Patience and its Perfect Work under Sudden and Sore Trials, Discourse · Section 2

Patience and its Perfect Work under Sudden and Sore Trials · Discourse · Section 2

p. 31I I. Section.

I have Three GENERAL HEADS to treat of.

1. What Patience is.

2. How Patience is wrought.

3. What it is for Patience to have a perfect Work.

I. HEAD.

What the Grace of Patience is.

§. TAke it at large, that is, in the full Comprehenſion of it. It is a conſtant perſiſting, whether to doe the will of God without fainting, or to ſuffer the will of God with ſubmiſſion, and quietneſs, and cheerfulneſs, to the p. 32end of a mans dayes. And thus taken, it reſpects doing as well as ſuffering. The good Ground is ſaid to bring forth its fruit, All its fruit with Patience, in the Parable of the Sower. It reſpects,

§. Firſt, Doing the will of God Rom. 2. 7. To them who by patient continuance [in well doing (The Greek is The Patience of good work) ſeek for glory and honour, &c.

And the Reaſon, why Patienc… is required to every good work is becauſe there is a difficult… that accompanies every duty, and Patientia it a Dei rebus propoſita eſt, ut nullum prae…eptum obire quis poſſit à Patientia extraneus. Tertul. De Patientia.to the putting forth of every grace: that we need have Patienc… to perform the duty conſtantly and to continue in the practice o… that grace: There is a difficulty not only from our own corruption, unto which the Commands o… God are grievous; but from th… p. 33circumſtances of times, places, perſons, we live in, and amongſt, though they ſhould not perſecute. As not to run into the ſame exceſs of riot, to ſpeak or doe what, we know, doth not pleaſe the company we are in: Thus to be Chaſt in Sodom, was to Lot a tryal: to condemn the world, by a different carriage; as in being ſtricter then others on the Lords Mat. 5. 47.Matt 5:47day, or in family duties, &c. to croſs the ſtream: to be ſingular, and the like. Heb. 12. 12. Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees: Wherein I obſerve, that in doing good in any kind, we are not only lame creatures, and walk as thoſe that halt, which breeds an aukerneſs, unto any duty: but further, we are apt by reaſon thereof to turn out of the way (as there) if rugged: The members we ſhould walk withall are feeble: our hands we ſhould act with, are p. 34hanging down: And ſo the performance hath a difficulty. To goe up the hill of good duties (though private and perſonal) without wearineſs, to keep ſtrait paths, not to pick and chooſe our way, and not to baulk the way, or work, which God finds us to doe: eſpecially not Ecleſiaſt. 9. 10.to faint, towards the end, when we come to the brow of the hill. Theſe all have a weariſomneſs in them. Now that which principally heartens and ſtrengthens us to all this, is Patience, as in v. 1. he had prefaced, Let us run with Patience the Race that is ſet before us: we need Patience, for every ſtep of it, in doing as well as in ſuffering; And in the verſe immediately afore that exhortation now opened, ('tis verſe 11.) the Apoſtle puts and devolves an even and quiet walking, upon Patience, obtained firſt by ſuffering, in theſe words. Now p. 35no chaſtening, for the preſent ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheleſs afterwards it yieldeth [the peaceable fruits of righteouſneſs] unto them which are exerciſed thereby. So as a quiet reſolute and ſtrong performance of all the duties of righteouſneſs, is from Patience, and is much the fruit of that Patience we get by chaſtiſements. The ſuffering life helps and contributes much to the active life: for as there is a Patience required in doing Gods will, ſo ſuffering his will fits the heart for it.

But this of Patience in well doing, is not in ſtrict ſence, that Patience, which is here, in my …ext, to be underſtood.

Patience is therefore, Second…y, The ſuffering the will of God …n any kind. And this, doth Patience eminently reſpect: And that is the Renowned Patience which we almoſt every where p. 36meet with, and which the Text calls for; ſuch, as when ſudden and unexpected Tryals and tentations (which they fall into) fall out, as v. 2. And ſo is not meant of the difficulties, that accompany our ordinary conſtant way of perſonal walking, in performing the duties of our holy profeſſion.

