The Triumph of a True Christian Described, Commentary on verse · Verse 18
VERSE 18.
For I count that the afflictions of this preſent time, are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus.
COme we now to verſe 18. For I count that the afflictions of this preſent time, are not worthy of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. In this verſe our Apoſtle addes further matter of comfort againſt the bitterneſſe of the croſſe, and of encouragement to a patient and conſtant bearing of the croſſe, and that by an argument from the weight of that glorie that he ſpake of verſe before, and that ſuch as ſuffer with Chriſt ſhall be partakers of; as namely, that the glorie they ſhall partake of, ſhall be exceeding weightie and maruellous great. And this the Apoſtle doth not ſimplie affirme, but he propounds his argument vnderunder a compariſon of things vnequall, comparing the afflictions of this life with the glorie of the life to come, as the leſſe with the greater, as that the glorie of the life to come doth farre ſurmount and exceed all the afflictions and ſufferings of this life, and that the afflictions of this life cannot hold weight with the glorie of the life to come; and if they ſhould be weighed together, as in a ballance, the one would be found but light in reſpect of the other: The afflictions of this preſent time, ſaith the Apoſtle, are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus, they are not comparable vntounto it. And herein alſo the Apoſtle preuents a ſecret obiection; for ſome might ſay to him, You tell vsus that we ſuffering with Chriſt we ſhall be glorified with him, but in the meane time we lye vnderunder grieuous troubles, and verie ſore afflictions, our trials and ſufferings here in this world are intollerable, and who is able to endure the troubles that do befall vsus? This the Apoſtle meets withall, in ſaying, That the afflictions of this preſent time, are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus, that ſhall be reuealed vntounto vsus. As if he had ſaid, though your afflictions and ſufferings in this preſent life be great, and grieuous, and ſore, and hard to be borne and endured, yet beare them with as much patience as poſſibly you can, and know to your comfort, that the glorie which is to follow on your afflictions is farre greater and more laſting then be your afflictions, there is no compariſon betweene them. And this the Apoſtle affirmes as a truth whereof he was reſolued, as a certaine truth, in his iudgement, in his account and eſtimation. For I count (ſaith he) that the afflictions of this preſent time are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. And ſo we ſee the generall drift and purpoſe of the Apoſtle in this verſe, and the generall matter of it: I will now lay foorth the ſence and meaning of the words.
foreign. Interpretation.For I count. The word here vſed ſignifies thus much, I collect and gather, and that firmely, as on iuſt reckoning, or after debating and reaſoning the matter, I do certainly conclude. We find the ſame word vſed Rom. 3.28. and it is there rendered, and that rightly, foreign, therefore we conclude: therefore we ſet downe this as a certaine truth and certaine concluſion, that a man is iuſtified by faith without the works of the Law: and ſo indeed the word foreign is here to be taken, I collect and gather, and that firmely, and I conclude this, and I reſolue on it as a certaine truth, That the afflictions of this preſent time, or the paſſions and ſufferings of this preſent time for ſo the word foreign ſignifies: Of this preſent time, or of the time which is now, foreign. The Apoſtle hereby meanes not onelyonly the afflictions and ſufferings of this preſent time wherein he liued, and the afflictions that Gods children did then vndergo, but all the afflictions of this preſent life, euen all ſuch tribulations and croſſes as they do beare during the time of this life, and whileſt they are here on the face of the earth, are not worthie, or of equall weight. For the word here vſed, ſignifies the equalitie or like weight of things weighed in a ballance together: and ſo the meaning is, are not of equall weight, or are not proportionable to the glorie that ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. Of the glorie: that is, of the glorie that Gods children ſhall be inueſted withall in heauen, which ſhall be ſhewed or reuealed, or which we ſhall hauehave at the appearing of the Lord Ieſus, as Coloſſ. 3.4. When Chriſt which is our life ſhall appeare, then ſhall we alſo appeare with him in glorie. VntoUnto vsus, or in vsus: that is, to our bodies and ſoules, or wherewith our bodies and ſoules ſhall be clothed. Thus then conceiue we the meaning of the words of this verſe, as if the Apoſtle had ſaid.
