{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/003/0030802.htm","path":"chr/ecf/003/0030802.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/003/0030802.htm","text":"Chapter XI.\u2014Further Reasons for Practising Patience. Its Connection with the Beatitudes.\nAfter these principal material causes of impatience, registered to the best of our ability, why should we wander out of our way among the rest,\u2014what are found at home, what abroad? Wide and diffusive is the Evil One\u2019s operation, hurling manifold irritations of our spirit, and sometimes trifling ones, sometimes very great. But the trifling ones you may contemn from their very littleness; to the very great ones you may yield in regard of their overpoweringness. Where the injury is less, there is no necessity for impatience; but where the injury is greater, there more necessary is the remedy for the injury\u2014patience. Let us strive, therefore, to endure the inflictions of the Evil One, that the counter-zeal of our equanimity may mock the zeal of the foe. If, however, we ourselves, either by imprudence or else voluntarily, draw upon ourselves anything, let us meet with equal patience what we have to blame ourselves for. Moreover, if we believe that some inflictions are sent on us by the Lord, to whom should we more exhibit patience than to the Lord? Nay, He teaches 9124 us to give thanks and rejoice, over and above, at being thought worthy of divine chastisement. \u201cWhom I love,\u201d saith He, \u201cI chasten.\u201d 9125 O blessed servant, on whose amendment the Lord is intent! with whom He deigns to be wroth! whom He does not deceive by dissembling His reproofs! On every side, therefore, we are bound to the duty of exercising patience, from whatever quarter, either by our own errors or else by the snares of the Evil One, we incur the Lord\u2019s reproofs. Of that duty great is the reward\u2014namely, happiness. For whom but the patient has the Lord called happy, in saying, \u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens?\u201d 9126 No one, assuredly, is \u201cpoor in spirit,\u201d except he be humble. Well, who is humble, except he be patient? For no one can abase himself without patience, in the first instance, to bear the act of abasement. \u201cBlessed,\u201d saith He, \u201care the weepers and mourners.\u201d 9127 Who, without patience, is tolerant of such unhappinesses? And so to such, \u201cconsolation\u201d and \u201claughter\u201d are promised. \u201cBlessed are the gentle:\u201d 9128 under this term, surely, the impatient cannot possibly be classed. Again, when He marks \u201cthe peacemakers\u201d 9129 with the same title of felicity, and names them \u201csons of God,\u201d pray have the impatient any affinity with \u201cpeace?\u201d Even a fool may perceive that. When, however, He says, \u201cRejoice and exult, as often as they shall curse and persecute you; for very great is your reward in heaven,\u201d 9130 of course it is not to the impatience of exultation 9131 that He makes that promise; because no one will \u201cexult\u201d in adversities unless he have first learnt to contemn them; no one will contemn them unless he have learnt to practise patience.\nDocet. But a plausible conjecture, \u201cdecet,\u201d \u201cit becomes us,\u201d has been made.\n714:9125\nProv. 3:11, 12, Heb. 12:5, 6, Rev. 3:19.\n714:9126 714:9127 714:9128 714:9129 714:9130\nMatt. 5:11, 12, inexactly quoted.\n714:9131","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part III: Furth...","type":"page"}