The Compleat Chriflian. ofhis own love to his foul, and threatned the taking away even of life it fell; Job could now in this cafe refolve to reft in the determination , and appointmeht and will of God. Here is Patience now. Thus briefly you have heardwhat the duty is, to which the Apoftle ezhorteth, It is Patience, that is, awilling reigning of our felves to Gods appointment in the changet ofour life. But now shadsnot enough, theApoftle contents not himfelf, to fay : Have Pa- what is it to tience, but letpatience have her perfect work; He would have them grow inPati_l Ie, ptience ence, to grow from one degree to another, to abound in Patience ( as the Apoftlei hive he. pe.- fpeaks ofHope and Toy inRom. a5. a;.) that they might not only have patience, but feEtno.k. - have it brought to perfection, which in Coll. r. sr. is called all long u erin that Itoro ' S' '' , g f g > Co1loL a. a.. there mightnot be the leaft defe& , that they might havea meafure ofpatience pro- portionable tò the meafure ofTryals: that look as God increafed the meafitaeof their tryals upon them, fo they might havepatience toanfwer chofe tryals, fomew hat' to fupport theheart,when thegreateft`weight fhouldbe laid upon the foul toprefs it down: fo the wordHipomene, that is tranfated patience fignificth, to bear up a man, to fupport him undera burthen, that he benot preft downby ir. So he would have themhave fuch a meafureof Patience, asmight bear up the foul in the greateff' pleafures,that though they were ailiEted, they might not bebroken in their afflifti- ons. Thus youhave the duty opened s Let patiencehave herperfelt work. The reafon is, thatyosemay beperfell and entirewanting nothing. Thatyou maybe intire. Some underftand it thus; that you may be intire in re- What is meant fpeét ofevery grace, in refpe& ofall gracious habits, that you may haveonegrace wznnoeond as well as another , that as you have knowledg and faith, foyou mayhave Patience $ thine ten), that which is fo neceflary a grace for a Chriltian, as wellas any other. Othersby intirenefi here, andwanting nothing, think that theApoftle meantthis, that theymight have that which might fupply comfort to their fouls in alltheir wants, A man is then faid to want nothing, when he is content and fatisfied with that efate whereinhe is, as if he hadall things: So David, when Ziglagwas burnt, t Sam. so: 6. his Wives carried awaycaptive, his fouldiers began to mutiny, and threaten him , yetneverthelefs he feemedto want nothing, whenhe could comfort himfelf in the Lordhis God. Godlineft is Treat gain ; (buthow i`) withcontentment; that is , there is Each a fufficiency with contentment of heart, as ifa man had the things he wants. So then hear is the thing,thatgasemay be intire,in refpe& ofall gracious habits, ne- ceffary to the bering ofa Chriftian, that youmay base that inward ftore and fup- plyof comfort, that may fupport your hearts in all outward wants. Thus you have the meaning of the words. The partsare two. An exhortation to duty. he texats of An argument to enforce that exhortation. The duty whereto they are exhorted is, that they thould be perfect in Patience; A dutyex. let patience have berperfect work hotted to. The Argument whereby they are pérfwaded to this duty is. that they maybe in-, x An Argu- tire, and wanting nothing, that they may have all that is necetfary to aChrifti- en, iu. an. force it. We will obferve two Conclufions hence, which we thall follow at this time. The firft is this ; 49 That patience isnecffarytothe perfeïlionofaChrifiian. Or, AChri(tlanisnot Concluf, a. perfect withoutpatience. Thefecond is this ; That every Cbriflian fhould /Wive for a perfeCtion of degrees ofPatience. Or, Cancluf z. that a Cbriflian mull labour to attain the hìgbeff degreeand perfeltion inPati- ence. H Theft
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