Secondly, It is then according to the will of God, when it is as intensive as God requires it to be, i. e. in the apostle's phrase, Jam. i. 4. When it hath its perfect work, or exercise ; when it is not only extended to all kinds of troubles; but when it works in the high- est and most perfect degree. And then may patience be said to be perfect (as it was in Christ) when it is plenum sui, et prohibens alien}, full of itself, and exclusive of its opposite. Christ's patience was full of itself, (i. e.) it included all that belonged to it. It was full of submission, peace, and serenity ; full of obedience and compla- cency in his Father's will. He was in a perfect calm. As a lamb or sheep, (saith the text) that howls not, opposes not, but is dumb and quiet. And as his external behaviour, so his internal frame and temper of soul was most serene and calm. Not one repining thought against God. Not one revengeful thought against man once ruffled his spirit, " Father forgive them, for they know not " what they do," was all the hurt he wished his worst enemies. And as it included all that belonged to it, so his perfect patience excluded all its opposites. No discontents, murmurings, despon- dencies had place in his heart. So that his patience was a most in- tensive, perfect patience. And as it was as extensive, and as inten- sive, so it was,
Thirdly, As protensive as God required it to be, (i. e.) it held out to the end of his trial. He did not faint at last. His troubles did not out-live his patience. He indeed was strengthened with all might unto all patience, and long-suffering. This was the pa- tience of Christ our perfect pattern. He had not only patience but longanimity.
Thh'dly, In the last place, let us inquire into the grounds and reasons of this his most perfect patience. And if you do so, you shall find perfect holiness, wisdom, fore-knowledge, faith, heaven-
SEEM. XXIX. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE 361
lv-mindediiess, and obedience, at the root of this perfect pa- tience.
Firsts This admirable patience and meekness of Christ, was the fruit and offspring of his perfect holiness. His nature was tree from those corruptions, that ours groan and labour under; otherwise he could never have carried it at this rate. Take the meek Moses who excelled all others in that grace, and let him be tried in that very grace, wherein he excels, and see how tw unadvisedly he may " speak with his lips," Psal. cvi. 33. Take a Job, whose famous patience is trumpeted and resounded over all the world ; ye have heard of the jyatience of Job ; and let him be tried by outward and inward troubles, meeting upon him in one day ; and even a Job may curse the day wherein he was born. Envy, revenge, discon- tent, despondencies, are weeds naturally springing up in the cor- rupt soil of our sinful natures, " I saw a little child grow pale with " envy,1' said Austin*. And the spirit that is in us, lusteth unto envy, (saith the apostle) Jam. iv. 5. The principles of all these evils being in our natures, they will shew themselves in time of trial. The old man is fretful and passionate. But it was otherwise with Christ. His nature was like a pure chrystal glass, full of pure fountain water, which though shaken and agitated never so much, cannot shew, because it hath no dregs. " The prince of this world " cometh, and hath nothing in me,'1 John xiv. 30. No principle of corruption, for a handle to temptation. Our high-priest was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, Heb. vii. 26.
Secondly, The meekness and patience of Christ proceeded from the infinite wisdom with which he was filled. The wiser anv man is, the more patient he is. Hence meekness, the fruit, is deno- minated from patience, the root that bears it, Jam. hi. 13. " The M meekness of wisdom." And anger is lodged in folly, its pro- per cause, Eccl. vii. 9. " Anger resteth in the bosom of fools." Seneca •(• would allow no place for passion in a wise man's breast. Wise men use to ponder, consider, and weigh things deliberately in their judgments, before they suffer their affections and passions to be stirred and enraged. Hence come the constancy and serenity of their spirits. As wise Solomon hath observed, Prov. xvii. 27. " A man of understanding is of an excellent (or as the Hebrew is) " a cool, spirit.11
Now wisdom filled the soul of Christ. He is wisdom in the ab-
* Vidi zelantcm parvulum. Aug.
f If we believe that neither great, nor frequent anger, takes place in tiie mind of the wise man ; why may we not free him from the whole of this passion, S,'n w on passion.
362 TITE FOCXTAlN OF LIFE. SERAI. XXIX.
stract, Prov. viii. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom, Col. ii. 3. Hence it was that he was no otherwise moved with the re- vilings and abuses of his enemies, than a wise physician is with the impertinencies of his distempered, and crazy patient.
Thirdly, And as his patience flowed from his perfect wis- dom and know ledge, so also from his Jbre-hnowledge. He had a perfect prospect of all those things from eternity, which befel him afterwards. They came not upon him by way of surprisal. And therefore he wondered not at them when they came, as if some strange thing had happened. He foresaw all these things long be- fore, Mark viii. 31. " And he began to teach them, that the Son " of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, " and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed." Yea, he had compacted and agreed with his Father to endure all this for our sakes, before he assumed our flesh. Hence, Isa. 1. 6. " I gave my " back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the " hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting."
Now look as Christ in John xvi. 4. obviates all future offences his disciples might take at suffering for his sake, by telling them before-hand what they must expect. " These things (saith he) " I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember " that I told you of them :" So he, foreknowing what himself must suffer, and having agreed so to do, bare those sufferings with singular patience. " Jesus therefore knowing all things that should " come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, whom seek " ye ?" John xviii. 4.
Fourthly, As his patience sprang from his fore-knowledge of
his sufferings ; so from his faith which he exercised under all that
he suffered in this world. His faith looked through all those
black and dismal clouds, to the joy proposed, Heb. xii. % He knew
that though Pilate condemned, God would justify him, Isa. 1. 4,
5, 6, 7, 8. And he set one over-against the other : he balanced
the glory, into which he was to enter, with the sufferings, through
which he was to enter into it. He acted faith upon God for divine
support and assistance under suffering, as well as for glory, the
fruit and reward of them, Psal. xvi. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. I have set
(or as the apostle varies it) "I foresaw the Lord always before