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

And as it was Jesus Christs perfection, so it was of the most eminent Saints. Look again into this Epistle, chap. 5. v. 11. and you find the primitive principle that was in Vogue to be, [Behold we count them happy which endure] (it is still the same word which is used for Patience, as was said) that is, we Christians generally esteem them the happiest men in the world, that are most exercised with sufferings, and armed with patience to endure them. They are happy to a [BEHOLD!] and so to a perfection, in our common esteem. Behold WE COUNT them happy. It was a common cried up maxim, amongst them in those Times, and the thing it self in greatest request.

And as it was Jesus Christs perfection, so it was of the most eminent Saints. Look again into this Epistle, chap. 5. v. 11. and you find the primitive principle that was in Vogue to be, [Behold we count them happy which endure] (it is still the same word which is used for Patience, as was said) that is, we Christians generally esteem them the happiest men in the world, that are most exercised with sufferings, and armed with patience to endure them. They are happy to a [BEHOLD!] and so to a perfection, in our common esteem. Behold WECOƲNT them happy. It was a common cryed up maxim, amongst them in those Times, and the thing it self in greatest request.

Then 3. Take the Prophets for ⟨p. 26⟩an example (says he) chap. 5. 10. He commends them also for their Patience, as well as for their Prophecies: And though he describes them by this Character, and Periphrasis, that have spoken in the name of the Lord: yet that was but to set out and celebrate the example of their sufferings and Patience, the more. He sets the Crown upon the head of that Grace: Nor doth he mention any of the good they had done▪ Nothing of that, but their sufferings only. And then by name, he instanceth in Job. God boasted of him to Satan, for his former active life in holiness: but you have no mention of that by the Apostle, nor in the New Testament, but he cries him up for his suffering, and his Patience, only, as that which had endeared him to God, more then all the former part of his life.