upon the Epiflle of J A. M E s. thofe parts of the body are moLl: folid that are mofr i~ action j and trees often lhaken are deeply rooted. Well then : 1. le lheweth, How careh1l you lhould be to exercife your felves under every crofs ·by that means you come to get habits of grace and patience: N egl~Cl caufeth d~~ay ; and God withdraweth hi~ ~and from fuch as are 1dle: In fpmtuals, as well as te:nporals, dtbgence t~,lk!th rich, Prov. 10. 5. 2. It lheweth, That if we murmur, or miC– carry in any providence, the fault is in our own hearts, not in our condition, Many blame providence, and fay, they cannot do other– wife, their troubles vtre fo great andfbarp. Oh confider, Tryall, yea, many tryals, where {anCl:ified, work patience: Th~t which you think would caufe you to murmur, is a ·means to rpa e you patient. The evil is in the unmortifiednefs of your affeClions,not in themiferJ of your condition. By the Apo!Ues rule, The greater the tryal, the greater the patience; for the trya~ work.§th patience. - There is no condition in the world, but giveth occaflon for th~ exercife of grace. 5. From that [Ptittience,JThe Apoftle comforteth them with Ob(trvat S this argument, That they fhould gampatience; as if that would · • make amends for all the fmart of their fufferings. The Note is, That 'tu 11n excellent exchange to part with imt~vard comforts for inWttrd graces. Fiery tryals are nothing, if you gain patience: Sicknefs with patience, is better thenhealth; Lofs with patience, is better thengain. Jf earthly affeCl:ions were more mortified, we fhould value inward enjoyments, and experiences of God, more then we do. Paul faith, 2 Cor. I 2. 9· h11ifl glory in my infirmi– ties, that the poWer of (hrift may reft upo1# me: Mi!ery and ca– lamities lhould be welcom, becaufe they gave him further experi– ences ofChri!l. Certainly, nothing maketh afflictions burthenfom to us, but our own carnal ajfeEtiont. 6. From the fame, we may obferve more particularly, That pa- obfcrvat. 6. ticnce u a groflce of an excellent u(e and value: We cannot be · Chriftians without it 5We cannot be men without it: Not ChriJfians ; for •tis not onely the ornament, but the confervatory of other graces; how dfe lhouXd we perf-ill in well-doing, when we meet with grievous croffes? Therefore the Apofi:lePeter· biddeth · ns, 2 Pet. I. 5, 6. to add to faith, virtue; to virtue: k..~o:W-ledg; , to k..no-n;ledg, temperance; to temperance, patience; where''are all the < ~~~ui!!~~s ~f ~r~e go~f~::!~sgr~nded in fai£h)di~~qe~bykl~dw~ '- . - g'
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