Patience and its perfect work under sudden & sore trialsPatience and its perfect work under sudden & sore tryals

THE FRUITS OF PATIENCE.

These, the Apostles terms, the Peaceable quiet fruits of ¹righteousness, which Chastening yieldeth, after the have been exercised thereby; and that is through Patience gained by those afflictions.

THese, the Apostles tearms, the Peaceable quiet fruits of ¹righteousness, which Chastning yieldeth, after ye have been exercised thereby; and that is through Patience gained by those afflictions.

1. 1Heb. 12.

§. The 1. Fruit, it works contentment: an holy contentment: And that adds a perfection to the Other former works of this grace, 4 Phil. 11. 12. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: Every where, and in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound, and ⟨p. 114⟩to suffer need. And he had learned it, as Christ learnt his obedience, through sufferings; and by his having run through so great a variety of conditions. A man may be content when he is not fully satisfied: When God frames a mans estate to his will, then he is satisfied, as Psal. 17. whose belly thou fillest with thy hidde• treasure. But to be content is another thing: It is not when have an estate, according to my will, but my will is brought to my estate: And then, I have as much content, in that, as in the greatest estate (for, life (says Christ) that is, the comfort of life, lies not in abundance.) 'Tis true, such a man would choose rather, as the Apostle speaks, a full estate; yet patience boweth his judgment, to such an approbation of his present condition, as that, which is best for him; as being that, which out of Gods judgement and wisdom