Two things are herein by us duly to be considered :—First, That it was out of infinite condescension and love unto our souls that the Lord Christ took on himself this condition, Phil. ii. 6-8. This state was neither natural nor necessary unto him upon his own account. In himself he was “in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God;” but this mind was in him, that for our sakes he would take on himself all these infirmities of our nature, and through them expose himself unto evils innumerable. It was vol- untary love, and not defect or necessity of nature, which brought him into this condition. Secondly, As he had other ends herein,—
512 AN EXPOSITION OF THE -[CHAP. V.
for these things were indispensably required unto the discharge of his sacerdotal office,—so he designed to set us an example, that we should not faint under our infirmities and sufferings on their ac- count, Heb. xi. 2, 3, 1 Pet. iv. }. And God knows such an example we stood in need of, both as a pattern to conform ourselves unto under our infirmities, and to encourage us in the expectation of a good issue unto our present deplorable condition.
Let us not, then, think strange, if we have our season of weakness and infirmity in this world, whereby we are exposed unto temptation and suffering. Apt we are, indeed, to complain hereof; the whole nation of professors is full of complaints; one is in want, straits, and poverty; another in pain, under sickness, and variety of troubles; some are in distress for their relations, some from and by them; some are persecuted, some are tempted, some pressed with private, some with public concerns; some are sick, and some are weak, and some are “ fallen asleep.” And these things are apt to make us faint, to despond, and be weary. I know not how others bear up their hearts and spirits. For my part, I have much ado to keep from continual longing after the embraces of the dust and shades of the grave, as a curtain drawn over the rest in another world. In the meantime, every momentary gourd that interposeth between the vehemency of wind and sun, or our frail, fainting natures and spirits, is too much valued by us.
But what would we have? Do we consider who, and what, and where we are, when we think strange of these things? These are the days of our flesh, wherein these things are due to us, and un- avoidable. ‘Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward,” Job v. 7,—necessarily and abundantly. All complaints, and all con- trivances whereby we endeavour to extricate ourselves from those innumerable evils which attend our weak, frail, infirm condition, will be altogether vain. And if any, through the flatteries of youth, and health, and strength, and wealth, with other satisfactions of their affections, are not sensible of these things, they are but in a pleasant dream, which will quickly pass away.
Our only relief in this condition is a due regard unto our great example, and what he did, how he behaved himself in the days of his flesh, when he had more difficulties and miseries to conflict with than we all. And in him we may do well to consider three things:—
1. His patience, unconquerable and unmovable in all things that befell him in the days of his flesh. “He did not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street,’ Isa. xlii. 2. Whatever befell him, he bore it quietly and patiently. Being buffeted, he threatened not; being reviled, he reviled not again. “As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” 2. His
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trust in God. By this testimony, that it is said of him, “ I will put my trust in God,” doth our apostle prove that he had the same nature with us, subject to the same weakness and infirmities, Heb. ii. 13. And this we are taught thereby, that there is no manage- ment of our human nature, as now beset with infirmities, but by a constant trust in God. The whole life of Christ therein was a life of submission, trust, and dependence on God; so that when he came to his last suffering, his enemies fixed on that to reproach him withal, as knowing how constant he was in the profession thereof, Ps. xxii. 8, Matt. xxvii. 43. 3. His earnest, fervent prayers and sup- plications, which are here expressed by our apostle, and accommo- dated unto the days of his flesh. Other instances of his holy, gracious deportment of himself, in that condition wherein he set us an ex- ample, might be insisted on, but these may give us an entrance into the whole of our duty. Patience, faith, and prayer, will carry us comfortably and safely through the whole course of our frail and in- firm lives in this world.
Obs. II. A life of glory may ensue after a life of infirmity.
“Tf,” saith our apostle, “in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable.” For besides that we are obnoxi- ous to the same common infirmities within and calamities with- out with all other men, there is, and ever will be, a peculiar sort of distress that they are exposed unto who “ will live godly in Christ Jesus.” But there is nothing can befall us but what may issue in eternal glory. We see that it hath done so with Jesus Christ. His season of infirmity is issued in eternal glory; and nothing but unbe- lief and sin can hinder ours from doing so also. ~ Obs. III. The Lord Christ is no more now in a state of weakness and temptation ; the days of his flesh are past and gone.