indeed in a more abundant measure than others; but every faithful minister in his measure experiences the same. Who that is zealous for his God does not incur the hatred of an ungodly world ? Who that has long ministered in holy things has not had occasion to deplore the fall of some, the apostasy of others, and the little progress of almost all ; insomuch that with many he is made to " travail, as it were, in birth a second time, till Christ be formed in them?" Some perhaps, who would once have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him, are now *' become his enemies, because he has told them the truth," and reproved them for their reigning and besetting sins. And in himself also every minister will find abundant occasion to sigh and mourn, especially when he reflects on his great insufficiency for the work assigned him, and the effects of his unprofitableness upon the souls of others.]
But he had rich consolations to counterbalance his afflictions —
[It was no small comfort to the Apostle that his trials were endured in so good a cause. The cross he bore was the cause of Christ; and his afflictions were but the filling up of the measure of Christ's afflictions*^. Moreover they were so many testimonies to him of his fidelity; and of God's accep- tance of him in his work^. He was sure also that in due time they would all be richly recompensed, agreeably to that blessed promise, that " if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him," and " be glorified together with him" for ever- more\ But besides these consolations of faith and hope, he had, as every faithful minister shall have, special manifesta- tions of God to his soul, sufflcient to make him " exceeding joyful in all his tribulations." What but a sense of redeeming love carried him forward with such zeal and steadfastness in all his course ? What but this enabled him, when his back was torn with scourges, and his feet were made fast in the stocks, to fill his prison, not with mournings and complaints, but with songs of praise and thanksgiving? And in like manner shall all who serve the Lord with fidelity be supported under their trials, and be favoured with consolations proportioned to their afflictions.]
To enter into his feelings aright, it will be proper to notice yet further —
III. The more particular grounds of his thanks- giving—
f Col. i. 24. g Luke xxi. 12, 13.
h 2 Tim. ii. 12. Rom. viii. 17.