Patience and its Perfect Work under Sudden and Sore Trials, Discourse · Section 3

Patience and its Perfect Work under Sudden and Sore Trials · Discourse · Section 3

p. 73III. Section.

III. GENERAL HEAD.

What is the Perfect Work of Patience.

§. IN General, A thing then is perfect, when all the parts that belong to it are finiſhed: As then, the Creation of the world, is ſaid to be perfect, when, as Gen. 2. 1, 2. The heavens and the earth were finiſhed, and the hoſts of them: So, when all the whole of the work of Patience, in its ſeveral parts, &c. is accompliſhed, then patience hath its perfect work.

p. 74There are four BRANCHES of this HEAD, that compleat it.

1. Its Privative work.

2. Its Poſitive Acts.

3. Its Poſitive Fruits.

4. Its Adjuncts of perfection.

All which go to make Patience perfect: And the Proofs thereof will confirm every tittle of the forepart, and body of that deſcription I gave of Patience, pag. 46.

I. Branch.

Its Privative Work.

§ I Begin with its Privative work. And that lies in this: when Faith by Patience, doth mortifie turbulent paſſions that ſtill ariſe, and are oppoſites thereto. And as love, when PERFECT, caſts out fear, (1 Joh. 4. 18) So then PATIENCE is PERFECT, when it expells thoſe contrary Paſſions: or elſe likewiſe, too p. 75intenſe thoughts, or porings upon our miſery, and croſſes; ſo as our minds are chained and tyed to thoſe objects, and taken off from all other. I take THOUGHTS in, becauſe Chriſt ſays, Luke 24. 38. Why doe [THOUGHTS] ariſe in your hearts? Why are you [TROUBLED?] For when troubles ſink deep, they ſend thoughts up faſt: as when weights are hung upon a clock, or jack: they make the wheeles run ſwiftly: And ſo inordinate affections cauſe an …nordinacy of thoughts; and a fixing our minds to one thing; as upon what we have loſt, or are …ike to ſuffer. Now perfect Patience corrects and orders the ex…ravagancies of all theſe, reduceth a man to poſſeſs his own ſoul: as Chriſts phraſe is, in Luke 21. 19. In your Patience poſſeſs ye your ſouls, and thereby to dwell in ae mans ſelf: whereas the violence of ſuch affections, hurry us out of p. 76our ſelves; and throw our ſoul out of doors; that we are not within, or our ſelves.

To inſtance in ſome particular paſſions.

1. Inordinate Grief. You know how Jobs Patience is cryed up▪ and that by our Apoſtle. Fo… when he ſuffered the loſs of all both his children and eſtate, &c yet he expreſſed no grief, n… trouble at all, that we read of upon the hearſay and tiding thereof; and ſure if there had been any, upon thoſe occaſions the ſtory would have told it, as … doth his other impatiences (whic… were upon other and highe… preſſures of another kind) after wards: But all you read of hi… upon occaſion of thoſe outwar… loſſes in chap. 1. is All meer Patience, and ſubmiſſion to God. Th… Lord (ſays he) gave, and the Lor… hath taken away, and 'tis th… Lord who hath done both, anp. 77bleſſed be the Name of the Lord, for both. And in ALL THIS charged not God fooliſhly, ſays the laſt verſe.

2. Envy and Paſſionate Anger: 1. Envy, which is apt to riſe, when others have no ſuch afflictions, or loſſes. As that ſuch and ſuch an one, and of my rank, ſhould eſcape with his goods, &c. when the loſs falls heavy on me, ſaith the ſad heart: This ſecretly regreets. Good people are greatly apt to this. The Spirit that is in [ƲS] (in us Saints) luſteth to envy. But God, in the end, gives more Grace, that is, when men are humbled (as there, tis ſaid) and broken; which is uſually, when they have been exerciſed with great ſufferings. The different condition of the holy Apoſtles, and ſome other Chriſtians, in thoſe primitive times, gives demonſtration of ſuch a Patience in this caſe. There were no men p. 78ſo eminent for ſufferings and Patience, next the Lord Chriſt, as the Apoſtles were, who yet viewing other Chriſtians, (as take the Corinthians, 1 Cor 4. 8, 9.) how they were full, &c. Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have Reigned as King… without us. It was a Cit… very rich, and the Chriſtian… in it, had a fulneſs of outward things, when he wrote this they were full and rich: Bu… as for us, (ſays he) God hath … forth us Apoſtles laſt, as it wer… appointed to death, &c. Ye are honourable, but we are deſpiſed; … both hunger and thirſt, and ar… naked, and are buffited, and hav… no certain dwelling place, and labour working with our hands: being reviled, we bleſs: being perſecuted, we ſuffer it: being defame… we intr…at: we are made as th… filth of the world, and are the offſcouring of all things unto thi… p. 79day. And yet he did not at all envy this their fulneſs in the leaſt; No, he wiſheth them all true proſperity, would to God ye did reign, v. 8. that is, in true and ſpiritual reſpects; he wiſheth them all good rather, in all inward enjoyments, of God and Chriſt, together with their outward riches, &c. Now what was it, that had ſo much rooted up envy, &c. in him, and the other his fellow Apoſtles? It was his ſufferings, and wants, and their being made ſpectacles to Angels and men (as there): This had wrought his, and their Spirits to this. In the old Teſtament, Joſhua, though he proved a man of a choice Spirit, yet when he was young in years, and but a young beginner in Grace, envy roſe up in him, for his good Maſter, Moſes ſake. Eldad and Medad Propheſie, (ſays he) Num. 11. 29. But Moſes ſaid to him, Envieſt p. 80thou for my ſake? and ſo reproved him; and thereupon expreſſeth his own heart, thus▪ Would God, that all the Lords people were Prophets; and that the Lord would put his ſpirit upon them. Now whence aroſe thi… bleſſed diſpoſition of heart, thu… free from envy in him? In the very next chapter you meet with another inſtance, which give… a true account both of his not envying others, as alſo in bearing the envy of others againſt himſelf ſharpned with the higheſ… provocations unto ANGER, (which was the ſecond.) It being as unkindly, as unreaſonable. 'Twas the envy of his own, only Brother and Siſter, for this, that God had choſen him to utter his mind by, unto his people, and reveal himſelf, ſo as never to any man, (as Gods teſtimony of him is in that 12. Chap.) Whereupon they had ſaid, v. 2. Hath the Lord p. 81indeed ſpoken only, by Moſes? hath he not ſpoken by us? Thereupon follows the Account, or bottom diſpoſition, of Spirit, which made him bear both this and the former, v. 3. Now the man Moſes was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. And ſo good man, he would himſelf have paſſed this …y, and have taken no notice at …ll of this affront: but that God ('tis there ſaid) heard it, as noting …hat HE would not put it up ſo, for Moſes ſake. Now what was …t, had tamed, and made Moſes …hus meek and calm, and paſſive? Certainly His great Afflictions. And his Faith, having been exerciſed thereby had wrought Pati…nce in him. Heb. 11. By Faith, (v. 24). he choſe (v. 25.) Rather …o ſuffer afflictions, &c. and accordingly had lived forty years, … mean ſhepheard, a ſervile life, …n exile, a baniſhed man, from p. 82Pharaohs Court-Honors, and pleaſures of it, as an underling, i… hardſhip and durance. And i… was a ſudden Tryal, for he fle… for his life at an hours warning as well as a ſore and long Trya… of forty years; and theſe ſufferings (as great as any mans in tha… age) made him Meek [ver… Mee…], which word the Dutc… Annotators render, [Patient. The Hebrew word hath affini… with afflictions (ſaith Ainſwort… which had taught him Patienc… Heb. 5.Heb 5as ſufferings did Chriſt, who… type he was. Theſe had ſubdue… anger and envy in him, unto th… ſo high a degree: And Patienc… had its perfect work. For, otherwiſe we find he could be angr… at times, Exod. 11. 8. and 26. 20 and 31. 19. Lev. 10. 16. Nu… 16. 11. and 31. 14. and chap… 20. 10, 11. as Ainſworth hath collected them.

