VERSES 16-18.
For ichich cause ice faint not; but ihoiir/h our ouhrnrd man 2^eriiiJi, yet the iniiard ma)i is renewed day by day. For our Uyht ajfliction, vJiicJi is but for a moment, xvorketh for ns a far more eareediny ireiyht of ylory ; iihile ive look not at the tJiinf/s irJiich are seen, hut at the tJtinys iiJiich are not seen : for the tJiinys ivhich are seen are temporal; but the iltinys wJiich are not seen are eter)taL
A little to touch the two former verses, for they are a part of that heavenly comfort whereby the holy apostle raiseth up his spirit in the midst of all discouragements, multiplying comfort upon comfort, as trouble upon trouble.
Verse IG, ' But we do not faint ; though our outward man perish, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.' ' "We do not faint.' Indeed, if we look upon outward causes, there is great reason why we should faint. For if we look within, nature is weak, the suggestions of the flesh strong since the fall ; and then we are usually beset with temptations of dis- couragements in our particular calling, thinking we could do anything better than that we are called unto. This is an heavy temptation. And if it were to do such a thing, or such a thing, it might more easily be done. And then hard usage from the ungrateful world ; when a man doth any good he receiveth ill for it.
These are great grounds of fainting, but the apostle saith he faints not for all this, ' though our outward man perish.' He grants that the outward man, body and condition, strength and health, may grow more and more downward ; but the inward man, the soul, is under the guidance of the Spirit of God, that is, renewed day bj^ day. The outward man consumes continually, death and life work together, we die as soon as we live. As he that hath a lease, every day it is shorter and shorter, and while we live we die, and the more we live the more we die. Death is at the last moment, the candle is going out continually till it be spent. Nay, more, let a man use his body never so holily, let him endure many crosses, the outward man will perish ; it must be so.
But where is the comfort ? ' The inward man is renewed day by day.' The inward man is the sanctified soul. All the graces of God are renewed, they are upheld under a consuming condition of the outward man. This is the blessed condition of a true Christian, that when he groweth down- ward he groweth another way. He doth not wholly perish as a base wretch doth, but as he decayeth in one part he reneweth in another. God by his Spirit reneweth him. For as in the body the Spirit is that which giveth a life to what we do, so the Spirit of God giveth a vigour to the inward man day bj' day.
But when is this, that the inward man is renewed day by day ? In the time of atHiction, for then we grow most ; for in time of prosperity', then we grow backward. Usually in time of prosperity, wdien all things are according to our will and desire, we go backwards ; but when the outward
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man decayctb, tho inward man is renewed day by day. ' "Wo decay in pros- perity, but wo fTi-ow in adversity ; as a body sboots out more after sickness than before. AVby should wo then be afraid of sickness and weakness of body, considering it is a time of growth of tho inward man ? Mark the gracious goodness of God. When he takes away str«,'ngth, because wo are not for this hfe, he makes it up, working strength and vigour in the inward man. We owe God a death. Since we must die, is it not better the decay be made up in the inward man ? If we gain that which is gain to the soul, though with weakness and sickness to the outward man, it is well gained, because that is for eternity.
But this is a constant course with God. He is so good, he never takes away anything from his children, but he giveth it another away. Shall we then be discouraged when God takes strength, and he makes it up in the inward man ? If anything be 'a ground of patience, this is. Whatsoever God doth to his children, there is love hid in tho doing of it. If he give comfort, it is to encourage. Doth he follow us with crosses ? It is that we may grow in the inward man. If we had hearts to follow God in his dealing, we should lose nothing but that he takes away.
Verse 17, ' For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works a far more exceeding weight of glory.' Hero is a ground of comfort to those that are in any crosses and afflictions. Whatsoever they sufl'er, it works glory, it works happiness ; it is set out by glory. Now the Spirit of God sets out this estate of a Christian to come by way of comparison to anj^thing that we suffer. Here are afflictions, here is glory ; momentary afflictions, eternal glory ; light afflictions, a weight of glory ; and not only a weight, but a superlative, an exceeding weight of glory. So the Spirit of God meets with all discouragements here, for we can suffer nothing here, but we shall have better for it after. Grace is glory, but mixed with imperfection. What are those things we suffer here in this world, to glory, and eternal glory, and excessive glory ? What cause have we to be discouraged for anything we sutler here ?