(2.) You will have occasion to exercise your patience in bearing the burden of reproaches, and sufferings for Christ; " For to you " it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe, but also " to suffer for his sake," Phil. i. 29. Sufferings, you see, are the gifts of Christ, the comfort of suffering is his gift, and so are the abilities to suffer also ; and that which will increase your suffering ability, \\i\\ be the consideration of Christ's long suffering towards you, and the hard things he endured for you and from you.
(3.) You will have occasion to exercise your patience for the day of your complete redemption and salvation. If you love Christ fervently, the time of your separation from him will be borne diffi- cultly ; vehement love needs the allay of patience, ^ Thes. iii. 5.
" The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the *' patient waiting for Christ."^ Others need much patience to die, but such will need as much patience to live ; but wherever the exercises of your patience shall be, whether in waiting for the returns of your prayers, in bearing the cross and sufferings of Christy or in waiting for the day of your complete redemption and enjoy- ment of Christ : This single consideration, that Christ stood and waited so long upon you, is enough to fortify your patience against all the difficulties it shall encounter.
Infer. 7. Lastly, If Christ thus patiently wait upon trifling and obstinate sinners ; then let no godly person he discouragedy hecause ifieir unregenerate relations have not yet made their first step to^ wards Christy in the way of repentance and saving Jaith^
It may be you have laid up a great stock of prayers for them, the believing husband hath prayed for his unbeheving wife, and the be- lieving wife for her unbeheving husband ; godly parents for their ungodly children, and the gracious child for his ungodly parents ; and yet no returns of prayer appear. Many cries are gone up to heaven like that of Abraham, Gen. x\di. 18. " O tliat Ishmael *' might hve before thee."" Well, be not discouraged, Christ is contented to wait, and therefore well may you. Those cries of parents. Lord, my poor child is in the state of nature, look in mercy^ upon him, open his eyes, break his heart for sin, draw his will to Christ ; these cries may not be lost, though the fruit of them yet appear not : Consider how long Christ waited upon you. There be three things that encourage hope : (1.) That your hearts and theirs were of the same natural complexion and temper ; and the same power which opened your hearts can open theirs ; thy under- standing was once as dark, thy heart as hard, and thy will as inflexible as thy carnal relations now are. The same hand that opened thy heart can open theirs. Do not think Christ had an^ easier task to win thy heart, than he will have to win theirs. Almighty power wrought upon you, and the same power can work eff'ectually upon them; the Lord's hand is not shortened. (2.) You have reason to wait, for as much as it is probable you yourselves have put stumbling-blocks in the way of their souls to Christ, and hindered the returns of your ovm prayers for the con- version of your carnal relatives. O Christians, there is more due to them than your prayers, prayers must be backed with examples ; had they not only heard your cries to God for them, but seen your suitable encouraging pattern set before them also, you and yours might have rejoiced together long ago. But (3.) consider that God many times makes the fruit of such prayers to spring up after those that soAved them are dead and gone. The Lord may give life to your prayers when you are dead : certainly your prayers die
iK)t With you. It is the opinion of some, that l^auPs conversion was the return of Stephen's prayer, " Lord, lay not this sin to «* their charge." Stephen died, but his prayers hved, and were answered upon one that stood by and consented to his death. But however it be, wait on ; if your prayers come not into their bosoms, they will certainly return into your own. Here is duty discharged, love to Christ and their souls manifested ; which will be your com* fort, however God dispose the event.
Secondly^ The doctrine of Chrises patience puts a great and seri- ous exhortation into my mouth this day, to press one of the great- est duties upon you that ever I pressed in the whole course of my ministry among you : And could I deliver this exhortation to you upon my knees, with tears of blood mingled with my words, might that prevail, I would surely do it. My exhortation is to all that are in an unregenerate state, that they presume not to try the pa- tience of Christ any longer. If you have any regard to your eter- nal happiness, exercise not his patience beyond this hour. O that this hour might put an end to Christ's waiting, and your danger ! Hitherto you have wearied men, but will you weary God also ? Christ hath called but you have refused ; he hath stretched out his hands, but you have not regarded. Your thoughts have been wandering after vanity, whilst the voice of the gospel hath been sounding in your eyes ; 'some of you have been sottish, and incapa- ble to apprehend spiritual truths, others of you sensual, given up to the pleasures of the world, and abandoning all serious thoughts about the world to come. Some of you have been buried alive in the cares of the world, and others settled upon a dead formahty in religion: And to this day Christ hath called upon you in vain. Now that which I exhort you to is, that you venture not to try tlie patience of Christ one day longer ; if you have any regard to the everlasting happiness of your souls, come not under the guilt and danger of one denial or delay more. If you ask me why ? Why may we not venture a little longer ? Christ hath borne all this while, and will he not bear a little longer ? May we not take a little more pleasure in sin ^ May we not hazard one sermon or sab- bath more, and yet not perish ? I answer, No ! If your souls be precious in your eyes, let there be no more denials, nor delays to Christ's suit For,
1. How patient, and long-suffering soever Christ hath been, yet there will be an end of the day of his patience ; a time when he will wait no longer, when his Spirit shall strive no more with you. There is a knock of Christ at the heart, which will be the last knock that ever he will give ; and after that no more knocks : a
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