For I collect and gather, and that firmely, I conclude and reſolue on this as a certaine truth, that the paſſions and ſufferings of this life, euen all troubles, trials, and croſſes that we or any of Gods children do beare during the time of this life, and whileſt we liue here on the face of the earth, are not of equall weight, are not in any reſpect proportionable to the heauenly glorie wherewith our bodies and ſoules ſhall be inueſted, and that ſhall be put on them at the appearance of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt; there is no compariſon betweene them.
Now we ſee the Apoſtle here deliuers not this truth, that the afflictions of this preſent time are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus, as an vncertaine opinion, but as a certaine truth, and a truth whereof he was fully reſolued. And thus are the Miniſters of the word to deliuer to the people of God truths that are of ſpeciall vſe, and needfull to be knowne, not as their opinions, but as certaine truths.How Gods Miniſters are to deliuer needfull holy truths. Indeed the Miniſters of the word are ſeriouſly to weigh and conſider what they deliuer before they do deliuer it: but that which they hauehave ſeriouſly thought on, ſtudied for, and earneſtly ſought at the hands of God by prayer, and the Lord hath vouchſafed to reueale to them by his Spirit, being a truth needfull to be knowne, and agreeable to the written word of God, and to the analogie and proportion of faith, they are to deliuer confidently, and to aùouch as a certaine truth of God; yea to auerre it to be ſuch a truth as they are readie to ſeale with their bloud if they be called to it. I will not ſtand on that, let it ſuffice to hauehave pointed at it.
Againe, in that the Apoſtle doth here thus enlarge himſelfe, in ſetting downe this, that the afflictions of this preſent time are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus, ſetting it downe as a certaine truth, as a truth whereof he was fully reſolued, thereby to comfort the beleeuing Romans and other true beleeuers againſt the bitterneſſe of the croſſe, I might ſtand to ſhew, that the way to comfort and to cheare vp ſuch as are vnderunder affliction and in diſtreſſe, is not by coniectures, or by wittie conceits, but by that which a man is able to auerre to be a certaine truth of God, and to reſolue the conſcience of it, that it is the holy truth of God: but I paſſe from that alſo, and come to the matter and thing here auerred by the Apoſtle, and reſolued on as a certaine truth, and that is this: That the afflictions of this preſent time are not worthy of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus: and hence this concluſion is offered.
Doct 1 That all the afflictions that Gods children do or can ſuffer in this world, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen.The ſuffe…ng… … this life, be they neuer ſo great and grieuous, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen. Whatſoeuer Gods children either do or can ſuffer in this world in any kinde, whether from the hands of men, or layed on them by the immediate hand of God, on their bodies, or ſoules, or howſoeuer, it is not proportionable or of equall weight to the glorie that ſhall be put on them in heauen. And to this purpoſe that is a cleare text, 2. Corinth. 4.17. where the Apoſtle ſaith, Our light affliction which is but for a moment, cauſeth to vsus a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glorie. I he Apoſtle there comparing the afflictions of this life with the glorie of heauen, he cals the one light and momentanie, and the other eternall and weightie; yea he giues to the glorie of heauen a moſt excellent and eternall weight. And from thoſe words of the Apoſtle we may gather reaſons & grounds of this truth, that the ſuffering of Gods children in this world are not comparable or proportionable to the glorie that ſhall be put on them in heauen. As
Firſt, the afflictions of this life are but momentanie and Reaſon 1 ſhort, they laſt no longer then the time of this life, which is but a moment or leſſe then a moment in compariſon of eternitie; but the glorie of heauen is eternall & infinite in durance and continuance, and ſhall laſt for euer. And thus the Apoſtle Peter compares them together, 1. Pet. 5.10. The God of grace which hath called vsus vntounto his eternall glorie by Chriſt Ieſus, after that we hauehave ſuffered a little.
