Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Ver. 3. Remembering without ceasing] A good memory is required to assiduity in prayer. All the faculties are exercised, and the whole man hard wrought.
Your work of faith] We believe not without much conflict. When faith goes about to lay hold on Christ, the devil raps her on the fingers, and would beat her off. Hence the believer hath such ado to believe.
And labour of love] Every man's love is as his labour is, Hebrews 6:10. Therefore also love and labour are of one root in Latin, because love is diligent and laborious.
And patience of hope] To wait the accomplishment of God's promises. Thus every Christian virtue hath its proper distinctive character, to difference it from that which is counterfeit.
In the sight of God] True grace will stand to God's trial, which false grace cannot abide; as alchemy gold cannot pass the seventh fire; nor doth it comfort the heart as true gold doth.