite's hope shall perish: whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.—Job 8:13-15.

We should search the ground of our hopes, whether they are saving, and will attend us to the gates of heaven. If they purify us, they will certainly be accomplished in heavenly blessedness: If we be like our Saviour in grace, we shall be like him in glory. But carnal and loose hopes will issue in disappointment.

Our Saviour tells us, that every visible Christian, in a spiritual sense, is a builder, and raises a fabric of hope, that may appear fair to the eye; but there is a time of trial coming, that will discover how firm it is. It is our wisdom to descend to the foundation of our hope, that we may understand whether it be a rock that can not be shaken, or the quicksand that can not bear the weight of it. Those who hear the words of Christ, and do them, build upon a foundation more stable than the centre; the perfect veracity of God is engaged in his promises: but those who hear without doing, build upon the sinking sand. Carnal men will pretend they hope for salvation, only from the infinite mercies of God, and merits of Christ. It is true these are eternal foundations; but to secure a building, the superstructure must be strongly fastened to the foundation, or it can not resist the storm. If we are not united to Christ by the sanctifying Spirit, and a purifying faith, our hopes will deceive us. When sin has dominion, which is certainly discovered by the habitual course of men's lives, when there is a remaining affection to it in men's hearts, which is known by their reflections upon past sins with pleasure, and the prospect of future sins with desire, their hope is like a spider's web, that can bear no stress. Hope is subordinate to faith, and faith is regulated by the promise. Some believe without hope. They are convinced of the reality of the future state, of the eternal judgment, and the consequence of it, but are careless and desperate in their wickedness: others hope to be well hereafter without the belief of the gospel. Indeed, there is none can bear up under despairing thoughts, when they are raging in the breast. He that is absolutely and with consideration hopeless, falls upon his own sword. The tempter deals with sinners according to their conditions. If they are swimming in prosperity, he stupefies conscience, and induces them to be secure; if they are sinking in deep distress, he is so skillful in all the arts of aggravation, that he plunges them into despair. And both temptations are fatal; but the most perish by fallacious hopes. It is strange that the greatest number of professors are more unwilling to suspect the goodness and safety of their condition, than to mistake, and be deceived for ever. But they are so strongly allured by worldly objects, that though in their lives there are the visible marks exclusive of salvation, they are unconcerned. They are satisfied with carnal vain hopes, which are the seed of all the evils committed, and the spring of all evils suffered. Hope that should encourage holiness, emboldens wickedness; and that should lead men to heaven, precipitates them to hell.

How great will their fall be from a conceited heaven into a real hell? He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. Hope of all the passions, is the most calm and quiet; but when utterly disappointed in a matter of high concernment, it is most turbulent; for the consequent passions, despair, impatience, sorrow, rage, are the cruel tormentors of the minds of men. Now what will become of the hope of the hypocrite, when God shall take away his soul? He may feed and cherish it while he lives; but in the fatal moment, when he dies, his blazing presumption will expire, not to be revived for ever.

But the righteous has hope in death. The sanctified spirit inspires and preserves life in it, till it is consummate in that blessedness that exceeds all our desires, and excludes all our fears for ever.