Miscellanea philo-theologica, or, God, & man A treatise compendiously describing the nature of God in his attributes, with a lively pourtraiture of his wisedome in ordering, and disposing of the celestiall, and terrestriall bodies. Containing much variety of matter ... and apt applications singular for brevity, and perspicuity. By Henry Church.

Of Patience.

1. What Patience is.

2. Of the patience of God.

3. Of the patience of man.

4. Application to edifie.

5. Questions resolved.

[Sect. 1] First, What Patience is.

THE word signifies sufferance, or forbearance. In patience are three things: First, a promptnesse, or readinesse to beare. Secondly, the act of patience in bea∣ring. Thirdly, the duration, which is called long-suffe∣ring.

[Sect. 2] Secondly, Of the patience of God.

THE patience of God, is his slownesse to anger, his sparing of sinners, and giving them space to repent. Rom. 2.4.

There is patience and long suffering which flowes from his goodnesse: Men dayly doe provoke God, yet he forbeares.

1. Because he would bring men to Repentance. Rom. 2.4. 2. Pet. 3.9.

2. To leave wicked men inexcusable, having so long forborne them.

3. That men might be encouraged, and not despaire: thus God was patient towards Paul, for the example of others. 1. Tim. 1.6.

[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.

Thirdly, consider patience in the effects of it.

1. It quiets the heart in the time of trouble, making those things easie, which murmuring, fretting, and impa∣tience, doe make irksome and tedious. The same Da∣vid that was so vexed at Nabal, was by patience calme at Shemei.

2. Patience makes us to persevere when we finde not the present good we expected; yet by patience we hold out, when others by impatience draw backe.

[Sect. 4] Fourthly, Applications to edifie.

1. GOds Patience should lead us to repentance; God is patient towards all, some are bettered by it that have grace, they make a holy use of his gentlenesse and patience; others are licentious, because God deferres his punishmentts, and their hearts are set in them to doe e∣vill, so they heape up wrath for themselves. Let us bee wise, and in the sunne-shine of his patience procure our owne peace, get assurance of his favour, that Gods pa∣tience may be prolonged, our wisedome commended, and our happinesse established.

2. Admire Gods patience, he came to Adam at the coole of the day, shewing his patience: He spared the old world 120 yeares, hee hath spared us a long time.

3. Let us be followers of God as deare children: hee is a God of patience. Rom. 15.

'Tis the Divell hath great wrath, and his instruments are given to rage. Psal. 2.1. The Saints are commended for their patience: and though wee bee converted, and know God, yet we doe need patience. Heb. 10.

There is a passive obedience to suffer, 'tis patience must helpe ••s: If we bring miseries on our selves, then wee should exercise griefe; if God lay them on us, then use patience.

Are we troubled in mind? we must be patient, and wait.

Are we scandalized in our names? we must be patient.

Have we lost our goods? we must be patient.

Are our bodies sicke? still we must be patient.

Patience is physick for all maladies, a plaister for all sores, a horse to beare all burthens.

Iob kept his patience and thankfulnesse when he lost all outward things.

4. Here see the misery of the impatient; they are as souldiers without armor, as travellers without shooes, stil they are wounded and pricked: every word makes them take exception, and every small crosse becomes heavy un∣to them. Their ignorance and pride workes them more woe than all their miseries, and they vexe themselves more than their enemies can doe. A glasse, or a knife broke, or their dogge kicked, or a scoffe cast on them, tor∣ments them, and they are in their mindes in an uproare like the Beare-garden: they are like a sore, ever aking, and must not be touched: they are unfit for the Crosse, and farre from consolation: they cannot enjoy them∣selves, and are miserable wheresoever they are; alwaies in danger to be baited with the Crosse, and meete with vexations.

5. Here we may try our selves whether we have at∣tained patience. Hath the head aked? or the childe died? or the Customer broke? or the servant proved false? hath some censured, or falsly accused us? have friends proved perfidious? is trading decayed? how doe we be∣have our selves? doe we vexe, and fret, and looke to se∣condary causes, complain••ng of the wickednesse of men, and wish evill to them, and fret at God under the name of hard destiny, ill fortune? doe wee seeke revenge on men, by word, or writing, or law? if we doe, wee are not yet patient.

Patience will make us say, it is the Lord, let him doe what seemes good to him.

Patience opens not the mouth discontentedly, but gra∣ciously. Psalme 39.2. Patience blesses God in losse of all: Patience quiets us in God at the worst: 1 Sam. 30.6. Patience makes us, with Saint Stephen, pray for enemies.

[Sect. 5] Fifthly, Questions resolved.

[Quest. 1] HOw differs the Patience learned by Scripture, and the pati••nce learned by Philosophy?

[Answ.] The Patience the Scripture brings, is a recompence of the study of the Scripture, and is seconded with consola∣tion from the promises in the Scripture, and the hope of glory revealed in the Scripture. Rom. 15.4.

Philosophicall patience was sometimes Stoicall, to submit to that is inevitable; they wanted divine consola∣tion and sound hope, wanting the ground thereof, the holy Scriptures.

[Quest. 2] How large must our patience be extended in respect of wrongs and injuries?

[Answ.] Injuries are of three sorts.

1. Those small wrongs which doe displease us, 'tis our honour and credit to passe them over. Prov. 9.11.

If small bryers take hold of our garments, let us loosen them gently, and goe on our way.