§. Object. But you will ſay, My ſufferings are not for the Goſpel (as theirs here intended were▪ but they are meer providenti… accidents, that have fallen upo… me, out of common providence, and but ſuch as befa… wicked men: they are not from outward perſecution, for Chriſt ſake, or my profeſſion, but from Gods hand.

Anſw. I ſhall anſwer this here, once for all.

1. The words of this ver… p. 37Text, may ſomwhat relieve us hereion: for it is [tentations] at large, that are ſpoken of; and tentations ariſing from ſudden downfalls into miſeries, and ſo of any kinde: he doth not altogether reſtrain it, to temptations by perſecution: (though they are mainly intended:) but it may, and ought to be extended, to other providential occurrences: And the word foreign uſed for Patience, ſignifieth a remaining under any preſſures unbroken, and whole; be they of what kind ſoever. It reſpects indeed afflictions mainly, for the Goſpel, yet not excluſively, to afflictions in common.

2. In the proſecution of this Argument, the Apoſtle doth, manifeſtly, carry in his eye, other Tentations, or ſufferings, then from Perſecution, as appears from the Examples he alledgeth, to preſs them, to this Patience. p. 38For among others, and above all others, he brings the inſtance of Job and His, by Name only, as well as of the Prophets in General, (whom Chriſt ſays, they perſecuted.) Thus chap. 5. 11. Ye have Mat. 5. 12.Matt 5:12heard of the patience of Job. His alledging the Prophets, is but a General, v. 10. Take the Prophets (not naming any) for an example of ſuffering, and of Patience. But that of JOB ſingularly, and by name: Now ſurely he would not cite His moſt eminent example, to confirme his Exhortation to this Patience he intended, of one, whoſe caſe did not come within the compaſs, and dint of his Exhortation. Let us therefore have recourſe to Jobs caſe, and ſtory. His loſſes were but providential from God. The Sabeans, and Chaldeans plundred him of his goods, and ſlew his ſervants. And the fire of God, (or from God,) is fallen from heaven, p. 39ſo his meſſengers tell him, chap. 1. v. 16. 'Tis true, 'twas the Devil out of ſpight, that moved them that did it: but they did it, not in a way of Perſecution, but as common enemies; As when the Clangs of one countrey break in upon another. But it was God, and the Devil agreed it together: yea, and 'twas God gave firſt occaſion to the Devil, to move him to have leave to doe it. So as that was not, for the Goſpels ſake in way of Perſecution: nor did Job at all know of that tranſaction between God and Satan, not all that while his Patience was in the exerciſe of it: But took all as the hand of God, though extraordinary.

§. If you now ask a deſcription of Patience, as it thus reſpects ſuffering the will of God.

We muſt give it, as it is in the p. 40Word of God, in the height, for that is the Rule it ſelf that directs to it: and not lown it, to what is found in our hearts. And yet that which afterwards followes, and will confirm every tittle of it, is drawn moſtly, from examples of the Saints, either in the old or new Teſtaments: which ſhew that it is attainable, though with allowance to defects, which accompany all Graces in this life.

It is a conſtant, thankfull, joyfull enduring, with perſeverance The Deſcription of Patienceto the end of a mans life, all the tryals that are grievous; how great, how long, how hopeleſs ſoever as to coming out of them: mortifying and compeſcing the inordinacy of oppoſite paſſions, as Fear, Grief, Care, Anxiety, which will ariſe upon ſuch afflictions: with ſubmitting to Gods will, for Gods glory, and his good pleaſure, ſake: ſtill bleſſing and ſanctifying p. 41God, in all: waiting on God, and relieving ones ſelf by Faith, in what is to be had IN GOD, and FROM GOD, in communion with him, and from his love, in this life: In expectation alſo of that Glory, which is the Reward, after this life ended.

I might, in this place, confirm every word and tittle of this deſcription: either, out of Examples of holy men, or the Rules which the Word gives. But I omit the ſet collection of ſuch proofs here: becauſe that, ſcatteredly, up and down, in the particulars that follow, this will be found performed.

p. 42II.

GENERAL HEAD.

How Patience is wrought.

§. BRethren, while I ſhew you how Patience is wrought, I do withall ſhew you the way and means to obtain it. For by th… ſame, it is wrought, by the ſam… it is nouriſhed, and maintained And I ſhall not goe out of th… Text, for this.

