CHAPTER III.

THE ASSURANCE OF HOPE.

"Show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end."-HEBREWS vi. 11.

HE attention of the reader is now called to the

THE

last subject under discussion in this essay, the assurance of hope. It may be well, therefore, to present anew the distinction between the three kinds of assurance. The assurance of understanding has been defined as the clear and comforting persuasion that we rightly interpret the principles of grace as revealed in the gospel. That of faith is a full conviction of the reality and truth of this grace, whereby we rest upon it with entire confidence. That of hope is the fixed and wellgrounded persuasion that we, as individuals, are accepted in Christ and shall never come into condemnation, but will inherit eternal life. We grapple, then, at the outset with the proposition itself, and ask on what grounds such an assurance can be shown to be attainable on earth.

1. Hope is undoubtedly an elementary principle in our rational nature. It may be compared with the instinct of animal life, which we share in common with the brute creation. We daily observe persons under great and continuous suffering, who in the midst of it

all cling tenaciously to life. It is undoubtedly a wise provision; for without it men under temporary distress would rush uncalled into their Maker's presence, and suicide would become a frequent crime. We may analogically describe hope as a rational instinct planted in our mental and moral. constitution for equally wise ends. We are able to endure heavy disappointments and trials under the hope that a change will take place for the better, even when no rational ground for that hope appears. It is, to use a common phrase, hoping against hope. Yet it is sufficient to prevent rashness in the day of evil, and to keep us afloat in the wreck of earthly fortunes.

If this exposition be correct, why should not this hope be more conspicuously exercised in the sphere of religion than in matters that are earthly? The Christian believes that nothing happens in his lot by chance or accident. He is persuaded that God in his general providence orders all the affairs of men. But immeasurably beyond this he believes that, under a gracious covenant, these earthly trials are but a fatherly discipline preparing him for an inheritance of glory in the world to come. Hope has thus a wide sweep through all the promises of the gospel, bearing him up and carrying him through a sea of troubles which shall have their recompense hereafter. In this principle of hope we have a natural basis upon which we may rest the believer's comforting assurance of his personal salvation.

2. If salvation depends upon our coming to Christ,

the evidence of our acceptance of him would seem to be necessary. This brings up anew the appropriating power of faith, which was fully discussed in the preceding chapter. The believer may have the testimony of his own consciousness that, in obedience to the call of the gospel, he expects to be saved only through Christ Jesus as his Redeemer, and thus far he accepts him. But this brings him no immediate comfort until he has the evidence of his own acceptance before God. This is furnished only when a sense of pardon is sealed upon his conscience by the Holy Spirit. What is this, but to affirm what is equally true of the Christian in all the stages of his experience? There are, alas! only too many seasons of spiritual darkness, when the child of God is without any present sense of his Father's love. There remains still the principle of faith, which holds to Christ as the only possible Saviour, but the comfort of present acceptance with God is withheld. The exemplification of this distinction is found in the discipline of our earthly homes. A parent does not cease to love his child, even though the manifestation of that love may be withdrawn. Nor does the child lose confidence in the parent's protection and care, though now sore in heart under that parent's displeasure. So the Christian does not lose his confidence in God's love to him as his child, but has no comfort whilst debarred the joy of filial intercourse. This will suffice to prove what is affirmed above: that in our first coming to Christ there is needed the confirming seal of our pardon

and acceptance before God. Thus what is needed at the beginning for the confirmation of our faith is seen to be necessary for the confirmation of our hope; and this hope will be graduated through the whole after experience, according to the degrees of faith which the believer may attain.

3. This doctrine of an assured hope rests so entirely upon the testimony of Scripture that the following citations are adduced under different forms of presentation. First of all, those which directly affirm it. Thus we have hope defined in its relation to what is future in our salvation: "We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth hu yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Rom. viii. 24, 25.) The same apostle dwells upon the continual increase of hope, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Rom. xv. 13.) Again, "We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Gal. v. 5.) "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 steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." (Heb. vi. 18, 19.) The Apostle John, the beloved disciple, might be expected to dwell fondly upon this theme. Thus he says, "Whoso keepeth his word, in him

verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we • that we are in him." (1 John ii. 5.) "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." (1 John iii. 14.) "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” (1 John v. 13.)

Again, we have hope presented in its connection with the believer's sanctification. Thus, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor. xiii. 5.) "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter i. 13.) "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter iii. 15.) "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly unto the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter i. 10, 11.)

Still further there are passages of Scripture which afford personal examples of this hope. Thus Paul declares of himself, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Tim. i. 12.) "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of right