SERMON XI.

On PATIENCE.

In

LUKE, xxi. 19.

your Patience poffefs ye your fouls.

THE

XI.

HE poffeffion of our fouls is a very em- SERM. phatical expreffion. It defcribes that ftate in which a man has both the full command, and the undisturbed enjoyment, of himself; in oppofition to his undergoing fome inward agitation which difcomposes his powers. Upon the leaft reflection, it must appear, how effential fuch a state of mind is to happiness. He only who thus poffeffes his foul is capable of poffeffing any other thing with advantage; and in order to attain and preserve this

4

felf

SERM. felf-poffeffion, the most important requisite XI. is, the habitual exercise of patience.

I know that patience is apt to be ranked by many, among the more humble and obfcure virtues; belonging chiefly to those who groan on a fick-bed, or who languish in a prifon. If their situation be, happily, of a different kind, they imagine that there is no occasion for the difcipline of patience being preached to them. But I hope to make it appear, that, in every circumftance of life, no virtue is more important, both to duty and to happiness; or more requifite for forming a manly and worthy character. It is not confined to a fituation of continued adverfity. It principally, indeed, regards the difagreeable circumftances which are apt to occur. But, in our present state, the occurrence of these is fo frequent, that, in every condition of life, patience is inceffantly called forth. Profperity cannot be enjoyed, any more than adverfity fupported, without it. It must enter into the temper, and form the habit of the foul, if we would pass through

the

XI.

the world with tranquillity and honour. SERM. What I purpose is, to point out fome of the chief occafions on which patience is required; and to recommend and enforce the exercise of it, in order to our possessing our fouls.

I. PATIENCE under provocations. The wide circle of human fociety is diverfified by an endless variety of characters, difpofitions, and paffions. Uniformity is, in no refpect, the genius of the world. Every man is marked by fome peculiarity which diftinguishes him from another: and no where can two individuals be found who are exactly, and in all refpects, alike. Where fo much diverfity obtains, it cannot but happen, that, in the intercourfe which men are obliged to maintain, their tempers fhall often be ill adjufted to that intercourfe; fhall jar, and interfere with each other. Hence, in every station, the highest as well as the loweft, and in every condition of life, public, private, and domeftic, occafions of irritation frequently arise.

We

XI.

SERM. We are provoked, fometimes, by the folly and levity of those with whom we are connected; fometimes, by their indifference or neglect; by the incivility of a friend, the haughtiness of a fuperior, or the infolent behaviour of one in lower station. Hardly, a day paffes, without fomewhat or other occurring, which ferves to ruffle the man of impatient fpirit. Of course, fuch a man lives in a continual ftorm. He knows not what it is to enjoy a train of good humour. Servants, neighbours, friends, spouse, and children, all, through the unrestrained violence of his temper, become fources of difturbance and vexation to him. In vain is affluence; in vain are health and prosperity. The leaft trifle is fufficient to difcompofe his mind, and poison his pleasures. His very amufements are mixed with turbulence and paffion.

I would befeech this man to confider, of what small moment the provocations which he receives, or at least imagines himself to receive, are really in themselves; but of what great moment he makes them, by fuffering

fuffering them to deprive him of the poffeffion of himself. I would befeech him. to confider, how many hours of happiness he throws away, which a little more pa-> tience would allow him to enjoy; and how much he puts it in the power of the most infignificant perfons to render him miserable. "But who can expect," we hear him exclaim," that he is to poffefs the insensi

bility of a stone? How is it poffible for "human nature to endure fo many re"peated provocations? or to bear calmly "with fuch unreasonable behaviour?".

My brother! if you can bear with no inftances of unreafonable behaviour, withdraw yourself from the world. You are no longer fit to live in it. Leave the intercourfe of men. Retreat to the mountain, and the defert; or fhut yourself up in a cell. For here, in the midft of fociety, offences muft come. You might as well expect, when you beheld a calm atmosphere, and a clear sky, that no clouds were ever to rife, and no winds to blow, as that, your life was long to proceed, without re-. ceiving