IX.

ple of Fortitude, Faith and Patience, and SERM. we shall foon be with him, to behold his Glory. And füre we are, that all the Sufferings of the prefent Life are not worthy to be compared with the Glory, which shall be revealed.

SER

SERMON X.

The happy Influence of the Chriftian's Hope.

I JOHN iii. 3.

And every Man, that hath this Hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

N the first verse of this chapter, the Apostle breaks forth into Admiration at

the

thought of Go D's wonder

ful Condescention and Love,

in admitting his Servants under the Gospel Dispensation into the priviledge and relation of his Sons. Behold what manner of Love

the

the Father bath beflowed upon us, that we SERM. fhould be called (a) the Sons of GOD!

This character may be understood either in a more general, or a more particular sense. In a more general sense, it belongs to all profeffing Chriftians; whether their Life and Temper be agreeable to their Profeffion, or no. Thus faith the Apoftle (fpeaking of them that live under the dispensation of the Gofpel) ye are all the children of GOD by Faith in Chrift Jefus (b). i. e. whereas under the legal Covenant (which was a state of Bondage) ye were treated more like Servants, with discipline and rigour, under the Christian Inftitution (which is a state of Liberty) ye are treated more like Children, with clemency and love. But in a

more

(a) i. e. that we should become the Sons of GOD, for in this fense the phrase (to be called) is frequently used both in the Old and New Teftament, e. g. Ifai. Ixi. 3. that they might be called (that they might become) the Trees of Righteousness. Matt. v. 9. Bleffed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called (i. e. be) the Children of GOD. Luke i. 32. He shall be great, and shall be called (fhall be) the Son of the Higheft, ver. 36. and this is the fixth Month with her who was called (who was】 barren. See alfo Ifai. i. 26. ix. 6. xxxv. 8. xlvii. 1, 5. lxi. 6. Matt. v. 19. xxi. 13. Mark xi. 17. Luke i. 35, 76. Hence [7] and [oyos] fignify both name and thing. (b) Gal. iii. 26.

X.

X.

SERM. more particular and reftrained fenfe, this phrafe (the Sons of GoD) denominates only real Chriftians, or those who resemble GoD in the Holiness of their Nature, as Children fometimes do their Parents in the Similitude of their features.

In this latter fenfe the Apostle must be supposed to use the expreffion, in the first verfe of this chapter, by reason of the ineftimable Priviledge annexed to that Character, in the verfe immediately following. Beloved (faith he), now are we 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 fee

him as he is.

Those words defcribe the future felicity of the true Sons of GOD: the words immediately following, which I am now to difcourfe upon, denote their prefent character, under the two principal Branches of it. (1.) They live in the delightful Hopes of that future Blessedness. (2.) Under the influence of thofe Hopes, they are preparing themselves more and more for the Enjoyment of it. And every Man, that hath this Hope in him, purifieth himself, even as be is pure. I fhall

X.

I fhall speak to these two characters di- SERM. ftinctly, and then conculde with fome proper reflections.

1. The first mark or character of a true Son of God is, that he liveth in Hope.

This indeed is only implied, but so evidently, that it could not be more plain, if it were expreffed. Every Man, that hath this Hope in him, purifieth himself, neceffarily denotes that every true Son of GOD (as before described) hath this Hope in him, for he alone it is who is purified by the Influence of it; which neceffarily fuppofes him poffeffed thereof. Here I fhall,

1. Confider the Paffion of Hope in general: and then,

2. What those things are, which give the pre-eminence to the Chriftian's Hope in particular.

1. I fhall briefly confider the paffion of Hope in general.

Hope is the pleafing expectation of some future Good; and ftands in oppofition to Fear, which is the painful apprehenfion of fome future Evil.

The