Jeſus Chriſt hath taught us p. 83leſſon, againſt this envy, Mat. 20. 15. Shall I not doe what I will with mine own? Are not all things mine? And wilt thou envy that I have taken them from thee, and not done ſo, from another? Shall thine eye be evil becauſe I am good? Shall a man be ſick, that another is in health?

3. Inordinate Fears. When too much trouble comes upon us, we uſe to fear too much, at the preſent: And are apt to project a thouſand things for the future; as that poverty and beggary will follow: many ſuch fears lay hold upon us, becauſe we ſee Gods anger hath begun, and we know not the worſt, nor when or where …twill end. But ſaith Chriſt, Rev. 2. 10. [Fear] none of thoſe [things] that thou ſhalt [ſuffer.] Be thou [faithful] unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of life. Faith and faithfulneſs unto p. 84God, or conſtancy in enduring unto death, he here oppoſeth to Fear: and Faith works Patience, and Patience eats out fear. Fortitude and courage differs from Patience in this: that a ſtout courage in a man of a great Spirit, will indeed overcome FEAR, i… ſo be he ſees any hope of evading: and ſo will rouſe a mans Spirit up to reſiſtance, and defence. But Patience, though it ſees no hope▪ as to this life, yea nothing but preſent death afore it, it will yet ſtrengthen the heart to bear it and make a man [Faithful unt… death] and conſtant, without prevailing fears, even unto death.

4. Murmuring againſt God… Patience workes out that. As i… Job: The Devil projected hi… blaſpheming: He will blaſphem… thee to thy face: He made ſure account of it; and would needs turn Prophet, and propheſie what Job would doe, and that before p. 85God. But the devil was befool'd, and proved a lying Prophet: Job inſtead of blaſpheming God, he bleſſeth God [In all this Job charged not God fooliſhly.] I may ſay of it as in the Revelation, twice, 'tis ſaid of the Saints, Here was the Patience of Job. And it was that patient frame of Spirit, that God had wrought in him, which the Scripture ſo extolls, that enabled him hereunto.

5. Faith by Patience mortifies inordinate CARES. Againſt the times of thoſe great diſtreſſes, that were to come upon the Jewiſh Nation, and among them, upon the Chriſtian Jews in that nation, afore the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, (which would try every vein in their hearts) Chriſt gives two ſpecial exhortations, beſides divers others, Luke 21. The firſt, In YOƲR Patience (that is, that Patience, which is truly Chriſtian, and properly p. 86Yours) poſſeſs your own ſouls, v. 19. The ſecond, Take heed to your ſelves, leaſt at any time your hearts be overcharged with [the cares of this life,] foreign Cares do (as the word imports) diſtract the Soul, ſcatter it into wilde thoughts and wandring anxieties: But Patience (which Chriſt firſt exhorts to) calls all in, and orders all to keep home, and not ſtir out of doors, abroad; compoſeth all ſo, as a man poſſèſſeth his own Soul. In Phil. 4, 6, 7. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and ſupplication, with thanksgiving, let your requeſts be made known unto God: and the peace of God, &c. I inſtance likewiſe for this, in the difference of the two grounds in the Par… ble of the Sower, 8 Luke 14, 15. Of the Thorny ground, 'tis ſaid, That the word was choaked by the CARES of the world. But of the good ground oppoſitely, that it p. 87brings forth fruit with PATIENCE. Patience is contrary unto cares, as well as unto Ʋnquietneſs, or to other inordinate affections.

This for Patience, its privative Work.

II. Branch of the III. HEAD.

I Come ſecondly to POSITIVE ACTS, and workings of Patience, which are many. To begin with the loweſt, and ſo riſe to the higher.

§. 1. Patience includes, and comprehends an Act of [WAITING] upon God, and his good pleaſure. Waiting is an act of Faith continued, or lengthened out: and where Faith would of it ſelf be ſhort-winded, Patience eeks it out. The daughter helps the Mother, p. 88with an expectation of anhappy iſſue. 5. Jam. You find waiting involved in Patience as an eminent act thereof, v. 7. Be [patient] therefore, Brethren, unto the coming of the Lord: behold the Husbandman [waiteth] for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long [patience] for it, until he receive the early, and latter rain. Look how and in what manner the Husbandman waits, ſo he ſets out, and exhorts a Chriſtian Patient man ſhould doe. Mic. 7. 7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord, [I will wait] for the God of my Salvation, my God will hear me, &c. ƲNTIL he plead my cauſe, and execute judgement for me, &c. v. 9.

