136 An Expofition upon Chap5à bee alwayes under the rod,and molt fe- verely fcourged. T t ta. What is to be confidered in thefe words [afi5lion workethpatience ?] S r L. Two things, fiat, that affli &i - ons doe worke patience. Secondly, that Gods children doe know this( know- ing that affli &ion worketh patience.) T r aa. But many are impatient in their Ill lions, and fall or de/pair,ao ludest. S r L. That is true of the wicked,that by affli &ions they aredifquieted and en- ragged : but Paul teacheth here what ufe fBi &ions have in the faithfull. T t ses. But patience is the woke ofGod; how then is it laid of affluliion, that they work it ? Si L. Trueitis,GodwhoistheAu- thor and giver of patience, Phil.i.29. Papal meaneth here, that affli &ions be the inftruments, by which God is plea - fed toworkpatience: and itisufuallin Scriptures to attribute that to the inffru- ment,which belongeth to God, t Tim. 4.16. Rom.3.3o. But we muft not h ere- of think, that by affli &ions God work- eth patience there,where there was none afore : but God is pleated to ufe afflicti- ons to exercife, and to work increafe of patience where it is,to caufe them which by the work Of the Spirit be already patient, to become more patient, and to declare their patience which they had before: and this is not in the nature of affli &ions to work this,but accidentally through Gods goodneffe, turning them to good. Tr as. What doe ye callpatience? Su.. It is avertue or grace, whereby the miude is made firm g, to endure adverfiries and troubles contentedly. Contrary to this vertue of patience, is murmuring, when we repine and grudge at Gods dealings towards us, as the Ifiaelites, Numb. sa. t. Alf() blockifhnefs, when we are without feel- ing, and even fen feleffe in our troubles, as Nabal, t Sam. 25.37. Now patience is the mean between diele two, for it fo feeleth the (mart and bitterneffe of af- flicttion , as yet it keeoeth it felf quiet ünder the burden, as D avid, Pfal.39 ;9 Job 5.22. T s M. What learn we from hence , that God out of fuck, evil and grievous thing,. ar of iïliont,can workencreafc offer& vortwe ar patience is? S i L. His wonderful]wifdome and almightineffe,which as it drew light out of darkneffe in the creation : fo alto he fetcheth and worketh good out of evill in the adminiftration of the world : as Phyfitiansof Hemlock and other pop fonf ull herbs can rnakegood medicines. Tr bt Skew us nuw after what fort God dealeth when he woeketh pstience by affi jElion? S i L. VVhen afli &ions commeth, then God confirmeth and ftrengtheneth the minds of his children to patience,by many good confederations. As fìrft,that their affliíetionscome not by chance,but by the determined counfell and will of their Father, Pfa1.i9.9. Job 5.12. Se- condly,by the conformity of Chrefi with his members in their afflictions, Rom. 8.29. Thirdly,they are moved to confi- der, that it is the will of God that they Ihould be patient in affli&ions;therefore their patience it is an acceptable facriace and fervice to God.Fourthly,they have before their eye, the goodwill of God i afflicting them in love, and that they have reafon well to bear any affli &ion, which in love of their falvation com- meth to them. Fifthly,they confider all the affli&ionsofthis life,to be. both light and momentary, and that the glory which (hall he given to patient Chrifli- ans,it hath weight and everlaffingneffe,. 2 Con 4. try. Laflly, they confider that every affli &ion than not onely have an iffue,but a good ilkie, which {hall be for the belt to them, I Cor. 50.1.3. Finally, by affli &ions, the hope of glory is en- creafed in the hearts of Gods children, to whom affli &ions are Peals of their bliffe : in thefe meditations the Spirit is of ettuali to air up and ftrengthen pati- ence in the faithful!. TIM. Tell no now, wbat difference there is between the Chriflian, worldly and bea- thenifb patience? S t L. Chriftian patiente (as yet heard) is grounded upon Gods gracious providence, his righteous comitrande- ments, and the glorious end which the patient
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