The hope from the world, and the hope from Christ, are two distinct, and in some instances, very opposite things. A worldly hope terminates on things uncertain and vanishing. Carnal hopes of eternal blessings-the best description can be given of them, is, they are inspirations of an ignorant imagination, passing wind, and more delusive than satanical influence.

Hope is employed in the scriptures, to express various ideas; sometimes the object of hope, as the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the "hope of Israel." Sometimes the blessings of expectation, which are the end of hope. Hence it is stiled, "Looking for "that blessed hope." And God is sometimes called the hope of his people. He is their support in trouble, their consolation in sorrow, their stay in sickness, their staff, leaning on which, they walk through the valley and shadow of death. Hope is used for the grave and the resurrection. "My flesh," says the Psalmist," shall rest in hope." That is, my body shall be pure in the graye, and be placed there under a sure and certain promise of being raised to immortality and endless glory.

The captives in Babylon, were placed there in the character of prisoners of hope. Whether their hopes were weak or strong, according to their various characters, deliverance was to be the issue. Some hoped to stay where they were; some hoped to return to their country; and among the whole captivated tribes, there were few hopes of a spiritual and saving nature.

In the verses preceding our text, the beloved disciple had been speaking of the love of the Father to his precious children begot ten in his Son. The whole history is joy, pleasure, and felicity that cannot now be dwelt upon. O that my limits could allow me to indulge a moment on their happiness. A sweet and transcendent description opens to my view. If animation should be left, to awaken the pictures in the preceding lines, they would certainly chain the eye of the believing, and immoveably fix the whole attention of the christian world. "Behold the love of

God bestowed upon his sons." The world can have no conception of this love, and it is probable, eternity will be exhausted before angels obtain the comprehension of it. But our feeble attention must be reduced to our text. "Every man that hath "this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure." That is, every one that has a hope, that he is converted, and a child of God, is honestly and faithfully endeavouring after holiness, and a conformity to the blessed Jesus. These things prescribe to every christian's observation, three considerations of great importance.

First, The nature of this hope.

Secondly, Some false experiences respecting it.

Thirdly, Its reality, advantages and benefits.

First, We are to consider the nature of a christian hope. However it may be described, it bears in its very existence, a comfortable expectation. Its nature is, an expectation of happiness in the glories of heaven. It is beautifully expressed in the verses preceding our text. It should inspire every pious soul with raptures of joy. Hearken to the extatic description. "Now "( we are 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." Strange it may seem, but St. Paul attributes assurance to hope, as well as to faith. "We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to "the full assurance of hope unto the end." The eminent distinction between assurance and hope, lies in this, according to my present apprehension-assurance is on the confines, if not in the possession of enjoyment; but hope stands at a reverent distance, tasting the sweets of expectation. Faith seems in the scriptures to be laid as the foundation of both these graces. "Faith is the "substance of things hoped for." Faith gives an assurance to our expectations. These graces, however distinct, are apt to flourish and fade together. Where the one is weak, the other is

feeble; where the one is in good condition, you will frequentl find the other luxuriant.

The hope in our text never supposes a blush on the faith of its subjects. A grand characteristic of this hope is, "It maketh "not ashamed."

This hope is not of a common kind, which a thousand unforseen accidents may disappoint. It is not of the complexion of Abra ham's, a hope against hope.

This hope is the fruit of experience. "Tribulation worketh "patience, and patience experience, and experience hope. And "if we hope for that we see not, we do with patience wait for it." Its existence in the soul originates from the grace and promises of God. Hear the experience of the Psalmist : "My soul hath "waited, and I have trusted in his word, O Lord I have waited "for thee."

This hope will manifest itself in a variety of ways, of which my limits prohibit a retail. Serious thoughts are evidences of their going forth to the promised land. What we earnestly hope for, will be often in our minds. Can a person feelingly hope for an object which is not frequently in his thoughts? Let a beggar expect a crown, and it is always in his view. Can we expect eternal glories, and can the contemplation be obscured from our sight? Can all the world of glory be stated to our expectation, Christ upon his throne, and cherubic hosts surrounding him, and we not fervently wish to join the glorious society? The worldly heart says, "pull down the barns and build greater, to-day and "to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a "year, and buy and sell, and get gain." We will go to and fro, and make fortunes. O that a christian heart had half the spirit of a carnal one; how would it grow and increase in grace, and how flourish as a watered garden in every virtue ?

Groans, sighings, and longings are high evidences of their

having hope in their souls. The hope in our text, is a hope that we are the children of God.. A hope that extends its blessings and privileges beyond present mortal conception. This hope is swallowed up and lost in wonders.. The reflection and belief that we are the sons and daughters of God, his children, friends and favourites; when we look back upon ourselves, it surpasses credibility when forward, this hope engrosses the soul, and faints under the prospect. Yet these strange and overcoming expectations, are accompanied with an indescribable pleasure and sweetness, which generate a joy, that the Apostle expresses in a language not easily expounded: "A rejoicing under a hope of the "glory, and though you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice "with joy unspeakable and full of glory." The nature of this hope, that we are the children of God, and sincere expectants of eternal life, may be further illustrated, under the

Second head, Of some false experiences concerning it.

My dear brethren, the hopes under the gospel are so numerous and various, I feel an abhorrence of a discrimination. But my observations shall be reduced to the bounds of a few remarks, brought down to the lowest tender feelings. The infant just born in Christ, is worth a thousand worlds. A repenting soul gives joy to heaven; this exceeds all that sun, moon, and stars ever performed. But, alas! how many hope under the gospel, whose hopes are vain. It is a melancholy thought. Their hopes are neither founded, directed, nor supported by the oracles of truth. "There is a generation who are sure in their own eyes, "and yet is not washed from their iniquity." Observe, it is not one or two who have fallen under this fatality, but a whole genera tion. Let our prayers ascend in all the fervour of supplication to heaven, that we may not be the unhappy generation.

The false experiences of some, are founded upon their multitude of duties. What a sweet morsel is a multiplicity of duties to the deluded and hypocritical soul? The glory of his hope is,

<< I fast twice in the week, I give a tenth of all I possess." What modern christian can dare to intrude upon the confines of such a profession? But Tekel is their inscription. Let the christian place himself in the balance, and with Christ it descends and is held down, and all the powers of hell cannot raise it.

Some indulge a hope, that they are good men, in judging themselves by the law, while they are wholly blind to its spiritual meaning and extent. This was Paul's hope, previous to his conversion. He fancied himself an eminent saint and favourite of heaven. His hopes were raised upon a strange foundation, which he himself afterwards acknowledged and lamented as the greatest wickedness of his life, his persecuting the church of God. But when his mind was enlightened to see the law, what was his declaration? "I was alive without the law once; but when the com"mandment came, sin revived and I died." Alas! what multitudes imagine themselves walking in the law, and feel lively hopes, while they are perfectly ignorant of its nature.

Another false experience which deceives many, is one of the most unlikely grounds in the world to raise a hope of goodness upon, yet the deceivings of the human heart have such a fatality in them, and satanical influence is of such subtlety, that contradictions to reason, scripture and common sense, often form foundations for delusive hopes. And one of the most unaccountable delusions to which professors yield themselves is this. They imbibe a censorious and rash judging spirit. They pronounce such an one a christian, and such an one to be not a christian. Such a sermon to be excellent, and such a sermon to be a weak, feeble performance. Such a minister, the most distinguished preacher they ever heard, and another is a poor creature, unworthy of attention or notice. When these people collect impudence and folly enough to be hurried away with such a spirit of self-conceit, they enjoy flourishing hopes, far beyond what the sincere and humble christian can make any pretensions.