2. It is a waiting with quietneſs. And that's Patience work too. Patience is not an enduring ſimply by force, (which we call patience per force) but with quietneſs. In the third of Lament. the p. 89Church, in her doleful condition, expreſſeth the actings, and workings of her own ſoul: Although ſhe ſpeaks in the third perſon, (which is uſual in the Scripture) yet means her ſelf, v. 26. It is good that a man ſhould bothhope and QUIETLY WAIT for the ſalvation of the Lord. This was uttered when ſhe was under the yoak, and ſo was a fruit of Patience, v. 27. It is good for a man that he bear the yoak in his youth. It is the Nature of Faith to quiet the heart in God, Iſaiah 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him … habet vim quietativam.[in perfect peace,] whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee: becauſe he [truſteth in thee.] And chap. 30. 30. In quietneſs and [confidence] ſhall be your [ſtrength.] And when Faith hath wrought Patience, it quiets the heart much more. Patience ſpeaks quietneſs in the very ſound of it. And the reaſon is, becauſe it hath a ſtrength accompanies p. 90it, 1 Col. 11. [Strengthened] with all might unto [all Patience] and long-ſuffering. And thence ſo far forth as Faith and Patience doe ſtrengthen the heart, ſo far we are able to bear, and that with quietneſs. Let not your hearts be troubled, ſaith Chriſt, John 14. Why? You believe in God, believe alſo in me, Faith on them will cauſe trouble to fly away. Which is a great part of Chriſts meaning, when he ſays, in patience poſſeſs your Souls, that … dwell quietly in your own Spirits, as a man doth in his houſe, which our Law tearms his Caſtle.

3. Patience carries on the heart without FAIN…ING or diſcouragement. Iſaiah 42. 4. The Meekneſs and Patience of Chriſt is there firſt ſet forth, v. 2. He ſhall not cry, nor liſt up his voyce to be heard in the ſtreets. Th…n follows v. 4. He ſhall not fail, nor be diſcouraged p. 91[not be broken] (as the Hebrew is) that is, in Spirit, ſo as to ceaſe from what God had given him to do, or ſuffer; he ſhould goe on with his work, till he had perfected it.

4. Patience in all ſufferings, ſubmits to God, and the will of God. The Apoſtle ſedulouſly puts in [if it be the will of God] when he had occaſion to mention their ſufferings; and he doth it twice, 1 Pet. 3. 17. If it be the will of God that ye ſuffer. And chap. 4. v. laſt, Wherefore let him that ſuffers according to the will of God, &c. And in chap. 1. 6. [If need be] that is, if God ſee it requiſite, to bring them on you: And the Apoſtle would needs bring theſe clauſes in, though by way of Parentheſis; ſo in two of theſe places mentioned. The ſtronger the ſufferings are, the ſtronger is the will of God in bringing thoſe ſufferings. And p. 92it is Patience in the Soul, that works the heart to ſubmiſſion to that will, Pſal. 39. v. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; [BECAƲSE THOƲ DIDST IT.] Then, when he confeſt his ſin of Bathſheba, and murdering Ʋriah, he conſidered not the wrong done them, in compariſon of That he had done againſt God; therein: Againſt THEE, againſt THEE only have I ſinned, and Pſal. 51.Ps 51done this evil in thy ſight. And now, when a retaliation for that ſin, in the rebellion of his own Son Abſolon, came upon him, and Shimei had likewiſe bitterly curſed and reviled him (which ſome latter expoſitors have deemed to have been the occaſions of that Pſalm.) **See Piſcator and the Dutch Annotat. And the Ground why it may be ſo judged, is the conformity which theſe paſſ…ges in the Pſalm, verſe 8. Make me not the REPROACH of the fooliſh, and this ſpecially, v. 9. I opened not my mouth, becauſe THOƲ DIDST IT, doe hold with that ſtory, 2 Sam. 16. 10, 11. When Shimei did curſe him, upon occaſion of which, David, ſimularly, ſpake thus. The Lord hath ſaid to him, curſe David; Who ſhall then ſay, wherefore haſt thou done ſo? Let him alone, THE LORD HATH BIDDEN HIM. Which is juſt as here [THE LORD HATH DONE IT.]2 Sam 16:102 Sam 16:11He in like p. 93manner, in this his puniſhment, layeth aſide the conſideration of all inſtruments, that had brought thoſe evils on him, (whoever they were, whether it were theſe or ſome other) and looks only unto God, and ſubmits, [becauſe thou haſt done it.] And though he confeſſeth, that he was in a fume at firſt, notwithſtanding his fixed reſolution to have been dumb as for ſpeaking any thing that ſhould ſavour of murmuring, afore men: Yet his fleſh and corruption boyled within him, (as that uſeth to riſe and work in us firſt) ſo v. 2. 3. I was Dumb with ſilence, I held my peace, even from good: And my ſorrow was ſtirred, or my diſtemper wrought the more, my heart was hot within me; whilſt I was muſing, the Fire burned. Then ſpake I with my tongue: And what he ſpake, ſavors of a man weary of life it ſelf: For he p. 94would needs know of God when his life ſhould be at end, thus v. 4. So impatient was he: Yea, but then when his grace came more deeply and throughly to be ſtirred, and Patience to have in perfect Work; he then conſiders Gods hand alone in it; how that it was HE, had ſtirred up the Spirits of theſe wicked One… againſt him; and found tha… himſelf had to doe with Go… alone: And then, he was … and ſilent indeed, to purpoſe. An… truly his heart at that time (… the occaſion were, that of Shime… and Abſalom) had been wrough… up into as bleſſed a frame of ſubmiſſion to God, as ever afore, … after, in all his life time, as hi… words (in that chapter afore mentioned) doe declare, 2 Sam… 15. 25, 26. And David ſaid, if ſhall find favour in the eyes o… the Lord, he will bring me agai… and ſhew me both it, (viz. th… p. 95Ark) and his Habitation: BƲT IF HE THƲS SAY, I HAVE NO DELIGHT IN THEE: [BEHOLD HERE I AM, LET HIM DOE TO ME, AS SEEMETH GOOD ƲNTO HIM.] He herein perfectly gives up himſelf to Gods good pleaſure. And it is as if he had ſaid; If it be good in his eyes ſo to deal, it ſhall be ſo in mine; I wholly give my ſelf up unto whatever his deſign is upon me: Yea, he caſts away himſelf into the ſuppoſition of Gods having no delight in him; which is the moſt afflicting ſuppoſition, a Godly man can make to himſelf, of all other: ſo perfectly did his will apply it ſelf to God his will. He had profeſſed his waiting on God juſt before in that Pſalm; Now Lord, what doe I wait for? My hope is in thee. And now he adds [I am] dumb, ſo for the preſent, and [I will be Dumb] ſo for the future: p. 96I will never open my mouth about it. Piſcator and the Dutch Annotator read it thus, in both Tenſes.

