A CHRISTIANS Sure Anchor and Comfort In Times of Troubles and Dangers.  
BEING A SERMON Preached on the 16. day of June.  
By a Divine of the Church of England.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 6 H. 19  
Similiter quomodo Anchoram habemus Navim in Tempestate Maris, sic spes Hominem in Tentationibus mundi sundat. Sedul. Coment in L●c●●.  
It is good that a man Should both hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of God, Lam. ●. 26.  
LONNON, Printed for S. Keble at the Turks-head in Fleetstreet, 1693.   

A CHRISTIANS Sure Anchor and Comfort In Times of Troubles and Dangers.  Rom. xii. 12. 
Rejoicing in Hope.  
THe Condition of Man in this World is such, that he often meets with many things which cause trouble and vexation of Spirit; and the best of Men are not secure from such evils, but as liable as others to be afflicted with them. The Wisdom of God sees it fit very frequently to lay heavy burdens of afflictions upon his own Servants, to let them be entangled in the nets of wicked Men, to be caught in the Briars of Tribulation, and to make them pass through the Fiery Trial of Persecution: And were it not that they had a prospect of Deliverance from such Miseries, and of a Blessed Reward, after they have patiently endured for a while, they would sink under the weight of such Calamities: but when they consider that the things wherein they find present trouble, and sorrow, are designed for their Advantage another way, that they will have a speedy and a happy end; and that God has prepared unspeakable Joy, Rest, and Peace, to succeed these Miseries, and to reward the Courage and Patience of those, who bear them with Submission and Resignation to his will: These thoughts beget joy and comfort in their Souls, and make them esteem themselves happy in those circumstances, wherein to the Eye of the World they appear most miserable. The hope of what is to come makes their present afflictions seem light and turns their heaviness into Joy. The Expectation of God's gracious Deliverance out of their troubles, and the blessedness of a future Life which they are assured of, does overbalance all the thoughts of their present hardships and ill treatments in the World, and makes them look on 'em as matter of Joy; and not of grief.  
Such a hope as this, which causeth Rejoicing, is that which St. Paul speaks of in this place; a hope of heavenly Felicity wherewith God hath promised to reward the good Services, the Sufferings, and Constancy of pious Christians. With this hope he bids these Christians to comfort themselves, and rejoice in it. And this Advice was very proper for their condition: for they had then many Enemies and Persecutors who hated them and their Religion, and brought great calamaties upon 'em, not suffering them to rest and enjoy a peaceable Life, because they had embraced and did constantly profess the Doctrine of Christianity which by the Ignorant and unconverted World was then every where spoken against.  
In this afflicted persecuted State they had need of encouragement, to make them to persevere in the Love and profession of that Truth, for which they then suffered. And how does the Apostle encourage them? He bids 'em Hope, He advises 'em to look forward upon the Blessedness of a Future Life, the Joys and Glories of Eternity, and to expect them as their portion, and Reward of their Sufferings: And so in respect of this Felicity to come, which God had assured them of, to rejoice in the midst of all their worldly troubles, knowing that these would not last long, and that the End of 'em would be peace.  
One would have thought it a very unreasonable Exhortation, to bid those Christians Rejoice, who had then so much Cause to be sorrowful; when they suffered so many reproaches, underwent so many hardships, and were in all respects so spitefully treated by their Enemies. But in the worst of times and Conditions, Christianity has wherewithal to comfort its Professors, and make their Hearts joyful: and this is one of those Spiritual Comforts; viz. the Hope of Everlasting Happiness, this outweighs the heaviest burden of worldly Calamities, and gives us a cheerful Spirit in the midst of our greatest Sufferings. For, when we have this hope, we consider, not so much what we are at present, as what we shall be; we are the less concerned at the Evils we suffer in this World, because we see beyond 'em, and do expect a Blissful State where we shall suffer no more; where we shall have no more Sorrow, and where all Tears shall be wiped off from our Eyes.  
Since therefore such a hope as this is so useful and beneficial to us in our Christian course, I shall make it my business at this time to show you,  
First, The Nature of it.  
Secondly, What you must do to get it.  
And Thirdly, Of what use and advantage it will be to you at all times, but especially in Adversity, and when you are under such Trials as these Christians heretofore were.  
