2. The inequality between them : ' They are not worthy to be com- pared,' ovK a\i,a ■7Tpo<; rijv fxeWovcrav Bo^av ; not worthy to future glory, not worthy to be set the one against the other, as bearing no proportion.
3. The conclusion or judgment of the apostle in this case. The word Aoyt^o/j-ai, is emphatical, and implieth, that he had weighed these things in his mind ; after the case was well traversed, he did conclude and determine upon the whole debate ; ralionihus bene subductis colligo et statuo. The apostle speaketh like a man that had cast up his accounts, well weighed the matter he speaketh of ; and then concludeth, resolveth, and determineth, that the sulFerings which are to be under- gone for Christ are nothing, considering the glory and blessedness which shall ensue.
Doct. That every good christian, or considerate believer, should determine that the happiness of his glorified estate doth infinitely out- weigh and exceed the misery of his present afflictions. I shall open the point by these considerations :
1. That counterbalancing temporal things with eternal, is the way to clear our mistakes, or prevent the delusions of the flesh. The apostle observeth this method here and elsewhere: 2 Cor. iv. 17, 'This light affliction, which is but for a moment, workelh for us a far more exceed- ing and eternal weight of glory ; ' and it is necessary ; for all our mistakes come by reckoning by time, and not by eternity ; but looking to eternity sets us right again : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' Looking not to the
VeR. 18] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VUl. 141
thino's which are temporal, but to the things which are eternal.' The flesh is importunate to he pleased with present satisfactions ; it must have something seen and at hand ; and this tainteth our minds, so that present things bear a big bulk in our eye, but things to come are as a vain fancy; therefore nothing will scatter this mist and cloud ui)ou our understandings, but a due sight of eternal things, how real they are, and how much they exceed for greatness and duration. Then we shall find that time to eternity, is but as a drop lost or spilt in the ocean ; as a point to the circumference ; and that the honours and dignities of the world, which dazzle men's eyes, are vain and slippery; tliat riches, which captivate their hearts, are uncertain and perishing ; that pleasures, which enchant their minds, are sordid and base, and pass away as the wind ; that notliing is great but what is eternal. If wicked men did but consider the shortness of their pleasures, and the length of their sorrows, they would not be so besotted as they are ; and if holy men did but consider the shortness of their afflictions, and the length of their joy and glory, it would animate and encourage them to carry it more patiently and cheerfully in all their tribulations.
2. This may be done four ways :
[1.] Comparing temporal good things with eternal good things, that we may wean and draw off our hearts from the one to the other, and so check the delights of sense ; as wealth with heavenly riches : Heb. X. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, as knowing in your- selves that ye have in heaven a better and a more enduring substance.' Eternal bliss in heaven is the most valuable and durable kind of wealth ; all other treasure cometh more infinitely short of it, than wampompeage, or the shells which the Indians use for money, doth of our coin and treasure. So to wean us from our sensual delights, the scripture pro- jioundeth to our consideration that eternal and solid joy which resulteth from the immediate fruition of God, Ps. xvi. 11. So to wean us from , vain glory, and that we may be contented with the glory that comes from God only, it telleth us of the honour and glory of the saints, John v. 44. All the sensual good things we dote upon are but a may-game or painted show in comparison of what we shall enjoy there.
[2.] Temporal bad things with eternal bad things ; so to defeat the terrors of sense. All the sufferings of the world are but as the scratch of a pin or a flea-biting, to that woe, wrath, and tribulation that abideth for every soul that doth evil ; no fire like the fire of hell, nor pains like the pains of the worm that never dieth : Luke xii. 4, 5, ' Fear not them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do ; but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear ; fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell.' Men threaten prisons, God threateneth hell ; they can mangle the body, but when they have cut it all in ])ieces, they cannot reach the soul ; if we sin to avoid trouble in the world, we escape at a dear rate. As a nail driveth out a nail, so doth one fear drive out another ; temporal sufferings are nothing to eternal : Heb. xi. 35. ' They accepted not deliverance, looking for a better resurrection ; ' the general resurrection is better than present remission of torments,