5. Patience makes a man not Dumb only, or not to open his mouth through ſubmiſſion: But it makes him put his mouth in … duſt: whereby a deeper humiliation and ſubmiſſion is yet expreſſed. 'Tis a farther humiliation to lye at Gods feet, with hi… face on the duſt, which is as low, … the perſon can goe: that if Go… will tread and trample upo… him, there he is; and in the poſture, preſents, and declare himſelf ready for that, or an… diſpenſation from God. Lam. … The church did not only wai… v. 25. And wait quietly, v. 26 and then ſit down, and keep … lence, v. 28. But did put … mouth in the duſt, v. 29.

But you will ſay, all this … done, when the Soul … p. 97hope, as appears in thoſe words, in that 3. of Lam. v. 26. It is good that a man ſhould hope and wait quietly, and v. 29. He puts his mouth in the duſt, if ſo be, there may be hope. and indeed David in the 29. Pſal. and likewiſe in thoſe places cited of him, out of Samuel, he had hope concerning that particular thing he yet ſubmitted unto God in, as at the ſeventh verſe of that Pſalm appears. And now Lord what doe wait for? [my hope is in thee.] And then mentions the deliverance where in his hope lay, in v. 8, 9, 10. And thus when Shimei curſt him, his Soul in like manner did gather up hope the more upon it, that God would bleſs him, 2 Sam. 16. 12. IT MAY BE the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his curſing this day. But yet I confeſs his hope here, and the Churches afore, p. 98did each riſe up but to an [it may be.]

6. But Goſpel Patience (ſixthly) will work an effect, when there is no hope, as to the things and concernments of this life. David and the Church ſaid, if there may be hope; but Patience will ſay, if there be no hope, that is in this life that ever I ſhould come out of this trouble, (I differenced Patien… from Chriſtian fortitude afore, by this.) The Apoſtles did put primitive Chriſtians over to the day of the Reſtitution of … things, and the Refreſhing, that ſhould be then. Thus Jam. 5. 7▪ 8. Be Patient therefore, Brethren, [ƲNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD.] Behold the Husbandma… waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long Patience for it, till he receive the early and latter rain. Beye alſo Patient, ſtabliſh your hearts, FO… THE COMING OF THE LOR… p. 99DRAWETH NIGH. As if he had ſaid; As for your preſſures, I can give you no hope of releaſe out of them, during this life: but let your hearts, fixedly make account of no other outward refreſhment, but that which ſhall be then, by the coming of Chriſt, which will be Spiritual. And his ſimilitude of the Husbandmans waiting for the harveſt declares thus much, v. 7. Behold, the Husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth, &c. Poorman, he doth not reap this precious fruit of the earth, until the Harveſt. He parts with precious ſeed: And as unto him, it is until the harveſt time, as good as loſt. The Pſalmiſt hath the ſame compariſon, They ſow precious ſeed, and they goe weeping (as loth to part with it) but ſhall return rejoycing, bringing their ſheafs with them. Brethren, there is an har…eſt a coming, and joy ſown for p. 100the upright in heart, againſt that time. It is now but ſown, but muſt come up one day. But although the Husbandman in all appearance looks upon all, as loſt, until the Harveſt: yet however he hath afore then, in the mean while, the early and the latter rain: And they give hope of an harveſt, whilſt he ſees, and finds God bleſſing, and following his Corn, with rain upon his Ground. This as to the Huſbandmans Hope (which is the Apoſtles ſimilitude.) And as to the Chriſtians hope, I underſtand by the early and latter rain, according to the courſe of the ſimilitude, to be ſignified, thoſe illapſes from heaven, thoſe refreſhing bedewments, which the holy Ghoſt vouchfafeth, all along to ſuch an expectants Soul, as earneſts of heaven, and pledges of Gods certain intending to give him his expected harveſt, accord p. 101ing to the proportion of his Patience and waiting: But ſtill all theſe hopes wholly reſpect that other life: But as to this life, the Apoſtle gives no other hopes for them. Nor no more doth the Apoſtle to the Hebrews, chap. 10. 36. whilſt he thus ſpeaks, Ye have need of Patience (even to the end of your lives.) For it follows, that after you have done the will of God, you may inherit the Promiſes: Still you will need Patience, to your very laſt. We uſe to ſpeak the ſame, to a man, whoſe caſe is remedileſs, y'ad need of Patience; for your condition is not like to be bettered. Theſe had ſuffered the ſpoiling of their goods already, v. 33. and had endured a great ſight of afflictions (as there.) Well, but the ſtorm is not yet over: you have need of Patience ſtill, you are like never like to have your goods and eſtates again, and I p. 102can give you (ſays he) no other hope but that you would patiently wait for the reſtitution of all things, which is to be at the day of judgment, for ſo it follows v. 37. For yet a little while, and he THAT SHALL COME, WILL COME, and will not tarry. And therefore caſt not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward, verſe 25. So that, all the hope in this life is, That the time will not be long.

