would be uppermost in hie thought. 'l'he evil in p&in Is what we Bee first. Ir this were not re&lized, it could not be nu affliction. Hence he prayed thrice to the Lord that It might dep11rt from him. But his prayer was demtid. At the aame time, the promise was given-a promise worth far more than the removal of the pain-" My grace Is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness." The thorn was to continue--a Hfelong suffering in addition to his other infirmities was to bo fastened upon him, a special and grievous suffering. Yet, while it had to remain a sad memorial, not of bis exaltation, but of human frailty in connection with great endowments, there was an assurance direct and specific of suataining grace. Along with that a most important truth wae taught him, namely, that the perfection of strength is attained through the consciousness of our utter weakness. First, then, the evil of pain ; next, the good of pain under the agency of God's grace ;-this is the rµetbod. of providence and grace, for the two are one in the Divine purpose. Alas! had the prayer of those sensitive nerves of his been litera11y answered, what a. loser would he and we have .been! How much of his power would have vani.~hed with the pain I How many thoughts and emotions that have cheered the afflicted and inspired tb.e .weak to be' heroic, would have been unknown! Such Epistles as the apostle wrote (to say nothing of bis other services to the world) could never have been written under the ordinary experience of the ills of life. All men ha.ve thorns in the flesh, for there is no perfect health, no human body free from ailments. But in St. Paul's Clllle the thorn was a supera<ldition to existing infirmities. Nor is it difficult for us to see how tliis 'particular infirmity, sanctified by the Spirit, was specially adapted to guard him at a µ:iost exposed point. Inasmuch as he was the object of a peculiar and violent opposition, be was singula.rly liable to the temptation of over-asserting himself and his merits, the more so as his enemies took delight in taunting him with bis personal defects as to manner and appearance. The safeguard was provided where it was most wanted. Such, in fact, was his own view of the matter: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ ma.y rest upon me." " My infirmities," he argues, "instead of being tbe hindrance they would be if left to them- selves, are helpers, since they are the occasions of grace, and this grace rests upon me, i.e. abides continually. '!'he thought is precious; it must be repeated. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities," etc.; for the power of Christ had been imparted to him with such. fulness as to transform pain into pleasure so far a.s his spiritual nature was con- c~med. The body continued to suffer, the humiliations were increased, but his soul wa's filled with Christ as .the Christ of his pains and sorrows, and thus he had the victory, not only over physical misery, but over all pride and vanity that might have sprung up " through the abundance of the revelations." Glorious words are these. "When I am weak, then am I strong." Notice the clear view St. Paul bas of the Divine h·and. in his thorn in the flesh. If he is perfectly assured of the abundance of the revelations, if he can locate the scene in P:l.l'adise, if he realizes the sanctity of these dis- closures in the " unspeakable words," he is just as certain that the thorn " was given " him. He knew it was a. "thorn," and he 1':new whence it came. He acknowledged God in it, and, in this feeling, prayed thrice for its removal. Christians o[ten fail at this point. '!'hey doubt at times whether their afflictions come from God. Somi, Christians cannot be induced to believe that their sufferings are sent from above, and they see in them nothing more than evil casualties. But if they fail to recognize God in the sorrow, they will not find him in the joy of his blessed promise, " My grace is sufficient for thee." It was not merely the " thorn" that St. Paul had to endure. This was a. source of pain, and it aggravated, doubtless, his other physical infirmities, nnd, in turn, was augmented by them. But we must not forget the state of mind such an affliction naturally produced-the surprise that it should follow such wonderful signs of God's favour as had been vouchsafed in the "abundance o~ the revelations," tho temptation to a rebellious spirit and the occas!o.n for unbelief it would furnish. A literal answer to his prayer was refused; a spmtual answer w:is granted. The "grace" bestowed was "sufficient," not only to bear the pain as a pecu- liar addition to his "infirmities" already existing, but to enable him to "glory " in it; 11nd the providence of it was specially manifested in the power it had given him to be po.tiout, forbearing, humble, in the late trouble with the Corinthians. 0 Christi,in~, who are cnlled to a lifelong <liscip!ine in the ~chool of suffering, think of the measure' 298 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [en. xu.1-21,
implied in the Sfl,fficient gro~ I Sufficient for wha\ P Sufficient, n<.>t only to ..glory in pnin and infirmity, but to glory" most gladly.''-L. .