A mission of consolation. Usefull for all afflicted persons. / By W.S.

Perfect Patience defi∣ned, imperfect conso∣lated and directed

NOw I set up to your patience as a kinde of brazen Ser∣pent to cure all the stings you are expo∣sed unto; I must de∣sire you to understand clearly the integral constitution of this virtue: for I ascribe so much efficacy to it, supposing the patience I handle to be an ha∣bit,

or disposition in∣herent in our wills, which receiveth hum∣bly, and beareth un∣complainingly all sorts of temporal grievan∣ces and passions in or∣der to a conformity to the will of God, and our similitude to Je∣sus Christ, or as S. Au∣gustine saith, True pa∣tience ordaineth us to endure all kindes of evils of pain, to avoid all manner of ills of guilt. These definiti∣ons

do not admit ei∣ther a lame, or a pide patience to enter into this high form of efficacy, that is, if it be peccant, ei∣ther in progress and continuation, or im∣perfect in the integri∣ty, that is required in it, of submitting to all sorts and degrees of sufferances, as coming all from one provi∣dence. If we have any exception against any of this Jury of Gods

chusing to try us by, it is a sign our patience is but spotted, and party∣colour'd, or if it be in∣termitting, and by fits onely, this betrayeth the unsoundness of it. Wherefore we must endeavour to certifie our nature in these two deficiences, to which it is very liable: The first is of having re∣fractory intervals, in which we let in impatience, and mur∣mur, to detract at

least from the intire∣ness of this virtue, and suffer our senses to speak too freely a∣gainst that which of∣fendeth them. The o∣ther is of our aptness to make motions to God for some especial exceptions in our tri∣bulations, resigning our selves but partial∣ly to his design upon us, and likewise this deprecation is of the present crosses that are upon us, believing we

could place any other to sit lighter upon us, if that were removed, with which we are a∣ctually charged, and thus we are commonly tempted instead of su∣ing for patience to God, to desire his pa∣tience in our repugnan∣cies, and that he would change his minde ra∣ther than ours. This is a familiar irregulari∣ty in our natures, in the point of our sins, as well as of our suf∣ferings;

there are but few that have not some bosome sorrow, that they would compound for the being exempt∣ed from, and offer a resignation to all the rest: but this is that hesitation, or stam∣mering (as I may say) in our patience, which is a great impediment to our conversation with God.

I do not censure the first motions or the propensions of our na∣ture

to such eases, and discharges for such a fault as should distract or scandalize any bo∣dy with their own im∣perfection in this kinde; for as S. James saith, Jam. 3. 2. In many things we offend all; if any offend not in word this is a perfect mar. These inclinations to ease are (as we may say) slips of the tongue not of the minde, but such trips and faltrings as are hardly fully to

be redressed: therefore this animadversion is intended onely for ad∣vice to every one that findes these knots, and stands in their patience to endeavour to work them out faithfully, by prayer, and not to stop, or hang willing∣ly upon them. But the interruption or discon∣tinuance of our pati∣ence and breaking off into fits of intempe∣rate complaints, is much more to be pre∣cautioned,

and mark∣ed for reformation; for according to Saint Augustines similitude, this is not onely to strike out of tune, but even to break the in∣strument; for he com∣pareth patience to a Lute, and tribulation to the strings, which while they are well touched make musick; and so whilest patience praiseth God, and gives thanks in tribu∣lation, it yieldeth a

sweet melodie to the ears of God; but when we fall into que∣rulousness and mur∣mur, we break the Lute. When therefore we are so far advanced towards victory as the having our senses dis∣armed by affliction, the pleasures of which are our enemies sharp∣est instruments, we must watch that he forge not new arms out of our pains, which God hath given us as

armour against his shafts; and when he hath scarce any art left to wound us by sensu∣ality, through the hardness of our condi∣tions, then he tempt∣eth us by the weight of our armour, to bring us to throw it off by impatience, and repi∣ning, which indeed is to cast off the defen∣sive armour that God giveth the spirit a∣gainst the devil, and the flesh. When the

Tempter hath nothing left but pain whereby to provoke us to of∣fences, one would think he were not to be feared, since all impa∣tience is but a new pain, which is propo∣sed to us, let us there∣fore consider that con∣sequence, when we are solicited to unquiet∣ness and reluctation.

