April 28

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.—Col. l. 11.

THESE last words, with joyfulness, determine the character of true and Christian patience; for hereby it is distinguished from that which is philosophical and hypocritical. That which is philosophical (such as is celebrated in the instance of Socrates) had not this spiritual joy united with it; that which is hypocritical hath inward repining: that alone which is Christian professes joy and spiritual cheerfulness in the midst of calamities. They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

But an objection is raised from the passage before adduced, namely, Ye shall lament, but the world shall rejoice: therefore the afflictions of the godly (it is said) do not produce gladness, but grief and tears. That opinion of the Philosopher in his Ethics, is also well known. That fortitude is occupied about a troublesome and unpleasant object, and therefore it is sufficient if a brave man be not sad, although he may not be joyful.

I answer, This gladness is not concerning the object of patience, for that inflicts pain; but concerning the act, the advantage, and the end; for the consideration of these produces gladness. To rejoice concerning an object is not suitable to every virtue; for there is some kind of virtue to which it pertains to grieve about its object, as penitence: but to rejoice concerning its own act pertains to every virtue; because to every one endued with virtue, it is delightful to exercise himself according to the habit of that virtue. Whence even the penitent himself rejoices, though it be at his own sorrow: so the brave and patient are made joyful by the very exercise of fortitude and patience, although from the objects of these virtues they feel grief and pain.

But this joyfulness, which arises from the consideration of its own virtuous and praiseworthy employ, is not that which the apostle chiefly regarded; but rather that which arises from confidence of the Divine love; from a sure knowledge that all our afflictions work together for the good of our souls; from the certainty of deliverance, and the hope of glory. For so says the apostle, All things work together for good to them that love God. And in the Epistle to the Philippians, In nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation. And the Saviour, When ye shall be persecuted, rejoice; because great is your reward in heaven. Gregory says, "The more severely I am oppressed with present evils, the more certainly I anticipate future joys."

"Will ye comfort yourselves in misery, by denying the existence of delight, And from experience in woe, will ye reason that none are happy? Joy is not in your path, for it loveth not that bleak broad road, But its flowers are hung upon the hedges that line a narrower way; And there the faint travellers of earth may wander and gather for themselves, To soothe their wounded hearts with balm from the amaranths of heaven."

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