Page 123
[Sect. 3] Thirdly, Of patience in good men.
PAtience is a gift of God, whereby they beare evils present, and looke for good things absent.
1. It is a gift of God. Iames 1.17.
2. Whereby they beare evi••s at Gods hand, being cor∣rections, or chastisements: Or at mens hands, being wrongs and injuries.
3. A waiting for good things absent, as the sense of Gods favour, the accomplishment of Gods promises, the consummation of future happinesse; these with pa∣tience we doe waite for.
Patience may be farther considered.
- 1. In the contrary to it.
- 2. In the causes of it.
- 3. In the effects.
First, in the contrary of it.
The contrary to patience is fretting, murmuring, de∣spairing, cursing.
1. Fr••tting, as Hammon, because Mordecai bowed not to him. 2. Murmuring, as Israel for want of water. 3. Despairing, as Cain a••d Judas for want of grace; to pray for pardon and patience, to waite for an answer. 4. Cursing, as Goliah, who could not refraine, till hee came wit••in the stroke of David; but being impatient, cursed him before he came at ••im. 1. Sam. 17.
Secondly, consider patience in the Causes of it.
1. Patience arises from the knowledge of Gods Sove∣raignty, being perswaded of his disposing things below. Psal. 39.2.
2. From the perswasion of Gods Wisedome, and love, that he will turne the event and conclusion to our good. Rom. 8.28.
3. From hope of glory; Hope makes us patiently to waite. Rom. 8.25.