There are two principles here that work Patience. The firſt i… FAITH, verſe the 3^d, Knowin… this, That the trying of your [Fait… worketh] Patience. And becauſ… in Gal. 5. 6. It is ſaid, Fait… worketh by Love: that is, Fait… worketh by Love whatever i… worketh: Therefore we muſ… find alſo, that LOVE work… p. 43Patience. And that you have in the 12. v. too, Bleſſed is the man that [endureth temptations] for when he is tryed he ſhall receive the Crown of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them [that love him.] Why doth Admonet Victores omnium Tentationum fore, qui Deum amant. Nec aliâ de …uſâ nos animo defici cum tentamur, niſi quia prevalet MƲNDI AMOR. Calvin: in Verba.…he put in [to them that love him] whileſt he ſpeaks of him that endureth Tentations? But becauſe it is Love inables a man to endure temptation. So that Faith in the firſt place, and then Faith working by love in the ſecond place, works Patience, or enduring.

And the confirmations of theſe Two, will give Proofs to the …atter parts of that Deſcription I gave of Patience, to wit, Thoſe of the Souls relieving it ſelf by Faith, by what is to be had in God, &c.

p. 44§. Firſt, how doth Faith work Patience?

Anſw. Firſt, in the General, Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for: and indeed of all things that are revealed in the Word. That is, It makes them ſubſiſtent and real to a mans Soul. Faith does this, as the eleventh to the Hebrews ſhews. And thereupon Faith hath all the Motives, and Conſiderations, that the whole Word affords, All which it brings in to the Soul, and makes them ſubſiſtent to it, to ſupport it in tryals. All is let in by Faith: that is the Tunnell that fills the veſſell. And by thus bringing home to a mans Soul, all the Conſiderations the Word affords, which may induce a man to Patience, it works it.

This is but General.

p. 45§ Theſe Conſiderations, in the Word, are infinite. And I cannot …tand to inſtance. I will only give what are moſt proper to Faith.

