The cross is a distasteful thing to us, and likewise the cross in others is a distasteful thing, not only distasteful and bitter to us, but shameful. St Paul knowing this, because he would, as I said, work himself into their good conceit, that he might prevail with them for their good, saith he, you ought not to think a whit the worse of me for this, for all is for you. So you see the scope of the words, * Wliether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation,' &c.
94 COMMENTARY ON
But first lie speaks of aflfliction alone, and then of comfort alone. If we be alliicted, it is for your good ; and if we be comforted, it is for your good. His reason is, because sometimes afllictions appear without comfort. Therefore he saith not, ' If we be comforted only, it is for your good ;' but ' If we bo afflicted, it is for your good.' Sometimes comfort is before our afflictions. That we maj'^ endure it the better, God cheers us to it. Some- times God sheds his Spirit in affliction, that there is abundance of comfort in it. But for the most part it comes after, after we have waited ; but in it there is always such a measure of comfort that supports us, that we sink not. Yet the special degree of comfort usually comes after. Therefore he speaks of affliction in the first place. ' If I be afflicted, it is for you,' &c.
The point is easy, that
l)()d. The a fillet iouH of the saints are for the [food of others.
The afflictions of God's church are God's people's, especially the afflic- tions of pastors and leaders of God's army. God singles out some to suffer for the good of others ; the good especially of consolation and salvation, for these two goods.
Quest. How can this be, that the afflictions of God's people are for the consolation and salvation of others ?
Ans. I answer, many ways, as we shall see afterwards more particu- larly : but only now to make way.
1. Afflictions are for the good and comfort of others, because we have their example in suffering, to train 7is %ip how to svff'er. Example is a forcible kind of teaching. Therefore, saith the apostle, our afflictions are for you, to lead and teach you the way how to sufier. Words are not enough, espe- cially in matter of suffering. There must be some example. Therefore Christ from heaven came, not only to redeem us, but to teach us, not only by words, but by example, how to do, and suffer willingly, and cheerfully, and stoutly, in obedience to God, as he did.
2. Again, afflictions do good to others, by ministering occasion to them to search deeper into the cause. When they see the people of God are so used, they take occasion hereby to inquire what is the cause, and so take occasion to be instructed deeply in matters of religion ; for man's nature is inquisi- tive, and grace takes the hint off anything. What is the matter that such and such endure such things ? Hereupon, I say, they come to be better grounded in the cause, and little occasions ofttimes are the beginnings of great matters ; by reason that the spirit as well as wit is of a working nature, and will draw one thing from another. We see what a great tree riseth of a little seed ! how a little thing, upon report, worketh conversion. Naaman the Assyrian had a servant, and she told him that there was a prophet in Jewry that was a famous man, that did great matters, and if he would go to him, he should be cured of his leprosy. That little occasion being minis- tered, Naaman comes to the prophet, and he was cured of a double leprosy, both of soul and body, and went home a good man, 2 Kings v. 1, seq. So by way of ministering occasion of inquisition, the sufferings of others do good.
3. And then, seeing the constant and resolute spirits of those that suffer, it doth them good, and comforts them : for, first, it makes them con- ceive well of the cause: certainly these men that suffer constantly, and cheerfully, it is a good cause that they suffer for, when they see the cause is such a resolution and courage in the sufferers. And it makes them in love with, and begin to think well of, the persons, when they can deny them- selves. Surely these men care not for the pleasures and vanities of the world, that can endure to suffer these. So Justin Martyr saith when he
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. G. 95
saw Christians suffer ; he thought they were men that cared not for plea- sures ; for if they had, they would not suffer these things (I).
4. Besides, they can gather from the presence of God's Spirit emboldening the sufferers, what they viaij hope for themselves if they should suffer. They may reason thus : Is God by his Spirit so full and so strong in these that are flesh and blood as we are ? Is he so strong in women, in young men, in aged men, that neither their years, nor their sex, nor their tenderness, can any kind of way hinder them from these kind of abasements and sharp sufferings ? Surely the same Spirit of God will be as strong in me, if I stand out in the same cause, and carry myself as they do. And there is good reason, for God is the same God, the Spirit is the same Spirit, the cause is the same cause. Therefore it is no false reasoning. I may, upon a good presumption, hope for the presence and assistance of the Spirit of God to enable and strengthen me as he did them ; for the same Spirit of God will be strong in all.