(2.) Again, though in regard of some particulars the church may seem to be destroyed, some boughs are cut, yet the body remains, so in regard of the whole body they are not destroyed.
(3.) In regard of the ' inward man,' they are not destroyed. They take
courage still, and comfort still, while they are in the world. When they
go out of the world they have accomplishment of all desires. Put case
God deliver them not, but give them up to death : he delivereth them in
^^ Cf. Vol. III. page 530, et alibi.— G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. rV', VER. 7-9. 399
not delivering tliem. For what is deatli but delivering them from all trouble ? When he delivereth not in particular danger, he givcth them a general deliverance by death from all trouble whatsoever.
(4.) Again, there is a double deliverance. There is an inward secret deliverance, and an apparent open deliverance. Put case they be cast down, and not openly delivered, yet secretly they are delivered, that is, from fear and despair. The soul is set at liberty within. So that though they be cast down, yet not destroyed.
(5.) If they be destroyed to the appearance of the world, it is but seed sown. Saints are the seeds out of which grow many other. The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.- As often as we are mowed and cast down, saith Tertullian, by your cruelt}^, it is but an allurement to our pro- fession. So when they seem to be destroyed, they be but seed sown, and out of their ashes many rise out of them. How much are we beholding to the bloody times in this kingdom, for this after-glorious church !
(6.) ' Not destroyed ' in this world, while they have any work to do. You may imprison them, fetter them, but God will work a miracle rather than his children shall be taken out of the world before they have done their work. The three young men in the fui'uace, the fire shall cease to burn rather than they shall before their hour cometh, Dan. iii. 27. In the gospel Christ was not hurt by them, for his hour is not yet come ; they cannot hurt one hair of the head. ' They are afflicted, but not oppressed ; they are persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed.'
From all which we may raise some general truths, and make use of all that hath been spoken.
Doct. First of all we may from hence observe, that troubles and afflictions of GoiVs people in tJiis icorhl they are manij, and they are great and gromug. Thej' wax greater and greater till God's time be appointed. Here is dis- tress, persecution, perplexity, casting down, they be many and manifoldly different in their kind. And then they be great, for here he reckons the greatest troubles than can befall, except death itself, which is usually included. And then there be degrees of them ; to be afflicted is less than to be pei-plexed, and persecution added to perplexity. Then to persecution without is added the trouble following. And not only afflicted, pei-plexed, persecuted, but cast down.
That is no matter, mille viali species, mille salatis erunt, if a thousand ways of trouble, there will be a thousand ways of deliverance. God is never at a loss to help his children. Therefore God grant we are so. So, but we are not in distress, we despair not, we are not forsaken, we are not destroyed.
' We,' that is, Paul, and not only we as men, and we as Christians, but we as eminent men. For the troubles of God's children happen to them as men. Sometimes sickness, death, losses, crosses. Sometimes as Christians, as they bo maligned and opposed by the wicked world. Some- times in an eminent calling, as Pharaoh, that desired to slay the male children especially, that were strong and able to do service ; they were objects of malice, Exod. i. 16. Now we are thus used not only as men and Christians, but as eminent men. So that it is the condition of the most eminent of all to be thus used. It pleaseth God to let his children endure many and manifold and great troubles. Now what is the reason of this ? I might be large, but I will give a few.
Reason 1. Of necessity tJtere 7nnst he a conformity betireen the memhers * In margin here, ' Sanguis viartyntm semen ccclesice.' [Cf. Vol. iii. p. 530, note wj.]
400 COMMENTARY ON
and the head. It behoved Christ to suffer, that he might enter into glory. And all wc in our time must sulfcr, and so enter into glory. ' We are pre- destinate to conformity to our head,' Rom. viii. 29. We are not only predestinate to salvation, but to all between us and salvation. We are ordained to pass through such and such good actions, such and such turnings. There is no man but hath so many actions to perform, so many sufferings to endure, to ■which they be by God ordained.
Fwason 2. And again, the best of God's children have something to he wrought out of them by a spirit of burning and affliction ; the best need refining.
Reason 3. And again, grace ncedcth trials and exercise and increase. Now God sanctifieth all these, passing from ' vessel to vessel,' Jer. xlviii. 11. These transfusions |are] to work out what is evil, to try, exercise, and increase what is good.