The Virginia Gazette

On PATIENCE.

AS the generality of evils may be attributed to impatience, the greatest good, most frequently flows from its excellent opposite patience. To enumerate all the advantages this virtue is productive of, would be too great, though agreeable, a task. It is this which completes the christian, forms the hero, supports the oppressed, encourages the distressed, animates the dejected, and steels man against the impetuous attacks of the devil, the world, and his own carnal lusts and appetites. Are we tempted to sin, patience will always opportunely check this prurient desire, and bridle our inclinations. Are we injured, ridiculed, persecuted, patience, with a smile on her countenance, will bid us "be of good cheer." Even the black horrors of despair are suddenly dispelled, at the effulgence of this all-cheering virtue. When sickness, with all her gloomy attendants, has nailed us to a couch, if patience does but open the curtains, our hearts feel as light as a feather at her approach. Nay, we may boldly challenge the grim tyrant, death, to strike the fatal blow; patience will take off the sting, and we shall, with a placid smile, leave this vale of tears with these exprobratory words, "O death, where is thy sting?" It is patience which repels the attacks of our impetuous lusts and passions, and keeps them within that virtuous medium, which leads to happiness. How astonishingly dreadful would be the mansions of infirmity, old age, poverty, and disease, if it was not for the friendly consolatory visits of this all-suffering virtue! Desperado has committed faults, he has been guilty of enormities; till it was in his power to retrieve his errors, and expiate his guilt: Patience would, in time, have brought him back to a due sense of his duty, and restored to him that tranquillity and quietude of mind which he enjoyed in his halcyon days of innocence; but he is deaf to her voice! Despair arms his hand, and he rushes into his Maker's presence, loaded with guilt; with this most aggravating circumstance, despair of God's mercy. Enamorato, disappointed by the non performance of promises made by a false perjured fair, plunges a dagger in his own breast, without once reflecting that there are more in the world fairer and better than she. Whereas he ought certainly to esteem himself happy, that he is not yoked to a woman who could be guilty of the greatest infidelity. Had he consulted patience, he would have found her the best physician. His wounds would soon have been healed; and he would have easily forgotten the cause of all his woe. In short, so many and tragical are the events produced by impatience, that we may conclude, with the most indubitable certainty, that at least half the evils in this world are occasioned by her.