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SERMON XV.

THE NATURE AND VALUE OF THE CHRISTIAN'S

HOPE.

ROMANS V, 5.

And hope maketh not ashamed.

THE slightest consideration of the nature of our situation in the world, must be sufficient to convince us, that hope is a feeling of the mind essentially necessary for us, if we would here enjoy any happiness whatever. Even

with regard to the things of the present life, we may safely affirm, that possession forms but a small part of the comfort which is derived from them. It is the hope of some greater good than we have yet attained, or than we at present possess, which constitutes our enjoyment. Assure any man that he has already obtained the highest comfort which he shall ever possess, and he will very speedily find

abundant causes for dissatisfaction, and will soon become a prey to gloom and discontent. It is, moreover, the hope of relief, which affords almost the only ground of consolation, under the various trials to which men are exposed. But, if we take into the account, our nature as immortal creatures, destined to exist for ever in a future and unseen state, we may, without fear of contradiction, assert, that no man can be called happy, who does not possess a well grounded hope of enjoyments adapted to his nature, and sufficient to meet his wants: and that if we would possess real happiness, we must give all diligence in endeavouring to attain a hope of such blessings to be enjoyed beyond the grave.

But, is it so, that the great bulk of mankind do possess such a hope? Can we, on looking at men in general, and viewing their sentiments and modes of acting, entertain a belief that they are looking forward, with well founded expectation, to enjoyments sufficient to satisfy the wants of their nature? Alas! we must acknowledge our conviction, that this is far from being generally the case. They have, it is very true, their hopes; but these too often either are insufficient in their object, or they rest upon a deceitful foundation.

The object of human pursuit, is, in general, limited to this world. The attainment of some of its enjoyments, is that upon which men fix their desires and expectations; and they vainly imagine, that if they can obtain these, happiness must be the result. But how often do we see men disappointed in their hopes of obtaining these things! How often do the plans which they have formed fail of success! Or, if they reach the objects of their desire, how seldom do these afford them the enjoyment which they expected! Man is formed with a reasonable and immortal soul, which requires a better and a more exalted happiness than this world is capable of affording and if his portion consists only in things below, he can never experience any real satisfaction and peace of mind. Besides, even were the things of this world more pleasing and more satisfying than they really are, they have no continuance. "We brought nothing into this "world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out." Death will soon remove even the most prosperous beyond the reach of all worldly enjoyments; while the will, through everlasting ages, require a happiness suited to its

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immortal creature, and wants a happiness which will last for ever. It is not therefore to be wondered at, that when he expects to obtain satisfaction from the things of this life, his hopes should end in disappointment.

If we turn our thoughts from the deluded multitudes, whose only expectations of happiness are fixed upon the vanities of this mortal life, and look to those who profess to expect their happiness from spiritual and eternal objects; we still shall find, that there are great numbers whose hope is not that "good hope" of which the bible speaks. They say, indeed, that they look for happiness in heaven; but they too often form a very false opinion of the nature of the felicity there to be found. They regard it as a place of enjoyment, but they forget that it is a place of holiness. They expect to possess there a calm serenity; but they do not consider that this is to be united with earnest and constant diligence in the service of God. Hence they are led to forget that a preparation for heaven must be effected in them. They forget that they must be renewed in the spirit of their mind, and be taught to delight in the service of God, before they can be prepared to find enjoyment in that place, whose inhabitants worship and serve him day and night, without ceasing. It will therefore at last be

found that they have been expecting a heaven of their own devising, not such as God offers to them that they have been hoping not so much for deliverance from sin, as for exemption from punishment: and thus their hopes will be miserably disappointed.

There are, moreover, multitudes, whose hopes will be found delusive, because they are fixed upon a false foundation. They misunderstand the nature and extent of God's law. They fancy that it regards only a few outward actions, and has little to do with the state of the heart. They neglect to examine themselves with respect to the degree in which they have obeyed it. On this account they overlook their sinfulness, form too high an opinion of themselves, and suppose that their own poor imperfect deeds are sufficient to satisfy the demands of God's law, and to give them a claim to heaven, as due to them from divine justice. But the bible gives no encouragement at all to such a hope as this. Eternal life is there set before us as the gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord; and we are assured that every hope of heaven, which rests upon any other foundation whatever, is vain, and will end in disappointment and confusion.

Yet, though it is thus most certain, that the hopes with which the bulk of mankind are

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