probabilities, all of Christianity saving a lifeless name, and shell, and ceremonies, is like to be rooted out of the earth. And the devil reigneth as powerfully by wicked rulers, and prelates, and priests, called Christians, as by Mahometans. And godliness is as effectually destroyed in such a kingdom as Moscovy, as it is in some infidel lands. And when Christ cometh, will he find faith on the earth?

This case indeed is a great trial of our faith and patience; but let us consider, 1. That this world was never intended to be the place of our felicity or long abode, but only as is aforesaid, as the womb where we are conceived and formed for a better world: or as the wilderness to the Israelites, where they were to be tried by difficulties in their way the land of promise: or as a winter journey through dirty or craggy ways homeward. And what if this womb, this wilderness, these ways never amend? What man is so weak as to be discouraged, because posterity is like to find the ways as foul or rough as he hath done? Or because the desarts of Lybia, or Arabia, or the dangerous passages over the Alps will be no better to the next generation that they are to this? It is indeed the desire of every true. Christian that the world were better; and these desires are not vain; they shew the honesty of them that wish it: but God will not do all that he hath made it our duty to desire. We must desire the conversion and salvation of many that never will be converted and saved.

2. God will give us all that we desire, but it is not on earth. If we did still see by faith the greater, perfect, glorious world, which we are near, it would quiet us against all our perplexing doubts and troubles in this world. All is well in heaven, even better than we can desire: there is no ignorance, no infidelity, atheism, Mahometanism; no wars, no sects, no cruelties, no contentions; reformation is there perfect, and the church all holy.

3. In all reason our affections should be but proportioned to their objects. It is our duty to mourn for the miserable world, and the corrupt state of the church on earth; but seeing the heavenly glory incomparably exceedeth the world's misery, our joy should be far greater to think of heaven, than our trouble when we think of earth. Again I say, all the earth is no bigger compared to heaven, than our gaol is, compared to all this kingdom, yea, to all the king

doms on earth; and it is our duty to be sorry, if those in prison do not amend, and that those must die that are condemned. But should we not more rejoice, if it went as well as we could wish with all the rest of the kingdom, or of the world. Heaven, which is many thousand times bigger than earth, hath nothing but perfect felicity and glory, perfect knowledge, love and joy.

4. And this earth shall serve to all God's ends. He will gather all his chosen; and he will be glorified in his providence towards the rest. Out of this Bedlam, Christ bringeth many to saving wisdom; and out of this gaol God's mercy taketh many sons to glory: he reprieveth all, and pardoneth all that are penitent believers; and traitors and enemies are reconciled to him by Christ, and being justified by faith have peace with God. God placed man in an earthly paradise as the passage to the heavenly; and man's own wilful sin and folly turned his paradise into a prison, and it is now a house of correction, where God joineth instruction, and by the book and rod doth teach his chosen saving wisdom: and as the Israelites in the wilderness had their suitable mercies for their forty years; and as Jeremy led the captive Jews to build, and plant, and marry in Babylon, and pray for its peace, as the place in which their own peace must be had, till seventy years were past (which is the age of man), so God here giveth us great mercies suitable to our wilderness and captive state; and when a little is over, we shall have better than we could here believe. And though I would not cherish that sinful desire, which would have that on earth which is proper to heaven, nor have I skill enough in the exposition of hard prophecies to make a particular determination about the thousand years' reign of Christ on earth before the final judgment, yet I may say, that I cannot confute what such learned men as Mr. Mead, Dr. Twisse, and others (after the old fathers) have hereof asserted. And I am certain that Christ teacheth us all to pray that God's name may be hallowed, his kingdom come, and his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven; and that he appointeth us to use no prayer or means in vain. And many are ready to believe the old saying, that as the world was made in six days, and the seventh was made a day of holy rest, and a day with the Lord is as a thousand years:

so after six thousand years of sin and sorrow, a thousand years holy rest shall follow. Of this I am uncertain: but I believe there will be a new heaven and earth, in which will dwell righteousness. We must not look for too great matters in a sinful, cursed earth. We would fain have all the blessedness of heaven, but we are loath to die, and therefore would have it here on earth; and the rather because as hearsay without sight doth not give a man a satisfactory conception of any house or place that he would know; so such a sensible conception we would have of heaven. But death is the wages of sin, and die we must; "but the gift of God is eternal life, through Christ who hath overcome him that hath the power of death, by the fear of which we are kept in bondage." And we may rejoice by an implicit trust to Christ, in the hope of that glory which we can in the flesh have no explicit idea or conception of; where will be no sin, no death, no fear, no imperfection, no unbelief, or censorious distaste at any of God's words or works; but beatifying vision, and fulness of everlasting joy in glory.

