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

And indeed the consideration of this one thing will have a general influence into ALL those ⟨p. 164⟩three Heads, have been treated of in this last fourth SECTION. As first, It may be no great wonder ¹if many of us have been so deficient, and LACKING in this Grace: For it is not an Ordinary Power, such as in ordinary walkings holily, doth assist us, but a GLORIOUS Power is requisite to perfect this Grace: which argues this to be so difficult an exercise above any other; and that our Natures are infinitely remote from it, of our selves; which we not minding, nor considering, have not perhaps, with answerable vehemency implored the aid of so Great a Power. And secondly, This gives us a clear reason, why prayer, of all other means ²should be directed by the Apostle, and extraordinarily set upon by us, as the most effectual, yea, as an only means to obtain this. For seeing that Power lies out of our selves, in GOD, which must effect ⟨p. 165⟩this in us; then surely nothing can be judged so prevailing as Faith and Prayer, which are the Graces in, and by which the Soul going out of it self, in a sense of its utter insufficiency, supplicates the Grace in Gods heart, to exert this power, of his good pleasure; and so do draw it forth, and bring it down into the Heart. And then thirdly, This ³gives us the highest encouragement, that we may obtain this perfect work of it; however remote from it, the present temper of our Spirits may seem to be to us: Seeing that no less then such a glorious power is requisite to effect it in the strongest Christians; And a power so glorious is able to work it in the weakest.

And indeed the consideration of this one thing will have a general influence into ALL those ⟨p. 164⟩three Heads, have been treated of in this last fourth SECTION. As first, It may be no great wonder ¹