The apostle, to avoid the objection of the scandal of the cross, by which they were the less accepted in the hearts of many, sets down the state of the people of God in this world, take them at the worst. He speaks here of himself not only as a man (since the fall of our weak nature is subject to many calamities), but he speaks of himself as a Christian, opposing the sins of the world. And he grants what they may object. ' We are troubled on every side, but not in distress.' The apostles take advantage from tho troubles they were in, to advance the love and mercy of God in those troubles. We lose nothing by them, for that which is gained in any trouble, is better than that that can be lost. ' We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed,' so as we know not what to do, when we are in such straits. Take a Christian at the worst, yet he hath freedom to the throne of grace by the spirit of prayer ; and God looks upon him in the worst condition. The more strait his condition is, the more large his [supply of the] Spirit is ; therefore though troubles increase, yet his comforts increase.
Secondly, ' We are persecuted with wants, and by reason of wants we know not what course to take,' so that we are oftentimes 'perplexed, but yet not in despair,' for God supplieth. This I unfolded before.
A Christian man hath some bottom, in his worst condition, to uphold him, but take a man out of the state of gi'ace, and he hath no bottom to stand upon, but he sinks presently in any trouble of mind or conscience to hell, though never so strong in wit and parts. He cannot encounter with a divine temptation, he hath no power with him above himself. We see Ahithophel, that wise politician. He was a bad man; and what became of him ? He hanged himself. =;= So Cain, Judas, and Saul. What saith Saul in his perplexity ? ' The Philistines are upon me, trouble is upon me, and God hath forsaken me,' 1 Sam. xxviii. 15, a pitiful complaint; and this may be the complaint of all carnal men, ' The Philistines are upon me, trouble is upon me, and God hath forsaken me.' But the children of God, when they are perplexed, they do not despair. It is a pitiful case with those that shall desire the mountains to cover them, Rev. vi. 15. Your wicked persons that now outlook anybody, that despise every one but them- selves, the time shall come when they shall desire the mountains to cover them, a pitiful strait that they cannot tell where to betake themselves, as Christ saith, Mat. xxiv. [throughout]. Oh, but the child of God in his worst he hath something to stay himself upon. Though he be in deep troubles, there is a help above him, a power of God to support him on the * Cf. 2 Sam. xvii. 23.-G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VER. 7-9- 405
left hand and on the right. If there be a height and depth of troubles, there is a height and depth of mercy to support them.
Thirdli/, ' Persecuted, but not forsaken.' Grant what is to be granted.
* We are persecuted.' How far ? They will never leave us till they have taken us out of the world ; and what hurt do they then ? ])rive us nearer to God. God owneth his children most when the wox'ld owncth them least, and there is a blessing pronounced upon all those that suffer for good causes. ' Blessed are you when men persecute you, for great is your reward in heaven,' Mat. v. 10. As he said, It is a kingly thing to suffer evil, &c. (//). I am sure it is a Christian's condition to do good and suffer evil.
In sufferings let us look to three things.
(1.) First, To th3 cause, considering that it be free from sin.
(2.) To look to our carriage in the cause, that we carry not ourselves tempestuously.
(3.) Look to those that persecute. Let them persecute ; and though they do, you shall not be forsaken. Though a man may desert him that stands for him and his cause, yet when the children of God shall stand for God, he will not desert them in his cause ; ' though persecuted, yet not forsaken.'
Fonrtkhj, The fourth is, ' cast down, but not destroyed.' Persecution prevails sometimes to casting down, but ' yet we are not destroyed.' We are cast down, ti-odden down, insulted over, but not ' destroyed.' Beloved, you see the great persecution of the church. What a pitiful condition the church hath been brought unto within these late years : trodden down, ' yet not destroyed.' For they are partakers with Christ that is now in heaven, and they are assured of a blessed resurrection ; and therefore not destroyed, when they seem to be destroyed in the eyes of the world. As he said before, they ' are earthen vessels.' So every man is but an * earthen vessel,' but it is much that an earthen vessel should be cast down and yet not broken ; they may be cast down, but not destroyed. For when the enemies have done the worst they can to destroy them, that destruction is no destruction, but salvation.