I. Hope (as it is a Christian Grace) is nothing else but a comfortable Expectation of the fulfilling of God's Promises, belonging to this life, or that to come. Here in my Text the Apostle speaks of hope as it respects the Promises of God belonging to a future Life.  
By this Description of Hope which I have given you, the Nature of it does appear, and also the objects and the ground of it.  
As for the Nature of it, 'tis an expectation and earnest looking for of something to come. For hope that is seen is not hope, (saith the Apostle) for what a Man seethe, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom. 8.24, 25. So that it must be something Future, about which our hope is employed.  
And then for the Object of it, that is always some good thing, which we believe we shall be the better for, and will, in some measure conduce to our happiness for we never hope for things that will hurt us, and make us miserable; but on the contrary deprecate all such evils, and wish they may never come upon us. Again.  
If we consider the ground of this Hope, it is built upon the promise of God, which he has made to pious Men concerning things to come, concerning the Felicity of a Future State; Now these Promises of God being a most sure and certain ground, our hope that is built upon them must be so too. And herein this Grace of Hope differs from all other expectations, which have no other Foundation but the words or Promises of Men, who sometimes want Power, and sometimes Will to perform what they promise: and so the hopes of them who depend upon them must needs be uncertain. But God is powerful to do whatever he promises, and he is true and just and will never fail nor deceive those, who put their confidence in his word. Thy word is true from Everlasting, says the Psalmist. He is faithful that hath promised, says the Apostle So that the Hope of Christians for Heavenly bliss is as well grounded as it can be, in that it is bottomed upon the most sure and infallible promises of God.  
Now an Eternal heavenly Life being the best thing we hope for, we are most unwilling to be disappointed of it, because such a disappointment of the greatest Felicity would make us most miserable. We therefore desire to have it secured to us, and made as certain as possible: and so it is; we are as certain of it as the Promises of God can make us; and if there be nothing of Fallibility or deceit in them (as certainly there is not,) then are we as sure as we can be of Future happiness, and our hopes grounded upon those promises are most rational, certain, and full of Comfort.  
Take away this hope from Men, and and what are they then but wretched Creatures, though they have all the felicity this World affords? for 'tis not all the wealth and glory of the Earth, that can bear up men's Spirits, and make them comfortable, under a despair of Heaven. The thoughts of not inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven will take away all the delight and comfort of Earthly possessions. Whatever we have here, 'tis as nothing to us, if we have not hopes of enjoying something better hereafter. Yea, when this hope of Heaven is not quite destroyed, but only lessened or weakened by some doubts and fears; what a trouble is this to us, and how witless are our minds, whilst those doubts and Fears remain! my next work therefore is to show you, how to have the joy and comfort of a sure and well grounded hope.  
II. You have heard that the Promises of God are the ground of this hope of Everlasting Life: Now, that which gives us a right to those Promises and an interest in them, does also make us partakers of this hope. How then do we come to have an interest in the privileges of Felicity, but by performing the conditions upon which those promises are made. Those Conditions are proposed to us in the Gospel, viz. Faith, Repentance and Christian Obedience: In general a pious and Religious Life answerable to the Gospel Rules. Upon Condition of such a Christian behaviour God hath promised us Eternal Life, and if we are qualified with such a behaviour, we may hope; and be confident, that God will perform his promise of Blessedness to us.  
But, because men are apt to deceive themselves with false hopes of heart, it concerns us to know, when this hope is true and when 'tis false.  
For our Direction and Information in this particular, St. John has given us a certain rule, whereby to know this. Every man that hath this hope purifieth himself. 1 Ep. 3. V 3. i. e. He lives a pure and virtuous life, abhorring the filthiness of Vice and Impiety. For he considers that the promises of Felicity are conditional, and that God is not bound to perform them unless they do their Duty; and so they endeavour to discharge that by living as purely and piously as they can, that nothing may be wanting on their parts to hinder them from obtaining the promised happiness of the World to come. Thus a true hope is discernible from any other, by a holy Christian conversation which always attends it.  
So that when a man reflects upon his Life, and finds that he sincerely endeavours to please God by holy obedience, by a strict, innocent pure conversation, and upon that, hopes to be saved, and enjoy the promised Reward of God's heavenly Kingdom, his hope is then sure and well grounded, he hopes for nothing but what the Gospel encourages, and God commands him to hope for.  
