The patient man is made of a metal, not so hard as flexible:  his shoulders are large, fit for a load of injuries; which he bears not out of baseness and cowardliness, because he dare not revenge, but out of Christian fortitude, because he may not:  he has so conquered himself that wrongs cannot conquer him; and herein alone finds that victory consists in yielding.  He is above nature, while he seems below himself.  The vilest creature knows how to turn again; but to command himself not to resist being urged is more than heroical.  His constructions are ever full of charity and favour; either this wrong was not done, or not with intent of wrong; or if that, upon mis-information; or if none of these, rashness (though a fault) shall serve for an excuse.  Himself craves the offender’s pardon before his confession; and a slight answer contents where the offended desires to forgive.  He is God’s best witness; and when he stands before the bar for truth his tongue is calmly free, his forehead firm, and he with erect and settled countenance hears his just sentence, and rejoices in it.  The jailors that attend him are to him his pages of honour; his dungeon, the lower part of the vault of heaven; his rack or wheel, the stairs of his ascent to glory:  he challenges his executioners, and encounters the fiercest pains with strength of resolution; and while he suffers the beholders pity him, the tormentors complain of weariness, and both of them wonder.  No anguish can master him, whether by violence or by lingering.  He accounts expectation no punishment, and can abide to have his hopes adjourned till a new day.  Good laws serve for his protection, not for his revenge; and his own power, to avoid indignities, not to return them.  His hopes are so strong that they can insult over the greatest discouragements; and his apprehensions so deep that, when he hath once fastened, he sooner leaveth his life than his hold.  Neither time nor perverseness can make him cast off his charitable endeavours and despair of prevailing; but in spite of all crosses and all denials, he redoubleth his beneficial offers of love.  He trieth the sea after many shipwrecks, and beats still at that door which he never saw opened.  Contrariety of events doth but exercise, not dismay him; and when crosses afflict him, he sees a divine hand invisibly striking with these sensible scourges, against which he dares not rebel nor murmur.  Hence all things befall him alike; and he goes with the same mind to the shambles and to the fold.  His recreations are calm and gentle, and not more full of relaxation than void of fury.  This man only can turn necessity into virtue, and put evil to good use.  He is the surest friend, the latest and easiest enemy, the greatest conqueror, and so much more happy than others, by how much he could abide to be more miserable.

OF THE TRUE FRIEND.