2 Cor. xii. 7 — 9. Lest I should he exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a' thorn in the fesh, the messenger of Satan to bujjet me,
lest I should he exalted above vieasure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
THERE is scarcely any thing in the Scriptures that more deserves our attention than the remarkable instances of answers to prayer. Throughout the whole Bible, if we see any one betake himself to prayer, we may know beforehand the issue of his conflicts : whatever be his difficulties, if only he go to God, saying, ** I have no might in myself, but mine eyes are unto thee," we may be well assured of his success : his petition invariably brings Omni- potence to his support ; and he is made more than conqueror over all his adversaries. St. Paul relates a most encouraging instance respecting himself, wherein he found to his unspeakable comfort the efficacy of prayer. To illustrate it, we shall consider, I. The trial with which he was so oppressed —
Highly favoured as the Apostle was, he was never- theless bowed down with a heavy affliction —
[None, however honoured and beloved of God, can hope to escape trouble. What the particular trial was, with which the Apostle was assaulted, it is impossible to say. The most reasonable conjecture seems to be, that it was something occa- sioned by his vision, perhaps some distortion of his features, or impediment in his speech, that rendered both his person and his speech contemptible ; and of which the false teachers, those "messengers and ministers of Satan ^," took advantage, to undermine his influence in the Church of God**. This to the Apostle, whose heart was wholly bent upon glorifying God, and saving the souls of men, would be a heavy affliction, like " a thorn in the flesh," festering and causing the acutest pain. But, whatever it was, Satan took occasion from it to distress the mind of the Apostle with a far keener anguish than his body could have sustained from the severest blows of men°. Nor need we regret that we ai*e ignorant of the precise
a 2 Cor. xi. 14, 15.
^ Construe ayytKoQ 'Lardv with 'iva jje Ko\a(pti^ri ; and compare 2 Cor. X. 10. with Gal. iv. 13, 14. "■ KoXa^H^rf. VOL. XVI. S S