The second fruit is patience, aswell in our whole life which is full of miseries, as also in enduring persecutions for the truth of the gospel. And verily; first we will briefly show how the knowledge of the doctrine of Gods providence begetteth patience in us. This bringeth forth impatience in us, because we look upon creatures that are adversaries unto us. But indeed we look not upon God, when as notwithstanding he doth these things, not as an adversary against us, but as a father. And undoubtedly those same afflictions, wherewith he exerciseth our faith and patience; what other things are they, then instruments wherewith even himself being present worketh, and that verily for this end he worketh; that all things according to his promise, (no not the least thing or grief excepted) I say, that all things might work together to our good. Rom. 8. Whatsoever things therefore shall fall out either public or private, aswell joyful as heavy, whosoever is throughly persuaded that God most wisely governeth all things by his providence, and is fully reconciled unto him in Christ, he must needs take them no otherwise then as benefits, yea and as benefits of God, and which undoubtedly are to his salvation. Unless therefore we will resist God who is only wise, with the wisdom of our flesh, and become blasphemers against Christ, as not having reconciled the father fully unto us: we must not doubt any whit at all, that the infinite wisdom of God, by and for his goodness worketh all ⟨p. 108⟩things for our good, how soever it seem otherwise unto us. And therefore a faithful man when he once knoweth the doctrine of Gods providence, he sticketh not in creatures by which he is afflicted, or in the contemplation of his own evil, but he will rather lift up his mind to consider the fatherly hand of the most wise God, whereby he is chastised, and to that same undoubted good, that God through that same affliction will have wrought, and in his good time, will make manifest. For God always hath the end joined with his own glory, and the salvation of the faithful. The consideration of either of these must needs be of great force to imprint, both that same quiet moderation of mind, and patience in his children. Whereof we have notable examples in Joseph, Gene. 45. in Job. cap 1. in the people of Israel, Gene. 15. ver. 13.14. Exo. 2.3.4.5. in David 2. Sam. 16.
THe second fruite is patience, aswell in our whole life which is full of miseries, as also in induring persecutions for the truth of the gospel. And verilie; first we will breifly shew how the knowledg of the doctrine of Gods prouidence begetteth patience in vs. This bringeth forth impatiēce in vs, because we loke vpon creatures yt are aduersaries vnto vs. But indeede wee looke not vpon God, when as notwithstanding he doth these thinges, not as an aduersarie against vs, but as a father. And vndoubtedly those same afflictions, wherewith he exerciseth our faith and patience; what other thinges are they, then instruments wherewith euen himselfe being present worketh, and that verily for this end he worketh; that all thinges according to his promise, (no not ye least thing or greefe excepted) I say, that all things might worke together to our good. Rom. 8. Whatsoeuer thinges therefore shal fall out either publique or priuate, aswell ioyfull as heauie, whosoeuer is throughly persuaded that God most wisely gouerneth al things by his prouidence, and is fully reconciled vnto him in Christ, he must needes take them no otherwise then as benifites, yea and as benifites of God, and which vndoubtedly are to his saluation. Vnlesse therefore we will resist God who is onely wise, with the wisedome of our flesh, and become blasphemers against Christ, as not hauing reconciled the father fully vnto vs: we must not doubt any whit at all, that the infinite wisdom of God, by and for his goodnes worketh all ⟨p. 108⟩thinges for our good, how soeuer it seeme otherwise vnto vs. And therefore a faithful man when he once knoweth the doctrine of Gods prouidence, he sticketh not in creatures by which he is afflicted, or in the contemplation of his owne euill, but he will rather lifte vp his minde to consider the fatherly hand of the most wise God, whereby he is chastised, and to that same vndoubted good, that God through that same affliction will haue wrought, and in his good time, will make manifest. For God alwaies hath the end ioyned with his owne glorie, and the saluation of the faithfull. The consideration of either of these must needes be of great force to imprint, both that same quiet moderation of minde, and patience in his children. Whereof we haue notable examples in Ioseph, Gene. 45. in Iob. cap 1. in the people of Israel, Gene. 15. ver. 13.14. Exo. 2.3.4.5. in Dauid 2. Sam. 16.
