The true gain more in worth then all the goods in the worldThe true gaine more in worth then all the goods in the world

Now this conformity stands (as I take it) properly in the manner of suffering; and that in four things. First of all, Christ suffered for a just and righteous cause: for he suffered as our redeemer,¹ the righteous for the unrighteous. And so must we likewise suffer for righteousness sake.² Secondly Christ in suffering was a mirror of all patience and ⟨p. 108⟩meekness. And we in our sufferings must show the like patience. And that we be not deceived herein, our patience must have three properties. It must be voluntary, that is, we must willingly and quietly renounce our own wills, and subject our selves in our sufferings to the will of God. Patience perforce is no patience. Again it must not be mercenary, that is, we must suffer not for by respects, as for praise, or profit, but for the glory of God, and that we may show our obedience to him. Hence it appears that the patience of the papist, that suffers in way of satisfaction, is no right patience. Lastly our patience must be constant. If we endure afflictions for a brunt, and afterward begin to grudge and repine casting off the yoke of Christ, we fail in our patience. Further, if it be demanded, whether the affections of grief & sorrow may stand with patience: I answer yea: for Christian religion doth not abolish these affections, but only moderate them, and bring them in subjection to the will of God, when we lie under ⟨p. 109⟩the cross. The third point wherein stands our conformity with the sufferings of Christ is this:³ Christ learned obedience by the things which he suffered, not because he was a sinner, but because being righteous he had experience of obedience. And we likewise in our sufferings must be more careful to take the fruit thereof, then to have them taken away. And the fruit of them is to learn obedience thereby, specially to the commandments of faith and repentance. When Job was afflicted of God, not for his sins, but that he might make a trial of his faith and patience,⁴