He that can look to Jesus the author and finisher of his faith, and with him to the Joy that is set before him, will endure the Cross, and despise the shame, and run with patience the race that is set before him, Heb. 12. 1, 2. He that by faith fore-seeth the Peaceable fruits of righteousness, will bear the chastisement which for the present seemeth not joyous but grievous, Heb. 12. 11. All the cloud of witnesses and army of Martyrs, Heb. 11. do testify this to us; that it is faith's beholding the benefits and promised blessings, that must enable us to contemn the world, and suffer the loss of all for Christ. Having therefore need of Patience, that after we have done the will of God, we may receive the promise, we have need also of these encouraging helps which must support our patience, that in this Patience we may possess our souls; When impatient men to save the world, do lose their souls, Heb. 10. 36. Luk. 21. 19. Mat. 16. 25, 26. These considerations are necessary ⟨p. 204⟩to us in so hard an undertaking, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds, Heb. 12. 3. Though we may manfully bear some few assaults, yet when we feel the vinegar and the gall, and the cruelty of the world even piercing not only our hands and our feet, but our very heart, and see them shrink from us that were most obliged to adhere to us, we shall then judge our selves forsaken of God; if we have not the lively sense of these benefits. As the very thought of Forsaking all, doth strike a carnal heart with sorrow, and the work doth over-match all the power of flesh and blood, Luke 18. 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29. So also the Believer hath need to keep his faith waking and in exercise, that he may lift up the hands that else will hang down, and the knees that else will be feeble, and may make straight paths for his feet, that the lame may not be turned out of the way, but may be healed, Heb. 12. 11, 12, 13, 14. For if we hear Jobs Messengers, and have not Jobs Faith and Patience, we shall not be able heartily to say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord, Job 1. 21.
He that can look to Iesus the author and finisher of his faith, and with him to the Ioy that is set before him, will endure the Cross, and despise the shame, and run with patience the race that is set before him, Heb. 12. 1, 2. He that by faith fore-seeth the Peaceable fruits of righteousness, will bear the chastisement which for the present seemeth not joyous but grievous, Heb. 12. 11. All the cloud of witnesses and army of Martyrs, Heb. 11. do testifie this to us; that it is faith's beholding the benefits and promised blessings, that must enable us to contemn the world, and suffer the loss of all for Christ. Having therefore need of Patience, that after we have done the will of God, we may receive the promise, we have need also of these encouraging helps which must support our patience, that in this Patience we may possess our souls; When impatient men to save the world, do lose their souls, Heb. 10. 36. Luk. 21. 19. Mat. 16. 25, 26. These considerations are necessary ⟨p. 204⟩to us in so hard an undertaking, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds, Heb. 12. 3. Though we may manfully bear some few assaults, yet when we feel the vinegar and the gall, and the cruelty of the world even piercing not only our hands and our feet, but our very heart, and see them shrink from us that were most obliged to adhere to us, we shall then judge our selves forsaken of God; if we have not the lively sense of these benefits. As the very thought of Forsaking all, doth strike a carnal heart with sorrow, and the work doth over-match all the power of flesh and blood, Luke 18. 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29. So also the Believer hath need to keep his faith waking and in exercise, that he may lift up the hands that else will hang down, and the knees that else will be feeble, and may make straight paths for his feet, that the lame may not be turned out of the way, but may be healed, Heb. 12. 11, 12, 13, 14. For if we hear Iobs Messengers, and have not Iobs Faith and Patience, we shall not be able heartily to say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord,
