Chapter VI.—Patience Both Antecedent and Subsequent to Faith.

Accordingly it is patience which is both subsequent and antecedent to faith. In short, Abraham believed God, and was accredited by Him with righteousness;62    See Gen. xv. 6; Rom. iv. 3, 9, 22; Gal. iii. 6; James ii. 23. but it was patience which proved his faith, when he was bidden to immolate his son, with a view to (I would not say the temptation, but) the typical attestation of his faith. But God knew whom He had accredited with righteousness.63    i.e. the trial was necessary not to prove his faith to God, who knows all whom He accounts righteous, but “typically” to us. So heavy a precept, the perfect execution whereof was not even pleasing to the Lord, he patiently both heard, and (if God had willed) would have fulfilled.  Deservedly then was he “blessed,” because he was “faithful;” deservedly “faithful,” because “patient.” So faith, illumined by patience, when it was becoming propagated among the nations through “Abraham’s seed, which is Christ,”64    Gal. iii. 16. and was superinducing grace over the law,65    John i. 17; Rom. vi. 14, 15. made patience her pre-eminent coadjutrix for amplifying and fulfilling the law, because that alone had been lacking unto the doctrine of righteousness. For men were of old wont to require “eye for eye, and tooth for tooth”66    Matt. vi. 38, and the references there given. and to repay with usury “evil with evil;” for, as yet, patience was not on earth, because faith was not either. Of course, meantime, impatience used to enjoy the opportunities which the law gave. That was easy, while the Lord and Master of patience was absent. But after He has supervened, and has united67    Composuit. the grace of faith with patience, now it is no longer lawful to assail even with word, nor to say “fool”68    See Matt. v. 22; and Wordsworth in loco, who thinks it probable that the meaning is “apostate.” even, without “danger of the judgment.”  Anger has been prohibited, our spirits retained, the petulance of the hand checked, the poison of the tongue69    Ps. cxl. 3; Rom. iii. 13; James iii. 8. extracted. The law has found more than it has lost, while Christ says, “Love your personal enemies, and bless your cursers, and pray for your persecutors, that ye may be sons of your heavenly Father.”70    Matt. v. 44, 45. Do you see whom patience gains for us as a Father? In this principal precept the universal discipline of patience is succinctly comprised, since evil-doing is not conceded even when it is deserved.

CAPUT VI.

Ipsa adeo est, quae fidem, et subsequitur, et antecedit (Gen., XV). Denique Abraham Deo credidit, et justitiae deputatus ab illo est: sed fidem ejus patientia probavit, cum filium immolare jussus est, ad fidei non tentationem dixerim, sed typicam contestationem . Caeterum Deus, quem justitiae deputasset, sciebat. Tam grave praeceptum, quod nec Domino perfici placebat, patienter et audivit, et si Deus voluisset, implesset. Merito ergo benedictus, quia et fidelis; merito fidelis, quia et patiens. Ita fides patientia illuminata, cum in nationes seminaretur 1259C per semen Abrahae, quod est Christus (Gal., III), et 1260A gratiam legi superduceret, ampliandae adimplendaeque legi adjutricem suam patientiam praefecit, quod ea sola ad justitiae doctrinam retro defuisset. Nam olim et oculum pro oculo, et dentem pro dente repetebant, et malum malo foenerabant (Exod., XXI; Deut. XIX): nondum enim patientia in terris, quia nec fides: scilicet interim impatientia occasionibus legis fruebatur. Facile erat, absente domino patientiae et magistro . Qui postquam supervenit , et gratiam fidei patientia composuit, jam nec verbo quidem lacessere, nec Fatue quidem dicere sine judicii periculo licet. Prohibita ira, restricti animi, compressa petulantia manus, exemptum linguae venenum, plus lex quam amisit invenit, dicente Christo (Matth., V, 44): Diligite inimicos vestros, et maledicentibus benedicite: et orate pro persecutoribus vestris, 1260B ut filii sitis Patris vestri coelestis. Vides quem nobis patrem patientia acquirat? Hoc principali praecepto universa patientiae disciplina succincta est, quando ne digne quidem malefacere concessum est .