June 7

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.—2 Corinthians 4:8.

SINCERE Christians, even then, when they are surrounded by troubles on every side, may yet be exempted from distress; may be troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are to consider the ground of this negation of distress amidst surrounding troubles; why are Christians, though troubled on every side, not distressed? They are not so, partly upon the account of that gracious presence which is afforded them; and partly because of those principles which are within them, that necessarily carry matter of solace and relief, so as to keep them from distress, notwithstanding their being surrounded with external troubles. There is,

1. A gracious presence afforded upon promise. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." This is promised and made good, more or less, in a higher or lower degree, as to the Divine wisdom and goodness seems most meet. He will never leave and forsake such, whose hearts he hath determined to himself, and who adhere and cleave to him. He will not cast away the upright man. Such a one then is not like to be in distress when he hath God so present to him. It is but turning himself to him, and he hath him at hand. And,

2. In subordination to the former, the very native tendency of the principles, which God has implanted in a holy soul, and which incline and dispose it toward him, are its great relief against every thing that tends to distress, or works that way. As for instance, faith, which adjoins the soul to God, interests it in his infinite fullness, when the soul must be far remote from straits of distress. Love, too, is another principle by which the soul comes to have an actual fruition of that fullness, according to its measure; and what God doth now see meet, or fit, and suitable for it. There is patience also, by which the soul is composed, and brought into a perfect mastery and dominion over itself, so far as this gracious principle obtains. "By your patience possess ye your souls." You are outed of yourselves, if you be not patient; but if you be patient you enjoy yourselves. So that let the storm be never so great and boisterous without, there will be peace and calmness within. Patience is an ability to suffer. It is passive fortitude. He that can suffer, who is furnished with this ability, is in peace and quiet; is in no distress. He considers the case thus: "Such and such can afflict, and I can suffer; I am therefore in this respect on even terms with all the world. They can indeed lay upon me such and such things, and I can bear them through grace that helps me." If such be the temper of a Christian that he can not suffer, he must be a slave. Every such person must be subject to the power of those that can hurt him, or do him an ill turn; only because he can suffer nothing. He can not suffer, therefore he must serve; or yield to every one's beck that hath power to hurt him. But he that can suffer, hath the mastery over himself; and remains in self-possession. The other is outed of himself; and must resign his will, his judgment, his conscience, and every thing to the pleasure of another. Again, the principle of a good conscience also keeps a person from distress. When a man's own heart doth not reproach him, what can be distressing unto him? As Job said his should never do so, though he suffered, you know, very hard and grievous things. "My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live, till I die will I not remove my integrity from me." Where such a disposition of spirit remains there can be no distress. And now to make some brief use of this subject, we learn,—

How happy a good man is when no external trouble, though it compass him on every side, is yet able to bring him into distress! Is not this man a happy man, that can defy the world? that can stand in the face of storms unhurt, untouched, unshaken? The matter deserves our serious thoughts, that there should be such a privilege as this communicated unto mortal man; unto a poor creature dwelling in mortal flesh. It gives us to see, that there is somewhat that greatens the spirit of such a one to that degree, as to make it too big for all this world. For what else is the reason, why such a one can not be distressed? only because things apt to distress in their own nature, and in a subject more liable to it, are not able to compass, and entirely comprehend within themselves that spirit, which they would aim to distress. The spirit of a good man, as such, is too big for all this world; and if it have that grace in exercise that is suitable to such a case, it is too big for this world entirely to compass. You can not compress and straiten that which you can not grasp. This world can not grasp such a spirit. It is, I say, too big to be held in this narrow sphere. It looks above all sensible things. It is of too great a prospect to be confined, in its apprehension of things, to time; it looks into a vast and boundless eternity. Therefore such a person can not be distressed in his spirit. It surmounts the world, and is too great to be straitened by all the powers thereof, which can never reach unto it. Or if it should be brought into some very great trouble, it looks beyond this present troublous state of things. It looks into eternity, and says, "If it be not well now, it shall be. Things at present are not as I could wish, but they shall be as well as ever I could wish hereafter." In short, you can not confine the eye of such a one, but it will have a look at something beyond what is present and liable to common view. Therefore there is no way entirely to cut off relief from the spirit of a good man; for though it be troubled on every side, it is yet exempt from distress.

"Should dread of want oppress, And men or fiends avail,—

Infirmities my frame oppress, And earthly comforts fail,—

"Still may I trust in thee, And calm each rising fear; For none of these can injure me While thou, O Christ, art near."