Patience and its Perfect Work under Sudden and Sore Trials, Discourse
PATIENCE AND ITS Perfect Work, UNDER SUDDEN & SORE TRYALS.
LONDON, Printed by S. Simmons, for Rob. Duncomb, to be ſold at his Shop in Duck-lane, 1666.
PATIENCE AND ITS PERFECT WORK: Meditated, and Written that Week the Deplorable Fire was at London, and upon That Occaſion, Upon this Scripture
Chap. 1.
James a ſervant of God, and of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to the twelve Tribes which are ſcattered abroad, Greeting.
My Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh Patience.
But let Patience have HE… perfect work, that ye may b… perfect and entire, wanting n… thing.
If any of you lack wiſdom, … him ask of God, that giveth all men Liberally, and up… not: and it ſhall … him.
CHriſtian Patience is m… Subject: and the Pe… fect work of Patience … 4. But as an Introduct… on thereunto, I muſt firſt ope… ſome things of the words in … 1, 2.
§. 1 As to the PERSONS … writes to, they were [the Twelve Tribes ſcattered] that had bee… and were bereft of their inheritance, in their native Countrey and quitting that, had betak… themſelves to baniſhment; mu… titudes of them, (I doe not ſa… all) as appeares Acts 8. 1. And at that time there was a great Perſecution againſt the Church which was at Jeruſalem, and they were [all ſcattered] abroad thorowout all the Regions of Judea & Samaria, except the Apoſtles. And Acts …. We find them travell'd as far as Phaenice, Cyprus, Antioch; who went from thence afterwards into other Countreys. The other Apoſtle who wrote to the ſame Perſons comforts them with this: (1 Epiſtle 1. v. 4.) That they were begotten again to a better Inheritance, then that of Canaan, which now they were deprived of.
2. I obſerve, that though theſe had been made, thus ſufficiently deſtitute, and deſolate already, and driven from houſe & home, to ſeek their livelyhoods, with their families, in forraign countreys, that yet ſtill, great and preſſing troubles and miſeries did follow them, as one wave doth after another; they were continually falling into divers and ſundry tentations of all ſorts. God tryes us every moment, as in Job; we are chaſtned every morning, Job 7. 18. Pſal. 37. 13. Pſ. 44. 22.and killed, (that is, in danger of death) all day long, as Rom. 8. God had not yet done with theſe.
3. He utters the ſtrongeſt Paradox upon this occaſion that ever was, or can be uttered. And begins with it v. 2. My Brethren, Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Thus bluntly and abruptly without any mollifying preface, or ſweetning Introduction (unleſs that of [My Brethren]) to make way for it. The fore part [Count it all joy] ſeems to carry a morall contradiction in the face of it unto the latter part [When ye fall into divers tentations.] And this latter ſeems to put an impoſſibility upon the former; which is the duty exhorted unto.
Let us conſider every word of each.
§. 1. Were it ſimply, that they are called upon to REJOYCE: how uncouth is this to men in that poſture and Circumſtance they are ſuppos'd fallen into! Well, but yet Count it joy (ſayes he): not only moderate, keep in, and ſmother your contrary paſſions; which was the higheſt leſſon, that Phyloſophy, and the Stoicks, the beſt of Philoſophers, had taught. But the Goſpel calls upon us Therefore &c. or [for] and upon theſe [Tentations] to rejoyce. [Count it joy] that's the Firſt.
2. All joy. The higheſt joy: for ſo all joy muſt needs be ſuppoſed to be.
3. And this, not when they ſhould ſee by experience, the glorious iſſue and event theſe tentations doe produce: But to Account it all joy, afore hand; as if they were poſſeſſed of what God promiſeth ſhall be the aſſured and expected end; and to be Jer. 29. 11.aforehand as ſure of it, as if they had it already.
4. 'Tis not when they are Aſſaulted with troubles, but when tentations are actually broken in upon them, and they lye under them.
5. Nor yet, when they are led into them by ſteps; or had met with them as in their way: But when they fall into them. 'Tis a downfall he ſpeaks of, and that ſuddenly; at once; and utterly unexpected, by them.
6. Not when you fall into one or Two, but into Many Tentations: foreign. The ſame word here, and there.as elſewhere, the word [divers] here, is Tranſlated, 1 Pet. 1. 7. Manifold: And Many is imported in Manifold.
7. And thoſe not of one ſort, or kinde, but [Divers] and ſo of ſeverall ſorts, As in Good name, reproach, Revilements: Divers alſo asto their Bodyes, Souls: their relations, and families, Friends, wives, children: Inward, outward man.
8. When you fall into them: foreignas into a Pit and ſnare, and ſo they falling round about you; ſo as you have nothing to ſtand or leane upon, but all about you, falls with you, and under you, ſo as in all outward appearance, ye are ſunk, and overwhelmed with the ruines.