Againe, the afflictions of this life are for their meaſure Reaſon 2 light and trifling, being compared to the glorie of heauen that is ponderous and weightie, and for the meaſure and greatneſſe of it incomprehenſible, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 2.9. Things that eye hath not ſeene, neither eare heard, neither came into mans heart, are, which God hath prepared for them which louelove him. 2. Corinth. 12.4. the Apoſtle ſaith, he being rapt vp into Paradiſe, he heard words vnutterable, and not poſſible for man to vtter. And we reade that Peter being preſent at the transfiguration of Chriſt, and hauing but a glimſe of heauenly glorie, he was ſo ouerwhelmed with it, as that he ſpake he knew not what, ſaith the text, Matth. 9.6. And therefore doubtleſſe on theſe grounds this ſtands as a firme and certaine truth, that all the afflictions Gods children do or can ſuffer in this world, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen; that glorie doth euerie way ſurmount them, and there is no compariſon betweene them.
And for the vſe, firſt this truth ouerturnes that conceit of the Papiſts, that the ſufferings of Gods children in this world Ʋſe 1 are meritorious, and do deſerue heauenly glorie:The Popiſh opinion that the ſufferings of Gods children merit heauenly glorie, confuted. that cannot poſſibly be, becauſe there is no proportion betweene them and heauenly glorie: and betweene merit and reward giuen to merit, there muſt be a proportion. The recompence of merit is an act of iuſtice, and iuſtice is a kinde of equalitie; and therefore there being no equalitie betweene the ſufferings of this life and the glorie of the life to come, they cannot truly and properly merit or deſerue it. Obiect. Ah but ſay the Papiſts, though the ſufferings of Gods children be not equall to the glorie of heauen, yet becauſe they proceed from grace and from the Spirit of God, they hauehave in them a worth of heauenly glorie, Anſw. and they merit and deſerue it. A meere cauill, and directly contrarie to the plaine euidence of the word of God, for grace and merit of works, either of doings or ſufferings, cannot ſtand together. And againe, the ſufferings of Gods children proceed not from grace and from the Spirit of God alone, but partly alſo from the minds and wils of the ſufferers, and in that reſpect many infirmities accompanie the ſuffering of the beſt of Gods children; and therefore they cannot poſſibly merit heauenly glorie. I leaue this, and for a ſecond vſe.
Ʋſe 2 Is it ſo that all the afflictions that Gods children do or can ſuffer here in this world,What ought to be the meditation of Gods children in time of their great afflictions, that they may be comſorted. are not comparable to the glorie of heauen? Is there no proportion betweene their ſuffering in this world, and the glorie that ſhall be put on them in heauen? Then let Gods children meditate and thinke on this to their comfort in the time of their greateſt afflictions and ſufferings: doubtleſſe the Lord would not hauehave put it downe as an argument of comfort in the time of trouble, if it were not his will that we ſhould exerciſe our minds in meditating and thinking on it. And therefore thou that art a child of God, meditate and thinke on this; if thou lyeſt vnderunder ſome grieuous affliction, remember that thy ſufferings here in this world be they neuer ſo great, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen; and it will be a notable meanes to cheare thee vp, and to comfort thee. Haply thou complaineſt of thy long lingring ſickneſſe and paine, thy bodie being vnderunder ſickneſſe and paine: and take a man in a burning feuer, and you ſhall heare him vtter ſuch words, and ſo proteſt of his paine as if it were vnſufferable: but what is that paine to eternitie of ioy and glorie in heauen? it is not worthie to be named with it: compare them together, and thou ſhalt find it will mitigate thy paine, and it will yeeld thee comfort in thy greateſt pangs. A diſeaſed man or woman we know will endure cutting, and ſearing, and the like, in conſideration of eaſe afterwards: and comparing that paine with the eaſe he hopes will follow, he endures cutting and ſeating with patience: ſo do thou compare the paine of thy ſuffering with the ioy and glorie in heauen, and it will certainly ſwallow vp thy paine, and yeeld thee much comfort. If we were as apprehenſiue of the greatneſſe of the glorie of heauen abiding for vsus, as we are apprehenſiue of the paine of our preſent ſufferings, without queſtion it would make vsus beare them exceeding patiently. Queſt. Thou wilt ſay, but how ſhall I be as apprehenſiue of the great glorie in heauen, as I am of the extremitie of my preſent ſuffering?