§. A ſeventh Act, or Work of Patience is, it cauſeth the Soul to ſanctifie God in a mans heart, all ſorts of ways. I ſhall ſtill inſtance (as I have done) more ſpecially in Job's carriage, whoſe Patience is ſo cryed up, by our Apoſtle: When his outward loſſes of children, &c. had their full accompliſhment, and the ſad tidings p. 103thereof had filled his eares, and heart, (chap. 1.) by meſſenger after meſſenger, till he had no more to loſe, the text tells us, v. 20. He fell down on the ground, AND WORSHIPPED. He had been frequent in worſhipping afore, and that upon occaſion of his children, that they might not ſin, ſo you read v. 5. but all thoſe, his foregone worſhip, ſacrifices, and prayers, could not prevaile with God, to preſerve them, nor his goods neither. But now when they are all gone, the firſt thing he does, is, He falls down and worſhips.

Queſt. What may that contain in it?

Anſw. I ſhall limit my ſelf unto what his ſpeech thereupon doth utter: and the Poſture of his worſhipping doth ſignifie: both plainly ſhewing, what was in his Heart, that moved him ſo to doe; and moved within him, in the doing it.

p. 1041. He adores God in his Soveraignty, both in his falling down, as alſo in thoſe words, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken. He is Lord (ſays he) the Lord of all: All was his own; and ſhall he not doe what he will with his own? as 10 Mat. 15. I am the Clay, he is the Potter: He is the Lord of me, and all. Job had prayed for his Sons (as we did for the City) ſo far as he had then in his view, what might then concern them: but for all his good prayers for them, God took them away, by a violent death; and herein God ſeemeth angry with his prayers (as with ours for the City) yet Job begins to worſhip him afreſh, and adores him after all: And 'twas the firſt thing he applyed himſelf unto. (Faith and Patience, will cauſe the heart to apply it ſelf to God in all ſorts of dealings, and will vent and utter gracious p. 105diſpoſitions, ſome way or other.) And to adore God (which was moſt ſuitable to this condition he was in) is an higher act then to pray, ſimply conſidered, though it be done, moſtly in prayer. And as thus at firſt, ſo he retained this practiſe and Principle, all along, although he did grow very unquiet, when his Sins, and Gods wrath came in upon him. Yet however impatient he otherwiſe were, he ſtill afterwards continued in this manner to adore, and fall down afore God at times. Thus in Chap. 23. 11, 12. You ſhall ſee how this poor man falls down before God, and ſubmits to him. He firſt profeſſeth his integrity, at v. 10. And his Faith, as to the iſſue of his Tryals, that all would be for good. He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tryed me, I ſhall come forth as Gold. My foot hath held his ſteps, &c. As if he p. 106had ſaid: But yet for all my holy walking with him, his reſolution and deſign upon me, thus to tri… me, went on: And all my prayers aforehand could not turn him therefrom, as follows v. 13, 14. But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what his Soul deſireth even that he doth, for he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: (What is my Lot from him, (as this was) I muſt take it, and ſubmit to it: And Many ſuch things are with him: Many ſuch ſtrange and wonderful unuſual dealings are with him, and we muſt magnifie him in all. It is Gods Soveraignty, you ſee, which he here adores and falls down afore. And this paſſage you may ſet upon the ſcore of thoſe eminent ſpeeches, wherein he expreſſed his Patience, which the Scripture commends it for; and in the iſſue of his worſt fits, we find him ſtill adoring, and ſubmitting to God.

p. 107§. Secondly, He humbles himſelf to the duſt [falls down to the ground.] Firſt, as himſelf was a Creature, poor and emptied of all. Alas! What am I (ſays he) or what have I to challenge, or aſſume to my ſelf as mine? What have I, or am I, that I have not received? A poor naked thing, I came into the world at firſt; and but as poor and naked am I now, when bereft of all my goods; and as naked I muſt return: I had nothing at firſt, and I have but nothing now, and I ſhall carry nothing with me into the other World. Thus ſpake He.

When Jacob was in hazzard of, and thought he ſhould loſe his goods, and children, and all, (as Job here, actually loſt both,) ſee how aforehand he humbles and debaſeth himſelf, (as you read 32 Gen. 10.) and how greatly, before p. 108the Lord, I am leſs then the leaſt of thy mercies: I am not worthy of a bit of bread, and thou gaveſt me all I have. And what was I once? He conſiders (as Job) his original condition, both as to matter of eſtate, and children. I came over Jordan but with this ſtaff. I had no more (ſays he) and now I have two bands, both of Cattell and Children: And if God take all, I am but where I was, and where he once found me. And truly Jacob his beſt Policy, and deſign was to have compounded the matter, and if he could but ſave half of either, v. 8. if he might have half his eſtate, and half his children, he ſhould have been, conſidering the hazzard of all, ſomthing well appeaſed: but now he puts in with God for the whole. His thus Humbling of himſelf was afore he had loſt any thing, to the end to preſerve it; and Jobs p. 109was when he had loſt all, but both expreſs the ſame Humility.

And as you find him here humbled, as a poor Creature, (as poor as ever any was) ſo elſewhere as deeply broken for his being a ſinner, and profeſſing himſelf to be as naked and empty in reſpect of any righteouſneſs of his own, or of any thing he had to ſtand upon in the ſight of God. The great Apoſtle doth not more diveſt himſelf thereof, in Ph. 3. then holy Job doth in chap. 9. 23. I know it is ſo of a truth: but how ſhould man be juſt with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot anſwer him ONE OF A THOƲ SAND. And yet more deeply and expreſly, v. 20, 21. If I JƲSTIFIE my ſelf, mine own mouth (I ſinning in all my ſpeeches, and even in this now whilſt I ſpeak it) ſhall condemn me: if I ſay I am perfect, it ſhall alſo prove me perverſe. His meaning is, had I never ſo perfect p. 110an inherent holineſs, yet if I come afore God, to be juſtified, I know not mine own Soul, as he 'Tis ſuch a phraſe as when Chriſt ſays I know you not.there adds; that is, I look at nothing in my own Soul, I utterly renounce all in it; yea, I would deſpiſe my life, that is, all that holineſs I have in the courſe of my life exerciſed, and had in me, I diſpiſe it, I count it droſs and dung. Though as for an integrity, in point of ſanctification, he ſtood upon his points with God himſelf.

