February 21

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." — Heb. x. 56.

WE have need of grace to entitle us to the promise, faith to rely on its truth, prayer to plead its personal application, hope to animate us in the expectation of its fulfilment, and patience and perseverance that we may receive it. Patience is requisite, both on a present and future account. We need it

FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF PRESENT DUTY. "Doing the will of God" includes

Active obedience. As God does not send any into the world, so he does not plant any in the church to be idle. His will is our standard, and his grace is our support in duty.

Passive submission. The life of the believer here is continual exercise; there are many tests by which God tries his people. How hard is it to bear with patience accumulated trials; and while clouds gather thick around us, and billows roll in rapid succession over us, to preserve a calmness and serenity of mind, which enables us to smile at the storm, to kiss the hand that makes us smart, and say —

"Blest be that hand, whether it shed Mercies or judgments o'er my head: Extend the sceptre or the rod. Blest hand! 'tis still the land of God."

FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FUTURE HAPPINESS. What is "the promise?" It refers to the last promise, the grand consummation of the whole. Thus believers in glory are said to be inheriting the promises. There are many motives that should excite us to the exercise of patience. Heaven is worth waiting for, the period is not long, our present comforts and provisions are great, impatience ill becomes us, and can do us no good; those who are now inheriting, were once pleading the promises.