Beason 1. The reason is, things are best knoivn hy opposition. The decay of the outward man is a foil as it were to grace, to make it appear more clear and glorious, and the weakness of the outward man is a means to dis- cover more the power of God's Spirit, and the power of the life of Christ in such a weak body ; for a weak man, or a weak woman, or a weak child, to be able to stand up for the truth, here is divine power shewed, as the martyrs did not only* shew, but declare it gloriously. And for a sick body to believe, makes the soul glorious and comfortable. Here is divine power shewed more gloriously by reason of the opposition of the out- ward man.
Reason 2. And then again, in this time the soid itself vniteth itself more unto God, and to divine things; and therefore the life of Christ is more manifested, because there is a near union between Christ and the soul. For the soul gathers itself from the sphere, down to worldly things, as in times of prosperity, ease, and plenty, when the soul scatters and looseth f itself in the creature. Now there is a sweetening power in that which is inflictive, to make the soul gather itself to God, to the fountain of life ; and so it is a means sanctified by the Spirit of God to procure union with the Spirit of Christ ; and therefore the life of Christ is then more manifested in the flesh.
Reason 3. And then these things that befall the outward man, they are as it were removentia prohibeutia, tlieg remove the hindrances of the life of Christians ; for what hinders the life of Christ from appearing in us, but that our affections are eaten up with the world and vanity, one way or other ? For naturally we are not so vigorous in spirit when we have vigour in the outward man ; and that which farthers the life, and strength, and comfort of the outward man, will diminish the strength of the inward. It should not be so. It should be that the more vigorous in the outward man, the more vigorous we should be in the inward ; but it is not so. Now suf- fering takes away that, when these be embittered by the cross, by some suffering that is against the feeling and sense of the outward man. Here- upon Cometh a better relish of divine things, other things being embittered t Misprinted ' all.'— G. * Qu. ' loseth '?— Ed.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VKR. 10. 419
to the soul ; and hereupon the soul, in times of any great pressure, doth hear with other ears, and doth see with other eyes heavenly things, and doth feel and judge after another manner than it did hefore. Take a man when he is under any thing that alllicts the outward man, for his body or condition, M'hich are botli called life, the life of body, and the life of condi- tion, we shall fasten a few good things sooner on him than at another time. Speak ten times as much at another time, it shall have no passage, no entrance, but the state of all things without being made less delightful, his soul recovereth a spiritual taste, and relisheth heavenly company, and heavenly truths, as they be suggested by others or us. Experience shew- eth this in David and other saints, and in every Christian ; and therefore the blessed life of Christ, such a spiritual life as is in Christ, it is his most of all glorious and conspicuous, specially in times of afflictions and crosses.
Benson 4. And then another reason may be, that the point may be clear. God doth delir/ht, and Christ dcUf/htcth to shew himself most (glorious at such times, not only because his virtue and strength and power is most manifest then, but likewise out of tenderness to the condition of his children ; for he sees they more need his presence, and they more need his immediate comforts. Then immediate comforts are specially desired of the soul, \yhen outward comforts are taken away, there is a sweeter com- munion with Christ in any trouble than at other times. No communion in prosperity for the most part that is so sweet to a Christian as at that time, for the soul knoweth then it is most acceptable to the soul. The soul stands in need of it. Therefore comforts are immediate to the soul at this time, and immediate comforts that come from the fountain are pure. When the comforts derived from friends and outward helps be all taken away, there must be immediate comforts, or else the soul will sink. And now Christ, out of love to his children, comes forth to them and joineth with their spirits more than at other times ; so that the sweetest communion any man hath with Christ is at the worst times. The martyrs verified it abundantly, for they never had the comforts before that then they had ; for Christ came into the dungeon and supported them with strength above nature ; and all this is from the sweet love and mercy of Christ, that applied himself to the necessity of his children. These and the like reasons that the life of grace, the life of comfort, and the life derived immediately from Christ, is the most apparent in afflictions.