We find other Saints in their diſtreſſes to have been patient in the ſenſe of their Sins. I might inſtance in David, how he humbled himſelf in that great diſtreſs which we ſpake of, and which ſilenc'd him ſo, as you heard in that forecited 39. Pſalm. Deliver me from all my tranſgreſſions (ſaith he) verſe 8. The remembrance of thoſe ſtruck him dumb afore God; for that ſpeech immediately p. 111follows, v. 9. So the Church, 7 Micah 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, for I have ſinned againſt him.

A third Act comprehended in Jobs worſhipping God, is his bleſſing God, as his words therewith alſo uttered ſhew: which bleſſed frame and diſpoſition of Spirit, his Faith by Patience had wrought, in him upon this occaſion: Lo! his high ſufferings cauſe him to bleſs the Lord: Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord, (ſays he). He bleſſeth him, that he had given him at firſt, and that he had afforded him thoſe bleſſings of children and goods ſo long: And he was thankful for that; and thought it but reaſonable, that if he received good, he ſhould alſo receive evil, as the pleaſure of God was, chap. 2. 10. He bleſſeth God alſo, becauſe he found that God had bleſſed him with ſuch things and bleſſings, Heavenly, p. 112which could not be taken away. He found the love of God the ſame ſtill. It is a ſure rule, We never bleſs God, but when we find, that God bleſſeth us firſt: As we doe not love God, but, becauſe God loves us firſt. Now when the Soul finds that in afflictions and tentations God doth bleſs it, this draws out from the Soul, a bleſſing of God again. And then doth the Soul ſay, it is not only the will of my father, & therefore ſhall I not drink the Cup he gives me? But it is the bleſſing of my Father, and ſhall not I bleſs him for it? In every thing give thanks, ſaith the holy Apoſtle, 1 Theſ. 5. 18. That is, whatever the condition be, ſtill there is matter of thanks, and ſo of bleſſing God.

p. 113III. Branch of the II. HEAD.

THE FRUITS OF PATIENCE.

THeſe, the Apoſtles tearms, the Peaceable quiet fruits of Heb. 12.Heb 12righteouſneſs, which Chaſtning yieldeth, after ye have been exerciſed thereby; and that is through Patience gained by thoſe afflictions.

§. The 1. Fruit, it works contentment: an holy contentment: And that adds a perfection to the Other former works of this grace, 4 Phil. 11. 12. I have learned in whatſoever ſtate I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abaſed, and I know how to abound: Every where, and in all things I am inſtructed, both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound, and p. 114to ſuffer need. And he had learned it, as Chriſt learnt his obedience, through ſufferings; and by his having run thorow ſo great a variety of conditions. A man may be content when he is not fully ſatisfied: When God frames a mans eſtate to his will, then he is ſatisfied, as Pſal. 17. whoſe belly thou filleſt with thy hidde… treaſure. But to be content is another thing: It is not when have an eſtate, according to my will, but my will is brought to my eſtate: And then, I have as much content, in that, as in the greateſt eſtate (for, life (ſays Chriſt) that is, the comfort of life, lyes not in abundance.) 'Tis true, ſuch a man would chooſe rather, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, a full eſtate; yet patience boweth his judgment, to ſuch an approbation of his preſent condition, as that, which is beſt for him; as being that, which out of Gods judgement and wiſdom p. 115is allotted to him: He ſo, bends his Will unto ſuch a correſpondency with Gods will, as he reſts content.

2. A ſecond fruit of Patience is ſelf-ſufficiency; the word is ſo, 1 Tim. 6. 6. But Godlineſs with contentment is great gain. The word foreign tranſlated Contentment, is a more reaching word by far. To ſay [Contentment] that's too bare and ſcant a word; but this more amplyſignifies [ſelf-ſufficiency]—In 2 Cor. 9. 8. the ſame word is there tranſlated [ſufficiency], but ſtill in the Greek it hath [ſelf] added to ſufficiency, which imports [a ſufficiency within a mans ſelf] that he needs not go abroad for any thing; he is ſufficiently ſupplyed from what is within. The words of that verſe are, And God is able to make all Grace abound towards you, that ye always having all ſelf-ſufficiency in all things, may abound to every good p. 116work: which let us conſider.

'Tis true, that in the Word [all Grace] he includes an outward Grace, of giving ſuch an abundance of external Bleſſings, as they might [alwayes] and [in all things] have enough for themſelves, and to ſpare; yea to abound in every good work to others: But yet the main of that Grace h… Centers in, is an [inward ſelf-ſufficiency] in a mans own heart, as without which, they would never have ſatisfaction at home, much leſs an heart to ſcatter abroad: but a mans Natural ſelf-unſufficiency (as oppoſitely I call it) would make his heart clung and narrow, never contented in himſelf, much leſs abounding to others, though he had all the whole world. So as indeed that is the Grace, which the Apoſtle puts the weight upon; THAT i… the Grace, he Predicates.

So as the inference or Corrolary p. 117(as to our purpoſe) from thence may juſtly be. That if (on the other hand) a true Chriſtian be in never ſo great want, or fallen into a condition of extream poverty; Comparatively, either unto what himſelf once had (which is the caſe of many a good Soul now) Or unto others, who ſtill abound; yet if God give him this [All Grace] of inward ſelf-ſufficiency, he may be, and is ſtill as content and ſufficient within himſelf, as thoſe in that abounding condition which the Apoſtle wiſheth unto thoſe Corinthious.

And the Reaſon is, that the ſelf-ſufficiency of him that hath the moſt of ſuch things, lyes not in thoſe things, but depends utterly upon that inward Grace ſpoken of, or that inward frame of Spirit, which this Grace compoſeth his Soul unto.

And this is evident from that p. 118place to Timothy (firſt cited) where it is, that the Apoſtle ufoth the ſame word, on purpoſe to comfort the Saints, that were in a ſcant and bare Condition, as to this World, as the Coherence of verſe 6, 7, 8, ſhews, GODLINESS with SELF-SƲFFICIENCY (ſays he) is great gain, (even virtually as much, yea infinitely more then gaining all the World, as Chriſts ſpeech is) which moreover is ſpoken with a Connexion to theſe words: For … brought nothing into this World, And it is certain we carry nothing ont. And therefore, if we hav… nothing [but food and rayment, let us therewith be content]; ſo it follows: And for ſo much God hath undertaken.