When we suffer by the violence and in∣justice of our enemies, the devil would get

nothing by this nego∣tiation if we should bear it patiently, and virtuously; for he would lose so much on the one side as he had got on the other; what he had gained upon those he had made his Officers, and emissaries of iniquity and injustice he would lose as much by the sufferers improvement and sanctification, and so his malice would be unprofitable unto him,

therefore when he hath prevailed with the one part to act his sugge∣stions to the innocent, then he turneth to the other passive side, and labours to excite their murmur, fury, or im∣patience, that his trade may render him profit on both sides; a great prize by the malice he imports into the hearts of his Factors, and may have some gain also exported to him out of the

mindes of the Pati∣ents. We know when Satan had set the Sa∣beans & the Chaldeans a work against Job, he left no art unessayed to infuse the fire of murmur and impati∣ence into his breast, and he took the sub∣tilest way; for he got fully into that half of him that lay in his bo∣som, and though he did not kindle any spark of rebellion in his own holy

breast, yet we may say his heart was a little over-heated in the ar∣dours of that fiery fornace he lay so long in; for his breath sa∣voureth a little of some distemper which he found in it. By which we are not war∣ranted to let our tongues loose when they press and strain to break from us, to run after some provo∣cation to murmur and complaint, but rather

warned to be exactly vigilant in all such motions, since he whom God chose for his champion, as ha∣ving not his like upon the earth had such words shaken out of him in his storm, as we may believe he re∣sented more their ha∣ving escaped him, than he did all the violati∣ons he had suffered from his adversary, for he never wished any thing recall'd but

his words. Chap. 40. vers. 4. 5.

This then may just∣ly be a forceable mo∣tive to us, to set a watch over our lips, when God hath set such a guard over our heart, as affliction, especial∣ly in a good cause. Let us not then, when there is no fault in the cause make one in the calamity, by our im∣patience, since we ought rather to render double praises both

for out affliction & for our innocence. When we are punished for crimes we ought to have patience, & when we suffer innocently we may well add glad∣ness to it; and we finde a good cause produce∣ing this effect in the Macedonians, when they were in your ca∣ses whom the holy Ghost hath left upon record as a president for you. 2 Cor. 8. 2. In much experience of

tribulation they had abundance of joy, and their very deep pover∣ty abounded unto the riches of their sim∣plicity: All this trea∣sure of virtue issued out of the mine of pa∣tience and longanimi∣ty which maketh by the power of grace e∣ven the duration of the pain an Antidote against impatience.

But by exhibiting unto you this high mi∣stery of patience which

is (as I may say) a sa∣cred confirmation of all virtue, I do not intend to discourage those who are but yet initiated and Ca∣techized in this miste∣ry; for this ultimate perfection of rejoyce∣ing in tribulation is not a precept that claimeth our perfor∣mance, but a counsel that sheweth the ex∣cellency we may aspire to; which the grace of Christ hath set with∣in

in our reach to exer∣cise that virtue, which though it seem super∣natural, is but suitable to the Members of such a head. Those therefore who finde not in their natures this finished disposi∣tion need not perplex themselves with any scruple of faultiness, for if they are but in this temper of since∣rely and humbly de∣manding of God that grace which is requi∣site

for the discharge of their duties in these cases of temptations, though they finde for the present some aver∣sion, and reintencie in their mindes against their miseries, they may safely conclude that God will mini∣ster, and suppeditate grace sufficient for their support from fal∣ling into any direct sedition, so long as they feel a sound and rectified desire to ad∣vance

in the state of perfect abnagation. Let them not disquiet themselves with their distances from the top of the mountains so long as they are faith∣fully climbing, in this case the indulgence of Christ is very appli∣cable when he saith: Mark. 9. 40. vers. Those that are not against him are with him. So long as we finde not our will joyned with our weakness against

this self-denial we shall not be charged with disloyalty.

There was a great cloud of infirmity in that Fathers faith, when he began with Christ in Mark. 9. 22. If thou canst any thing help us; yet as soon as he was advanced to. I do believe Lord help my incredulity. His suit was granted, in like manner when we begin with much im∣perfection we must not

distract our selves in apprehensions of our faintness, but proceed sincerely to. I desire, O Lord, a perfect con∣formity to all thy Or∣ders, help my incon∣formity. This prayer continually pursued will certainly obtain the expulsion of that spirit which casts us often into fire, and water, into several di∣stempers in onr affli∣ctions let us remember Christs lesson in this

case. All things are possible to him that believeth.

If we aspire faithful∣ly to this perfection we shall quickly finde we have dangerous e∣nemies left; when we have once ingeniously undertaken our own reduction, we must not expect to taste sud∣dainly the good relish of mortification. The first fruits of Canaan were held to be un∣clean, to figure to us

that there is always some impurity in our first thoughts, and designs of a spiritual conformity; we must expect such a progres∣sion in this perfection of Christianity, as Isa∣ac made the digging of his wells in the Land of Promise. The first water he called Con∣tention, the second En∣largment, and at the last he came to that he called Abundance, when all strife and dif∣ficulty

was ceased. So we shall in the begin∣ning of our digging for this refreshing wa∣ter of patience finde the inhabitants of our earth (our sensitive ap∣petites) raise great op∣position, and in our pursuance, and pro∣gress we shall meet with less contradicti∣on, and more enlarg∣ment of our spirits, and at the last after a faithfull prosecution we come to that abun∣danee

of water which Christ promiseth.

