Due estimate

Thomas Goodwin on a Christians highest privilege and greatest interest, namely, patience and suffering:

If you are true and right Christians, and you know,as the apostle says, how to put a due estimate on what is your greatest interest and privilege in this life-

the proof and trial of your graces, and of the grace of patience above all, as the highest perfection of a Christian, yea, of Christ Himself, and the most eminent praise of prophets and apostles -

and if you value being rendered most pleasing to God, then count it all joy when you fall into temptations.

For now you have God and Christ, the great, the Chief Master Orderer and Designer of these conflicts, setting His most gracious eye on you, pleasing Himself to behold how valiantly, wisely, and gallantly you behave and acquit yourselves. (61, line breaks mine)