Patience by John Norton Loughborough

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1875

Patience.

By John Norton Loughborough

"In your patience possess ye your souls." It is the duty of Christians to manifest the grace of patience under all circumstances. Not only is this clear from the injunction in the above text, but Peter, in giving us his great problem of addition in the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1:6), says, "Add to temperance, patience." As much as to say, be temperate because it will be difficult for you to be patient unless you are temperate. Temperance is defined by Webster, "Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions."

Applying the above definition to eating and drinking, we may say that the excessive use of food, that is of itself healthful when taken in proper quantities, will overburder the nervous system and become a source of nervous irritation to be manifested in the impatient words or manner of the excessive eater.

So, also, one may exhaust nervous energy by overwork, and under a pressure of care loose that power of self-control that steady nerve and calm reflection would insure. With one thus overworked, and carrying a greater burden than is meet, work will not only be improperly done, but under circumstances of perplexity, their work will be liable to be marked with words and acts of impatience.

During the few weeks past, while released from public labor, I have been looking over my life, especially in California, and I have some things to say relative to the bearing of the above principles on my own case. I have, in many instances, been intemperate in labor. I have gone many times beyond my strength, and, at such times, with nervous power exhausted, I have not moved with that calm reflection becoming a minister of Christ. Words of impatience, savoring too much of scolding, have been spoken by me, under such circumstances. This is true relative to two or three instances in connection with our last camp-meeting. This was all wrong. I ask of those who witnessed it forbearance. I do not ask you to excuse the wrong under the plea of overwork. Wrong is wrong.

I am resolved, by the Lord's help, to be temperate in labor for the future, not only in amount of labor, but in kind; leaving that which can be done to better advantage by others than myself for them to do, and calmly and patiently doing what the Lord would have me to do.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.