But, that others do hope for Heaven and the glories of it, who have not sufficient ground and warrant for such an expectation, is certain, and commonly to be observed. Men that do not purify themselves, nor take any care to reform their lives, and adorn them with Christian virtues; but on the contrary indulge themselves in all vicious impurities and Unchristian practices, even these do hope nevertheless to be saved, and boldly lay claim to the promises of Eternal happiness.  
But though these do so, their Claim is not just, nor their hope rational: yea, 'tis not so properly Hope, as Presumption; an expectation of some good, which a Man has no good ground nor Reason to expect. Such is the hope of all ungodly Men, that take pleasure in Sin, and hate to be reformed, and we are expressly told in Holy Scriptures that their Hope shall perish.  
What good then can it do them to hope for that, which they are never like to obtain, and that which it is against all Reason for them to expect. They do but deceive themselves by such false and groundless hopes; and this is a very pernicious way of deceiving themselves too: for when they presume they shall be happy and go to Heaven, though they live impiously; They go on in that Presumption, and never take care to reform their lives; and so at last come to a fearful end, and die in their Sins.  
And therefore such persons as are thus bold and forward to declare their hope of Heaven, should consider the Danger of such a destructive confidence, and not run themselves into ruin by a false and flattering hope of being saved.  
Methinks it should be easy to reason such Men out of their vain Confidence, yea, they might easily reason themselves out of it. For thus a Man might say to himself I am told in Holy Scriptures, that there is such a blessing as Eternal Life. I find every where that God has promised this Blessing only to them that live piously. If then I am none of those pious ones, to whom those promises are particularly made; how can I expect to have a share in that Felicity? If God has promised it to none, but to such as Love and Obey him; He has not not promised it to me who am none of that Number: And if I am none of that Number included in the promise, I am very unreasonable to think or hope I shall be happy with them; I am Presumptus to expect the Blessing without performing the Duty required in order thereunto. I promise myself that I shall be happy, but my promise is nothing without God's promise: This I have not, therefore the other can do me no good, I do hope, but I have no ground for my hope; and so it can be but a vain expectation, and I shall surely deceive myself by it, and instead of a Blessing I shall in the end meet with a miserable Disappointment. Yea, it is yet more reasonable for me to think so; because I hope not only without any promise of God to encourage me, but also against the Express Word of God in his many Threaten and Denuntiations of misery to such wretched and Unreformed Sinners as I am: Either God says true, in those threaten, or he does not: If he does, (as is most certainly to be believed) than what reason can I have to hope, I shall be saved, though I continue in my Sins, when God says the contrary? Can I be happy whether he will or no? Can I force my way into Heaven? And take possession of that glorious Inheritance? I cannot be so foolish to think so, and therefore the result of all is this, That before I can have a sure, and rational, and well-grounded hope I must reform my wicked life, and resolve to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness all my days; then, and not till then, shall I be able to hope for Heaven with any Comfort and Assurance. After this manner therefore let us reason with ourselves, and by this means we shall perceive our Folly and Danger, in relying upon weak and unwarantable Foundations, and in flattering ourselves with vain hopes of Heaven, while our vicious Conversations carry us directly toward Hell.  
By what I have said so plainly on this point you cannot but understand, when your hope of Heaven is true and when false; when it has good Foundation, and when it has none. And therefore unless you are willing to cheat yourselves you cannot be deceived in this matter. Consider your lives what they are, and thence judge of your hope: If they be good and comformable to the Rules of Christian Piety, then is your Hope warrantably grounded; if they be wicked your hope is vain and deceitful. 'Tis, true wicked men may hope for the Fruition of a better life, but it is upon this supposition, that they first change their manners and live Religiously: but while they remain wicked, and resolve never to be otherwise, their trusting in God, and hoping for his mercy and Salvation, is no Virtue, but a great Sin, 'tis a presumptuous dependence which God is never pleased with. It is a piece of high Injustice to expect and lay claim to that whereto they have no right. Let us be sure therefore to lay a good Foundation for our hope, that in the end we may not be disappointed. 'Tis of the greatest concernment to us to endeavour not to be deceived in this matter. He that lives well may hope well; as for others, their Expectations are Vain.  
