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what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see<br />
not, then do we with patience wait for it.' I have been ashamed of my hope in<br />
an arm of flesh, but hope in the promise of God ‘maketh not ashamed.' In my<br />
greatest sufferings I will say, ‘the Lord is my portion; therefore will I hope in<br />
him. <strong>The</strong> Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh<br />
him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation<br />
of the Lord; for the Lord will not cast off for ever; but though he cause grief,<br />
yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies.'<br />
Though I languish and die, yet will I hope; for ‘the righteous hath hope in his<br />
death.' Though I must lie down in dust and darkness, yet there ‘my flesh shall<br />
rest in hope.' And when my flesh hath nothing to rejoice in, yet will I ‘hold<br />
fast the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end;' for ‘the hope of the<br />
righteous shall be gladness.' Indeed, if I must myself satisfy divine justice,<br />
then there had been no hope; but Christ hath ‘brought in a better hope, by the<br />
which we draw nigh to God.' Or, if I had to do with a feeble creature, there<br />
were small hope; for how could he raise this body from the dust and lift me<br />
above the sun? But what is this to the Almighty Power which made the<br />
heavens and the earth out of nothing? Cannot that power which raised Christ<br />
from the dead, raise me? and that which hath glorified the Head, glorify also<br />
the members? ‘Doubtless, by the blood of his covenant, God will send forth<br />
his prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water:' therefore will I ‘turn to the<br />
strong hold, as a prisoner of hope.'"<br />
4. Courage, or boldness, is another affection to be exercised in heavenly<br />
contemplation; it leads to resolution, and concludes in action. When you<br />
have raised your love, desire and hope, go on, and think thus with yourself:<br />
"Will God indeed dwell with men? And is there such a glory within the reach<br />
of hope? Why then do I not lay hold upon it? Where is the cheerful vigor of<br />
my spirit? Why do I not ‘gird up the loins of my mind?' Why do I not set<br />
upon my enemies on every side, and valiantly break through all resistance?<br />
What should stop me, or intimidate me? Is God with me, or against me, in<br />
the work? Will Christ stand by me, or will he not? ‘If God and Christ be for<br />
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