Firſt of all, Faith hath a pri…ative emptying work: it empties …he Soul, of all its own worth and …ighteouſneſs, and excellency in …s own eyes; and gives a …hrough ſight, unto the Soul, of …he ſinfulneſs of ſin, of its ſpiri…ual ſins, and contrarieties of …LL in its ſelf, unto Holineſs …nd Faith: And withall fully …onvinceth it, of its juſt deſerved…eſs, to be utterly deſtroyed: and …herefore much more of its due …eſert of all, or any Afflictions, whatever; they being any, or all …f them far leſs then deſtruction it …elf. And in the ſight and ſenſe of …heſe, Faith lays the Soul a poor …mpty, naked wretched CREATURE, p. 46in all Spiritual reſpects both in the ſight and preſence o… God, and in its own eyes. And thi… helps greatly towards workin… Patience. You ſhall obſerve… in that golden chain of Grace… whereof each latter link depends upon the former, Ma… 5. v. 3, 4, 5. How poverty of ſp… rit is plac'd firſt, Bleſſed are … poor in Spirit, that is, That … emptyed of themſelves, loo… upon themſelves, as having n… thing, deſerving nothing, able … do nothing, ſpiritually. And th… true poverty of Spirit, the… have from Faith wrought: F… bleſſedneſs is only pronounced … them that believe, and of th… fruits of Faith, in them; accor… ing to that, Rom. 4. 7, 8, 9▪ Then Secondly follows, Bleſſ… are they that mourn, namely, … their ſins; that in the ſecond pla… ▪ And then Thirdly, Bleſſed are … meek, that is, thoſe who in th… p. 47ſight of their poverty and ſinfulneſs, lye at Gods feet, ſo ſubdued and affected, as God may doe what he will to them, or with them. Thus it is with them, when, they are thus emptied, which is when they have ſeen their ſins, and deſervedneſs to be deſtroyed, and are humbled for them, and mourn for them. Theſe foregoing diſpoſitions work meekneſs, ſubmiſſion to God: They have nothing to …ay againſt whatever he ſhall doe; but to juſtifie God in all, and to condemne themſelves. And all theſe make them willing …nd Patient to take any thing well, at the hands of God. It is …n excellent ſpeech (to our purpoſe) of the Church in that humbled frame of heart, you …nd her in, Lam. 3. 39. Where…ore doth a LIVING man …, a MAN, for the … of his ſin? The p. 48Church expreſſeth it as the moſ… brutiſh improper incongruity, unbecoming a man, ſuch as ther… could not be imagined a greater What? for a man to complai… and think much at the puniſhment of his ſins; A man, to murmur (as the word is) againſt God a ſinful man, againſt the ho… God, his righteous Judg! (And … is certain that thinking much the ground of all impatiency: An… on the contrary, a ſubmiſs temper of Spirit unto God, is th… ground of all Patience.) But wh… doth ſhe put in, beſides, to co… vince ſuch an one, of the foll… injuſtice, and iniquity of it, th… he is a living man, why do… [a LIVING] man complain Art thou alive? Art a living … ſtill in this world? Then haſt th… little cauſe to complain, wha… ever thy miſery be. Whilſt th… art alive, thou art not deſtroye… Conſider, how Hell, and Deſtr… ction p. 49is thy portion, and the due puniſhment of thy ſins: And ſo thou haſt infinitely leſs then thou deſerveſt; and therefore …hou haſt no Reaſon to complain. The Church, out of her own ſenſe …nd apprehenſion of this, had …aid before, v. 22. It is of the …ords mercies that [WE] are not …onſumed. She ſaith not, that our …oods are not conſumed, or that …ur Houſes are not burnt (For in…eed, that was the Churches very …ſe when ſhe ſpake this: Jeruſa…m was burnt, their Women ra…ſhed, their Goods plundred, … Bodies famiſhed, as you …ad in the ſame Lamentations, moſt every where.) But yet …ere was a remnant of Perſons, … were not conſumed, and this … ſhe, is of the Lords mercies, … his tender mercies, out of his wels, as the word there is: And is being leſs then Deſtruction being conſumed, is her Reaſon p. 50for that expoſtulation forementioned, v. 39. As alſo of that her ſo great ſubmiſſion, from that v. 22. unto the 39. verſe. You find the very ſame to this, as a ground of Patience, expreſſed elſ… where, after the captivity ended Ezra 9. 13. Thou our God haſ… puniſhed us [leſs then our iniquities deſerve] after all that is com… upon us for our evil deeds (ſa… they) and for our great treſpaſſes Shall then a living man complai… for the puniſhment of his ſin when it is ſo infinitely, far le… then he deſerves? This conſideration works Patience, as it hat… reaſon: If a man deſerves to b… Hang'd, Drawn and Quartered and he is but burnt in the hand ſhall this man complain? let th… man down on his knees at th… Bar, and thank the Judge, o… Prince, that he had not his du… deſert; The Gallows. And th… conſideration of this is that alſo p. 51which makes a man accept the puniſhment of his iniquity, as you have it in Levit. 26. 41. If …e accept the puniſhment, &c. That is, if ye kiſs the Rod. And what makes a man come to accept the puniſhment of his iniquities? Oh the puniſhment of my iniquity, is infinitely far leſs then I deſerve, For (thinks he) Damnation is my portion. This is the firſt thing that works Patience, the conſideration of our own deſervedneſs to be deſtroyed, and this is from the emptying work of Faith.

