THE HOPE SET BEFORE US.

 

APRIL 10.
 
The hope set before us.
Hebrews 6:18

 
AS we have no good hope,
  we can have none without the gospel.
 
But in the gospel,
  eternal life is set before us
    as God's free gift to sinners,
  through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
This is the hope set before us.
 
This hope is founded on Christ,
   no life but through him;
   no enjoyment of life,
      but by union to him.
 
God hath given unto us eternal life,
   and this life is in his Son.
 
He that hath the Son, hath life;
  but he that hath not the Son of God hath not life;
  but the wrath of God abideth on him.
 
The gospel sets eternal life before us as sinners,
  and says, “lay hold on eternal life.”
 
It lifts up a crucified Saviour, and says,
  “Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish,
     but have eternal life.”
 
When first convinced of sin,
  we feel that we must perish;
  when directed to Jesus, hope springs up; and
  this hope is to the soul what the anchor is to the vessel,
  it keeps it from foundering, or
    being wrecked in the storm.
 
This hope sweetens our trials, cheers us in
  the grooming and dark day, and
  attracts us onward when thousands things
  combine to perplex and distressed us.
 
 

Thrice happy he whose hopes depend

On Jesus and his blood alone;

The soul that trusts in such a Friend,

Shall ne’er by foes be overthrown;

Eternal life to him is given,

The glories and the joys of heaven.

 

James Smith 1849