QUestion, 7. What is the nature of patience?

1 Ans. Christian patience hath reference to a threefold object. 1. To God, according to whose pleasure all adverse things, are ordered. Iob. 1. 20. & 2. 9. 10. In which respect, murmuring against God is opposed to patience, 1 Cor. 10. 10. 2 To men, or those means which doe directly afflict us. 2 Thess. 1. 4. with 6. 1 Pet. 2. 2[gap]. & 3. 9. In which respect desire of revenge is opposed to patience. Rom. 12. 17. 19. 3 To that office, or duty, which by the molestations of ad▪ advesity, we are tempted to forsake. Heb. 10. 36. Lu. 12. 19.

In which respect, faintnesse of mind is opposed to patience, Heb. 12. 5. And drawing back, and departing out of the right way, which followes there, Heb. 10. 36. with 38. 39. & 12. 7. with 13.

2. In the first consideration, patience pertaines to Religion towards God; In the second to charity toward our Neighbour. In the third, it is a part of fortitude, and a generall affection of vertue. Yet to the third confideration, may the other two be referred, so far as our duty, either towards God, or man, is considered in them: Although, besides this generall nature, they have speciall difference, by which they may be profitably distinguished from this, and betweene themselves.

Qu. 8. How is this patience, and sufferance, to be distinguished

that, fortitude, which consists in confidence, and Constancy?

3. Ans. Those three are alwayes joyned together in true fortitude; but confidence or boldnesse doth properly respect the setting upon a duty, constancy the continuation of it▪ patience, the defence of it.

Qu. What be the signes of this patience?

4. Ans. First, if we neither utterly contemne the difficulties, that we meete with, nor [gap]aint under them. Heb. 12. 5. But doe overcome all oppositions duely weighed in a right judgement.

5. Secondly, if we be prepared in mind for righteousnesse sake, not onely to suffer those troubles, which are lesse, but even those which are most fearfull. Acts 21. 13.

6. Thirdly, if we do not only, not quite forsake our duty, because of difficulties, wee meet with, but not so much as remit, or lessen any thing of our zeale, Hebrews, 10. 35. & 12. 13.

7. Fourthly, if we undergoe these troubles not as by constraint and unwillingly, but with spirituall joy and exultation, Mat. 5. 12. Col. 1. 11. Heb. 10. 34.

Qu. 10. By what motives may we be confirmed in this patience?

8. Ans. First, because without this patience no good thing can be perfectly accomplished▪ Iam. 1. 4.

9. Secondly, because without patience we want the possession of our own soules, Luke 21. 19. Neither can we attaine to have our hearts established in any thing that is good, Iam. 5. 5. 10. Pro. 24. 10.

10. Thirdly, because by these troubles we are brought into triall by God who takes a proofe of us by the Devills temtations, Heb. 10. 32. Wherein unlesse by patience we get the better we must needs to the dishonor of God, and our own hurt be overcome by the Devill, Rom. 12. 21.

11. Fourthly, because in this triall God himselfe will give both a supply of strength and a happy issue, 1 Cor. 10. 13.