2. A second sort that doe somewhat harme us in our persons, goods, and reputations; these we may take no∣tice of, yet patiently beare them, and forgive them. Iohn 8.49.

A third sort of violent injuries of adversaries, both malicious and cruell; wee may patiently submit to God, yet use meanes by Law, or force of Armes to de∣fend our selves.

[Quest. 3] How farre should Master and Parents be patient be∣fore they correct?

[Answ.] 1. They should use prayer, example, and instruction a∣mongst their servants and children.

2. Distinguish of faults of infirmity, the faults of im∣providence, carelesnesse, and obstinacy.

3. Give warning first, and winne them by gentlenes.

4. Use correction with prayer and moderation in the last place.

[Quest. 4] How if they be base and vaine people that scanda∣lize me; how shall I be patient?

[Answ.] 1. They have the lesse credit, and will hardly bee be∣leeved.

2. It may be, yet they have not learned to speak wel.

3. Be not impatient, but use their accusations and scandalls for preventions.

4. Praises may prove more dangerous than scandalls, they are better that speake evill of us, than they that flatter us, and better to us.

5. Christ was evill spoken of, though an innocent.

6. Our patience will more vexe our adversary, than our returning word for word.

[Quest. 5] How if my crosses come thicke one upon another, as Iobs did?

[Answ.] 1. Time and custome makes fooles patient; get patience timely, and speedily, by resolution, and medit••tion; beare all with patience, they come from God; be thank∣full for them, because they are medicines; be the more patient and chearefull, because they are steppes to glory.

2. Labour to get a further interest in God, then all shall be supplyed; and we having lost all, may be pati∣ent and quiet, because we enjoy him that is better than all: The fruition of God is the maine good, the onely good; matchlesse, changelesse, alwaies, everywhere with us, above all casualties and uncertainties.

3. Be not insensible as a blocke, nor impatient, as with∣out faith and hope: be patient as a Christian, that though he be molested be enjoyes himselfe: By patience we pos∣sesse our soules. Luke 21.19.

4. Labour for a rectified judgement, looke not with a

wrong eye on others prosperity. The Iewes were im∣patient to heare the children cry Hosanna, Matth. 21.15. and impatiently murmured at a supposed fault, when Christ went in with Zacheus. Errour in opini∣on doth much wrong others, and disquiet our selves; we having blinded eyes, shall have impatient hearts: Igno∣rance makes us full of mistakes; we see not good in evill. Our crosses are as Sampsons Lyon, there is honey of in∣struction in them; bitter Alloes may prove medicinable.

5. Impatience cures us not, it is not the remedy of a misery, but a procurer of a judgement. The Iewes murmured, and were impatient, their carkasses fell in the Wildernesse. Achitophel and Judas in their impati∣ence hanged themselves.

* 1.16. Set up a Sessions in the conscience, and let us judge our selves worthy of all the sorrows of this life, and the life to come: thus abasing our soules before God, will breed in us patience and submission in all our afflictions.

7. Meditate in the Law of God continually, search the Scriptures, then we shall learne this lesson, to be pa∣tient. Rom. 15.4.

8. Learne Gods providence, he disposes of all things: to be grieved at Gods ordering things, is great impiety; all creatures submit, Man onely disquiets himselfe, and is impatient.

9. Abhorre sinne, the cause of crosses; remember that crosses should prevent sinnes, and make us to forbeare pleasures, and endure troubles the more patiently.

10. By patience the Will of God is ••one by us, Heb. 10.36. and the promises inherited. Heb. 6.12. Goe on therefore, suffering his will, and waiting with patience for the inheritance.

11. Let our troubles cause us to cry to our Physitian, who will heare us, though not according to our will, yet according to our good.

12. We suffer not alone; the same afflictions, yea,

worse it may be, our brethren doe endure. The griefe of the Saints being indifferent, it is the easier borne; if it be great, the glory shall be greater: If it seeme hard, let us blame our tendernesse; most commonly, if it bee long, it is the lighter; if it be violent, it is the shorter: None are exempted; I shall not escape that which never any did before me. God had but one Sonne without sin, but not one without affliction.

13. Looke to Christs comming to Iudgement; then the troubled shall have rest. 2. Thess. 1.6, 7. Be patient therefore, for the comming of the Iudge draweth neare. Iames 5.7, 8.

14. Affect no earthly thing over-much; for we impa∣tiently part with that which wee inordinately affected. Jonah too much rejoyced in his Gourd, and David too much affected his sonne, which made the one ex∣ceeding angry, and the other cry out, O Absolon my sonne, my sonne.

[Quest. 6] How may I have my patience enlarged?

[Answ.] 1. We must pray more for it, for increase of it; our Reasons, our Arguments, our Rules, and Directions are but as Alder-guns without earnest prayer.

2. Be lesse disquieted at the smaller crosses that dayly befall us: small wheales ake, and small dust flies in our eyes; learne to say, My God will enable me to beare more than these.

3. Looke to the most noble examples, Christ endu∣red. Heb. 12. The Prophets are examples. Iames 5.

4. Resolve for the worst, our preparations are as Ar∣mour; learne to take up the crosse by stooping for it, as well as beare it, if it be laid on us.

5. Grow dayly lesse and lesse in our owne eyes, then shall we be more patient, and willing to suffer.

6. Be sure that we affect not the praise of men, then disgraces will be lesse irkesome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ezekiel 36.