A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein…

Great was his patience under the visiting hand of God, especially¹ in his old age, when God visited him with painful Maladies. Though by reason of the bitterness of his pains by the Stone, and sharpness of Urine, and that Lethalis arundo (as he oft called it) that deadly Arrow in his side (which he knew could never be plucked out of it, but by death) I mean his Asthma, which he got by an excessive cold in attending upon public employment; notwithstanding, I say, by reason of these, he hath been often heard to groan, yet was he never heard once to grumble. But he would oft say, Soul, be silent, Soul be patient, ²it is thy God and Father, that thus ordereth thy estate; Thou art his clay, he may tread and trample on thee, as it pleaseth him; thou hast deserved much more, it is enough that thou art kept out of hell; though thy pain be grievous, yet it is tolerable; thy God affords some intermissions, he will turn it to thy good, and at length put an end to all; none of these can be expected in hell. He would oft make mention of the extent of Obedience, which he said, was not only to endeavour to do what God requireth, but also patiently to bear what Gods will is to lay upon his creature; as Christ himself, though he were the Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. In his greatest pangs he oft used this speech of Job, Shall we receive good from the hands of God, and not evil? He often commended his Soul unto Christ, and would say, I am persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. When any of his Friends went about to comfort him in those gifts which God had bestowed on him, and works which he had wrought by him, he would answer, I dare not think of any such thing for comfort, Jesus Christ, and what he hath done and endured, is the only ground of my sure comfort. Many that came to visit him in his weakness, professed, that they went away better than they came, by reason of those savoury, and gracious expressions that proceeded from him.

Great was his patience under the visiting hand of God, especially¹ in his old age, when God visited him with painfull Maladies. Though by reason of the bitterness of his paines by the Stone, and sharpness of Urine, and that Lethalis arundo (as he oft called it) that deadly Arrow in his side (which he knew could never be pluckt out of it, but by death) I mean his Asthma, which he got by an excessive cold in attending upon publick imployment; notwithstanding, I say, by reason of these, he hath been often heard to groan, yet was he never heard once to grumble. But he would oft say, Soul, be silent, Soul be patient,