ON THE ADVANTAGE OF PATIENCE. 35 departed from God ? Not being ableto bear the delays of Moses conferringwith God, they dared to ask for profane gods,thatthey might callthe head of an ox and an earthen image leadersof theirmarch ; nor did they ever desistfrom theirimpatience,until,impatientalways of docilityand of divineadmonition,they put to death theirprophets and all the righteousmen, and plunged even intothe crime of the crucifixionand bloodsheddingof the Lord. Moreover,impa tiencemakes hereticsin the church,and, afterthe likeness of the Jews, drivesthem in oppositionto the peace and charity of Christ as rebels,to hostileand raging hatred. And, not at length to enumerate singlecases,absolutely everythingwhich patience,by itsworks,buildsup to glory, impatiencecastsdown intoruin. 20. Wherefore, beloved brethren,having diligentlypon dered both the benefitsof patienceand the evilsof impa tience,let us hold fastwith fullwatchfulnessthe patience whereby we abide in Christ,thatwith Christwe may attain to God; which patience,copious and manifold,is not re strainedby narrow limits,nor confinedby straitboundaries. The virtueof patienceis widely manifest,and itsfertility and liberalityproceedindeedfrom a sourceof one name, but are diffusedby overflowingstreams through many ways of glory; nor can anythingin our actionsavailfor the perfec tionof praise,unlessfrom thisitreceivesthesubstanceof its perfection.It is patiencewhich both commends and keeps us to God. It ispatience,too,which assuagesanger,which bridlesthe tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline,breaksthe force of lust,repressesthe violenceof pride,extinguishesthe fireof enmity,checks the power of the rich,soothesthe want of the poor,protectsa blessed integrityin virgins,a carefulpurityin widows, in thosewho are united and married a singleaffection.It makes men humble in prosperity,brave in adversity,gentle towards wrongs and contempts. It teachesus quickly to pardon thosewho wrong us ; and ifyou yourselfdo wrong, toentreat long and earnestly. It resiststemptations,sufferspersecu tions,perfectspassionsand martyrdoms. Itispatiencewhich