In this caſe to Count. IT ALL JOY, to ſhout as men in harveſt, or that have gotten great ſpoyles: when their miſeries are ſo great, that they cannot be endured, that yet their joy muſt be ſo great, as more cannot be expreſſed. This is the hardeſt duty, that ever was required of the diſtreſſed hearts of men. And yet God would not require it, if it were not attainable; and it is attainable by no other principles, but of Chriſtianity. And argues, that our Chriſtian Religion (which is the only true wiſdom, v. 5.) hath ſo Spiritfull and Soveraign a vertue in it, that it is able to raiſe Spirits up, unto Thus high and glorious a pitch, and perfection in this life.
§. But they might ſay, you have propounded this hard and ſtrange duty to us: what ground is there, that may rationally, and effectually perſwade, and bring our hearts to it? what conſiderations, that may procure us this joy; and how may we be wrought up to it? For God never gave any commandment, but there was a full and ſufficient ground, and reaſon to enforce it.
He gives them two Grounds: One at the 3. and 4. v. Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let Patience have it's perfect Work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting Nothing. This is a Ground, from what, in this life. The other is at the 12. v. Bleſſed is the man that endureth tentation: for when he is tryed he ſhall receive the Crown of life. This is the reward that follows in the life to come. In the hope, and expectation of which, you may count it all joy, that Now you are tryed: for the end and iſſue of them is a Crown of Glory, which theſe doe work, as 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory.
§. I Begin with the firſt, what ground there is in this life, to cauſe us to rejoyce in ſuch tentations. This, in the. 3. and 4. verſes. [Knowing] that is deeply conſidering and weighing this principle, of our Chriſtian profeſſion, that the trying of your faith works Patience. That's one and the firſt. In which, the Apoſtle tacitely ſuppoſeth this maxime, and builds upon the ſuppoſition of it; it lyes at the bottom, and yet is enough implyed. It is this: That to have our Graces, eſpecially to have our Faith and Patience, tryed, and drawn forth and exerciſed in us, to the glory of God, is the greateſt bleſſedneſs of a Chriſtian in this life.
That this is the bottom Ground, is evident: For why elſe ſhould he propoſe and hold forth this, of all other, with a [For] or Particle that gives the reaſon, of what he had now ſaid? That ſeeing their Faith and other Graces, as Patience &c. would be tryed thereby, That therefore they ſhould count it all joy. (My Brethren) If we had eyes to ſee, & to conſider it, we might know, that as to have grace that accompanies ſalvation, is the greateſt mercy can befall any one in the world: ſo to have that Grace tryed and exerciſed, and drawn forth to the utmoſt, is a thing of the greateſt moment, the greateſt ſpiritual priviledg that can come to us, after that we have that Grace. And therefore when Trials come, we are to think with our ſelves, now, will my graces be tryed; now, is that befal'n me which will do it: this ought to be matter of the greateſt joy to me. For from this Ground, and reaſon it is, that the Apoſtle bids them Count it all joy. And hereupon it is, (for no other doth he mention here) this alone being the greateſt advantage, that a Chriſtian is capable of, in this life: And in this life, only it is, that Grace is exerciſed.
And the Reaſon of it lyes in this, that for Grace to approve it ſelf to God in a way of the greateſt well-pleaſing to him; and ſo as to come to be approved of by God. And for a mans ſincerity, to have Gods approbation and teſtimonial, as to Abraham, now I know thou feareſt me; This is the greateſt priviledge, a Saint can have: and this ought to be matter of the greateſt comfort. And is our greateſt Glory, according unto that, 2 Cor. 10. 17. He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, which he there ſpeaks in reference unto what follows in v. 18. For not he that commendeth himſelf is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. Both which the Apoſtle ſpake, as that which he comforted himſelf, withall, yea and gloried in, even the Lords approving of him. Job alſo comforted himſelf with this: Chap. 23. 10. When he hath tryed me I ſhall come forth as gold. The Apoſtle ſaith, the tryal of your Faith is more precious then Gold: and he ſpeaketh it of the very inſtrument, or meanes, by which, your Graces are tryed; the very Chalcining foreign eſt id per quod ſit explaratio, Grotius in Verba: and ſo it differs from foreign which notes the iſſue, the experiment, or fruit upon tryal (ſee the ſame Grotius on Rom 5. 4.) even as foreign from foreign.Pot, or the Fire, whereby it is tryed (foreign his word is) Even that is more precious then gold. Then much more the Graces that are tryed. And therefore the Apoſtle by his foreign intends, and means, theſe very afflictions, and tentations, by which we are tryed: They are the Refiners Pot, and Fire. You would rejoyce, if you had ſo much gold given you: Then rejoyce, that you have ſo much affliction, to try your Gold. That your graces are ſo highly valued by God, is the reaſon, why he tryes them; he would not be at the pains and coſt of it, elſe. And they being tryed, and holding to be right, and true gold indeed, they have thereupon his approbation upon that tryal; and he ſets his Royal Tower Stamp, and mark upon them; ſecretly in this life, and the ſame will openly appear, to all the world, at latter day, ſo in 1 Pet. chap. 1. 6, 7. Wherein ye greatly rejoyce, though now for a ſeaſon (if need be) ye are in heavineſs through manifold temptations. That the tryal of your faith, being much more precious then of Gold, that periſheth, though it be tryed with Fire, might be found unto [praiſe, and honour, and glory,] at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt. It will be found unto praiſe, then: but it is unto praiſe, afore God, now, as much as it will be, then.
