PATIENCE, is to feel and consider, that god doth scourge ⟨image 28⟩us, to call us to repentance, and therefore gladly to suffer the hand of god, and to have a confidence, that god will forgive us, and that he will deliver us. Of this patience to godward, springeth forth patience toward men. For when the heart is at peace with god, it tarrieth help of him, and utterly setteth aside lust to avenge. Thus patience can never be, but when by faith we are assured, that we please god, and that at length it shall come to pass, that we shall be saved. Christen patience therefore, is the comfort and joy of the hart in afflictions, to whom there is annexed hope. For faith presently receiveth reconciliation and forgiveness of sin, & a promise of the end. Hope tarrieth and looketh for the end to come, as saith Isaiah ⟨image 28⟩In silence and hope shall be your strength.1 For Hope hath his eye to the will of god, and knoweth, that god hath care on him. And it shall come to pass, that god will govern the ends according to his promise, although there appear no help at all, in any creatures, as it is spoken of Abraham. Against all hope, he believed in hope. that is, although in the hole compass of nature, there be no hope at all, yet beholding the word of god, felt inwardly, that that which god had promised, should come to pass. Who (as saith Paul) calleth those things which are not, as though they were? Therefore the mind is quiet in christen patience. For it considereth, that afflictions are not ill, nor are laid on us of god ⟨image 29⟩to our destruction. For he is well assured, that he is tempted through the good will of god, and exercised to repentance for his health. And for as much as the mind is fixed toward this will of god, he is not angry with god. For he knoweth, how this calamity or trouble cometh not by chance or fortune without a cause, but rather rejoiceth in affliction. that is it that Isaiah speaketh. In silence and hope shall be your strength. that is, be ye not angry in god or with god.2 Be ye angry, but sin not, that is. Be ye not angry with god, because he suffereth you to be punished, and doth not by and by help you, be ye not for that moved, to exercise vengeance, or to forsake god: but speak closely within your hearts, that is, consider ⟨image 29⟩the word, and according thereunto suffer affliction.
PACIENCE, is to feele and consider, that god doth scorge ⟨image 28⟩vs, to call vs to repentaunce, and therfore gladly to suffer the hand of god, and to haue a confidence, that god wyl forgiue vs, and that he wyll delyuer vs. Of this pacience to godward, spryngeth forth pacience towarde men. For when the harte is at peace with god, it tarieth helpe of hym, and vtterly setteth aside lust to auenge. Thus pacience can neuer be, but when by fayth we are assured, that we please god, and that at lengthe it shall come to passe, that we shalbe saued. Christen pacience therfore, is the comfort and ioye of the hart in afflyctions, to whome there is annexed hope. For faythe presently receiueth reconciliation and forgyuenes of synne, & a promyse of the ende. Hope taryeth and loketh for the ende to come, as sayth Esai ⟨image 28⟩In silence and hope shall be your strengthe.1 For Hope hath his eye to the wyll of god, and knoweth, that god hath care on hym. And it shall come to passe, that god wyll gouerne the endes accordynge to his promyse, althoughe there appere no helpe at all, in any creatures, as it is spokē of Abraham. Agaynste all hope, he beleued in hope. that is, althoughe in the hole compasse of nature, there be no hope at al, yet beholdynge the worde of god, felte inwardly, that that whiche god hadde promysed, shoulde come to passe. Who (as saythe Paule) calleth those thinges whiche are not, as thoughe they were? Therfore the mynd is quiete in christen pacience. For it consydereth, that afflyctions are not yll, nor are layed on vs of god ⟨image 29⟩to our destruction. For he is well assured, that he is temted through the good wyll of god, and exercysed to repentaunce for his helthe. And for as moche as the mynd is fyxed towarde this wyl of god, he is not angrye with god. For he knoweth, howe this calamitie or trouble commeth not by chaunce or fortune without a cause, but rather reioyseth in affliction. that is it that Esai speaketh. In silence and hope shall be your strengthe. that is, be ye not angry in god or with god.2 Be ye angry, but synne not, that is. Be ye not angry with god, bicause he suffereth you to be punyshed, and doth not by and by helpe you, be ye not for that moued, to exercyse vengaunce, or to forsake god: but speake closely within your hartes, that is, consider ⟨image 29⟩
- 1Isaiah. 20.Esai. 20.
- 2Psal. 5.