III Let us now see of what use this Christian hope is to those that have it, and what advantages men receive by it. It serves to many good purposes:  
First, At all times it encourages men to serve God diligently, cheerfully, and constantly: For when we have a prospect of so great Happiness as is prepared in the Kingdom of Heaven, and have hope of enjoying it, upon Condition we carefully perform our Christian Duties. We think it well worth our labour to qualify ourselves for that highest Felicity, by conforming to God's Will in all points of holy obedience. For the hope that is set before us, we think it not reasonable to grudge the performance of any thing that is in our power: This makes Religious Duties more easy and pleasant to us: We set about them with cheerfulness, when we hope for so great a Reward after we have done 'em. Thus as a good Life encourages us to hope, so that hope encourages to persevere in a good Life.  
2. The Hope of Heaven and Eternal Joys makes men put a just estimate upon things here below, and not to overvalue, or too much love this present World. For, when men have such excellent and eternal enjoyments in their Eye and Expectation, they make no great account of earthly transitory things, nor settle their affections upon them, but passing by these lesser matters, aspire with the greatest ardour of affection after those enjoyments wherein they are sure of perfect Satisfaction, and of which they are never to be dispossessed.  
Whereas we see other men whose hopes of future blessedness is either very languishing, or who have none at all, to be very so licitous about the World, to love it excessively, and to prise it as their chief Felicity. They mind not the things of Eternity, because they want this hope to elevate their minds and draw them off from the World. Happy then are they, who have this hope, which makes them mind and regard most the things that are most regardable, and keeps them from being Slaves to the World, and overprizing Vanities and trifling enjoyments.  
3dly. In all afflictions and worldly adversities this Hope comforts and supports us: Whatever our condition be, how deplorable soever our circumstances in the World; yet we are not dejected, we cannot think ourselves unhappy, while we have this Hope. For whatever our troubles and sufferings are, our hope of being delivered from them, and enjoying a State of perfect Peace and Happiness afterwards, makes us bear 'em patiently and cheerfully. If we are hated and evil-entreated in the World; if we Suffer Poverty, Shame, Reproach, or any thing else, that the malice of wicked men can bring upon us, we are the less moved at these things, because if we suffer 'em upon a good account, we are sure we shall be gainers by 'em, and in that respect we can look upon 'em as matter of rejoicing, as the Apostles and primitive Christians did who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer in a good cause, for the Name of Christ, and the Sake of true Religion. This St. Paul declares, Rom. 5, 2, 3, 4, 5. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only so but we glory in Tribulation also, knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope; and Hope maketh not ashamed.  
Men who have this Hope of the Glory of God will never be ashamed of those Sufferings, which they know are the way to it: But for the Sake of that eternal weight of Glory, which they hope for, will rejoice in them. And thus St. Paul advised these Christians, To rejoice in this Hope, and to be patiented in Tribulation, both which are here joined together. This was nothing but what their Saviour had done before, who for the Joy that was set him, endured the Cross despising the shame. And unless we take up our Cross and follow him, (When 'tis necessary so to do,) He tells us we are not worthy of him. To him therefore let us look in all our Sufferings as to the Author and Finisher of our Faith, as to the true Promiser of Heavenly Glory, and not be ashamed to tread in those holy Steps of his which will surely lead us to a blessed Eternity, and bring us to Sat down with him at the right hand of God. If ever we should come to be in such Circumstances as these Christians were, when St. Paul gave 'em this Exhortation, if we should be persecuted for Christ's Sake, and Suffer the Hatred of the World for our adherance to the truth; if we should be deprived of our Goods, of our Liberty, and all that we esteem of in this World: Let us not be ashamed to Suffer, nor murmur at our Condition, but on the contrary, rejoice and glory in such sufferings, which are indeed the shame of our Enemies, but our glory who endure 'em. Let us hope, to the end and Comfort ourselves with the many promises of a Blessed Reward. Holding fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering, knowing that he is Faithful that has promised, and being well assured, that he will abundantly recompense all that we Suffer for him, And for our light afflictions which are but for a moment, will reward us with an eternal and exceeding weight of Glory.  
Now to, etc.  
FINIS.   

Advertisement,  
Christian Supports under the Terrors of Death. By a Divine of the Church of England.  
St. Paul 's Triumph in his suffering for Christ, with some Directions how a Christian ought to behave himself under, and may reap Advantage by sufferings. By Matthew Bryan. L. L. D.