Hope

In this treatise, Puritan pastor Jeremiah Burroughs carefully describes the peculiar nature of Christian hope and the influence it has on the life of a believer. He argues that every believer is fundamentally a hopeful person by virtue of the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of this hope has a purifying effect on the heart. He then recounts ten reasons, based on the greatness of the object of hope, why hope tends to clean up one’s life. Appended to this book is a sobering exposition of Psalm 17:14, which details the misery of those whose hope is in this world and receive their portion in this life. Weary and worn pilgrims, read this important book on hope and learn to revel in great expectation of the things God has in store.

Endorsement

“Here the saints may find proper and sovereign salve for their languishing spirits, for setting their broken bones in a gospel way, by leading them to the Rock that is higher than they, to Jesus Christ. Here you shall find how faith laughs at death, sin, hell, and destruction in the face and how it lives and looks smilingly at the most blustering storms, deadliest confusions, and darkest midnights of desertion that can come upon the storm. You shall here learn how to kill your fears and doubts so that they may never outgrow your faith again.”
—John Yates (ca. 1591–1657), teaching fellow at Emmanuel College and minister of St. Andrews Congregation in Norwich

Contents

1. The Coherence, the Scope, and the Meaning of the Words
2. Three Doctrines Raised and a Description of Hope
3. Hope Is Wrought by the Holy Spirit
4. The Object of Hope
5. The Act of Hope
6. The Ground of Hope
7. The Saints Are Men of Hope
8. The Use of the First Doctrine
9. The Second Doctrine
10. The Saints of God Have Remaining Sin in Them
11. Answer to Those Who Live in a Course of Sin
12. The Saints Purge Themselves from Sin
13. What the Saints Do When They Purify Themselves
14. The Saints’ Hope Makes Them Purify Themselves
15. The Saints Purify Themselves Because Their Hope Usually Cost Them Dearly
16. The Saints Purify Themselves Because Their Hope Is a Scripture Hope
17. Four Additional Grounds of the Saints’ Hope
18. The Application
19. An Exhortation to Put Away Sin

Appendix: The Misery of Those Who Have Their Portion in This Life