He mentions Faith [For the tryal of your Faith] in the firſt and chief place, as that grace, which is the moſt tryed; and as that, which being tryed, ſets all the reſt on work. (I need not much inſiſt on it) It is Faith, that ſhall be counted for honour and glory at that day, having been tryed. It is Faith which bears, and by which we bear the ſtreſs of all tentations. It is Faith, by which we overcome, 1 John 5. This is the victory which we have over the world, v. 4. even our Faith. Who is he that overcomes the World? He that believeth, &c. v. 5.
§. A ſecond and more particular Principle, or Maxim (which concerns this life, and ſhould cauſe us to rejoyce) is, that Faith, being tryed, works PATIENCE, and that if Patience have its perfect work, it will make us perfect Chriſtians. [But let Patience have her perfect work, that … may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.]
He enlargeth no further upo… Faith. OnelyOnly gives it, the honour, that it is the mother Grace and of Patience eſpecially, whe… it ſelf is tryed. But he ha… no ſooner mentioned Patience but he runs out upon That and falls upon the greate… Encomium, and praiſes of it▪ Let Patience have its perfec… work, and it will make you perfect Now there is no occaſion, o… room nor work for Patience, unleſs there be Tentations. An… Patience its work is but ſo far as the affliction proves to be. S… then, his ſecond Argument run upon this principle. That the ful… work of Patience in our ſouls is of all other Graces, the higheſt perfection of a Chriſtian: and therefore count it all joy to fall into tentations: for thereby you will have that grace, drawn forth to the fulleſt length, wound up to the higheſt peg; which is not done, unleſs tentaons be anſwerable. And in all your tryals let it but have its ſwindge, its perfect work, and it will make your perſons perfect, that is, as perfect, as in this life, you can be made.
§. Queſt. But in what reſpect doth it make us perfect?
Anſw. Not only in this ſence (for there is a double ſence of that ſpeech) Either, 1. As if when we had exerciſed all other Graces, but yet have not had occaſion for this one; that when this ſhall be added, that then, they ſhould be perfect Chriſtians. But this is not the meaning, for this may be ſaid of any other Grace: As if a man hath exerciſed all other Graces, if he begins to exerciſe any one new Grace, it may be ſaid there is a perfection in this reſpect. As when he ſays to the Corinthians, As you have abounded in every other Grace, … Cor. 8. 7.ſo abound in this alſo. But there is another ſence, and that is his ſcope here, Which is not to extol a perfection in common with other Graces, but a ſingular perfection to be attributed to Patience, that in this reſpect, it makes a man eminently perfect. For his ſcope is to comfort them againſt the greateſt trials, and occurrences of their lives, [Tentations:] And therefore a ſingular and ſpecial Encomion is attributed herein, unto Patience, which is the ſhield againſt them.
My Brethren, to give the full ſence of this, I will make a ſuppoſition. Suppoſe a Chriſtian to have had the priviledge, to have lived in the exerciſe of all Graces, in a way of acting, or of an active life; As to have lived in ſweet communion with God, and to have walked in the light of Gods countenance all the day: Pſal. 89. 15And withall to have had the opportunity of doing good, and accordingly to have done much good, in an active Way: as having been abundant in good works, holy duties, Praying, Reading, holy Conference, &c. But yet all this while with a freedom from ſuffering; ſo as he hath not had the ſuffering part yet; ſo as there hath been no need for, or uſe of Patience: Suppoſe another Chriſtian, who hath been obſtructed, & hindred, and kept from ſuch an active life of doing good, with that freedom ſpoken of, but the diſpenſation of God, hath diſpoſed him to a ſuffering life, all his days, and confined him thereunto, and therein his Patience hath been exerciſed under all ſorts of tentations: And then withall ſuppoſe that Patience, with all thoſe gracious diſpoſitions of heart that are proper to it, hath had its free and full paſſage, thorow his heart (ſuch as I ſhall hereafter deſcribe) hath had its operations, all ſorts of ways, according as his afflictions have been. Thi… alone would ſo draw out and exerciſe all Graces, and head them that you would ſay, this man is perfect Chriſtian; ſhall I ſay mor… perfect then the other? at leaſ… the text ſays, that this makes him a perfect man.
Or again, if you will ſuppoſe one that hath been very active i… the foregone part of his life, and done God great ſervice, with a… enlarged heart; and that at laſt after he hath done the will o… God, further to crown all, God will exerciſe this mans Patience with great ſufferings; and draweth it forth according to theſe his tryals, that man is perfect every way: and he lack't till then, that which is his greateſt perfection: and he was not before, every way accompliſh't.