Soul-purifying – Thomas Brooks

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3

True hope is soul-purifying. It runs out into holiness. He who has the purest and strongest hopes of being saved, is most studious and laborious to be sanctified.

Now hope purifies the heart and life thus by keeping the purest objects, as God, Christ, the word, and the soul together; and by making the soul serious and conscientious in the use of all soul-purifying means; and by being a fire in the soul to burn up all those corruptions and principles of darkness which are contrary to that purity and glory, which hope has in her eye; and by working the soul to lean upon Christ, to live in Christ, and to draw purifying virtue from Christ who is the spring and fountain of all purity and sanctity. And thus hope purifies those who expect to be like Christ in glory.