not of renewed supplies of animal spirits or of intellectual vigour that the apostle speaks, but of the renewal of spiritual strengjth to do and suffer. This constant renewal of streno^th is opposed to fainting. ' We faint not, but are renewed day hy day^ W^P^ '^^' W^P^' This is a Hebraism, Gen. 39, 10. Ps. 68, 19, familiar to our ears but foreign to Greek usage. The supplies of strength came without fail and as they were needed.
17. For our light affliction, which is but for a mo- ment, worketh for us a far more exceeding (and) eter- nal weight of glory.
This is the reason why we faint not. Our afflictions are light, they are momentary, and they secure eternal glory. Every thing depends upon the standard of judgment. Viewed absolutely, or in comparison with the sufferings of other men, Paul's afflictions were exceedingly great. He was poor, often without food or clothing ; his body was weak and sickly ; he was homeless ; he was beset by cruel enemies ; he was repeatedly scourged, he was stoned, he was impris- oned, he was shipwrecked, robbed, and counted as the off- scouring of the earth ; he was beyond measure harassed by anxieties and cares, and by the opposition of false teachers, and the corruption of the churches which he had planted at such expense of time and labour. See 1 Cor. 4, 9-13, and 2 Cor. 11, 23-29. These afflictions m themselves, and as they affected Paul's consciousness, were exceedingly great ; for he says himself he was pressed out of measure, above strength, so that he despaired even of life. 1, 8. He did not regard these afflictions as trifles, nor did he bear them with stoical indifference. He felt their full force and pressure. When five times scourged by the Jews and thrice beaten with rods, his physical torture was as keen as that which any other man w^ould have suffered under similar inflictions. He was not in- sensible to hunger, and thirst, and cold, and contempt, and ingratitude. His afflictions were not light in the sense of giv- ing little pain. The Bible does not teach, either by precept or example, that Christians are to bear pain as though it were not pain, or bereavements as though they caused no sorrow. Unless afflictions prove real sorrows, they will not produce the fruits of sorrow. It was only by bringing these sufferings 5*