Secondly, Faith brings home to a mans Soul the dominion of God, and the Soveraignty of that dominion, over a mans Soul and Perſon, to doe what he will with them; and that may very well huſh and quiet a man. In the ninth of Job 12. BEHOLD HE TAKETH AWAY (deſtroyes City, a Nation, ſuppoſe, as in the p. 5212. chap. v. 23. He increaſeth the Nations and deſtroys them, enlargeth the Nations and ſtraitens them again) AND WHO CAN HINDER HIM? (as in that chap. 9.) And who will ſay unto him, what doſt thou? As it followes, If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helper… ſtoop under him: Or the helper… of ſtrength (as in the margin) they bow under him. He took away your Goods, and who could hinder him? The Fire burnt thi… City, notwithſtanding all th… Inhabitants that were intereſted and able to have quencht it; ye… the ſtrong helpers, ſtood helpleſs looking on, weeping, ſhakin… their heads, and crying Alas, fo… why! Who could hinder him they ALL bowed under him. An… again, Job 34. 31. Surely it is mee… to be ſaid unto God, I have bor… chaſtiſement, I will not offend an… more. For as v. 33. Should [IT p. 53(the evil, or the good, he is pleaſed to bring on thee) be according to thy minde? (Hebr. Should it be from with thee) that is, from what is in, and with thee? muſt he ask counſel firſt of thee, & know what thy mind is? He will recompence it (or diſpence it as he pleaſeth) whether thou refuſe, or whether thou chooſe, that is, whether thy mind be for, or againſt it: And not I. (This, is the ſpeech of Elihu, in the Perſon of God, and on his behalf) That is, ſhould'ſt thou diſpoſe of all theſe things for me, [and NOT I] my ſelf? (ſays God.) This may, and muſt ſilence all, and every man, as well as it did Job there: For it follows, Therefore ſpeak (if thou haſt any thing to ſay againſt this) what thou knoweſt: As if he had ſaid, this is not to be contradicted, but to be wholly ſubmitted to.

But my Brethren, Faith brings p. 54home to the heart, a meſſage of an higher Soveraignty, even of love from God born to you, and tels all you, that ſincerely profeſs an intereſt in God, that God hath ſhewn his abſolute Dominion already, towards you, in ſaving your Souls. (It is an abſolute Dominion, that, as Rom. 9. ſhews.) And what elſe is the meaning of that ſpeech, I will be merciful to whom I will be mercifull? It is a ſpeech of Dominion. Well: Hath God ſhewed his Dominion in ſaving thy Soul with difference, hath he ſhewn it on this, the good ſide? Then truly thou maiſt very well give him leave to exerciſe his Dominion over all elſe that thou haſt; thou maiſt very well be content, He ſhew his Dominion upon thy lumber, and thy appurtenances. He might have ſhewn his Dominion in deſtroying both your Goods, and Souls too, as he did the p. 55Sodomites, when he burnt their City.

But Thirdly, Faith brings home the love of God, the Souls intereſt in God, with a Communion and fellowſhip with God; which may well ſerve to ſtrengthen Patience in the greateſt Diſtreſſes. This you ſee in David, at Ziglag, when the City was burnt, (I therefore inſtance in it) and his Goods all plun…red, and his Wives carryed away: And David was greatly diſtreſſed, the people talking of Stoning him: Then, it is ſaid, But David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God: His intereſt in him, and the coming in of his love, as being his God, did hearten and ſtrenthen him againſt all, 1 Sam. 30. 6. Likewiſe, in extreamity of famine, when there was not bread, nor Oyle, nor Wine, nor meat to eat, this wrought the like, Hab. 3. 17, 18. Although the Fig-tree ſhall not p. 56bloſſom, neither ſhall fruit be in the Vines, the labour of the Olive ſhall fail, and the fields ſhall yield no meat, the ſtock ſhall be cut off from the fold, and there ſhall be no herd in the ſtall. Here are all thoſe things enumerated, as wanting, that are the means to ſupport life and nature, (and it is the want of food and raiment for you and yours, is that you fear in the loſs of y…r goods, and loſs of your lively-hoods) YET (ſays he) I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation. A man hath all in God, afore him ſtill. And Faith brings home all in God, or carries the heart out unto God, to fetch in comfort from him, in theſe the greateſt extreamities. There are two things there diſtinct. He firſt, ſays, He will rejoyce [in the Lord,] Even in what the Lord is in himſelf: A God bleſſed for ever, Amen! And, If God be happy p. 57and bleſſed for evermore, I cannot be miſerable, ſays that Soul, that can rejoyce in this, that However God enjoyes a perfect bleſſedneſs; And I doe ſo rejoyce in that, that whilſt God continues to be God, and theſe apprehenſions and diſpoſition of heart, doe but continue in me, I have enough. The ſecond is, that he is my God, the God of my ſalvation; ſo Habbakuk, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation: And then to be ſure, while he is happy, I ſhall be happy indeed; The Lord is my portion ſaith my Soul, Lam. 3. in the midſt of thoſe troubles. The Lord help us to Faith!

