Use 4 Fourthly, If GOD be present every where, it should teach us patience, and meekness, and quietness of mind in all injuries and hard measure which we suffer from men.1 This use you shall see made of it. Phil. 4.5. Let your moderation be known unto all men, The Lord is at hand. Jam. 5.8. Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Therefore when any injury is done you, when you are oppressed by men that have power over you, yet be quiet: for GOD sees it, and knows it; and he takes care for you. A man will be ready to say, shall I take this? shall I be trampled under foot? as I shall be, if I resist them not: saith the Apostle, you need not ⟨p. 157⟩to fear, for the Lord is present. We use to say, if the Magistrate be not present, we may offend another, to defend our selves; but if the Magistrate be present, there is no excuse: so here the Judge stands at the door. Servants,2 if their Masters be absent, will defend themselves against their fellow-servants; but if the Master be there, and look on, they will let them alone, because he hath power to punish, and knows better how to revenge them: So is it in this case; when we consider that GOD is present, and that he sees what we suffer, we should be quiet, and patient, and not only be patient within, but let our patient minds be known unto all men, that is, carry our selves so, that men may see it, and take notice of it. And if you say, that nothing is done, but he abuseth me more and more: I answer. Consider, it is not because the Lord is weak, and cannot help us; or because he is negligent, and will not do it; no, he is present, and sees it all the while: but you must consider, that the due time is not come, therefore you must be quiet, and not tumultuous in your thoughts, and revengeful in your spirits, because the LORD looks on, and will avenge you in due time. Therefore this is the thing added in Phil. 4. Because, when a man suffers any thing from another man, then he will be ready to be solicitous, how to defend himself, and what he shall do hereafter; saith the Apostle, Be you in nothing careful, &c. for the LORD is at hand: that is, he doth not stand by ⟨p. 158⟩as a looker on, or a bare spectator, who means to do nothing but see the injuries done and suffered, but he looks on, as one that takes care for you.
Vse 4 Fourthly, If GOD bee present every where, it should teach us patience, and meekenesse, and quietnesse of minde in all injuries and hard measure which wee suffer from men.1 This vse you shall see made of it. Phil. 4.5. Let your moderation be knowne unto all men, The Lord is at hand. Iam. 5.8. Bee yee also patient, stablish your hearts; for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh. Therefore when any injury is done you, when you are oppressed by men that have power over you, yet bee quiet: for GOD sees it, and knowes it; and hee takes care for you. A man will be ready to say, shall I take this? shall I bee trampled under foot? as I shall bee, if I resist them not: saith the Apostle, you neede not ⟨p. 157⟩to feare, for the Lord is present. We use to say, if the Magistrate be not present, we may offend another, to defend our selves; but if the Magistrate be present, there is no excuse: so here the Iudge stands at the doore. Servants,2 if their Masters be absent, will defend themselves against their fellow-servants; but if the Master bee there, and looke on, they will let them alone, because he hath power to punish, and knowes better how to revenge them: So is it in this case; when we consider that GOD is present, and that he sees what we suffer, we should be quiet, and patient, and not onely be patient within, but let our patient mindes be knowne unto all men, that is, carry our selves so, that men may see it, and take notice of it. And if you say, that nothing is done, but hee abuseth mee more and more: I answer. Consider, it is not because the Lord is weake, and cannot helpe us; or because he is negligent, and will not doe it; no, he is present, and sees it all the while: but you must consider, that the due time is not come, therefore you must be quiet, and not tumultuous in your thoughts, and revengefull in your spirits, because the LORD lookes on, and will avenge you in due time. Therefore this is the thing added in Phil. 4. Because, when a man suffers any thing from another man, then he will be ready to be sollicitous, how to defend himselfe, and what he shall doe hereafter; saith the Apostle, Be you in nothing carefull, &c. for the LORD is at hand: that is, he doth not stand by ⟨p. 158⟩as a looker on, or a bare spectator, who meanes to doe nothing but see the injuries done and suffered, but he lookes on, as one that takes care for you.
- 1It teacheth us patience and meekness, when injuries are offered.It teacheth us patience and meeknesse, when iniuries are offered.
- 2James 5, 9Iames 5, 9
