Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verse 26
VERE 26. Likewiſe the Spirit alſo helpeth our Infirmities: for we know not what wee ſhould pray for as we ought: but the Spirit it ſelfe maketh interceſsion for vsus with gronings which cannot be vttered.
IN this Verſe and the next, is another argument vntounto patience from the moſt preſent help of the Spirit; as if he ſhould ſay, Though you be afflicted, yet deſpaire not; for euen the Holy Spirit from Heauen helpeth you.
Here are two things, Firſt, the help of the Spirit: Secondly, the meanes whereby he helpeth vsus: by teaching vsus to pray.
Of the firſt. Likewiſe the Spirit alſo helpeth our Infirmities.
Likewiſe, referred either to the worke of the Spirit before noted, Verſe 11. he quickneth, and likewiſe helpeth, or rather to hope: not onelyonly hope helpeth, but alſo the Spirit.
The Spirit: not good AngellaLyra. nor ſpirituall man, as the MiniſterbIam. 5.14. ſic Chryſoſt. tract. 6. in Iohannem.: nor ſpirituall gracecAmbroſ., nor CharitiedAuguſt., but the Holy Ghoſt.
Helpeth: As the Nurſe helpeth the little child, vpholding it by the ſleeue, or as an old man is vpholden by his StaffeePareus., or rather helpeth togetherfforeign. Vna ſubleuet: Beza well tranſlated, alſo helpeth., beeing a Metaphor taken from one that is to lift a great weight, and beeing too weake, another claſpeth hands with him and helpeth him; ſo the Spirit is ready to relieue vsus vnderunder the great burthen of the Croſſe.
Our Infirmities: Not of praying, though the Spirit doth help that infirmitie; nor of practice to doe good, but infirmitie to ſuffer euill: not perturbations onelyonly, which ariſe from infirmity, but the infirmitie it ſelfe to vndergoe thoſe things which are by God layd vponupon vsus: our Infirmities, that is, vsus which are weake.
The Croſſe is a heauy burden: wee are weake: the Spirit helpes vsus to carry it, as Simon helped Chriſt.
doctrine God helpeth his children in trouble by his Spirit. So promiſed, Ioh. 14.16. made good by Pauls experience, 2. Cor. 4.8. which was by the Spirit, Verſe 13.
Vſe 1.We are too weake of our ſelues to ſtand vnderunder the burden of the Croſſe, it is ſo heauy: as in pouertie not to murmure, complaine, or to ſeeke vnlawfull ſhifts to helpe our ſelues.
There are two ſpeciall Reaſons why we are too weake to beare the Croſſe.
1. The Croſſe is a part of the Curſe, which is intolerable: though it be ſanctified and lightened to Gods children.
2. Our ſinfulneſſe makes vsus weake. An ill Conſcience enfeebles vsus, makes very cowards of vsus. Iuſtine Martyr, when he was a Heathen, iudged by the fortitude and magnanimity of Chriſtians in ſuffering, that they could not bee ſubiect to vile affections. Where a good Conſcience is, there wants no courage in ſuffering. If the Diuell can make vsus wound our Conſciences by committing ſinne, then hee will eaſily driue vsus, either to murmure or blaſpheme, or deſpaire vnderunder the Croſſe.
Q. But doe not many wicked men patiently beare paines and death it ſelfe?
A. No; ſtoutly they doe, but patiently they doe not. It is not laudable patience, but miſerable hardneſſe and ſtupiditie; As Nabal dyed, 1. Sam. 25.37.his heart being as a ſtone, inſenſible of good or ill. So alſo dyed the wretch that murdered Henry 4. the French King.
Vſe 2.Let none bee confident in their owne ſtrength: wee are weake: and Peter is an example: He bragged that he would not deny Chriſt; nay, though all other forſooke him, yet he would ſticke to him, and dye at his foote. And yet a ſilly Damſell with one word, put him by his reſolution. Mat. 26.This appeared alſo in the example of Doctor Pendleton, as may bee read in the Booke of Martyrs.Fox Acts and Monuments. 1362.
Cenſure not thy Brother for ſome weakneſſe vnderunder the Croſſe, nor ſay, If I had beene in his caſe, I would not hauehave done ſo or ſo. Thou alſo art weake, and of thy ſelfe art nothing without the Spirit.
Ʋſe 3.Beware of Securitie: Fore-thinke of the Croſſe, and prouide for it. Sudden troubles, and vnpremeditate are the more grieuous; ouerwhelming, as the breach of a high wal oppreſſeth vnawares. In the day of peace, prepare for battell. A faire day makes vsus to be taken in a ſtorm many times without our Cloakes. Thinke therfore of loſſes aforehand: of burning of houſes, burying of Children, Husband, Wife, &c. Thus did Iob▪ for want of this, Iob 3 25.wee heare many in the day of trouble complaining, O, I neuer lookt to hauehave ſeene this day, &c. Didſt thou not? It was thy fault. If a man goe to Sea, ſhould he not looke for tempeſts?
Ʋſe 4.The Spirit helpeth our infirmities: The Vnregenerate ſhall bee ſure of trouble without comfort: The Regenerate of comfort in Trouble. God will either mitigate their paines; or ſtrengthen them to beare, or quite take them away. No man will lay ſo much weight vponupon his Horſe, as ſhall breake his backe. Much more will God be carefull of his children; yea, as hee will not ſuffer them to bee tempted aboue their ſtrength, ſo he will giuegive an iſſue and deliuerance in due time. 1. Cor. 10.10.We ſhall not hauehave one blowe or fit more then we are able to beare. He that can endure but three fits, ſhall not hauehave the fourth.*Non quarto die pati permittetur, qui ſcitur vltra non poſſe quam triduo tolerare: Ambroſius.
Vſe 5.If thou haſt deliuerance out of trouble, aſcribe it not to thy ſelfe, ſaying; I rub'd out; I pluck't vp a good heart, & got out. Acknowledge the praiſe to God which helped thee.
Ʋſe 6.Grieue not the Spirit by which thou art helped; If thou ſhalt prouoke him by thy ſinnes, how canſt thou expect his helpe? Make him ſo familiar now by thy carefull obedience, that he be not a ſtranger to thee in the day of thy trouble.