does the glory exceed all the sufferings that we can endure in this life, that if we add hyperbole to hyperbole, and strain all the powers of language and of thought, to express the diffe- rence11, we never can do justice to the subject, or declare a thousandth part of that which really exists. The Apostle's estimate was formed as the result of a minute and accurate computation*; and therefore the accuracy of it is past a doubt. In fact, the Apostle does not institute a comparison between them (for they will not admit of any comparison) ; but he says that the sufferings are " not worthy f" (not worthy of any consideration, no, not of a thought), when the glory that shall follow them is kept in view.]
Improvement —
We may learn from hence,
1. How to judge of God's dispensations —
[To those who look no farther than to the present life, " the ways of God appear unequal :" since the godly are oppressed, and the wicked triumph. But let eternity be taken into the account, and all the seeming inequalities will vanish : the godly will be recompensed for their sufferings ; and the wicked will receive the due reward of their impieties. The Judge of all the earth will not only do right, but will manifest the equity of all his dispensations.]
2. How to comfort the afflicted mind —
[When persons are complaining that their trials are ex- ceeding heavy, and that they are ready to faint because of them, we should lead them to view their sufferings in a way of com- parison, or in a way of contrast. We should compare the good they lose or the evil they sustain, with the good and evil that are beyond the grave : or we should contrast the good to be enjoyed in a life of sin, with the evil which sin will hereafter bring upon us ; or the evil to be sustained in this life, with the good with which it shall hereafter be compensated. In either of these methods g we may, with God's help, put an end to their murmuring ; and make them willing to bear their present afflictions in expectation of the benefit that will result from them.]
3. How to regulate our own conduct —
d See 2 Cor. iv. 1 7. in the Greek. e \oyl£o[iai. f at,ia.
s The Scriptures point out these distinctiy : they compare present with future good, Heb. xi. 16. and present evil with future, Luke xii. 5. So also they contrast present good with future evil, Eccl. xi. 9. and present evil with future good, Heb. x. 34. And the effect of both these methods in composing the mind is intimated in 2 Cor. iv. 18.