The first is, to wait in our selves: for many will not outwardly murmur, and yet inwardly1 they boil and fret in themselves: and many will abstain from outward impatience, which look to the inward estate of their hearts but a little. But it is good for us to begin here: for if there be a quietness of the heart, there cannot be any great disquietness2 in the tongue, or in the hand. The second property is, to wait on the Word. Many will say, they wait on God, and yet they are marvellous impatient, if ye charge them with impatience: but weigh their waiting by the Word, and it will not abide the trial, it will not go for good. Look what Faith we have to wait on God, unless it be taught out of the Word, (which is as true as God himself) it is not found. Some will be content to wait on God, but it is not to have their obedience and Faith in the Word, but to obtain some thing the sooner, which they desire. This is no true waiting, but to wait ⟨p. 18⟩rather for our own profit, then for Gods glory. Th• third property is, to corti•ue in it. 3Every man by nature can wait for a while, so he may know a certain and definitive time of his waiting: but to offer our obedience in waiting, and not know for how long or how little we shall wait, this is the •ainting of the soul: for if it were determined to us how many days, or months, or hours we should wait, the hope of the profit drawing near, and of a term drawing out, would sustain us: but to leave all moments, and conditions to the Lord, and to be in a continual service and expectation, this is hard for flesh and blood. We must learn to amend this fault, by considering how justly the Lord may suspend his answer▪ and helping of us, for that our sins are not sufficiently bewailed, or our faith is not sufficiently purified, or his graces not sufficiently wrought in us. The4 fourth and last property is, to continue waiting with a kind of vehemency: keeping us from faltering or fainting in our hope, though it be long ere our suite be answered, or our danger be helped. To be vehement a while, or less importunate long, is little worth: but to have our affections h•to; and for a good thing, and not to slake the heat in long continuance of time, and not to be made remiss or dead in the suit of our desires, though no appearance of our deliverance appear, is hard indeed.
The first is, to waite in our selues: for manie will not outwardly murmure, and yet inwardly1 they boyle and fret in themselues: and manie will abstaine from outward impatiencie, which looke to the inward estate of their hearts but a little. But it is good for vs to beginne here: for if there bee a quietnes of the heart, there cannot be any great disquietnes2 in the tongue, or in the hand. The second propertie is, to waite on the Worde. Manie will say, they waite on God, and yet they are maruellous impatient, if yee charge them with impatiencie: but weigh their waiting by the Word, and it will not abide the tryall, it will not goe for good. Looke what Faith wee haue to waite on God, vnlesse it be taught out of the Word, (which is as true as God himselfe) it is not found. Some will be content to waite on God, but it is not to haue their obedience and Faith in the Worde, but to obtaine some thing the sooner, which they desire. This is no true waiting, but to waite ⟨p. 18⟩rather for our owne profite, then for Gods glorie. Th• third property is, to corti•ue in it. 3Euery man by nature can waite for a while, so he may know a certaine and definitiue time of his waiting: but to offer our obedience in waiting, and not know for how long or how little we shall waite, this is the •ainting of the soule: for if it were determined to vs how many dayes, or moneths, or houres we should waite, the hope of the profit drawing neere, and of a terme drawing out, would sustaine vs: but to leaue all moments, and conditions to the Lord, and to bee in a continuall seruice and expectation, this is hard for flesh and blood. We must learne to amend this fault, by considering how iustly the Lord may suspend his answere▪ and helping of vs, for that our sinnes are not sufficiently bewa•led, or our faith is not sufficiently purified, or his graces not sufficiently wrought in vs. The4 fourth and last propertie is, to continue waiting with a kinde of vehemencie: keeping vs from faultring or fainting in our hope, though it be long ere our suite be answered, or our danger be helped. To be vehement a while, or lesse importunate long, is little worth: but to haue our affections hto; and for a good thing, and not to slake the heate in long continuance of time, and not to be made remisse or dead in the suit of our desires, though no appearance of our deliuerance appeare, is hard indeede.
- 1Properties of constant waiting on God.
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