My Brethren, the love of God brought in by Faith, will help a man to bear up under any condition. You know that place, Rom. 8. He had triumphed in the love of God, v. 31. If God be for us, who can be againſt us? p. 58and v. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? ſhall Tribulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or ſword? Mark his reſolution, expreſſed thereupon, in v. 37. NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS we are more then Conquerours [through him that loved us.] That ſpeech, Nay in all theſe things, &c. is a triumphant ſlighting of all he had reckoned up, and it was, all any way formidable, or that might be judg'd oppoſite to our comforts in this world. And yet ſpeaks at that rate, as if Faith on the love of God and Chriſt, ſcorned ſuch low, and weak, and poor adverſaries, as not enough, or not of might enough for them to try their ſtrength upon: and is, as if he had ſaid, are theſe all, that come out againſt us, and threaten to hurt us? But are theſe all, indeed? NAY, then ſays he, if theſe p. 59be all, we are ſafe enough, We are more then Conquerours in all theſe: But how comes this to paſs? 'Tis added, Through him that loved us. Not only in that he loving us, joyns his ſtrength to ours, to ſupport us: But it is alſo meant Objectivè, that the love of God and Chriſt coming in freſh upon our hearts, the apprehenſion of that is ſufficient; and in that reſpect he ſays through him that loved us: 'Tis Objective ſpoken, of Chriſts love, as it is the object of our Faith, and not only aſſiſtenter: We are more then Conquerours, through his love taken in, by us, and ſhed abroad in our hearts; and by reaſon that his love comes in, and ſupports us under all, and helps us to Conquer all. As Faith hath all in God to rejoyce in, and ſo helps the Soul to Patience: So eſpecially it hath his love, in all ſorts of diſtreſſes.

p. 60Fourthly, Faith tells us that there will be a good iſſue of all, as to the other world; yea and in this world alſo, in ſuch things that relate to that World. Luke 21. 18, 19. He had ſpoken afore in that Chapter, of the greateſt diſtreſſes that could befall men (as, if you read the verſes before, appeareth) and alſo of ſuch as ſhould fall upon the people of God amongſt them perſonally, as well as upon the Nation of the Jews in their finall deſolation: And beſides that common Calamity which befell the people of God with the reſt of that Nation, he ſays, over and above, they ſhall firſt lay their hand on [YOƲ,] v. 12. And perſecute [you,] delivering you, up to the Synagogues, and into priſons, and ſhall [put ſome of you to death;] (It is in all three Evangeliſts.) And in the 16. v. Ye ſhall be betrayed both by Parents and Brethren, and p. 61Kinsfolks and Friends, and ye ſhall be hated of all men for my Names ſake. But ſays he, Comfort your ſelves with what will certainly be the iſſue. v. 18. There ſhal not an hair of your head periſh. How? Not an hair of your head periſh! What a ſtrange ſaying is this! When he had ſaid juſt afore, they ſhould be perſecuted and put to death. How doth he ſay then, not an hair of your head ſhall periſh? Why, becauſe the iſſue ſhall be ſuch as ſhould make amends for every hair; The ſoul ſhall ſay, I have not loſt an hair: Nay beſides thoſe of you, they cannot put to death, ſhall have an hundred fold, and that in this life, (as elſwhere) in ſpiritual bleſſings. And Faith eying theſe things, relieves the Soul. Obſerve but what follows there as to our purpoſe in hand (for which I quote this place) in v. 19. (the very next v.) p. 62In your Patience poſſeſs your Souls, the meaning from the Coherence, is, you may well poſſeſs your Souls in Patience, for I have told you, the iſſue will be moſt bleſſed and Glorious.