And the holy Apoſtle verifies this in himſelf, that he had learned thus to be as Content when he wanted, as when he abounded And in this frame we find, elſewhere, p. 119his mind to have been in the midſt of all, not wants only, but preſſures of all ſorts: Which alſo ſhews, that Patience and Endurance, through ſufferings, had been his Tutours and Inſtructiours thereunto: For in a Cor. 6. chapter, He having firſt reckoned up his ſufferings, v. 4. and made a Catalogue of them, then in his final concluſion, v. 10. he ſums up all in this. As SORROWFƲL, yet alwayes REJOYCING: [As poor] yet making many rich: As HAVING NOTHING, YET POSSESSING ALL THINGS. In which few words he compendiouſly ſpeaketh, what either out of that to the Corinthians 9. chap. I have now inſiſted on, or that Paradox in my Text doth amount unto. For thoſe words [as ſorrowful] in reſpect of divers Temptations [yet alwayes rejoycing], are all one with [Count p. 120it all joy when ye fall into divers Tentations] as in the Text. And His [having nothing, yet poſſeſſing all things] there, is adaequate and aequivalent to the Corinthian… ſuppoſed, outward abounding alwayes, and in all things. But then his [being poor, yet making many rich] Therein he exceeded and tranſcended, what they, or any the moſt liberal-hearted rich man that ever was in the World, could boaſt of, in any of their, or his abounding in any or every good (or Charitable) Works, in relief to others. So we ſee it is poſſible and attainable, that a Chriſtian may in the want of all have an all-ſelf-ſufficiency: ſuper abounding the fulneſs of him in outward things, who aboundeth moſt. And all this was the fruit of his Patience, and continual abiding under ſufferings: For he ſpeaks this of himſelf, whilſt he is enumerating his ſufferings, p. 121which in that Chapter he doth at …arge. Thus perfect will Patience make you, that as here the Apoſtle in my Text ſpeaks, you …hall want nothing, even in outward things, when you have loſt …ll.

§. If you ask me, Whence hath a a Chriſtian this ſelf-ſufficiency, within himſelf? and wherein lyes it?

I anſwer, if God, and Chriſt dwell in the heart; if I have the earneſt of the Spirit for my ſalvation: Or am partaker of his holineſs, and that Grace, which accompanies ſalvation; and doe delight in the will and glory of God, and in pleaſing him, and the like to theſe; then I have a ſelf-ſufficiency within me. If, as in the 1 Joh. 4. 16. We have known and believed the Love that God hath to us. God is love, and p. 122he that dwelleth in love, dwellet… in God, and God in him: The we have all within our ſelves And is like as a man that hath … proviſions in and about his ow… houſe, ſo plentifully, as he need not goe forth for any thing; ſ… is it, and will it be with us.

§. A third Fruit is JOY, I Coloſ… 11. Srengthened with all might unto ALL PATIENCE and long ſuffering with JORFƲLNESS. You have it alſo in the Text, … it all Ioy, &c. And Rom. 5. 8 [We glory in Tribulations] knowing that tribulation worketh Patience.

You will ſay to me how can this be, doth not the Apoſtle ſay, Heb. 12. 11. No chaſtning ſeems to be for the preſent joyo… but grievous. And our Saviou… you ſhall weep when the world ſhal… rejoyce. And many the like.

p. 123I Give theſe Anſwers.

1. The object of your joy is not ſimply your afflictions: No, no man can delight in them alone, they (indeed) are grievous, as ſaith the Apoſtle. But your joy lyes in looking unto, what is the iſſue and event, the end and reward of your Tryals by them; and that is it you are to Count the matter of your joy, and ALL IOY. To rejoyce in the thing, or the affliction it ſelf, is one thing: And to rejoyce in the expectation of the event and iſſue, is another.

Then Secondly, If you obſerve it, the word in the Text is favourable: Says he [Count] it all joy; that is, eſteem it ſo. He doth not ſay, you ſhall have all joy (at preſent); But though you have not, you may count it all joy, that is, you may reckon it [as matter of all joy,] as many Interpreters par…phraſe the p. 124words, and ſo Reaſon yourſelves into joy in your Judgements, and ſo eſteem it all joy, Appretiativè, as the School ſpeaks: though the paſſion of joy be wanting.

Thirdly, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, when he did endure the Croſs, and whilſt he hung upon it, and likewiſe afore, whilſt within the Garden, he was not in a joyous frame of Spirit, at that preſent, as to the paſſion of joy; nay, his Soul was heavy unto death, that while: Yet it is ſaid, Heb. 12. 1. THAT FOR THE JOY that was ſet before him he did endure the Croſs, &c. And he therein is ſet forth as an example unto us, in the ſame verſe, Let us run [WITH PATIENCE] the race that is ſet before us, Looking unto Jeſus, &c. It is well, if you look to the joy ſet before you, as that which you certainly expect to come, although you want p. 125the Paſſion of joy in that which you expect to come.

Fourthly, You may perhaps not rejoyce at preſent with great joy, yet afterwards through much exerciſe of Patience it may grow up in you. And this anſwer, the Apoſtle himſelf gives in that Heb. 12. Diſtinguiſhing between what for [the preſent,] and what for [afterwards,] in time, v. 11. Now no Chaſtning [for the preſent] ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheleſs [afterwards] it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of Righteouſneſs unto them [which are exerciſed] thereby: And upon the hopes of that, he bids them to lift up the hands that hang down, and ſtrengthen the feeble knees.

Yet, Fifthly, Some Chriſtians have had, and you may have actual joy at that preſent in the midſt of your afflictions. Theſe Two, great Tryals, and great p. 126Joyes, may well meet and ſtand together, in the heart at once, as in divers reſpects: For the Apoſtle hath reconciled thoſe two, 1 Pet. 1. 6. Wherein ye [greatly rejoyce,] though [Now] for a ſeaſon (if need be) ye are in heavineſs through manifold temptations. That ſpeech [wherein ye greatly rejoyce] reacheth and riſeth higher then to an accounting it matter of joy, about what is to come; but doth further abſolutely, ſpeak of joy for the preſent. And therefore to have the affection of inward joy it ſelf greatly raiſed up; and yet at that inſtant, in the ſame [Now] as he ſpeaks, in outward reſpects, to be in heavineſs, are compatible. And 1 Col. 11. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſuch a glorious power, accompanying the Saints in tryals, as ſhall work Patience and Long-ſuffering with JOYFƲLNESS: And why elſe doth the p. 127Apoſtle, alſo ſay, Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes, and again I ſay rejoyce. He contents not himſelf to have ſaid it once, as if to have them rejoyce, a little; but he profeſſeth to ſay it again, becauſe they ſhould rejoyce abundantly; and this [always] and therefore in all times and in all conditions. Of the coexiſtence of which two himſelf propoſeth himſelf an example: As ſorrowful, yet alwayes Rejoycing.

