Lectures upon the three first chapters of the RevelationLectures vpon the three first chapters of the Reuelation

Now Christ joineth these two, labouring in his calling, and patience, together, & severeth them not: first, because before the fall, man could do all his duty without trouble, with ease and joy: but since the fall, we being corrupted can do nothing but it is a trouble to us; and God set this mark on our sins, that all our duties should be troublesome, and our callings should have crosses and calamities joined with them. Secondly, because as the Ministers labour to increase in the people knowledge, and to do their duties: so the devil labours to hinder them and to stay them, therefore they must not only labour, but be diligent to strive with patience. So Paul 1. Thess. 2. he would have come to them, but Satan hindered him. Now as Christ joineth these two in the ministry, so in all callings these must go together, both in particular callings of the church and of the common wealth. First, we must know the duties of our callings: secondly, we must labour in patience to practise them with diligence: and withal we must know, that in the doing of our duty there is also joined affliction, therefore we must be armed with patience, to undergo all crosses and afflictions in our callings: we must (though afflictions come) obey the commandment of God, enjoining us travel and labour in our callings, and rely on his promise, that he will bless us in our callings, if we labour diligently and be patient in afflictions. We must not think we may leave our particular callings because of troubles and afflictions, but we must faithfully continue in them, and with patience endure afflictions, and then ⟨p. 127⟩Christ shall commend us, which is better then all the things in the world: his commendation is better then any man can give. If he commend us, then we are happy, though all men speak ill of us. But if we neglect and contemn our callings, and will not go on because of afflictions, but leave them for want of patience, then instead of commending, he will discommend and disgrace us: and then what will it help us though all men speak well of us?

Now Christ ioyneth these two, labouring in his calling, and patience, together, & seuereth them not: first, because before the fal, man could do all his dutie without trouble, with ease and ioy: but since the fall, we being corrupted can do nothing but it is a trouble to vs; and God set this marke on our sinnes, that all our duties should be troublesome, and our callings should haue crosses and calamities ioyned with them. Secondly, because as the Ministers labor to increase in the people knowledge, and to do their duties: so the diuell labours to hinder them and to stay them, therefore they must not onely labour, but be diligent to striue with patiēce. So Paul