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his merciful dealing with thee. Indeed, as we look on death bein" an enemy to our nature, and a destroyer thereof, we desire it not. Yet, con- sidering it as God's decree and will, say still, 'Thy will bo done, O Lord, and not mine.' Paul, he considered for himself it was better to die, but looking to the Philippians, ' nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is better for you,' Phil. i. 24. Learn from hence the sweet estate of God's children ; whether he lives or dies, all is mercy ; and this they have by being assured they have their part in the covenant of grace. Labour therefore to find an interest therein for thyself. Observe, in the next place, God does good to lis by others, as here he conveys good, to Paid hg Epaphroditus his life. Let us therefore praise him for parents, friends, benefactors ; for by them God hath mercy on us. God uses man for the good of man, that he might knit the communion of saints together more straightly.- No doubt but the apostle .Paul had begged Epaphroditus his life from God, and he here acknowledges it as a great mercy of God. Thus ought we to acknowledge God's mercy on us, by taking mercy on others for our sakes.
VERSE 27. Lest I should have sorrow on sorrow.
Our blessed apostle had sorrowed much for the sickness of Epaphroditus ; if he had died, he had had wave on wave. Observe, God's children have not sorrow on sorrow. We have matter of sorrow while we are here, as our corruptions, and the troubles of the church. These minister unto us matter of grief while we are here in this vale of tears. Let us not therefore be delicate nor dainty. We must sow in tears here, if we would reap here- after in joy. We must shed tears, if we would hereafter have them wiped away. Yet is the sorrow of a Christian mingled ever with joy to support them. The Lord he weighs and measures the distresses of his children. The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the godly man's back, Ps. csxv. 3. And this mingled estate must be till we come into heaven, where all tears shall be wiped away,
Obj. But it will be objected, David had sorrow upon sorrow : one depth calls another, saith he, Ps. xlii. 7.
Ans. I answer. It is true there viay he divers occasions of grief, but God doth so temper tlwni as he giveth jog upon jog, grace tqwn grace, and com- fort upon comfort; faith upon faith, patience upon patience; and it is much better to have access of comfort in extremities than to want extremities and occasions of sorrow, by reason of the good we receive by such trials. And there is no distress but we may gather ground of comfort to ourselves in them. Art thou sick ? Bless God that he hath left thee the use of reason and thy wits. Hast thou lost friends, and hath not God taken all away ? He leaves thee some, nay, he leaves his Spirit to accompany thee. Paul was in prison, it is true, but did he want comfort ? No. God will raise us up with one hand as he casts us down with the other ; it is his ' m.ercy we are not consumed,' Lam. iii. 22. But the wicked they shall have sorrow on sorrow. He lets them ruffle a while here, but at length their judg- ments come suddenly and unavoidably. He hath no mercy for them if he once begins. Thus did he add judgment to judgment on Pharaoh till he was consumed ; and therefore upon little griefs they run into desperate courses, as Cain, Ahithophel. God suffers the wicked to add sin to sin, and so doth he add sorrow to sorrow. Lay up this for our comfort against * Qu. 'straitly'?— Ed.
48 OF TIIK PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
the ill time. God will not suffer us to be tempted above measure. He will either abate our trouble or enlarge our grace, so as it shall not overwhelm us. Note this example of God as one for us to imitate and to follow. When we see any one afflicted, let us not vex them the more by adding sorrow to sorrow. David he complains of a kind of men that were of the nature of the devil, going over where the wall is lowest, like ill humours that resort all to ill affected places. No. God's children have pitiful and com- passionate hearts. Examine therefore thy spirit, whether thou canst weep with them that weep ; for as the Spirit of God helps us in misery, so do those that are led by his Spirit. It is the custom, and hath been, of God's children, to comfort those in misery. Thus did Job's friends, although they erred in the performance thereof.
VERSE 28.
I sent him therefore more carefiiJh/.
In this verse St Paul sets forth the end of sending Epaphroditus, viz., that they might have the more joy, and he the less sorrow. But it will be said, Paul had use of Epaphroditus himself ; he was in prison ; he had none to comfort him. But it is no wonder for him, that could set light by his own soul for God's people, to part with a friend for the comfort of his people ; and this ought we also to respect, namely, the comforts of God's people above all. Thus did this apostle. He was content to forbear the joys of heaven for the good of the Philippians, in the first chapter. The children of God are of excellent spirits. They can overcome and deny themselves.