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TEE. 4.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 203
therefore unless we abound in the love and work of the Lord, we are like to be in the dark as to our eternal interests.
[2.] We must be more mortified to the world ; for he that liveth a flesh-pleasing, a sense-pleasing life, is but ripening himself for apostasy, James iv. 4. He that will be a friend to the world will be an enemy to Christ. How can they that prize worldly prosperity and sensual satisfaction so much ever induce their hearts to part with these things ? None are corrupted with prosperity but they are as much dejected with adversity : 2 Peter i. 6, ' To temperance patience.' These befriend one another. A man that shutteth up himself much with God can the better bear a prison ; and he that is contented with a little can trust God in the loss of all.
[3.] He that aboundeth in charity, and is willing to communicate this world's goods to him that needeth, will the sooner venture all in Christ's hands: Gal. vi. 10, 'Do good while you have opportunity.' He that neglecteth or slighteth a command will murmur against pro- vidence when that is taken from him by force which he would not will- ingly give.
[4.] Diligence in holiness ; for the martyr must have all the preceding graces, poor in spirit, meek, merciful, hungering after righteousness, pure in heart, &c, Mat. v. 1-12. You begrudge a little pains for God, how will you expose the body to all kind of sufferings ? Melior est impa- tientia boni — Tertul.
[5.] If you cannot digest lighter afflictions, how will you bear greater? If you cannot bear with a scoff, a frown, or scorn, or resist the counsel of carnal friends, how will you bear the loss of life itself? There are private persecutions as well as public ; therefore father and mother are put into the catalogue, and brother and sister, Luke xiv. 26. If you cannot endure a disgrace, a loss of preferment, how will you endure rapine, torture, and the fiery trial, &c. ? 'If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, how canst thou contend with horses ? ' Jer. xii. 5.
Doct. 2. That a constant and unconquered patience under many per- secutions and tribulations is a sign of a strong faith ; for this is the evidence that the apostle produceth, that their faith grew exceedingly.
1. I shall show what is patience.
2. What of faith is manifested by it.
3. The reasons why this is the fruit and evidence.
I. What is patience ? A contented endurance of painful evils. It is either moral or spiritual. The moral virtue is when, by such argu- ments as human prudence furnisheth us with, we harden ourselves to bear the evils that befall us in that honest course wherein we are engaged. The spiritual grace is the fruit of the Spirit, and we bear these evils from divine principles to divine ends. It concerneth a christian to see whether it be nature or grace that beareth him up under his troubles. The grace of patience, as it is wrought in us by God, who is therefore called ' the God of patience/ Eom. xv. 5, so it fetcheth its strength from the word of God : Bom. xv. 4, ' That we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.' Now scriptural arguments are fetched either from the will of God, who appointeth us to this con- flict, 1 Thes. iii. 3, or from the glory of God, which is promoted there-
204 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SeB. L
by, Phil. i. 20, or else our final happiness, James i. 12, or from the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ' suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps,' 1 Peter ii. 21. Now these arguments will hold us more closely to our duty, and beget another kind of patience than mere nature can attain unto.
This patience, which is the grace, may be considered — (1.) Barely as tried ; (2.) As tried with many and long afflictions.
1. Barely as tried. Some give up at the first assault. Impatiency of adversity is the character of the stony ground ; and it is said, Mat. xiii. 21, ' When tribulation or persecution ariseth for the word, by and by he is offended/ They do not stand long when God cometh to try their sincerity ; this argueth no faith. Others hold up against the first brunt, but begin to be tired and wax weary in their minds, Heb. xii. 3. This argueth weak faith, which must be strengthened ; it hath not epyov rekeiov, James i. 4. We must tarry till the perfection of patience be more thoroughly discovered.
2. As tried with many and long afflictions. Many : Heb. x. 32, •jroWrjv aOXrjGiv ; and divers trials, James i. 2 ; this is great patience. Long evils : Col. i. 4, ' Strengthened with all might, unto all patience, and long-suffering, and joy fulness.' Long-suffering is patience extended. The perfection of grace is not discovered till put on many and great trials. Many cannot bear any evil ; they have no faith. Some hold out in slighter temptations for a while ; they have weak faith. But the constant and uuconquered patience is the fruit of strong faith. Thus I have shown what patience is.