Fifthly, Faith brings in Heaven as the Reward of patient enduring, thus in Chap. firſt v. 12. of our Apoſtle. Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tryed, he ſhall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that love him. And this is the concluſion of his perſent diſcourſe about patient enduring: [When he is tryed] that is, when his tryals are finiſht and gone through with: And his Faith hath all along, wrought Patience in his courſe: Tis perſevering Patience, or endurance receives this Omnes virtutes certant, ſola Patientia vincit & coronatur.Crown. Other Graces ſtrive, but Faith and Patience, they are Crowned. And further in proportion p. 63is holds, that as mans Tryals and Temptations have been, and his Patience ſuitable, ſuch ſhall the greatneſs of his Reward be; and accordingly meaſured forth unto him. And Faith in the intuition of that Glory heartens Patience, Rom. 5. Faith having cauſed us firſt to Rejoyce in the [hope of the glory of God] v. 2. cauſeth us alſo to Glory in Tribulations, v. 3. in the ſtrength of our hope in that Glory. Which Hope is ſaid further to be encreaſed in us, through Tribulations their working Patience, v. 4. As thus, Patience works experience, v. 5. that is, many a freſh experiment of our own graces, and Gods dealings in thoſe Tryals: And thoſe experiences do work up an Hope or aſſurance of Glory (as I John 3. ….) to that degree of firmneſs, that maketh us not aſhamed, not in reſpect only of the real diſappointment of that Glory, at death, but not in a mans own p. 64hope thereof, in his own heart, (For in reſpect to that hope of his this is ſpoken) becauſe that over & above, and beſides thoſe foreſaid experiments, The love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghoſt, himſelf immediately, who is given to us: which ſhedding, &c. of Gods love, is no other then the earneſt, and prelibation of that Glory. And this is given as the reward of our Patience and Tribulations, which are but the loſs of things Earthly, in Exchange for which we receive this hope and beginning of Glory. If thou hadſt had all the Braſs and Pewter that was in thy houſe, and hath been melted by this Fire, therewithall turn'd into Gold; & the ſtones that paved thy yards, or the bricks or lime that raiſed thy walls, all changed into precious ſtones; thy glaſs windows, that were diſſolved, converted into Diamonds; thou hadſt little cauſe to complain at the loſs. Now read Iſ. 54. 11, 12. O thou afflicted, p. 65toſſed with tempeſt, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay thy …tones with fair Colours, and lay by foundations with Saphirs; I …ill make thy Windows of Agats, …d thy Gates of Carbuncles, and … thy borders of Pleaſant ſtones. And if thou haſt gotten any encreaſe of Grace by theſe loſſes, then hath much of this in Iſaiah been truly and ſpiritually fulfilled in thee. And theſe repaires are in this life. But beſides that, Thou haſt a building made without hands, eternal in the Heavens, 2 Cor. 5. 1. Which ſtands ready for thee. Thoſe believing Hebrews, might well ſuffer the ſpoiling of their Goods with joy, whilſt they found ſealed, and put into their hearts, Bills of Exchange to receive all again, in Eternal treaſures in heaven. But this was their very Caſe, Ye took joyfully the ſpoiling of your Goods, knowing in your p. 66ſelves, that ye have in heaven … better and an enduring ſubſtance, Heb. 10. 34. And this happy lot will come to be thine, if thou exerciſeſt upon thy loſſes, Faith and Patience: It follows in that Heb. 10. the following verſes Caſt not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward: For ye have need of Patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye migh… receive the promiſe. This fo… Faith's working Patience.

