[b]The hypocrite's hope
(Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667)
"For what hope do the godless have, when God cuts
them off and takes away their life?" Job 27:8
"When the wicked die, their hopes all perish." Prov. 11:7
That assurance is but presumption, which allows men . . .
to play with sin,
to be bold with sin,
to make light of sin,
to walk on in ways of sin.
Such 'assurance' will never bring a man to heaven; it
will never keep him from dropping into hell; yes, it
will double his damnation, and make him the most
miserable among all damned, wretched, forlorn spirits.
"So are the paths of all who forget God; and the
hypocrite's hope shall perish." Job 8:13
Ah, Lord! from such false hopes deliver my soul;
and give me more and more of that divine hope
which makes sin to be more hateful than hell.