An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

SERM. LXIII.

What is to be understood by Paul's being pressed above measure; As likewise, how neither natural, nor moral strength can carry us through troubles in a gracious manner.

The next particular to be considered in this Description of Paul's trouble, is the Aggravation of it from the Quality, It was above strength, [Greek or Hebrew]. Chrysostom observeth this differeth from the other. For a burden may be exceeding heavy, yet to some mighty man, it may not be above his strength. When Samson, Judg. 16. 3. carried away the gates of the City Gaza, with the posts and bar upon his shoulders: here was a burden out of measure heavy, no ordinary man could do so; but yet to Samson it was not above his strength. Thus it was with Paul, who may be called a spiritual Samson, for that heavenly might and power, which God had endowed him with; he is assaulted with a trouble, that was not only hyperbolically weighty, but also above his strength. Paul had no more power to stand under it. The Greek word [Greek or Hebrew], doth often signify that inward power and ability, which a man hath to do any thing; and some distinguish it from [Greek or Hebrew], Right or Authority: The one they call Potentia, the other Potestas: The one is Natural, the other is Moral. Many a man hath a power to do a thing, when yet he hath no right or authority to do it. But in the Scripture we may observe these words promiscuously used for one another; yea sometimes they are put together, as signifying the same thing,