I anſwer thee. Keepe thy faith in exerciſe, Anſw. keepe thy faith exerciſed in apprehending the glorie laid vp for thee in heauen, as thy ſenſe is exerciſed in feeling the paine of thy preſent ſuffering, and thy faith being thus exerciſed, it will giuegive a preſent being of the ioy and glorie of heauen to thy heart and ſoule, and to thy inward feeling; as the holy Ghoſt ſaith, Hebr. 11.1. Faith is the euidence of things which are not ſeene: and that feeling of the glorie of heauen though yet to come, will ouerwhelme a world of miſerie and paine though it be preſent. The holy Martyrs endured extreame tortures with patience and comfort: and why? they were exules à corpore, in their ſoules they mounted vp to heauen. Labour therefore thus to keepe thy faith in exerciſe in the time of thy great afflictions.
Now in the next place, obſerue how the Apoſtle limits the afflictions of Gods children, he cals thē the afflictions of this preſent time, or of the time that is now: I count that the afflictions of this preſent time are not worthie of the glorie which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. And hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus Doct 2 much.
That the afflictions of Gods children are but of ſhort continuance,Though the afflictions of Gods children be bitter and ſharpe, yet they are but of ſhort continuance. and they laſt but a while. Though the afflictions of Gods children be bitter and ſharpe, yet they are but momentanie and ſhort, and they endure but for the time of this preſent life, they determine and end in death, and death puts an end to them all, and ſo they are but ſhort and momentanie. And thus the Apoſtle ſpeakes of them expreſly in the place before cited, 2. Corinth. 4.17. he there ſaith, the afflictions that he and other true beleeuers endured, were but light and momentany, but for a mement, Our light affliction which is but for a moment, cauſeth vntounto vsus a far more excellent and an eternall weight of glorie. And ſo alſo ſpeakes the Apoſtle Peter of the afflictions of Gods children, 1. Pet. 5.10. After that ye hauehave ſuffered a little, ſaith he, after your ſuffering which is but ſhort, and for a little time. And on this ground doth the Author to the Hebrewes cheare vp the beleeuing Hebrewes, and encourage them to a patient bearing of their great afflictions. Hebr. 10.37. he tels them, their afflictions ſhould laſt but for a verie little while, and the Lord Ieſus would ſhortly come and put an end to them, Yet a verie little while (ſaith he) and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarrie. Hence is the time of the afflictions of Gods children called in Scripture ſometimes the houre of tentation, and ſometimes the day of affliction, as Eccleſ. 7.16. In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction conſider: to note the ſhortneſſe of that time, that it is but as an houre, or as a day. And it is worth our marking to this purpoſe that we finde, Iſai. 54.8.Iſai. 54.8. the Lord there ſpeaking by his Prophet of the 70. yeares captiuitie of his people, he cals it but a moment, and a little ſeaſon, For a moment (ſaith he) in mine anger, I hid my face from thee for a little ſeaſon, but with euerlaſting merciemercy hauehave I had compaſſion on thee, ſaith the Lord thy redeemer. And indeed if a child of God ſhould lye vnderunder the afflicting hand of God from his birth to his death, admit he liue the full age of a man, yet it is but for a while, and for a ſhort time; for the dayes of our life here are but few, our time in this world is but ſhort: our life is compared to a vapour, to a ſhadow, to a bubble, to a blaſt of wind, to a watch in the night, and to many other things of ſhort continuance: it is ſaid to be but as an hand breadth, or as a ſpan long, Pſal. 39.5. And therefore the afflictions of Gods children laſting no longer then the time of this preſent life, and death putting an end to them, as indeed it doth, the holy Ghoſt ſaith, Reuel. 14.13. When death comes, they reſt from their labours, and from all their paines, miſeries, and ſufferings: it muſt needs be that they are but ſhort and momentanie, and they laſt but a while.
