Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. Tis our glory and interest. To be a reed shaken with every wind is no commendation among men, and tis less a ground of praise with God. It was Jobs glory, that he held fast his integrity;^* In all this Job sinned not; In all this, which whole Cities and Kingdoms would have thought ground enough of high exclamations against God: And also against the temptation of his Wife, he retained his integrity, Job. 2.9. Dost thou still retain thy integrity? The Devil, who by Gods permission stripped him of his goods and health, yet could not strip him of his grace. As a Traveller, when the wind and snow beats in his face, wraps his cloak more closely about him to preserve that and himself. Better we had never made profession, than afterwards to abandon it; such a withering profession serves for no other use than to aggravate the crime, if any of us fly like a coward or revolt like a Traitor: What profit will it be to a Soldier, if he hath withstood many assaults and turn his back at last? If we would have God Crown us with an immutable glory, we must Crown our beginnings with a happy perseverance, Rev. 2.10. Be faithful to the Death and I will give thee a Crown of life: Not as tho this were the cause to merit it, but a necessary condition to possess it: Constancy in good is accompanied with an immutability of Glory.

2. Tis our glory and interest. To be a reed shaken with every wind is no commendation among men, and tis less a ground of praise with God. It was Jobs glory, that he held fast his integrity;^* In all this Job sinned not; In all this, which whole Cities and Kingdoms would have thought ground enough of high exclamations against God: And also against the temptation of his Wife, he retained his integrity, Job. 2.9. Dost thou still retain thy integrity? The Devil, who by Gods permission stript him of his goods and health, yet could not strip him of his grace. As a Traveller, when the wind and snow beats in his face, wraps his cloak more closely about him to preserve that and himself. Better we had never made profession, than afterwards to abandon it; such a withering profession serves for no other use than to aggravate the crime, if any of us fly like a coward or revolt like a Traytor: What profit will it be to a Souldier, if he hath withstood many assaults and turn his back at last? If we would have God Crown us with an immutable glory, we must Crown our beginnings with a happy perseverance,