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patience, which wise heathens, to free themselves from vexation, and for vain glory and other ends, attained unto; nor yet a profane patience, Rev. ii. 2, of men insensible of God's dishonour or afflicting hand; nor a patience per-force, when the sufferer is merely passive, because he cannot relieve himself: but a Christian holy patience, wherein you must be sensible of God's hand, and when you cannot but feel an unwillingness in nature to bear it, yet, for conscience towards God, you do submit to his will, and that voluntarily, with an active patience, causing yourself to be willing to bear it so long as God shall please; after the example of Christ, Matt. xxvi. 39, 42, Not my will, but thine be done. The excellency of Christ's sufferings was not in that he suffered, but in that he was obedient in his sufferings. He was obedient to the death, Phil. ii. 8. So likewise no man's suffering is acceptable, if he be not active and obedient in suffering.

This patience is a grace of the Spirit of God, wrought in the heart and will of man, through believing, and applying the commandments and promises of God to himself; whereby, for conscience sake towards God, 1 Peter ii. 19, he does submit his will to God's will, quietly bearing, without bitterness and vexation, all the labour, changes, and evil occurrences which befal him in the whole course of his life, whether from God immediately, or from man: as also waiting patiently for all such good things as God has promised, but yet are delayed and unfulfilled.

(4.) Motives to Christian patience under adversities.

To induce you to get, and to show forth this holy patience, know, that you have great need of it, Heb. x. 36, and that in these respects:

First, You are but half a Christian, you are imperfect, and want a principal grace in the Christian life, if you want patience: thus James argues, implying that he who will be entire, James i. 4, and want nothing to make him a Christian, must have patience. This passive obedience is greater than active; it is