2. ' Positively. So it is doubly expressed — (1.) Metaphorically ; (2.) Literally.
[1.] Metaphorically. And so those that interpret the words of those which remain at Christ's coming think the expression favoureth their opinion, because it is not -said clothed, but clothed upon, keeping the body still, without being divested of it. But the compound word is not always emphatical, and signifieth no more than the simple verb : 1 Cor. XV. 53, ' Then this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality ;' iTrevBvaaaOai, and ivBveraa-dai are the same, putting on, or being clothed upon. Well then, we desire to be clothed upon. What is that ? with heavenly glory. (1.) la soul, presently after death. The very getting into heaven, and the glory
VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 469
wherewith we shall be encompassed there, is a clothing upon. Quos circumfusum vestit pro tegmine lumen. (2.) In body, when it shall be rer.tored to us at the last day, and likened to Christ's glorious body, Phil. iii. 21.
[2.] Literally expressed — ' That mortality might be swallowed up of life.' The patrons of the former disallowed opinion here challenge again the phrase as full for them as if the meaning were that that which is mortal should be swallowed up of life, without the pain or necessity of death. But the true meaning is that our to Ov-qrov, our mortal, that the mortality wherewith the body is now burdened, and remain- eth on it in the grave, may be wholly taken away by the blessed immortality which Christ shall then bestow upon us ; when he shall raise us up at the last day our mortality must be gone, for ' flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor corruption inherit incor- ruption,' 1 Cor. xv. 50. That which is corruptible in our nature must perish, but the body must not perish. Well then, that which the saints desire is that their animal and corporeal life may be changed into a heavenly and everlasting. And we do not groan that we may want the body, but that the mortality of it may be done away, that it may be freed from that corruption and mortality to which it is now sub- ject, the substance still remaining.
I shall a little insist on these propositions —
1. That whilst we live in this earthly and mortal body we are bur- dened with a heavy load of sin and afflictions.
2. That the saints, being burdened, do in a holy manner groan, and long for a better estate.
3 That in that better estate mortality is swallowed up of life.
4. That in that life we shall be clothed again with our bodies in due time, and our bodies with everlasting glory.
First, The first proposition is liable to sense. There needeth no Bible or scripture to tell us that our present state is aflElicted and filled with sorrows ; our flesh feeleth it, and we know to our grief that here is little else but disquiet and vexation ; and daily sad expe- rience informeth us of the indwelling of sin, and the frequent out- breakings of it. To prove this were to light a candle to daylight, and to waste your time impertinently. But I shall do two things — 1. Show you why afflictions and sins are such a heavy burden to the children of God ; 2. How foolish and stupid we are, that we do so little mind and improve this.
1. Why affliction is a burden.
[1.] Afflictions are so, partly because the children of God have not yet divested themselves of the interests and concernments of flesh and blood. They are ofioioiraOel^, of like passions with others. They love their natural comforts as others do, and human nature is the same thing in them that it is in others : Job vi. 12, 'Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?' They are made of flesh and blood as well as others, and feel pain as well as others. Grace doth not destroy the feelings of nature ; Jesus Christ, as man, had his fears, and tears, and strong cries, Heb. v. 7. He felt his burden, and said, ' My soul is heavy unto death,' Mat. xxvi. 38. And therefore we can- not expect ttiey should be in an utter dedolency, feel pain and trouble, and forbear complaining. Partly too, because grace intendereth the
470 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. VI.
heart, and maketh them ia some sort more sensible of afflictions than others are, because they look upon them as coming from God, and the fruit of sin, and they dare not slight any of God's corrective dispen- sations. There are two extremes — slighting and fainting, Heb. xii. 5. Affliction cannot be improved if we have not a sense of it, to show so much reverence to God as to tremble at his anger. Num. xii. 14. When he crosseth and disappointed us, it must not be slightly passed over. When the windows of heaven were opened from above, and the fountains of the deep broken open from below, then the flood was increased, Gen. vii. 11. So when nature and grace concurreth to heighten the affliction, the children of God must needs have a greater and more tender sense of it than others have. As a delicate constitu- tion is more capable of pain than a robustious and stubborn one, and the tender flesh of a child will sooner feel the lash than the thick skin of a slave ; so the children of God, having a more serious apprehension of things, and a more tender spirit, soonest feel the burden of their Father's displeasure, and do more lay it to heart than careless and stupid spirits, who laugh at their cross, or drink away their sorrows. Partly, too, because they are more exercised with afflictions. The world hateth them because they are so good, and God chasteneth them because they are no better : Ps. xxxiv. 11, ' Many are the troubles of the righteous.' There is more squaring and hewing and hacking used about a stone that is to be set in a stately palace, than that which is placed in an ordinary building ; and the vine is pruned when the bramble is not looked after, but let alone to grow to its full length. And the child of the family is put under discipline, whilst a bastard or a servant liveth more at large. God meanetli to destroy those whom by a just judg- ment he permitteth to go on in their sins to their own eternal undoing ; Heb. xii. 8. Blessed be God that he taketh more care of us, and, when we need it, correcteth us seasonably as children ; so that in this earthly and mortal body we are burthened with an heavy load of afflictions.