And against this and other objections, you must still remember that a suffering condition is not so bad for the church on earth, as unbelief and flesh would make you think. For,

1. A fleshly prosperity is too brutish and short to be true felicity. It is the portion of the wicked, and the occasion of their deceit and ruin; Psal. xvii. 14. Luke xii. 15.20,21. And is the church less happy, because it is saved from so dangerous temptations?

2. Forget not the invaluable riches of the church, in its lowest state. Their God, their Christ, their Comforter, the promises, and all suitable providences fitted to their good, are a thousandfold greater riches and honour, than all the kingdoms and power of the ungodly world.

3. The church in its most depressed state, hath impregnable strength and safety: their God is invincible: their Saviour is the rock which the gates of hell shall not prevail against; Matt. xvi. 18.

4. When they are most scorned and contemned, and used as fools and rogues, and as the basest and most odious of mankind; they are the members of Christ, the children of God, and bear his image, and are the charge of angels, and passing to a crown of glory. And what is any dishonour

from man, as set against such honours with God and all the blessed? "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God;" Matt. v. The reproach of Christ is greater riches than worldling's treasure ;" Heb. xi. 26. Ephes. ii. 7. v.25. 27. i. 22, 23. iii. 10.

5. Remember that the far greatest part of the church, even all since the creation, are in possession of heaven already, and it is but a small remnant as the gleanings, that are here yet behind; Heb. xii. 22, 23. read the description of them there: Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren; (Heb. ii. 11.) and useth them as such in his Father's house he hath many mansions for them; John xiv. 1-3. And if you saw all those millions in heaven with Christ, could you for shame grudge that the few behind are passing thither through temptation and tribulation? Or that it must be as by swimming, or on broken pieces of the ship, that they must come all safe to land, as Acts xxvii. If all be well in heaven, grudge not at the way: these things are never the worse or more uncertain in themselves, for being unseen.

6. And how great security hath God given the church of all this heavenly glory promised. Can we fear that Christ will be defeated of the great design of man's redemption, and reigning in the New Jerusalem, where he is to be its light instead of the sun? And doth not God love his church much better than we do; and better know how to deal with it, and all the world? Shall we, blind sinners, who do nothing thoroughly well, be afraid lest God will miscarry, or do any thing amiss?

8. The church must have its purgatory on earth; and prosperity filleth it with hypocrites who corrupt it; and adversity must refine from such dross.

9. Particular Christians are better by afflction; and what else is the church but particular Christians? God will not leave our temptations to the damning love of the world. too strong.

10. The church must be conformed to its Head, who suffered, and then entered into glory.

11. While all individuals are sinful and imperfect, what wonder if all the church do suffer by it?

12. Most exercises must shine and increase by exercise; like some jewels that must be rubbed as fire in a flint, or steel, that must be called into sight by violence. We are

but like common men in appearance, till somewhat more than common work, or suffering call us out, and shew our difference from hypocrites.

These, and many such considerations before intimated,

may convince us that the worst state of the church or world, is no just cause of censuring God's providence, nor of discouragement or impatience to any true believer but still in patience we may possess our souls.

I will draw out this Treatise no longer, but to remember all Christians, that the common great defect of patience is a great dishonour to our profession of faith and heavenly hope, and leadeth us to that within as the cause, which we should be greatly humbled for; and that it is a disease so painful to ourselves, as should make us loath to cherish or excuse it. A tender state of body is not desirable, which can endure no cold or air; no diet but curiously drest; neither winter nor summer, &c. Much worse is a tender, impatient mind, that is hardly pleased by man or God; that is impatient at every loss or cross, at every real or supposed wrong, at every danger, threatening or ill news; that must be stroked, and rocked, and used as a child. Alas! many people that truly fear God, have so great a want of patience, as that one can hardly live quietly with them; but he must have extraordinary skill, and care, and tenderness, if not flattery, who will not be a trouble to them.

And yet because some causelessly judge these to be worse than they are, I will say again, that passion and the will's defection, are very different sorts of impatience.

I conclude with these few brief directions, for establishing the heart with patience in all trials whatsoever.

I. Understand well the true nature of patience and impatience, that you mistake not natural temper for either saving grace, or damning sin. The passions must be distinguished from the judgment and will. A man of a choleric temper, and aged, sick, or weak persons may be peevish, and impatient with the little provocations which daily befal them, so far as to be angry and trouble themselves and others. Children will cry, and most women are more easily cast into passion than men ; they are apt to fear beyond all reason, and to be troubled and troublesome to others with unquiet grief, displeasedness or anger. This must neither be made light of, as no fault, nor yet made a greater fault