IIII. BRANCH.

Some eminent Properties, or ADJƲNCTS of Patience, which added, do make it, and its work, Perfect.

§. WHen a mans Spirit is brought to doe theſe things with eaſe: ſo as he ſhall p. 128not need to chide his Spirit into a Patient frame, nor force himſelf into it. But like as Ezra is ſaid to be a ready Scribe, Ezra 7. 6. that is, he was perfect at his work; his heart was prepared for it, and inured to it, v. 10. Thus Patience hath had a perfect Work, when it frames the heart to a Readineſs to thoſe actings forementioned. Thus the Apoſtle, Acts 21. 17. I am not only [ready] to be bound, but I am [ready] to dye at Jeruſalem, for the Name of the Lord Jeſus. His heart was ſo fully prepared, as he ſtuck not at all at it; yea, it was an heart-breaking to him, that his friends ſhould offer to diſſwade him. What mean you to break my heart? &c. 'Twas his being inured to endurance, and Patience, that had begotten that Habit of it in him: his heart was not to ſeek for it.

p. 129§. A ſecond Adjunct or Property which adds a perfection to all theſe, is when the practice of it is DVRABLE, and hath ſome conſtancy in it.

As firſt, Not by fits only. That was Jonahs fault. Oh he was a Broken humble man when in the Whales belly: but how outragious, when out! In Moſes, Patience had its perfect work, in reſpect of the conſtant exerciſe of that Grace: And therefore it was he had the honour to be ſtiled the meekeſt man on Earth: And truly it was not that meek…eſs of his natural Temper; nor meerly as a moral virtue in him, …or which he is ſo extolled: though theſe might contribute thereto: But it was a Grace that was Spiritual in him, the Grace …f meekneſs, and conſequently …f Patience, which the holy p. 130Ghoſt had wrought in him, and which he by ſufferings had learned. And my reaſon among others, principally is, that he was a Type of Chriſt therein, according as Gods promiſe was t… raiſe up a Prophet like unto Moſes; Like, as in other Eminencies, ſo eſpecially in this Grace; for which as Moſes is commended there, ſo Chriſt in the Evangeliſts; and therein propoſeth himſelf as an example, Learn of me for I am meek, &c. Now how CONSTANTLY did Moſes, bear … along with that perverſe, murmuring, and rebelling Nation both againſt God and himſelf with an invincible Patience and ſtill interceded for them and thus Chriſt doth with us, and for us. And although we rea… how Moſes was, and could b… ſometimes angry, yea, exceedin… wroth, as the words are, (where… I gave the collection out of Ainſworth) p. 131yet it was often in Gods cauſe; and ſtill but ſo as the uſual and conſtant frame of his Spirit was otherwiſe, for which he had that renowned denomination; and never was greatly out, or overcome with impatiency (we read of) but once, Num. 20. 10, 11. compared with Pſal. 106. 32, 33.

Secondly, Patience is then perfect, when it continues to the end. As a Colour is ſaid to be perfect, when 'tis Durable, as a Dye in grain; or as the Indy colours, which while the cloth remains, they ENDƲRE. Now it is he that endures to the end, Math. 24. that ſhall be ſaved. You ſhall therefore find that unto LONG-SƲFFERING, Patience is added in two ſeveral places, 1 Col. Strengthened unto all Patience and LONG-SƲFFERING. Patience there reſpects the weight or grievouſneſs and heavineſs of the affliction, we are p. 132under: And Long-ſuffering reſpects the duration, and time. The other is in an inſtance of the Apoſtle of himſelf, 1 Tim. 3. 10. Thou haſt known my long-ſuffering, charity, patience. In 4 Jam. 7. 'Tis ſaid of the Husbandman (whoſe caſe is made the perſwaſive unto Patience) he hath [LONG] Patience. This is a perfection indeed to bear long, and to the end. Be thou Faithful to death, Revel. 2. 10. To carry a great burden a quarter of an hour is an effect of ſome patience; but to carry it a day, or more, or for a week, there is long-ſuffering? Why is it ſaid, that When you have done the will of God, you have need of Patience: but becauſe, ſtill, in the laſt part of your life, after an active life for a long while ran through, even then when you are near the promiſe, your patience may be then at laſt, moſt of all put to it.

p. 133§.

A third Property or requiſite to perfect Patience, is, that it be univerſal; which is either, when a man hath been every way tryed, and hath paſt thorow all ſorts of Tentations: Or when he hath ſtill come off with Patience in ſome good meaſure, in all thoſe, wherein he hath been tryed, although his tryals have not been of all ſorts. A mans natural Spirit will help him to be patient in ſome things, but in other things his heart is weak, and cannot bear; Oh not ſuch ſuch a Croſs, of any other. But it is certain, As GOD tried Abraham in his Iſaac, ſo GOD will the Sons of Abraham, in what is deareſt to them: and yet enable them to bear it, (as I Cor. 10.) and goe thorow therewith. Hence in the Epiſtles you meet with [ALL] added to Patience, p. 134and long-ſuffering, both when Patience is prayed for, as 1 Col. and exhorted unto, as 2 Tim. 4. 2. But though this univerſality is to be prayed for, and exhorted unto, as that which makes it perfect; yet it is well, if in the great trials of our Lives, we come off with ſome Patience ſutable; and from henceforth reſolve with endurance ſo to do; and ſo much is expected: And it may ſeem ſtrange, that many that ſhould be able to bear great trials between GOD and them, with much quietneſs and ſubmiſſion, are yet eaſily diſadvantaged, upon ſmaller occaſions between men and them: For which ſome reaſons might be given.