Among the various lessons which it teaches us, let us especially learn two :
1. Not to be too much elated on account of any manifestations of the Divine favour —
[Paul was caught up into the third heavens ; but soon afterwards we behold him crying, with much anguish of mind, under a severe affliction. Thus it may soon be with us. In- deed the seasons most distinguished by God's favour to us, are often most distinguished also by Satan's malice. It was immediately after they had received peculiar tokens of God's love, that he assaulted Paul<=, and Peter ^ and Christ himself"^. Let us then, when most highly favoured, " rejoice with trem- bling V' and not while harnessed, boast as if we had put off our armour^.]
2. Not to be too much dejected on account of our manifold infirmities—
= ver. 4. d Matt. xvi. 17,23. « Matt. iii. 17. and iv. 1. ^ Ps. ii. 11. g 1 Kings xx. 11.
[Jacob was lamed by God himself, that he might know he had not prevailed by his own strength '^. And Paul had a thorn in the flesh given him, " lest he should be exalted above measure." Now our infii'mities are very painful : but they are necessary, in order to keep alive in our minds a remembrance of our own weakness and vileness : and, if we do but carry them to God in fervent prayer, he will glorify himself by means of them, and " perfect his strength in our weakness." " Let the weak then say, I am strong^;" let them " be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might'^ ;" and, doubtless, they shall receive that eflectual succour which believers, in all ages, have experienced \ and shall invariably find their "strength according to their day" of trial™.]
^ Gen. xxxii. 25. > Joel iii. 10. ^ Eph. vi. 10.
1 Heb. xi. 34. m Deut. xxxiii. 25.