Observations Divine and Moral, Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV. Of Patience.
IT is our sinfull condition that makes us subject to crosses: our humayn, that makes us sensible of them: without which sense of them we were no more patient in bearing them, then the stone is patient, upon which the weight of the wall lyeth. But in the bearing of such evils as are brought upon us, or befall us, Lactant.with equanimitie, and moderation, true patience is seen. The grace it self must be in us, even without crosses, and we by it in heart martyrs, without fire, or sword: but so canGregory. not the use of it be; no more then there is use of a salve, where there is no soar. And thereupon the Apostle sayth, that affliction worketh patience, that is, occasions the exercise,Rom. 5. and increase of it. And hence it is, that men are most deceaved in the measure of this grace, and esteem their inches e…ns; till by tryall of evils, they finde the contrarie. But patience tryed by afflictions, and found firm, and good, gives, above other graces, experimentall assurance of Gods love. Whereupon the Apostle, in the place forenamed, gives it alone the honour of working experience: And no marvayl; seeing by it God gives a poore, and feeble creature such experience of his powerfull grace, and goodnes, for the bearing, and bearing out of those crosses, and miseries, both inward, and outward; which, without this staf of supportance, were intollerable. Neyther is the work of Gods goodnes lost in them, to whom he imparts this grace; seeing by it, if by any other, they shew forth the vertues of God; and honour him in so many of his attributes, in the exercising of it. As first, of his will both commanding, and approving it: as Christ tels the church and Angell Rev. 2.at Ephesus: I know thy works, and labour, and patience. Secondly, of his justice, as acknowledging really, that all the afflictions, which they suffer, are lesse, without comparison, then their sins deserv. Thirdly, of his power, and that both over them, with which they struggle not, butChrysost. making a vertue of necessitie, quietly bear what he layes upon them: and also in them, in susteyning them, that they faynt not under their burden. Fourthly of his wisdom, in effectuall acknowledgment, that he hath his good, & holy ends of his so dealing with them, though oft times not so particularly known to them. Lastly, of his goodnes, in dealing with them in their chastisements, as with sons, for their Hebr. 12▪profit, and that they might be partakers of his holynes: without which last, all the rest how honourable soever to God, are uncomfortable unto man. VponUpon this goodnes of God, we do in our afflictions specially exercise the two mayn graces of Fayth, and Hope. Fayth, perswading our hearts, that God loves us as well in our greatest afflictions, as out of them, and will do us nothing but good by them, is as the foundation for this bulwork of patience. Hope assureth us of happy issue out of them all; which if we wanted, what would it avayl us though we had the strength of men, and angels to bear miseries?
Some Christians have sayd, that Patience is a miserable remedy. But how much better said the Heathen Byas, that he onelyonly is miserable that wants patience, for the bearing of his Laertius.misfortunes. As indeed, he is in a miserable case; considering unto how many calamities all mortall men are subject: against which they can neyther promise themselvs before hand, nor finde in time, other sufficient remedy, then this of patience; which is a salv for all soars: and theSeneca. same also so approved, that though it make not miseries cease to be miseries; yet it keeps the person that hath it, and suffers them, from being miserable. Yea, as deadly poysons may be, and are so mixed, and tempered, as they become, in cases, more wholesom, then meat; so do calamities, deadly in themselvs, tempered with patience become better then their contrarie delights. Sicknes with this is better then health without it; and poverty so tempered, then riches otherwise: and so all the works of Gods justice, unto which the faythfull are lyable, are better to them, then any work of his mercy to others. Lastly, so absolutely necessarie is this grace, and the use of it, for all Christians, as that the Apostle tels the beleeving Hebrews, and other beleevers in them, that they had need of patience, Hebr. 10.that having done the will of God, they might receav the promise: With which accords an others exhortation, that patience may have its perfit work in the Saints, that they may be Iames 1.perfit, and intire, lacking nothing. A man would think in reason, that he who hath done the will of God, and been carefull in all things to keep a good conscience towards God, and men, should have nothing lacking, for the receaving of the promised reward. But the wisdom of God tels us, that we must first doe our duetie in all things; and then afterwards, suffer evill with patience, before we receav the reward promised. In which our patient suffering for, or in the way of righteousnes, we please God more (if it may be) then in our former weldoing; as Christ our Lord performed the greatest work of his obedience unto his father, and of our redemption therein, by his innocent, and patient suffering of death.
Of all manner of crosses none are so hard to bear by Gods servants, without despayr, as those, wherein the Lord seems, to theyr sense, and reason, to be their enemy, byIob 19. reason of some strange, and unusuall working against them; as we have Iob for an example: Nor any so hardly born by them, without inordinate stirring, and spurning again, as those, in which a man must be a meer patient, using, as they call it, that passive patience; and may, or can say, or do nothing in defending himself, or offending an adversarie. A blow, or wound receaved in fight, or action, is scarse perceaved: But if a man must sit still, and suffer himself to be bobbed on the mouth; or, as the Prophet sayth, must give his back to the smyters, and his Esay 50.cheeks to them that pluck of the hayr, or must be coupt up alone in a dungeon, or prison, where none may come at him, this goes near him, and tryes his patience, and how he hath hearkened to the Lord God, the holy one of Israell, saying, Esay 30.In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietnes, and in confidence shall be your strength. Where mens injuries are joyned, and concur with Gods providence in a crosse, there the flesh and fleshly passions take more libertie. I hauehave known some, who have atteyned to a good measure of patient bearing calamities and crosses by other ordinarie hand of Gods providence; and yet have been most impatient of any prejudice, or damage by mens injurious dealing. And this may seem not to want reason. To be stirred against God for a crosse, is divelish; against unreasonable creatures, brutish; but hath a shew of manlines, for a man to be stirred against a man that injuries him. But be the shew what it will, the truth of the ground, for the most part, is; that pride causeth this swelling of the heart against him, who is deemed to injurie us, specially if we conceav it to be out of contempt; whereof all men are impatient. Against the pang of impatiencie this way, it is best we labour, not to overvalue our selvs; nor easily to think that others dispise us; and, as we have Iob for a pattern of patience, so to follow his steps; who, looking through the violence, and wrongs of men (the Sabeans, and Chaldeans,) beheld, by the eye of fayth, which sees a far of, Gods providence, as the soul of the worlds body, and ruling all things in it; and thence took instruction for quiet, and patient submission unto the Lord: seeing, & saying in all the outragious practises against him by the divell, and wicked men; that God who had given, had taken away.Iob 1.