Now for the vſe, firſt this truth diſcouers a difference betweene Ʋſe 1 the ſufferings of Gods children and the ſufferings of the wicked and reprobates.A difference betweene the ſufferings of Gods children and the ſufferings of the wicked, diſcouered. The ſufferings of Gods children are but ſhort and momentanie, they laſt no longer then the time of this life, death puts an end to them: but the ſufferings of the wicked and reprobate are of longer continuance, they are not onelyonly ſufferings of this preſent life, and ſuch as are cut off and determined by death, no, no, the wicked and reprobate do by death enter into endleſſe woe and euerlaſting ſufferings, their ſufferings are but here begun, and they ſhall laſt for euer. And therefore thou that art a wicked and prophane wretch, when the hand of God is heauie on thee, and thou art vnderunder ſome grieuous paine and torment, thinke not that death ſhall put an end to thy torment, as many times wicked and prophane miſcreants do: they lying vnderunder grieuous torments, they wiſh they might dye, and ſay, oh that I were dead and out of this world, then I ſhould be out of my paine. Poore ſoules, they are deceiued, death to them is but an entrance into endleſſe torments. And know it whoſoeuer thou art, that art a graceleſſe and prophane wretch, thou being vnderunder ſome grieuous torment and paine, and hauing a feeling of thy torment and paine, and yet hauing no feeling of thy vileneſſe and ſinne to be humbled for it, the Lord hath but begun to ſit in iudgement againſt thee, and thy preſent torment and paine (thou ſtill continuing in thy vileneſſe and ſinne) is but a pledge of more fearefull torments, paines, and ſufferings yet to come, and it is but a beginning of ſorrow, Mat. 24.8. It is but a beginning of thine eternall woe and euerlaſting ſuffering.
Againe, for a ſecond vſe, is it ſo that the afflictions of Gods Ʋſe 2 children are but momentanie and ſhort,What Gods children are to conſider to their comfort in time of their bitter and ſharpe afflictions. and they laſt no longer then this preſent life, and death puts an end to them? Here is then ground and matter of comfort for thee that art a child of God in the time of thy greateſt afflictions and ſufferings: though thy afflictions be bitter and ſharpe, yet conſider this to thy comfort, they are but ſhort, and they ſhall laſt but for a while. And the heathen man could ſay: that ſhort euils though they be great and bitter, yet they are more tollerable becauſe they are ſhort. And therefore thou that art a child of God, thinke on this to thy comfort when thou lyeſt vnderunder ſome grieuous affliction; yea conſider with thy ſelfe, thy affliction is neuer ſo grieuous but the Lord vouchſafeth thee ſome intermiſſion, he giues thee ſome breathing, and ſome refreſhing in it, as he ſaith, Iſai. 57.16. I will not contend for euer, neither will I be alwayes wrath, for the ſpirit ſhould faile before me, and I hauehave made the breath. Yea conſider that thy affliction is meaſured out to thee by the good hand of thy heauenly Father, who will be ſure to keepe a meaſure, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 10.13. And though it be ſo that thou art vnderunder ſome great affliction all thy life long, yet cheare vp thy ſelfe with this, thy life is not long, and ſo thy affliction cannot long endure: when death ſhall come and cut off the thread of thy life, it ſhall alſo put an end to all thy afflictions. And be it ſo that thou art vnderunder the hand of bloudie perſecutors and cruell tormentors, yet conſider that either thy perſecutors and tormentors may die, their breath may faile them, or the inſtruments and meanes of thy trouble and torment may be interrupted, and broken, and faile, the rod that is on thy backe may be waſted: and the Lord hath ſaid, Pſal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked ſhall not rest on the lot of the righteous: or thy ſelfe may die, and be taken out of their hands by death, and they can then put thee to no further paine nor torment. And therefore as Chriſt ſaith, Math. 10.28. Feare not them that can kill the bodie, that can onelyonly torment thy bodie, and that onelyonly during the time of this life, and when this life is ended, can go no further. Conſider that as thou doſt ſuffer daily, ſo thou art dying daily, and that which thy perſecutors do afflict, is but thy bodie, and thy bodie is drawing to corruption and death, and death ſhall exempt thee and ſet thee free from all their tyrannie. Thus make thy aduantage of thy mortalitie, thou that art a child of God, and remember when thou lyeſt vnderunder any great and ſore affliction, thy affliction ſhall laſt no longer then the time of this life, death ſhall put an end to it, and it is but as one ſaith of Iulians perſecution, Nubecula citò tranſitura, as a ſtorme that ſhall ſoone be ouerblowne, and then will follow an euerlaſting calme, euen an euerlaſting freedome and reſt from all ſorrowes, and griefes, and paines, and ſufferings: and thinke on that to thy comfort.
