is fuch an important branch of religious per-SERM. fection, that it is evident where it is not at VII. tained, there is fomething effential wanting to the integrity of the chriftian character.

Patience, generally, is understood in fo ftrict a fence as to relate only to afflictions. That virtue whereby we bear our adverfities with a religious equanimity and chearful fubmiffion to the will of God; that calmness, contentment, and all thofe dutiful affections and becoming behaviour under trials, which he requires, but we will find that the fcripture ufes it in a larger extent, and applies it to our doing our duty, as well as bearing the cross; to our expectations of a future diftant reward, as well as enduring the calamities which attend our expecting ftate. Thus, Patience is the character of welldoing, and of a perfevering continuance in it. And our Saviour, in his parable of the fower †, thus explains the fimilitude of the good ground,. they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. So that in an active life, fruitful in the works of righteoufnefs, this virtue is a neceffary ingredient. If we confider the commands of Chrift in that light wherein

Rom. ii. 7. + Luke viii. 15.

SERM. wherein himfelf reprefents them, under the VII. notion of a yoke, it will appear we have need of patience in keeping them; for tho' the difficulty does not arife from the precepts themselves, which are not grievous, but most fuitable to a rational nature, tending to our highest perfection and happiness, yet a difficulty there is, occafioned by many and violent temptations, and by the infirmities of our own minds in this imperfect state, which it will require the firmeft refolution and conftancy to overcome; and whilft we are, by the vigorous endeavours of a holy life, seeking glory, honour, and immortality, pursuing the end of faith, the falvation of our fouls, and when by the appointment of providence we have difficulties to overcome in our prefent ftate of difcipline and improvement, tran quility and contentedness of mind, that is, patience, is very neceffary to our oppofing thofe difficulties fuccefsfully, and is a duty we owe to the fovereignty, wisdom and goodness of our heavenly Father, who has fixed us in fuch a militant condition.

Secondly, the future reward is at a distance, and there we walk by faith, and not by fight. Many and important changes there must be, which to minds judging according to fenfe,

feem

C

feem even incredible; the foul must pass SERM.
into a feparate ftate, of which, with its ex- VII.
ercifes and entertainments, we can form but

a very confufed idea, The body dies and is
laid in the grave, it returns to its earth, and
according to outward appearance, and the
ordinary courfe of things, feems to be irre-
coverably loft. This mortal must afterwards
put on, by the immediate power of God,
immortality; and this corruptible put on
incorruption. These things are not feen,
they are only apprehended by faith in the
promises of God. But if they are really be
lieved, one would think the believer should
long for them with great earneftness, and
that the diftance of them should be a great
trial of his patience: So glorious is the ex-.
pected change in the ftate both of his mind.
and his body, from very weak and imperfect,
to the highest perfection and happiness of both;
fuch as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor
bath it entered into the heart of man.

Pa

3

tience, therefore must neceffarily accompany
our hope, as the apoftle teaches *, We are.
faved by hope, but hope that is feen is not
bope, for what a man feeth why doth be yet
bope for? but if we hope for what we fee not,

Rom. viii. 24.

then

SERM. then do we with patience wait for it. I am VII. fenfible this is a branch of patience that needs not be much infisted on; christians generally want to have their defires of the future felicity increased, that they may prevail against worldly affections, rather than moderated; yet fome spirits there are filled with such a fenfe, and fo rais'd expectations of the glory which fhall be revealed, and fo brought under the power of that world to come, that the distance of it is a great trial of their pa tience. This was the the cafe of St. Paul, as himself tells us, He was in a ftrait be tween two, having a defire to depart, and be with Chrift, which was far better; nevertheLefs, to abide in the flesh was more needful for chriftians; and therefore, with a moft generous refignation, he patiently fubmitted to the will of God, which appointed him to continue for a time attending their fervice, tho' his own perfect happiness, of which he had the utmost affurance, was poftponed.

I shall in the remaining part of this discourfe, confine myself to the ftricter and more usual fignification of patience, as it imports an humble contented temper of mind and a dutiful behaviour under the afflictions. and

Phil. i. 23.

and difficulties of life. Every man has reafonSERM, to lay his account with trials. Experience shows VII. that there is no condition of man in this world exempted from them. The greatest and most profperous is liable to viciffitudes, and there is fuch a variety of troublefome incidents which attend all the affairs of human life, it would be the greatest weakness and vanity for any one to promife himself an uninterrupted profperity. The christian religion is fo far from giving us reason to expect an immunity from afflictions, that our Saviour exprefly warns his difciples, that thro' much tribulation they must enter into the kingdom of God. And the apostle tells us, that all who will live godly in Chrift Jefus, shall suffer perfecution. The ftate of the world is fuch, and there is fo much corruption and wickedness in it, that fincere and good men may expect to fuffer injuries, and be expofed to inconveniencies: in their outward condition, for their refolved adherence to the caufe of truth and of pure religion.

Patience, therefore, is of univerfal use; and every christian needs to be inftructed in it. If the prefent incumbence of some adverfity doth not call for its immediate exercife, (scarcely, however, is any one so easy in VOL. II. N

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