5Ó Concluf. z. A Chtiftiaq not petfeft without pa- tience. Mat. S 41. paf i. A t ofold petfeetion of a Cbtiftian. petfe&ion of puywhat it is z Pet, t. T. 6. Reaf. t. The 7'erfeFfion of `Patience, or Thefe twöConclufions we will handleapart inthe Explication and proof and joyn them together inthe applicationand ufe. For the fiatthen, that e4' Chriflian is not perfeli without patience. Our Saviour exhorting his Difciples to patience ( in the fifth of Matrh.) becaufe they fhould meet with many enemies, and injuries in the world, he concludeth , be perfecî ( faith he ) as year heavenlyfather is perfeEt. What perfection (peaks he ofhere ? Such aperfelliou, fuch a workof Grace, as might enable them to carry themfelves, as became them in the middeft of thofe many enemies and oppofites they fhould meet withal. . I will riotfland upon this, I will endeavour to makeit appearto you. Firft it may appear thus. There is a twofoldperfeilionofa Chriftian ; Teer`e is aperfettion ofparts, and a perfedlion of degrees. A childis a perfeEt man in refpeet of parts, but not in re- fpeEt of degrees, becaufe it is not cometo thatmeafirre offtrength ( for that age is not capableof it)which aman bath. Now there is a neceflity that there fhould be a perfectionof parts. Firft, perfetlionofparts, in a Chriftian, is but the making upófaljthofe graces' whichare neceffaryto a Chriftian, and without which he cannot obey God, nor walk according to the rule: All thefe are neceffary : Now Patience is one of thofe parts, one of thofe habits ofgracewith which everyrenewed foul is endowed, and without which a min is nottruly fanetified, without which a man expreffeth himfelf . not to be regenerate. And for thisobferve what the Apoftle Peter faith, Admore over toyourfaith, vertue, to vertue knowledg, toknowledg temperance, to temperance patience, to, patiencegodlinefs, to godlinefs brotherly kindnefi, to brotherly kiridnefs love ; What is the reafon of it? If theft things be in yoit and abound, you /hall neither be:idle, nor unfruitful m the workof the Lord. As ifhe thou!d fay, you will be idle and unfruitful profeffors,unlefs that theft Graces be in you, and abound in you. Now what are the Graces? you (hall fee the neceffityofevery one of them ; TheApoftle exhorteth beleevers there, to the giving all diligence to the making their calling andeleftionflare, tomake it certain to themfelves that they are effedually called. But might forne fay> there arenïany graces neceffary to a Chri- ftian , but there is one principal, whichwe call the radicalandmain grace of all Faith? I bur faith the Apoftle, there are many- others neceffary befides that ,as you mull have faith towards God, fo you muffalfo carry your felvesfo, as may a- dorn your profeflion among men, therefore addevertue tofaith.But they might fay, venue t that is that that guideth a man in all Morrals , in all the coúrfe ofhislife and convcr(ation ? You (hall have many provocationsto fin, therefore adde to venue temperance. But we have many difc0uragements to good ? thereforeadde to temperancepatience. But what thoughyou fhould have both temperance andpa- tience, thefe are but moral venues? Therefore adde topatiencegodlinefs> that you may in all things you doe, ayme at God, and approve your (elves to him. But when we have carriedour fclves inably manner according to the rule andword of God, yet neverthelefsthere are many Chriftians that require offices of love from us, and what (hall we doe to thefe? Therefore adde to godlinefs brotherly kindnefs. But then again betide that converfation we havewith beleevers,there are many men in the.world that expeEt certain duties fromus? Therefore adde to that, Love that extendeth to all men according to their neceffities. Soyou fee how the Apoftle takes all graces, asit were into leverai parcels, and fheweth how they cannot be without one parcel ofgrace, they cannot go through the couefeof Chriftianity , except they have every thing: they cannot carry themfelves toward. God withoutfaith: they cannot adorn their profeflion without vertue; they cannot efcape temptations without temperance; neither can they be encourageda- gainft difcouragements without patience ; Thereforehe bringethpatience inamongil the reff , as áneceffary part and duty of a Chriflianwithout which he cannot goe through the workof Chriftianity and religion.' Again in the fecond place, as it appeareth by the, parts ofa Chriftian and Chtiftianity , that a man cannot beperfe&without Patience, fo it appearetht anotherby
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