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

§. Quest. But in what respect doth it make us perfect?

Answ. Not only in this sense (for there is a double sense of that speech) Either, 1. As if when we had exercised all other Graces, but yet have not had occasion for this one; that when this shall be added, that then, they should be perfect Christians. But ⟨p. 18⟩this is not the meaning, for this may be said of any other Grace: As if a man hath exercised all other Graces, if he begins to exercise any one new Grace, it may be said there is a perfection in this respect. As when he says to the Corinthians, As you have abounded in every other Grace, ¹so abound in this also. But there is another sense, and that is his scope here, Which is not to extol a perfection in common with other Graces, but a singular perfection to be attributed to Patience, that in this respect, it makes a man eminently perfect. For his scope is to comfort them against the greatest trials, and occurrences of their lives, [Tentations:] And therefore a singular and special Encomium is attributed herein, unto Patience, which is the shield against them.

Answ. Not only in this sence (for there is a double sence of that speech) Either, 1. As if when we had exercised all other Graces, but yet have not had occasion for this one; that when this shall be added, that then, they should be perfect Christians. But ⟨p. 18⟩this is not the meaning, for this may be said of any other Grace: As if a man hath exercised all other Graces, if he begins to exercise any one new Grace, it may be said there is a perfection in this respect. As when he says to the Corinthians, As you have abounded in every other Grace, ¹so abound in this also. But there is another sence, and that is his scope here, Which is not to extol a perfection in common with other Graces, but a singular perfection to be attributed to Patience, that in this respect, it makes a man eminently perfect. For his scope is to comfort them against the greatest trials, and occurrences of their lives, [Tentations:] And therefore a singular and special Encomion is attributed herein, unto Patience, which is the shield against them.