II. Our LOVE to God, works PATIENCE.

§. LOve to God in us, works Patience, or Faith by Love, a… I ſhewed out of v. 12. Love to God makes us cleave to God, and ſo to follow him through all weathers and endurances. That p. 67great Convert (in whom at his Converſion, Faith and Love were ſo abundant, as 1 Tim. 1. 14.) his Heart through Love to the Name of Chriſt, cauſed him, in the higheſt paſſion, to utter, What mean you to weep and break my heart? for I am not ready to be [BOƲND] only, but alſo [to DYE] at Jeruſalem, for the Name of the Lord Jeſus, Acts 21. v. 13. It was Love to that Name that fired him; yea his Love was wrought up to ſuch an intenſe degree, as he could have wiſht to have been accurſt from Chriſt for Gods Glory, in the converſion of his brethren, Rom. 9. I wonder how he would have done for Patience under that curſe, if in Hell: But that Love which wiſht that curſe, would have wrought it; and ſo thought he, or he would never have wiſht this. Upon the like account of Love to this Name, Thoſe two Apoſtles p. 68rejoyced to ſuffer ſhame for his Name, as Acts 5. 41. Love makes the Glorifying of God, and Chriſt, and the will of God, which is alwayes for his Glory, dearer then all things to us. Yea, that God ſhould have his Will, for his own Glory, (if it be the will of God) ſays the Apoſtle, of our Sufferings, abundantly ſtils the heart in all. Tis true, I may be puniſh… in my afflictions for my Sin, and I humble my ſelf for that: But beyond that, it is the good pleaſure of God ſo to have it, and I rejoyce in [that] ſays Love, That his Will is done. As truly that 'tis done upon me, as that by me. And, Good is the word of God, in both; and Hallowed be his Name▪ In that Rom. 8. where (as you heard) We are more then Conquerours in all theſe things, [through him that loved us] that love of His, to us, is alone indeed, openly or expreſly mentitioned, p. 69yet withall it is our love to him, that, tacitly, is inſinuated to be a concurrent cauſe therewith; you muſt take that in, too: For the intent of thoſe very words is, that the Soul apprehending his Love (Who is THAT LOVER (as that word imports) foreignout of a reciprocated Love to him again, doth hearten us in the conflict, unto this Conqueſt. And yet there is one ſmall word, put in, that further argues this, 'tis in v. 26. [For thy ſake] we are killed all the day long. Our lives being in jeopardy every hour, and we are counted as ſheep for the ſlaughter; and this [For thy ſake] you have in the 44. Pſal. And he quotes it out from thence, As it is written (ſays he) For thy ſake, &c. Now therefore it is evidently, the Love that is in us, to him, and our cleaving to him therewith, that is there held forth, as that which makes p. 70us willing to ſuffer and endure; in that it is for his ſake. And although the Apoſtle in his diſcourſe runs upon the magnifying Gods Love, and Chriſts Love to us, as that, which (apprehended and taken in by us) doth principally work this effect: Yet the Pſalmiſt on the other ſide, ſets out The Love of the Church to God, as the concurrent cauſe, v. 17. All this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we deal… falſly in thy Covenant. And v. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Our heart is not turned back, neither hav… our ſteps declined from thy way▪ Though thou haſt ſore broken u… in the place of Dragons, and covered us with the ſhadow of death▪ If we have forgotten the Name o… our God, or ſtretched out ou… hands to a ſtrange God, ſhall no… God ſearch this out? For h… knoweth the ſecrets of the heart. p. 71Yea [FOR THY SAKE] are we killed all the day long; we are counted as ſheep to the ſlaughter. If Faith and Love, once but ſays, It is for thy ſake, oh God, Why then ſays Patience, I can bear it, yea rejoyce in it, for his ſake that loved me. And look as the Apoſtle ſays, he could do all things [through Chriſt] that ſtrengthened him, ſo Love can doe all things [for Chriſt] that loved him, and gave himſelf for him.

And (to conclude this)

If Love to our Brethren, which ſprings from Love to God, works ſo great a Patience towards them: as in that Scripture, Love ſuffereth long, and is kind, envieth not, rejoyceth not in evil: bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things, 1 Cor. Chap. 13. All which is ſpoken of (as in thoſe words) of our Love to man: Though it was our love to God, p. 72that is urged, and ſpoken of in all the words afore; and is the Spring of this our love to man. Now if love (I ſay) unto man, works ſo much Patience, in things, perhaps that are yet injurious to us, and not only burthenſome, from them. And in a manner all thoſe Elogies of love there, doe run upon, and ſpeaks Patience; that Patience being the proper fruit of that love. What elſe doe ſuffering long, bearing, and enduring all things, with the reſt, ſound and ſignifie? Then much more (I ſay) will love unto God, (the cauſe of this love to our Brethren) enable us to doe the like towards him, who can doe us no wrong, nor hurt, but is Holy, & Righteous in all his works; and all whoſe wayes (and goings forth to us) are Mercy, and Truth: And for whoſe ſake alſo it is, that we bear ſo with our Brethren; and who hath loved and given his Son for us. p. 73It was a great ſpeech of an holy Soul, in an unkindly trial from man. That man ſhould deal thus with me, I ſhould have much adoe to bear it (as David ſaid) But it is God, and I can take any thing Pſal 55. 12.Ps 55:12well at his hands. And this for the ſecond general Head.