Passion and Patience

I saw moreover in my Dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontent; but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion? The Interpreter answered, The Governor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now; but Patience is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up and rejoiced therein; and withal, laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me.

So the Interpreter said, These two lads are figures: Passion, of the men of this world; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come; for as here thou seest, Passion will have all now this year, that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, is of more authority with them than are all the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the end of this world.

Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts.

1. Because he stays for the best things.

2. And also because he will have the glory of His, when the other has nothing but rags.

Interpretation:

Majority of the Christians in this world are likened to Passion. Though they covet all the material blessings of this world and get the same either by faith or by their own efforts, they are discontent. They do not wait on God patiently to receive material blessings but want to get the same through a short-cut. They are so impatient that they go to different servants of God seeking their prayers or their words of prophecy. They do not get contentment. They seek human help and divine help simultaneously.

But those children of God likened to Patience look for things eternal and get those material blessings which are essential for their living. There is no greediness in them. Even for getting material blessings, they seek God's will and wait on Him. They see eternal even in material blessings. They do not seek the favours of men but look unto God holding on to His promises. Ultimately, they get the best things from God.

The Passion has only rags but the Patience has the glory of God. The fruits of the labour of the Passion which she gets by virtue of her hard labour end in rags and not in the glory of God. But the fruits of the labour of the Patience who trusts in God fully without any human help whatsoever result in the glory of God.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matt.5:5). Those who are patient are the meek who shall inherit the earth. Their inheritance is permanent and eternal. Their inheritance by faith in God and by patience is devoid of corruption in this world.

The Patience is like Lazarus who is comforted forever in the heaven. Those who are likened to the Patience do not lead a sumptuous life but a simple life. They live by the crumbs of bread that fall from the table of the rich. They just work with their hands in establishments owned by the rich and get salaries which form a small fraction of the huge profits earned by the rich employers.

Next....Fire burning against wall

The Interpreter said, Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone, Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have his time to come: but last gives place to nothing; for there is not another to succeed. He therefore that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it; but be that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly; therefore it is said of Dives, In thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. The Christian said. Then I perceive 'tis not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come.

The Interpreter explained. You say truth: For the things which are seen are Temporal; but the things that are not seen are Eternal. But though this be so, yet since things present and our fleshly appetite are such near neighbors one to another; and, again, because things to come and carnal sense are such strangers one to another; therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fell into amity, and that distance is so continued between the second.


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