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THere remaineth the fourth and last path, viz. our Patience, of which as Christians stand in con∣tinuall neede, the way to heaven being thorny (as before was shewed) and be set with troubles: so it is needful for thē to make tri∣al, what their patience is, or
whether that which hap∣pily they make shew of, be Christian patience, and not senselesse blockish∣nesse. As they may, first for the entrance, by consi∣dering how it hath beene wrought in them, first, by learning that hard lesson, to deny, not their sinnes, or substance onely, b••t even themselves, thei•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wise∣dome and will: and second∣ly, by entertaining perswa∣sion of the love, and good vvill of God their father to∣vvards them, in Christ Ie∣sus. For first, till men have learned to deny themselves their ovvne vvisedome, and carnall vvill, vvhat marvell if they be angry and impa∣tient (as Ionah vvas for his
gourd) at every thing that commeth overthvvart thē, vvhether it be a crosse from God, or vvrong (as they conceive it) offered by men: neither can 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bee imagined, that vvith pati∣ent meekenesse any should take up the crosse, untill they have learned to sacri∣fice their will to God, with that submission of our bles∣sed Saviour, Father, not my will, but thine be done. How∣beit, neither may any hope to come hereunto, untill they become (which is the second point for trial) per∣swaded of Gods good will towards them in Iesus Christ; by whose power & wisedome, whiles they know that all things are
disposed, and nothing be∣falling them without his appointment who worketh all things after the counsel of his owne will, & whose thoughts towards his are evermore thoughts of peace, and not of evill, still rejoycing over them to do them good, they rest with∣all assured out of this per∣swasion of Gods love, that all things shall worke toge∣ther for their good. The con∣sideration whereof cannot but worke them unto pati∣ence, that if it please God, why should it not please them also? since God, who loveth them, knoweth bet∣ter then themselves, what is for their good. And ther∣fore in al our sufferings, ei∣ther
for Christ, or with him, this must be the triall of our patience, by consi∣dering whether the ground thereof be faith and obedi∣ence, our being assured of Gods love in Christ, and having learned thereupon to deny our selves.
And now, for the other triall of continuance, if we would see, whether wee possesse our soules by true pa∣tience, let us observe first, the strength supporting, and secondly, the hope en∣couraging thereunto. For, first, if our patience be Christian, & from above, it is supported by the spirit of grace & praier, helping our in∣firmities, and teaching us, as S. Iames counselleth, when
at any time wee lacke wise∣dome, to aske it of God, who reproacheth no man, that so our patience by strength and counsell received from heaven, may have in us her perfect working. And second∣ly, for the expectation, en∣couraging us to hold out with comfort and rejoy∣cing, amidst all sufferings, of what lesse thing may it be, then of the kingdome of heaven, the crowne of glory? Wherof when once S. Paul had but a glimpse by the eye of faith, you know how he preferreth it in his account above all the sufferings of this life; groun∣ding thereon the courage of a Christian, amidst the greatest troubles; For,
Therefore, saith he, wee faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed daily. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, causeth unto us a far more excellent, and an eternall weight of glory. While we looke not on the things that are seen, but on the things which are not seene; for the things which are seene are temporall, but the things which are not seene are eternall. So that if Iaacob, serving seven yeeres for Ra∣hel, under so hard a master as Laban, thought it but a short and easie apprenti∣ship, because hee loved her, how much more ought e∣very true Israelite, that lo∣veth the Lord Iesus, to serve with patience, the
yeers of his appointed war∣fare, having an eye unto so great a recompence of reward? Wherefore thus also let our triall be touching this fourth and last particular of patience, by considering: as first, how it hath beene wrought in us, by perswasion of Gods love, and the deni∣all of our selves: so second∣ly, how it is continued, by the support of the spirit of prayer, and expectation of future glory.
And now, for conclusion of this first use, (enlarged as you see for our direction, with hope of profit) let me beseech you in the bowels, and by the tender mercies of Iesus Christ, that since this is a businesse, which
may well be tearmed the Maine chance, and all things else, in comparison, but tri∣fles: you would, as S. Peter wisheth, give all diligence thereunto, that you may make your calling & election sure; & purchase this assured cōfort to your soules against the houre of death (which none of us know how soone it may seize upon us) that you have entred, and are wal∣king in the way of life; the several paths whereof, see∣ing we have had amply & severally described, what remaineth but that, as Da∣vid, wee consider our owne wayes, and examine our hearts each of us upon our beds, as we have beene directed.
Mat. 16.24.
Ion. 4.8.
Luk. 22.42.
Lam. 3•• 37.38.
Eph. 1.11.
Ier. 29.11.
Ier. 32.41.
Rom 8.28.
Luk. 21.1••.
Zac. 12.10. Rom. 8.26.
Iam. 1.5.
Rom. ••.18.
2 Cor. 4.16
Verse 17,
Verse 18.
Gen. 29.20
Heb. 11.26.
2 Pet. 1.10
Psa. 119.59. Psal. 4.4.