(2.) Copulatively. Though affliction be not light in itself, yet by the strong support and comfort of the Spirit, God maketh it light and easy to us. To a strong back a burden is light which crusheth the weak and faint, and causeth them to sink under it ; a man well clad may without great annoyance bear the cold of winter, which pincheth the naked ; so by the support of the comforting Spirit, that which is grievous is made light and easy ; because, ' as our afflictions abound, so do our consolations by Christ/ 2 Cor. i. 5 ; and so we do not only prevail above the evil, but are ' more than conquerors through him that loveth us,' Rom. viii. 37. Now there is a more liberal allowance of these comforts and supports to God's suffering servants than to those who live at ease, and are not exposed to such difficulties and hardships : 1 Peter iv. 14, ' If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ; on their part he is evil-spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.' The gift of the Holy Ghost is in a peculiar manner dispensed to them, and by this oil his wrestlers are anointed.
Well, then, it is some support to consider that it is the will of God that for well-doing we should be hated of evil men. But it is a greater help that we can, by the hope of heavenly glory and immortality, counterbalance present infelicities. But the greatest help is, that by the gift of the Holy Ghost we are fortified against all impressions of sense. And holy sufferers are encouraged in the ways of obedience. All which things considered, suffering cannot look so grim and terrible to a mortified soul, who hath learned to contemn earthly things, and to make heavenly things his great end and scope.
[2.] They are short, as well as light. He saith, ' This light affliction, which is but for a moment.' No question but the afflictions of God's children, as they are some more easy, some more grievous, so they are
374 SERMON UPON 2 CORINTHIANS IV. 17.
some shorter, some of a longer continuance ; yet they are all but for a moment. If they should last for our whole lives, they are but momen- tary if compared with eternity that shall ensue. But it is not credible that our lives should be altogether calamitous ; there is no instance of that, either in scripture or the records of time. There are intervals of rest ; and our enemies cannot trouble us but when it is permitted of God. But if there were no intermission, this life itself is but a moment. If you consider that which in those afflictions we most dread, and beyond which the power of the most cruel adversary cannot reach, death itself, it is but for a moment. In the twinkling of an eye we are in eternity. Death cometh in a moment, and it is gone in a moment ; after that, we enjoy eternal rest and peace. Therefore though in our way to heaven we should endure most grievous calamities, yet, since they are but momentary, they are to be endured, that we may enjoy so great a good as the vision and fruition of God.
To make this more evident to you, let us a little consider how the afflictions of God's people are long and short.
(1.) Concerning their length.
(1st.) They seem long to those that reckon by time, and not by eternity. If we look to present time, ' Summer and winter is past, and we are not saved,' Jer. viii. 20. They had a long time looked for deliverance ; the year was gone, but none appeared ; yea, not one year, but many. So Zech. i. 12, ' How long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indig- nation for many years ? ' So long may be the measure and continuance of the church's trouble, not only for days and months, but many years ; yet these afflictions are but momentary if we go by a right count. We must not compute things by time, but by eternity. The longest time to eternity is nothing : Ps. xc. 4, ' A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, when it is past.' Compared with God's infinite and eternal duration, a thousand years are but as a drop lost and spilt in the ocean.
(2c?.) They seem long because of the impatiency of the flesh. We love our own ease, and therefore affliction soon groweth irksome and tedious. Men in a fever reckon minutes and quarters and hours, and an hour seemeth a day, and a day a week, and a week a month, and a month a year. Winter nights seem long in the passing. Our times are always present with us, when God's time is not come. A hungry stomach cannot stay till the meat be roasted, and impatient longings must be satisfied with green fruit.
(2.) For their shortness ; they seem short, partly because they are not so long as they might be in regard of the enemies' rage : Zech. i. 15, ' I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction/ God intendeth to correct and reform his children, but they intend to destroy and root them out. Satan and wicked men know no bounds. Partly they are not so long as we deserve. The evil of one sin cannot be expiated in a thousand years ; but God stoppeth, and ' in the midst of judgment remembereth mercy,' Hab. iii. 2. Partly they are not so long as they might be in regard of second causes and probabilities : Hab. iii. 2, ' Bevive thy work in the midst of the years.' Partly because faith will not count it long ; for to the eye of faith things