John 7 38. Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Which is not onely acqui∣escence, but joy and exultation in all pres∣sures, and distresses. This is the method of our advance in spiri∣tual graces as the Psalmist designet to us. They shall go from virtue to virtue.

Wherefore we must not be dismayed and

relaxed when at first we encounter difficul∣ty, and contestation in our senses against patience, and confor∣mity but remember how gratious and in∣dulgent God is to a little tender virtue, that hath but the qua∣lity of sincereness, as the holy spirit inti∣mateth by the Angel in the Revelation say∣ing, Apoc. 3. 8. Be∣hold I have given be∣fore thee a door opened

which no man can shut, because thou hast a lit∣tle power, and hast kept my word, and hast not denyed my Name. So that here we see God, to a little disposition openeth a large passage towards plenitude, and consummation.

When therefore we finde our hearts set to keep Gods word, and that in the first incoa∣tion of our virtue we do but accept afflicti∣ons in his Name. He

that is the holy One, and the true One, will open that door of per∣fection which the vio∣lence of the whole world shall not be a∣ble to shut any more against us. Wherefore in all our straights, and coactions, either of our spirits, or of our fortunes, let us re∣member how the holy Spirit calls to us; Di∣late thy mouth and I will fill it. As long as we do not contract

and shrink our hearts in a perverse chagrin; we need not fear the finding them yield, and give a little at the first in the pressures of affliction, and though we never arrive at this last station of per∣fect patience, of joy∣ing in tentations, there are many mansions in heaven which answer the several promoti∣ons upon earth.

Not all Apostles, not all Prophets,

1 Thess. 1. 14. The An∣gel promiseth their re∣ward, Apoc. 18. To them that fear thy Name, little and great. So long as we acknow∣ledg our own minori∣ty we may hope for our portion among the little ones. This I say onely by S. Pauls warrant of, Comfort the feeble hearted, support the weak: for I perswade every one to this holy ambition of ascending as high even

as the steps of perse∣cution can raise them; and there is no Ladder so good as this of the Cross to scale by: and in our invitation to the nuptial Supper of the Lamb, it is not humility, but rather pusilanimity, to aim to sit down but in the lowest place; they who point no higher, design to stay too near the door, and so may more easilier fall short of that than they who

aspire to the place of those who have left all for Christ, which is the throne of judg∣ing Nations.

With good cause then I humbly advise every ones aspiring to the supremest pitch of patience, and resigna∣tion. And I have war∣rant to discharge eve∣ry one from dejection, and confusedness in this case of imperfe∣ction when they do loyally and ingenuous∣ly

enterprise a profici∣ency in this virtue. And for this reason the Apostle when he adviseth perfection, yet admitteth infirmi∣ty to an expectance of Gods perfecting there∣of, saying, Phil. 3. 15. Let us as many as are perfect be thus minded, and if you be any other∣wise minded this also God will reveal to you. They who are not al∣ready stated in the ac∣complishment of this

virtue may hope for a further improvement by the compassion of God to ingenious ad∣dresses.

Gods indulgence to the compleatness of our patience must therefore be taken hold on, onely as they stay to keep us from falling into dejection, and is not to be used as a Rest whereon to lean the wriness and bent of our perverted nature; for so we may

insensibly induce an habit of crookedness, and petulancy into our own dispositions.

Let us have there∣fore this direction of S. James always in our design at least: Jam. 1. 3. Let patience have a perfect work, that you may be perfect and intire, failing in nothing. By this we may rest assured of the perfection which is contained in patience, since the Apostle as∣scribeth

this integrity, and indeficiency to it in all things. So as when we are possest of this compleatment of patience, then we are instated in a fortune which is so obnoxious to the distresses of any want, that all privati∣ons administer to us the end of all pos∣sessions, which is joy and satisfaction.

This hath always been the state of the Saints by whieh ha∣ving

nothing they were possessing all things, 2 Cor. 6. 10. For out of this ••rea∣sury they who lose pa∣rents, children, hou∣ses, and lands, for the Gospel have their as∣signment for the hun∣dred fold now in this time. And in confir∣mation of this truth we finde by experience that there is no condi∣tion so perfect in this world, that hath not often need of patience

to make it tolerable: and they who have perfect patience never want any other pos∣session, to make their conditions acceptable. All which duly pon∣dered, I shall not need say more in recom∣mendation of this ex∣cellent virtue: but it is requisite to close up this point with the re∣calling to your me∣mory that our onely addresses to this pleni∣potentiary consolati∣on

is a constant re∣search of it by prayer. In that order therefore I shall leave it to you with this petition of S. Paul for the Thessa∣lonians upon the same occasion. Our Lord direct your hearts in the charity of God, and patience of CHRIST.