Not one step of progress can be gained without the exercise of this grace of patience; and not one of the graces more beautifully adorns the Christian character, or wins the approval of the world's conscience, or glorifies the God of all grace whose Truth inspires it. It is long-suffering meekness earnestly striving to stem the tide of human imperfection and weakness, and endeavoring with painstaking care to regain the Divine likeness; it is slow to wrath and plenteous in mercy; it is quick to perceive the paths of truth and righteousness, and prompt to walk in them; it is mindful of its own imperfections and sympathetic with the imperfections and shortcomings of others.
Patience is that quality of heart and mind that, meeting obstacles in a cheerful spirit, perseveres unto the end in the course it is following. This quality is absolutely essential to the attainment of a perfect character, under the conditions of obstacles connected with the Christian life; and such a quality will permeate and perfect every other quality required in the Christian; therefore it is one of the universal graces.
Psa. 37:7-9; Eccles. 7:8; Lam. 3:24-27; Luke 8:15; 21:19; Rom. 2:7; 5:3; 8:25; 12:12; 15:4, 5; 2 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 6:9; Col. 1:10, 11; 1 Thes. 1:3; Heb. 6:12, 15; 10:36; 12:1.
