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flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. xv. 50. Say not, "I am so crossed and provoked, never any the like;" for Christ was more injured and more provoked than you, and yet never was in a passion, 1 Peter ii. 23; Heb. xii. 2, 3. And you provoke God a thousand times more every day, yet he is patient with you. Say not, "It is such a headstrong passion, that it is impossible to bridle and subdue it;" for, I can assure you, that by using means, these prescribed, if you also do often and much abase yourself before God for your passion and folly, and daily repent thereof, and watch over yourself, you may, of most hasty and passionate, become most meek and patient before you die. I have seen it in old men whose age in itself giveth advantage to peevishness and forwardness, who were exceedingly passionate in their youth, yet through the grace of God, by constant conflict against this vice, have attained to an admirable degree of meekness.

2. The cure of worldly grief.

Next, as carnal anger, so worldly grief must be avoided in all sorts of crosses. For, by it, you repine against God, fret against men, and make yourself unfit for natural, civil, and spiritual duties, 1 Kings xxi. 4; and if it be continued, it works death, 2 Cor. vii. 10.

The best remedy against worldly sorrow for any affliction, is to turn it into godly sorrow for sin, which is the cause of all our troubles. This will work repentance to salvation, never to be repented of, 2 Cor. vii. 10; and will drive you to Christ, in whom, if you believe, you will have joy and comfort; even such joy unspeakable as will dispel and dry up both this and all other griefs whatsoever, 1 Peter i. 6, 8. For godly sorrow does always, in due time, end in spiritual joy.

(3.) The nature of Christian patience.

In the third place, I proceed to show the nature of Christian patience. By patience, I do not mean a stoical senselessness, or dull stupidity, like that of Issachar, Gen. xlix. 14, 15; nor yet a counterfeit patience, like Esau's, Gen. xxvii. 41, 42, and Absalom's, 2 Sam. xiii. 13, 22; nor a mere civil or moral