There is yet one thing to be further noted in this reaſon, I will but touch it in a word. The Apoſtle here ſpeaking of the glorie that ſhall be put on Gods children in heauen, he ſaith, the glorie that ſhall be ſhewed, or that ſhall be reuealed to vsus.
The point hence is this. That the time ſhall come when Doct. 3 the glorie that belongs to Gods children ſhall be openly reuealed, and be made manifeſt in the view of men and Angels.Gods children ſhall one day be glorious in the ſight, both of men and Angels. And to this purpoſe ſpeakes the Apoſtle, Coloſ. 3.4. When Chriſt which is our life ſhall appeare, when he ſhall appeare to iudge the world, and come in his glorie, as it is Math. 25.31. Then ſhall we alſo appeare with him in glorie, euen clothed with vnſpeakable glorie, in our ſoules, and in our bodies. 1. Ioh. 3.2. ſaith Saint Iohn, Dearely beloued, we are now the ſonnes of God, yet it doth not appeare what we ſhall be, and we know that when we ſhall appeare we ſhall be like him. We ſhall then be like the Lord Ieſus in glorie, and then the glorie that is reſerued for vsus in heauen, ſhall be put on vsus, and ſhall then openly appeare: and not to adde further teſtimonie.
The reaſon Reaſon. and ground of this is, becauſe there muſt be a time when the moſt wicked ſhall iuſtifie Gods goodneſſe and merciemercy, and his gracious dealing towards his children. Now in this world they ſee the troubles and afflictions of Gods children, and they ſee not the beautie and glorie of their ſoules, for that is inward and ſpirituall, as it is ſaid of the Church, Pſal. 45.13. She is all glorious within, and that is not diſcerned with carnall eyes: and ſo the world looking on Gods children here, they ſee not their beautie and glorie, but onelyonly ſee their afflictions and troubles, and thereupon they iudge them to be wretched & miſerable; and therefore there muſt be a time when the glorie that belongeth to them ſhall be openly reuealed, and ſet before the eyes of all the world, that euen the moſt wicked may looke on it, and be forced to iuſtifie Gods goodneſſe and merciemercy towards his children, and his gracious dealing with them.
Now this for vſe Ʋſe. may ſerue as a ground of great comfort to Gods children:A ground of great comfort to Gods children. for what though it be ſo that their beautie and glorie be here in this world ouerſhadowed and hid from the eye of the world, and of ſuch as looke on them with carnall eyes, yet let them waite in patience for a time, and the time ſhall come when their glorie ſhall manifeſtly appeare, and be open to the view of the whole world; yea the time ſhall come when men and Angels ſhall ſee it, and acknowledge it with admiration; yea the time ſhall come when thoſe who hauehave here turned their glorie into ſhame, as Dauid ſpeakes, Pſal. 4.2. that is, hauehave here reproched them for their holy and religious courſe (which indeed is their glorie,) and layd that on them as a reproch, and loaded them with odious and ſoule names in reſpect of that, ſhall ſee that which now they account their ſhame crowned with glorie, and ſhall be forced to change their note, and to crie out and ſay: Ah, we fooles thought the life of theſe men or women baſe, and full of diſhonour, and now behold their vnſpeakable brightneſſe and glorie, now it appeares to the view of all the world. Let this be thought on as a ground of ſweet comfort to all Gods children. Come we now to verſe 19. and ſo reade to the 24. verſe.