De Secunda Specie Virtutum ad Officia Hominis erga se pertinentium
by John Milton
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. Structured corpus (addressing, index, notes): CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://milton.wrootpress.com/browse/2/10
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{¶1} The virtues which regulate our desire of external good have been spoken of; we are next to consider those which are exercised in the resistance to, or the endurance of evil.

{¶2} These virtues are fortitude and patience.

{¶3–4} **FORTITUDE** is chiefly conspicuous in repelling evil, or in regarding its approach with equanimity. Josh. i. 6, 7, 9. *have not I commanded thee? be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.* Heb. xi. 32, &c. *the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, &c. who through faith subdued kingdoms.* Psal. iii. 9. *I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.* See Psal. xviii. 32, &c. xxiii. 4. *though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.* xxxvii. 12, &c. *the wicked plotteth against the just......the wicked have drawn out the sword......their sword shall enter into their own heart.* xlvi. 1, 2. *God is our refuge and strength......therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed.* lvi. 11. *in God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.* See also cxviii. 6. cxii. 7, 8. *he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.* Prov. iii. 24, 25. *when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid.* xxiv. 5, 6. *a wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.* xxviii. 1.  *the righteous are bold as a lion.* Isai. xli. 10. *fear thou not, for I am with thee.* li. 7. *fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.* v. 12. *I am he that comforteth you; who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid—?* Dan. iii. 16. *they said to the king ....we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.* Matt. x. 28, &c. *fear not them which kill the body—.* The great pattern of fortitude is our Saviour Jesus Christ, throughout the whole of his life, and in his death. Luke xiii. 31, &c. *go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.* John xi. 7, 8. *his disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?* 2 Tim. i. 7. *God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.* 1 John ii. 14. *I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.*

{¶5} Opposed to fortitude are, first, timidity. Psal. xxvii. 1. *Jehovah is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?* Prov. x. 24. *the fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him.* xxv. 26. *a righteous man falling down before the wicked, is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring.* xxviii. 1. *the wicked flee when no man pursueth.* xxix. 25. *the fear of man bringeth a snare.* Isai. xli. 13, 14. *fear not, thou worm Jacob.* Nehem. vi. 11. *should such a man as I flee?* Matt. xxiv. 6. *ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled.* Rev. xxi. 8. *the fearful and unbelieving....shall have their part in the lake that burneth—.*

{¶6} Secondly, rashness, which consists in exposing ourselves to danger unnecessarily. Prov. xiv. 16. *a wise man feareth and departeth from evil; but the fool rageth, and is confident.* This fault is exemplified in Amaziah, 2 Kings xiv. 8. *come, let us look one another in the face;* and in Josiah, 2 Chron. xxxv. 20—22. *he sent ambassadors unto him, saying ...nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him—.* Christ has taught us to avoid it by his example. John vii. 1. *he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.* xi. 53, 54. *Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews.* Matt. x. 23. *when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.*

{¶7} **PATIENCE** consists in the endurance of misfortunes and injuries. Psal. lxix. 7. *for thy sake I have borne reproach, shame hath covered my face.* Prov. xi. 12. *he that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.* xvii. 27. *he that hath knowledge spareth his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.* xix. 11. *the discretion of a man deferreth his anger.* Eccles. vii. 21. *also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.* Isai. l. 7, 8. *I have set my face like a flint—,* Matt. v. 39. *resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.* 1 Cor. vi. 7. *why do ye not rather take wrong?* 1 Thess. v. 14. *be patient towards all men.* See above, on patience towards God. Compensation for injuries, nevertheless, is occasionally exacted even by pious men. Acts xvi. 37. *they have beaten us openly uncondemned,* &c.

{¶8} The opposites to this are, first, impatience and effeminacy of temper. Prov. xxiv. 10. *if thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.*

{¶9} Secondly, an hypocritical patience, which voluntarily inflicts upon itself unnecessary evils. This is exemplified in the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings xviii. 28. *they cut themselves after their manner with knives;* and in the flagellations of the modern Papists.

{¶10} Lastly, a stoical apathy; for sensibility to pain, and even lamentations, are not inconsistent with true patience; as may be seen in Job and the other saints, when under the pressure of affliction.[^s4]